VERTICAL CABLE 281-NAR SERIES – LOOSE TUBE OPTICAL FIBER CABLE (SINGLEMODE, ALL-DIELECTRIC, NON-ARMORED)
The 281-NAR Series is a family of all-dielectric, non-armored loose-tube optical fiber cables built for outside plant routes. It comes in 6 to 144 singlemode fibers, with a dry, gel-free design that keeps splicing clean and a black polyethylene jacket that resists water and UV. Made for duct, lashed aerial, and air-blown installations, this loose tube optical fiber cable has no metal in its construction, so the cable itself needs no bonding or grounding.
KEY FEATURES
Here’s what makes the 281-NAR Series a dependable loose tube optical fiber cable:
- All-Dielectric Construction: An FRP central strength member and no metal in the cable, so it’s nonconductive.
- Dry, Gel-Free Loose Tubes: Flexible polypropylene tubes with water-blocking yarn and tape, with no gel to clean up before splicing.
- 6 to 144 Fibers: Seven fiber counts (6, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 144) cover most outside plant builds.
- Singlemode G.652.D Fiber: Max attenuation of 0.36 dB/km at 1310 nm and 0.25 dB/km at 1550 nm.
- Color-Coded Fibers: 12-color fiber identification, with 2 to 12 fibers per tube.
- Water-Blocking, UV-Resistant Jacket: Black polyethylene jacket made for outdoor exposure.
- Easy Stripping: Two aramid ripcords make jacket removal simple.
- Compact Size: 0.44 in (11.1 mm) outer diameter up to 72 fibers, 0.5 in for 96 fibers, and 0.63 in for 144 fibers.
- Strong and Crush Resistant: 890 N long-term and 2,700 N short-term tensile strength, plus 2,200 N/100 mm short-term crush resistance.
- Wide Temperature Range: Operates from -40°C to 70°C and installs from -30°C to 70°C.
APPLICATIONS
The 281-NAR Series is made for outside plant installations:
- Duct Installations: Pull into underground conduit and duct runs.
- Lashed Aerial Installations: Lash to a messenger strand along pole lines.
- Air-Blown Fiber Installations: A compact cable that suits blown-fiber deployments.
- Telecom and Campus Backbones: Long singlemode links between buildings, nodes, and equipment rooms.
- FTTx Feeder and Distribution: A range of fiber counts for building out access networks.
WHY CHOOSE THE 281-NAR SERIES LOOSE TUBE OPTICAL FIBER CABLE?
Professionals choose the 281-NAR Series for its dry design, compact size, and wide range of fiber counts. Here are 5 reasons to specify it for your next project:
- Gel-Free and Clean: Dry loose tubes mean no gel to clean off before splicing.
- No Metal, No Grounding: The all-dielectric construction makes the cable nonconductive.
- Seven Fiber Counts: Choose from 6 to 144 fibers in the same cable family.
- Compact and Flexible: A small diameter and up to 72 fibers make it easier to pull into a duct or lash to a strand.
- Built for Outdoor Conditions: A water-blocking, UV-resistant jacket and a wide temperature range stand up to exposed routes.
GETTING IT INSTALLED?
Once you’ve picked your 281-NAR configuration, here’s what to keep in mind:
- Match the cable to the pathway. This cable is for duct, lashed aerial, and air-blown routes. For direct-buried runs, an armored cable is the usual choice.
- Watch bend radius and pulling tension. Keep bends at 20x the cable diameter during the pull, which is roughly 9 in for the 0.44 in cable and about 12.6 in for 144 fibers. Stay under 2,700 N during installation and 890 N once installed.
- Plan the building entrance. This is outside plant cable, not plenum- or riser-rated. NEC 770.48 generally limits unlisted OSP cable to 50 ft past the point of entrance, ending in an enclosure, so plan a splice to listed indoor cable there.
- Respect the installation temperature. Install between -30°C and 70°C (-22°F to 158°F).
- Keep a splice map. With up to 12 colored tubes and 12 fiber colors per tube, label and record each splice as you go.
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