What Is Flame-retardant Optical Cable And Should I Use It?

With the wide use of optical cables, more and more users have shown interest in flame-retardant optical cables, also known as OFNP optical cables. This cable offers high speed, high safety, high fire resistance rating and low smoke PVC or FEP compounds.

 

 

Pressurized space

The pressurized space is an area used for air circulation or the return of air conditioning systems. Most building codes (for hospitals, schools, residential buildings, airports and commercial buildings) stipulate that only flame-retardant optical cables can be used in pressurized Spaces and air ducts. Typically, a pressurized space is an open area above the ceiling and below the raised floor. In most buildings equipped with heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, air ducts supply air from external HVAC units to the interior of the building, but the return air passes through the open space above the ceiling, thus making it a pressurized space. These Spaces are crucial for air circulation, but due to the high air flow speed, they can pose a significant fire hazard.

 

What is flame-retardant optical cable?

Flame-retardant optical cable or optical fiber non-conductive pressure room (OFNP) is the name given by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) of the United States to indoor optical cables that do not contain conductive components and are certified for use in pressure room applications. In addition, flame-retardant optical cables are composed of a flame-retardant and low-smoke sheath, which can release less smoke and self-extinguish. The sheath can be made of fluorinated ethylene polymer (FEP), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or low smoke polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

Functions and advantages

Flame-retardant optical cables feature fire resistance and low smoke, offering high speed and high safety, which helps prevent fires from spreading from one floor to another within buildings. In addition, by making it easier and safer for optical cables to pass through open Spaces above the ceiling, the use of flame-retardant optical cables helps to reduce the cost of network cabling. Compared with trying to tear through walls and pass optical cables through small crawling Spaces, you save time and money.

 

Application

Flame-retardant optical cables are typically used in pipes, conduits, booster rooms and other Spaces, for building airflow, Gigabit Ethernet, broadband systems, telecommunications, data centers and indoor/outdoor applications.

 

Summary

Flame-retardant optical cables use fluorocarbon sheaths to provide low smoke and flame characteristics. This is the optical cable with the highest fire resistance rating. There is no other type of optical cable that can be used as a substitute.