Network IQ Training Manual Chapter 2 - Fibre Optic Cable Types and Manufacturing Fibre Optic Cable Types and Manufacturing • Loose Tube Cable (Indoor & Outdoor) • Tight-Buffered Cable (Indoor & Outdoor) • Applications Optical Fibre Network IQ Training Manual 2 Loose Tube Cable: Fibre & Buffer Colouring Fibre No. Fibre coat Colour 1 BLUE BL 2 ORANGE OR 3 GREEN GR 4 BROWN BR 5 SLATE SL 6 WHITE WH 7 RED RD 8 BLACK BK 9 YELLOW YL 10 VIOLET VI 11 ROSE RS 12 AQUA AQ Optical Fibre • Colour code is according to EIA/TIA-598-A, also referred to as Telcordia colour code Cables > 12 fibres have the same colour code with stripes Network IQ Training Manual 3 More Colour Coding Standards Colour Code ISO No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Colour Colour Code IEC 60794-2 No. 1 2 3 Colour Colour Code DIN VDE 0888 No. 1 2 Colour Colour Code Swisscom No. 1 2 Colour For identification of more than twelve fibers is a ring mark. The colours of the fibers are repeated Optical Fibre Network IQ Training Manual 4 Fibre optic cable type code acc. DIN VDE 0816 Optical Fibre Network IQ Training Manual 5 Cable Codes Corning Example of Fiber description E9/125 0.36F3,5 + 0,22H18 E9 125µ 0,36 / 0,22 F H 3,5 / 18 = Single mode fiber 9µ glass core diameter = Cladding diameter = Attenuation (db/km) = At wavelength 1300 nm = At wavelength 1550nm = Dispersions parameter at 1300nm Remark: cabled parameters. Values on fibre data sheet are better Optical Fibre Network IQ Training Manual 6 Loose Tube Cable: Fibre Buffering (up to 24 fibre) Gel-filled Buffer tube Filling Compound Optical Fibre Gel-free Buffer tube Dry tube Swellable yarns Optical Fibre Fibre bundle is a group of Optical fibres in 1 loose tube Optical Fibre Network IQ Training Manual 7 Stranded Loose Tube Cable : Fibre Buffering Side view of the loose tubes After Manufacturing Buffer Tube Contraction Buffer Tube Expansion Cross-section view of the loose tubes Fibre Bundle Buffer Tube Central Member Optical Fibre Fibre Bundle Fibre Bundle Buffer Tube Buffer Tube Central Member Central Member Network IQ Training Manual 8 Stranded Loose Tube Cable: Stranding • Central Member – Anti-Buckling – Steel or Dielectric Buffer Tubes with Fibres Central Member PE Sheet • Advantages – SZ Stranding provides more flexibility – Allows easy midspan access – Reduce the turn effects under pulling force Optical Fibre Network IQ Training Manual 9 Stranded Loose Tube Cable: Jacketing • Dry™ Waterblocking Material Buffer Tubes with Fibres Central Member • Tensile Strength Elements – – Main Load Bearer Aramid and/or Fibre glass Yarns • Jacket Strength Elements – – – – PE FRNC Core Protection Chemical Resistance – Abrasion Resistance Jacket Dry™ Waterblocking Material • Armouring – Corrugated Steel Tape – Glass Yarn Armouring Optical Fibre Network IQ Training Manual 10 Central Tube Cable • Gel free buffer tubes optional • Dry™ Waterblocking Material • Tensile Strength Elements – – Main Load Bearer Aramid and/or Fibre glass Yarns Central tube Ø = 3.0mm up to 12 or 5.0mm up to 24 fibres, Rodent protection by glass yarn armour, metal-free Swellable tape Jacket, PE • Jacket Rip cord – – – – • Armouring – Corrugated Steel Tape – Glass Yarn Armouring PE FRNC Core Protection Chemical Resistance – Abrasion Resistance Optical Fibre • Advantages – High flexibility – Low weight and fire rate Network IQ Training Manual 11 Cable Applications Loose Tube Dielectric Greater than 50 Feet Armoured MPC Duct Bank Dielectric Optical Fibre Network IQ Training Manual 13 Tight Buffered Cable Buffering 250 µm Coating Thermoplastic Coating 900 µm Optica l Fibre Coating Versions: TB – Easy Strip, FRNC, 1.5m strip length, used in pigtails TB3 – Standard, FRNC, 10cm strip length, used in jumpers, i-MIC Optical Fibre Network IQ Training Manual 14 12-Fibre MIC® Multifibre Indoor Cable • FRNC or PVC Sheath Fibre Tight Buffer • 2-24 Fibre Coated Central Member Strength Elements Outer Jacket Fibre Cable Jacket Colouring Indoor • Aqua - OM3, OM4 • Orange - OM1, OM2 • Yellow - OS1, OS2 Optical Fibre Network IQ Training Manual 15 Multi-Fibre Cable: MPC Cable (TB3) (up to 24 fibre) A-VQ (BN) H In-/Outdoor Cable Tight Buffered Fibre Glass yarn armour LSZH – Inner jacket Rip cord Swellable elements (water blocking) Strength elements/aramid yarn LSZH – Outerjacket Optical Fibre Network IQ Training Manual 16 1-Fibre, 2-Fibre Basic Cable Unit Thermoplastic Buffer Simplex Cable Fibre Kevlar Outer Jacket • Used in standard patch cords • Simplex Available in: – 2.0mm – 2.8mm • Duplex Available in: Duplex Cable (Zipcord) Optical Fibre – 2x1.8mm (700m coating) – 2x2.0mm – 2x2.8mm Network IQ Training Manual 17 Break out® Cable 1-Fibre Basic Unit Dielectric Central Member FRNC Overcoat FRNC Jacket Ripcord Optical Fibre Network IQ Training Manual 18 Cable Applications Tight Buffered Cables 2-fibre Zipcord MIC or Breakout Cable MIC or Breakout Cable Optical Fibre Network IQ Training Manual 19 Flame Retardant Cables: European Flame and Smoke Tests IEC-Standard Test name IEC 60332 Tests on electric and optical fibre cables under fire conditions IEC 60332-1 Test for vertical flame propagation for a single insulated wire or cable IEC 60332-2 Test for vertical flame propagation for a single small insulated wire or cable IEC 60332-3 Test for vertical flame spread of vertically-mounted bunched wires or cables IEC 61034 Measurement of smoke density of cables burning under defined conditions IEC 60754-1 Test on gases evolved during combustion of materials from cables - Part 1: Determination of the amount of halogen acid gas “FR” “LS” “0H” or “ZH” IEC 60754-2 Test on gases evolved during combustion of electric cables - Part 2: Determination of degree of acidity of gases evolved during the combustion of materials taken from electric cables by measuring pH and conductivity Optical Fibre “NC” Network IQ Training Manual 20 Mechanical Characteristics of Fibre Optic Cable • Force = Mass x Acceleration • [N] = [Kg] x 9.81[m/sec2] Reference: 1 pound = 4.45N • Tensile Strength (IEC 60794-1-2-E1) – FO cable is pulled by a tensile force measured in Newton – Ex: 2700 N • Crush Resistance (IEC 60794-1-2-E3) – FO Cable is tested using a plate which applies a crushing load measured in Newton – Ex: 3000 N/10cm (linear) • Bending Radius (IEC 60794-1-2-E11 A) – FO Cable is bent to meet its specified bending radius – Ex: Generally, 15xOD during installation and 10x OD during operation • OD = outer diameter of cable, non-armoured cable Requirement: Mechanical Tests are conducted for 1 minute or more No fibre break or Attenuation more than 0.05 db Optical Fibre Network IQ Training Manual 21 Cont. mechanical characteristics of FO-Cable Tensile Test Optical Fibre Crush Resistance Test Bending Radius Test Network IQ Training Manual 22 Environmental Characteristics of FO Cable • Water Penetration (IEC 60794-1-2-F5) – FO cable prevents water from penetrating inside the cable and inside the loose tubes • Temperature Cycle (IEC 60794-1-2-F1) – FO Cable can be exposed to low temperature or high temperature without any material deformation or high attenuation more than 0.05 db – Ex: -40°C to +70°C Requirement: 3 meter sample Water height 1 meter 24 hours No water penetrate to the sealed side of the cable Optical Fibre Heat Chamber -40°C to +70°C Dwell time 6 hour Measurement at 1310 nm & 1550 nm Max Att. 0.1 db/km Network IQ Training Manual 23 Cable Summary • Two main design options for fibre cables: – Loose Tube (250um coated fibres) – Tight Buffered (900um coated fibres) • Loose Tube typically outdoor application – Loose tube isolates fibre from external strain – 250um easy to splice – Use fan out tube if direct termination with connectors • Tight buffered cables typically indoor application – 900um allows direct termination with connectors • Telcordia colour scheme is standard Corning code; others available Optical Fibre Network IQ Training Manual 24