Fiber Optic Loose Tube Vs Tight Buffered

Tight buffered and loose tube fiber are the two styles of constructions fiber optic cables offered.

Fiber optic loose tube vs tight buffered.

Fiber optic cables are constructed in two ways. Both contain a type of strengthening member such as aramid yarn stainless steel wire strands or gel filled sleeves. Loose tube cables are designed for harsh environment conditions in the outdoors. Loose tube and tight buffered.

In loose tube cables the coated fiber floats within a rugged abrasion resistant oversized tube which is filled with optical gel. Loose tube fiber contains multiple strands of fiber in a single jacket. In loose tube cables a high level of isolation from water penetration and extreme temperatures are possible while tight buffered cables being more robust than loose tube cables are better suited for lan or wan connections long indoor runs and direct burial. Each however is designed for very different environments.

Between them there are several common denominators like the fact that both have in their interior a strengthening member of sorts that can be made of stainless steel in the form of wire strands aramid yarn or gel filled sleeves. Loose buffer or loose tube cables mean that the fibers are placed loosely within a plastic tube whose inner diameter considerably larger than the fiber itself. The other is waterproof acrylate. The acrylate coating keeps moisture away from the cable as the gel filled sleeves do for loose tube cables.

Tight buffer or tight tube cable designs are typically used for isp applications. However in tight buffered cables there are not so many cables as loose tube fibers. Loose tube fiber optic cable is typically used for outside plant installation in aerial duct and direct buried applications. Tight buffer fiber contains a thick coating of a plastic type material which is applied directly to the outside of each individual fiber.