October 24, 2007 -- Belden has expanded its IBDN FiberExpress line of fiber-optic cabling to include its Indoor/Outdoor Tight Buffer Distribution cables. According to the company, the 900-µm tight buffered fiber-optic cables are fully compliant with the industry standard specification ICEA S-104696 (Standard for Indoor/Outdoor Optical Fiber Cable).
Designed to fulfill the structured cabling requirements of the building and campus networking markets, the company says the new cables are easier to install and faster to terminate than loose tube cables. UL Riser and Plenum rated OFNR/OFNP, the cables are suited for duct and aerial installations and are designed to eliminate the need for transition points at the building entrance. The cables complement the company's FiberExpress Loose Tube Fiber Optic cables, offering users greater flexibility in selecting the most appropriate optical fiber cables for specific applications.
According to the company, the Indoor/Outdoor Tight Buffer Distribution cables feature a rugged construction designed to withstand harsh environmental and mechanical conditions. The construction consists of 900-µm color-coded buffered fibers surrounded by water-swellable aramid strength members, with a ripcord, under an overall UV-resistant, flame-retardant black jacket. For cables with fiber counts over 24, bundles of 6 or 12 fibers are utilized. An overall water-swellable tape barrier provides additional water-blocking to protect the interstices from axial moisture migration.
Available with fiber counts from 6 to 48, the Belden Indoor/Outdoor Tight Buffer Distribution series includes a selection of 62.5/125 and 50/125 multimode cables and a singlemode enhanced cable. The cables are also available in "breakout" constructions. Additionally, several options are available for special order, including aluminum or steel interlock armor, LSZH Riser rated construction, and a selection of UV-resistant colored jackets.