Indoor Fiber Optic Cable: The Ultimate Guide In 2022

Fiber optic cables come in various types and can generally be classified as indoor and outdoor fiber optic cables according to their applications. A fiber optic cable comprises fibers, buffer tubes, ripcords, stiffeners, strength members, and an outer protective jacket. Choosing a suitable cable is essential to your cabling project. For instance, the choice will impact the installation cost of the fiber optic cable: how easy the cable is to install, its termination methods, e.g., mechanical splicing or fusion splicing, or terminated with a fiber optic connector, and what it will cost.

Fire prevention requirements

The main difference between indoor and outdoor fiber optic cables lies in the flame retardant and the water-blocking level. Compared to outdoor fiber optic cables, indoor fiber optic cable is less required to be tough enough. Instead, its flame retardancy grade is much more stringent, as it is used exclusively within buildings. This cable is not designed for harsh environments but is fire-resistant. It has to meet the local fire code provisions. You shall factor in fire prevention requirements that differ from each other worldwide. For example, The National Electrical Code(NEC) has specified eight levels of fire resistance for non-conductive and conductive cables. All indoor fiber optic cables should be marked and installed correctly as plenum, riser, or general-purpose indoor fiber optic cables. That’s why cables are classified into three types in terms of fire resistance: OFNP, OFNR, and general-purpose optical cable.

The figure below shows the eight grades of fire resistance.

NEC CODE	DESCRIPTION	CABLE APPLICATION	POSSIBLE SUBSTITUTE
OFNP	Optical Fiber Non-conductive Plenum Cable	Plenum, overhead, fiber only	/
OFCP	Optical Fiber Conductive Plenum Cable	Plenum, overhead, hybrid (fiber/wire)	/
OFNR	Optical Fiber Nonconductive Rise Cable	Riser, backbone, fiber only	OFNP
OFCR	Optical Fiber Conductive Rise Cable	Riser, backbone, hybrid	OFCP
OFNG	Optical Fiber Nonconductive General-Purpose	General purpose, horizontal	OFNP, OFNR
OFCG	Optical Fiber Conductive General-Purpose	General purpose	/
OFN	Optical Fiber Nonconductive	General purpose, horizontal, fiber only	OFNP, OFNR
OFC	Optical Fiber Conductive	General purpose, horizontal, hybrid

Figure 1: NEC’s eight levels of fire resistance.

Source: Understanding Fiber Optic Cable Jacket & Fire Rating

There’re three types of indoor fiber optic cables, i.e., plenum indoor fiber optic cable, riser indoor fiber optic cable, and LSZH indoor fiber optic cable (general-purpose optical cable).

Plenum indoor fiber optic cable(OFNP)

Plenum indoor fiber optic cable is the highest rating cable for flame retardancy, as it is used in plenum space.

A plenum space is a part of a building that can facilitate air circulation for heating and air conditioning systems, by providing pathways for either heated/conditioned or return airflows, usually at greater than atmospheric pressure. Space between the structural ceiling and the dropped ceiling or under a raised floor is typically considered plenum.

Figure 2: A commercial building with plenum airspace.

All materials intended for use on wire and cables to be placed in plenum spaces are designed to meet rigorous fire safety test standards following NFPA 262 and outlined in NFPA 90A.

As previously mentioned, OFNP refers to “Optical Fiber, Non-conductive, Plenum.” Plenum cable is jacketed with a fire-retardant plastic jacket of either a low-smoke polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or a fluorinated ethylene polymer (FEP).

Figure 3: Corning MIC® 250 Distribution Cable, Plenum 144 F, Single-mode (OS2)

Riser indoor fiber optic cable(OFNR)

OFNR refers to “Optical Fiber, Non-conductive, Riser.” The difference between them lies in the fire resistance capability.

OFNR cables

are certified for use in riser applications; they are engineered to prevent the spread of fire from floor to floor in a building. Typically they are tested for compliance with ANSI/UL 1666–1997, Standard Test for Flame Propagation Height of Electrical and Optical-Fiber Cable Installed Vertically in Shafts. NFPA NEC 2005 Art 770.51(B) FPN.

Riser Cable refers to the cable run between floors in non-plenum areas. The fire requirements on the riser cable are not as strict as the plenum cable. The plenum cable can always replace the riser cable, but the riser cable cannot replace the plenum cable in plenum spaces.

Figure 4: Corning Zipcord Tight-Buffered Cable, Riser 2 F, 2.8 mm diameter, Single-mode

LSZH indoor fiber optic cable

LSZH stands for Low smoke zero halogen and is a material classification typically used for cable jacketing in the wire and cable industry.

LSZH cable jacketing is composed of thermoplastic or thermoset compounds that emit limited smoke and no halogen when exposed to high sources of heat.

These are designed for horizontal intrabuilding backbones with little smoke and zero-halogen requirements. This cable is classified as a general-purpose optical cable.

Figure 5: Corning LSZH™ Loose Tube, Gel-Free, Corrugated Armored Cable 12 F, 50 µm

OFNP vs. OFNR vs. LSZH(general purpose cable)

The figure below compares these three types of fiber optic cables.

Figure 6: The comparison of flame retardancy between OFNP vs. OFNR vs. General purpose cable

Source: Understanding Fiber Optic Cable Jacket & Fire Rating

Common installation ways of indoor fiber optic cable

Regarding these three types of indoor fiber optic cables, there’re also three installation methods, i.e., plenum cabling, riser cabling, and trays/ladder rack cabling.

Plenum cabling

This method applies to the plenum cable deployed above drop ceilings or under raised floors. It’s much easy as light-weighted panels are fixed by metal frames or grids attached to the ceiling. Only fiber optic cable management tools, such as trays, J-hooks, and cable ties, are needed to keep the cabling in good order.

Riser cabling

Riser cables need to be supported during pulling, like using cable ties in a wiring closet. Also, begin the installation from the top, not pulling from the opposite directions.

Trays/ladder rack cabling

Trays/ladder racks are preferred by large hi-tech data centers to efficiently and effectively organize the cabling. They can be placed under ceilings, floors, riser shafts, etc. Better avoid as much tension, crushing, and bending as possible.

Figure 7: A glimpse inside a Facebook server farm