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 Central Tube Ribbon cables contain 12 to 432 optical fibers. The fibers are grouped into 12 or 24 fiber flat ribbon matrices. The ribbons are stacked in a single gel filled central buffer tube. Corrugated steel armor is placed around the buffer tube with a ripcord underneath for easy removal. Two steel wires are longitudinally laid down each side of the armor for tensile strength. Highly visible ripcords are placed along each wire. A smooth black medium density polyethylene (MDPE) sheath is extruded over the armor and wires.

The Central Tube Ribbon Fiber/ Single Jacket sheath cable is ideal for medium to high fiber count applications where additional sheath protection is needed such as in direct buried builds. Recommended applications also include lashed aerial.
 

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 Central Tube Ribbon Fiber / Single Jacket optical cables utilize 12 or 24 fiber ribbons within a central tube construction which provides a small diameter, lightweight, high fiber packing density cable. The all-dielectric sheath construction makes the cable immune to electrical currents and lightning attacks, ideal for duct or lashed aerial installations.

 

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

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

RIBBON MARKING CODES RIBBON No. CODE RIBBON No. CODE 01 BL 1 19 D-RD 19 02 OR  2 20 D-BK 20 03 GR  3 21 D-YL 21 04 BR 4 22 D-VI 22 05 SL 5 23 D-RS 23 06 WH 6 24 D-AQ 24 07 RD 7 25 DD-BL 25 08 BK 8 26 DD-OR 26 09 YL 9 27 DD-GR 27 10 VI 10 28 DD-BR 28 11 RS 11 29 DD-SL 29 12 AQ 12 30 DD-WH 30 13 D-BL 13 31 DD-RD 31 14 D-OR 14 32 DD-BK 32 15 D-GR 15 33 DD-YL 33 16 D-BR 16 34 DD-VI 34 17 D-SL 17 35 DD-RS 35 18 D-WH 18 36 DD-AQ 36

2.4 Ribbon Matrices

Twelve (12) colored fibers are held together in the form of a flat ribbon by a UV cured acrylate matrix. Fibers within the ribbon are arranged in the order as shown above. Each ribbon within the cable is marked with "4SProducts" and a unique identification number and code as shown above. For cables with greater than 216 fibers, the 12 fiber ribbons are formed together into 24 fiber ribbons. These 24 fiber ribbons are easily split apart into two 12 fiber ribbons for ease of handling and splicing.

The ribbon fibers are fully compatible with mass fusion splicing equipment and other commercially available splicing techniques. The matrix and coatings are easily stripped with thermal strippers. The matrix material can also be easily and cleanly pulled away from the individual 250 mm colored fibers if single fiber access is needed from the ribbon end or in midspan.
 

2.5 Central Buffer Tube

The fiber ribbons are placed in a single, gel filled buffer tube. The gel prevents water migration down the tube and can be easily removed from the ribbons with isopropyl alcohol. The buffer tube is made of a semi-translucent thermo-plastic material.

2.6 Cable Water Blocking

The ribbons are stacked in a single, gel filled buffer tube.  The gel prevents water migration down the tube and can be easily removed from the ribbons with isopropyl alcohol.

2.7 Cable Sheath

The single armor consists of a co-polymer coated steel tape which is corrugated and wrapped around the central buffer tube.  The steel armor provides additional cable compression strength and rodent protection.  An aramid ripcord is placed under the armor to facilitate it's removal.

Two (2) steel wires are longitudinally laid 180° opposed along the outside of the armor.  They provide the cable with the necessary tensile strength for installation and service loads.  Highly visible ripcords are placed along the each steel wire for quick and easy sheath entry.

The armor and steel wires are covered with smooth outer black MDPE jacket.   
 

2.8 Cable Dimensions

LOOSE TUBE CABLE DIMENSIONS
CABLE TYPE	FIBER COUNT	DIAMETER	WEIGHT
FS-XXX*SOInn	002 - 096	14.5 mm (0.57 in)	164 kg/km (110 lbs/kft)
	108 - 216	17.0 mm (0.67 in)	220 kg/km (148 lbs/kft)
	240 - 432	20.9 mm (0.82 in)	349 kg/km (234 lbs/kft)

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

2.9 Markings

2.9.1 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;

 

2.9.2 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

 

2.9.3 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)