1. General

This specification covers the design requirements and performance standards for the supply of optical fiber cables as described below.  The features described in this document are intended to provide information on the performance of the optical cable and aid in handling and installation.  Please refer to the separate fiber specification for details regarding the optical fiber.

1.1 Cable Description

4SProducts Dry-Core Loose Tube Optical Cables contain 2 to 288 optical fibers. The color coded fibers are housed in multiple color coded plastic buffer tubes which are stranded around a dielectric central strength member. Dry water blocking tapes and yarns, wrapped around the core, provide protection against water ingress. These user friendly elements replace the sticky cable filling gel used in traditional loose tube cable designs. Aramid yarns, which provide additional tensile strength, are applied over the water blocking tape. The cable sheath is composed of corrugated steel armor layer for rodent protection and a smooth Medium density polyethylene (MDPE) jacket. Highly visible ripcords are placed under each jacket layer for quick sheath entry.

The Dry-Core Loose Tube cable represents an advancement in loose tube cable technology through elimination of the sticky cable filling gels from the cable core improving cable handling and reducing cable preparation time.

1.2 Quality

To meet ISO 9000 standards.

1.3 Reliability

Both initial and periodic qualification testing are performed to assure the cable's performance and durability in the field environment.

To meet industry standards organizations such as Bell Communications Research (Bellcore), Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), Insulated Cable Engineers Association (ICEA), International Telecommunications Union (ITU), International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), Rural Utilities Service (RUS), and The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

2. Cable Design

2.1 General

4SProducts Dry-Core Loose Tube Optical Cables utilize Reverse Oscillating Lay (ROL) of the buffer tubes within a dry water blocked core making these cables best known for quick and clean cable entry in either end or mid-span access. The Single Jacket-Armored Sheath Loose Tube cable includes a corrugated steel armor layer placed directly over the cable core with a single outer MDPE jacket. This cable construction provides the necessary rodent protection and added compressive strength required for direct buried applications while offering rapid sheath entry.

 

Armor Cut-away

36-fiber

48-fiber

72-fiber

96-fiber

120-fiber

144-fiber

216-fiber

288-fiber

Single Jacket / Single Armor

Core Cut-Away

Core Cut-away

Core Cut-Away

Core Cut-Away

Core Cut-Away

Core Cut-Away

Core Cut-Away

Core Cut-Away

.

Armor Cut-away

Single Jacket / Single Armor

 

APPLICABLE SHEATH TYPES
SHEATH TYPE	PART No.
Single Jacket - Armored	FS-XXX*SOPnn

XXX	Denotes Fiber Count
*	Denotes Fiber Type
nn	Denotes Attenuation Values

2.2 Fiber Types

The following fiber types are available in this cable design.  Please refer to the appropriate fiber specification document for details on fiber design and performance.

APPLICABLE FIBER TYPES (*) Fiber Type Specification Designation Multi mode fiber 50/125 µm G.651 B Multi mode fiber 62.5/125 µm TIA-492AAA C Single mode Fiber G.652 S Non-Zero Dispersion Shifted (NZDS) G.655 H

APPLICABLE ATTENUATION VALUES (nn) Fiber Type Description Designation Single mode 0.35/0.25 db/km  1310/1550nm S1 0.40/0.30 db/km 1310/1550nm S2 Non-Zero Dispersion Shifted (NZDS) S3 Custom (Please specify values) S4 Multi mode 62.5/125um, 3.50/1.00 db/km 160/500 Mhz*km, 850/1300nm M1 62.5/125um, 3.50/1.00 db/km 220/500 Mhz*km, 850/1300nm M2 2.5/125um, 3.50/1.00 db/km 350/500 Mhz*km, 850/1300nm M3 62.5/125um, 3.50/1.00 db/km 500/500 Mhz*km, 850/1300nm M4 50/125um, 3.00/1.00 db/km 500/500 Mhz*km, 850/1300nm M5 50/125um, 3.00/1.00 db/km 400/400 Mhz*km, 850/1300nm M6

2.3 Optical Fiber Color Code

The UV acrylate coated fibers are color coded with highly distinguishable, vibrant colors according to the following table.  All colors meet Munsell standards as specified in TIA-359 and TIA-598.

FIBER COLOR CODE FIBER No. COLOR 01 Blue 02 Orange 03 Green 04 Brown 05 Slate 06 White 07 Red 08 Black 09 Yellow 10 Violet 11 Rose 12 Aqua

BUFFER TUBE COLORS TUBE No. COLOR 01 Blue 02 Orange 03 Green 04 Brown 05 Slate 06 White 07 Red 08 Black 09 Yellow 10 Violet 11 Rose 12 Aqua 13 Blue-Black Dash 14 Orange - Black Dash 15 Green - Black Dash 16 Brown - Black Dash 17 Slate - Black Dash 18 White - Black Dash 19 Red - Black Dash 20 Black 21 Yellow - Black Dash 22 Violet - Black Dash 23 Rose - Black Dash 24 Aqua - Black Dash

2.4 Buffer Tubes

Fibers are housed in groups of 6 or 12 within gel-filled buffer tubes.  The tubes, manufactured with industry standard polybutelene terathylate (PBT), are colored for easy identification according to the scheme shown above.  Water blocking gel fills each tube to prevent migration of water through the tube.  Industry standard tools and practices can be used to enter the buffer tubes.

BUFFER TUBE DIMENSIONS
FIBER PER TUBE	TUBE DIAMETER
06	2.3 to 2.5 mm
12	3.0 mm (0.12 in.)
2.8mm (nominal)  for all buffer tubes

The buffer tubes are stranded around the Central Strength Member utilizing Reverse Oscillating Lay (ROL), also known as “SZ”.  SZ or ROL stranding wraps the tubes in one direction for several turns, then in the other direction, and so forth.  This technique provides transition points that lend to easy mid-span access of a single buffer tube.  The number of tubes used depends on the total number of fibers within the cable.  Blank fillers are used as necessary to maintain a circular cable structure.

 

BUFFER TUBE STRANDING
TOTAL FIBERS IN CABLE	FIBERS PER TUBE	No. OF TUBES & FILLERS
002 - 036	06	06
037 - 060	12	05
061 - 072	12	06
073 - 096	12	08
097 - 120	12	10
121 - 144	12	16
145 - 216	12	18
217 - 240	12	20
241 - 288	12	24

2.5 Central Strength Member

The central strength member is made of a Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic (FRP).  The FRP rod is most popular because of its all-dielectric properties, thus not requiring grounding.  The FRP rod provides both tensile and anti-buckling strength to the cable.  Some loose tube designs require a PE upjacketing of the central member to allow stranding of tubes in higher fiber count cables.

2.6 Cable Water Blocking

The interstices between the buffer tubes and the jacket layers are protected from water intrusion by a combination of dry water blocking yarns and tapes.  These dry materials are easily removed from the core during cable preparation without the use of cable cleaning solvents.

2.7 Additional Strength Elements

In addition to the FRP central strength member, aramid yarns are helically applied over the cable core to provide additional tensile strength to the cable.

2.8 Cable Sheath

The Single Jacket - Armored cable's sheath consists of a co-polymer coated steel tape which is corrugated and wrapped directly over the cable core. This steel armor provides additional cable compression strength and rodent protection. The armor is covered with an outer black MDPE jacket. Ripcords are placed underneath the armor for easy sheath removal.

2.9 Cable Dimensions

LOOSE TUBE CABLE DIMENSIONS
CABLE TYPE	FIBER COUNT	DIAMETER	WEIGHT
Single Armor/ Single Jacket FS-XXX*SOPnn	002 - 036	14.0 mm (0.53 in)	180 Kg/km (121 lbs/kft)
	037 - 060	14.0 mm (0.53 in)	180 Kg/km (121 lbs/kft)
	061 – 072	14.2 mm (0.56 in)	184 Kg/km (124 lbs/kft)
	073 – 096	16.0 mm (0.63 in)	226 Kg/km (152 lbs/kft)
	097 – 120	17.9 mm (0.71 in)	275 Kg/km (185 lbs/kft)
	121 – 192	19.0 mm (0.75 in)	288 Kg/km (194 lbs/kft)
	193 - 216	19.8 mm (0.78 in)	315 Kg/km (212 lbs/kft)
	217 – 240	20.8 mm (0.82 in)	345 Kg/km (232 lbs/kft)
	241 - 288	22.9 mm (0.90 in)	413 Kg/km (278 lbs/kft)

Above figures are nominal values; actual production dimensions and weights may deviate slightly from the indicated figures above

2.10 Markings

2.10.1 Cable Markings

 

The entire length of each cable is marked with the following items:

 

	4SProducts Logo
	Year of Manufacture
	4SProducts Part No.
	Fiber Count
	Sequential Length Markings in Meters
	Telephone Handset Symbol

All length markings are placed at one meter intervals.  The actual cable length will be within ±3% of the marked length.  All markings are in indented in permanent white characters.  If remarking is required, yellow markings are used to correct the error in the original markings.

All cable text and markings are in the English language as follows;

 

2.10.2 Tape Markings

 

Non-Hydroscopic tape inside cable will contain the following markings in no more than 50cm distances.

 

	Month / Year of Manufacture
	Purchase Order number

 

2.10.3 Reel Markings

 

The text on the reels is to be printed as follows:

 

	4SProducts Logo
	Cable Type
	Single-Mode X Fiber Count
	Marking Showing Side to Unreel Cable

 

All reels will be painted in 072 royal blue and markings shall be in white.

All reels will contain a securely fastened metal plate with the following information:

 

	Order Number
	Drum Number
	Reel Gross Weight (kg)
	Reel Net Weight  (kg)
	Reel Cable Length (Meters)