Fire Resistant Fiber Optic Cable

Fiber Cable Fire resistant

Fiber Cable Fire resistant solutions are designed for communication lines that must keep working during fire conditions in tunnels, public buildings, transport infrastructure, alarm networks and other critical installations.

This central loose tube construction combines fire resistant LSZH layers, synthetic mica tape, water-blocking elements and corrugated steel tape armor to support circuit integrity for up to 30, 60, 90, 120 and 180 minutes, depending on project requirement and test scenario.

For projects where fire performance, low smoke behavior, rodent protection and outdoor durability must be balanced in a single construction, this cable provides a practical indoor/outdoor option with UV-stabilized outer sheath and dependable mechanical protection.

Fire integrity Up to 180 minutes
Construction Central loose tube + steel tape armor
Sheath Fire resistant LSZH-UV
Use Indoor, duct and critical routes
Red fire resistant fiber optic cable with steel tape armored construction

Fiber Cable Fire resistant Overview

Built for signal continuity

The main role of a fire resistant fiber cable is not just to resist flame spread. It is to preserve optical transmission long enough for emergency communication, alarm signaling, shutdown procedures or controlled evacuation.

Balanced indoor and outdoor use

The LSZH-UV outer sheath makes the cable suitable for demanding routes where low smoke performance is required indoors, while UV stability supports outdoor exposure and duct-based deployment.

Practical installation profile

The current construction is positioned as a relatively compact and field-friendly solution, suitable for pulling, pushing or blowing in selected routes where fire survival matters as much as mechanical reliability.

Important distinction: fire integrity ratings such as FE180 / PH120 are not the same thing as CPR reaction-to-fire classes. One describes continued function during fire, the other describes how the cable behaves when exposed to fire in building applications.

Where to Use Fire Resistant Fiber Cable

Fiber Cable Fire resistant use cases

  • Fire alarm and voice alarm systems
  • Tunnels, metro lines and transport infrastructure
  • Public buildings with evacuation and life-safety requirements
  • Critical communication backbones in industrial or utility sites
  • Indoor or duct routes where low smoke and circuit integrity are both required

Why designers specify this construction

  • Continued communication during fire exposure
  • LSZH behavior for smoke and corrosive gas control
  • Steel tape armor for rodent and impact protection
  • Red outer sheath for fast visual identification
  • Indoor/outdoor flexibility to simplify project logistics

Fiber Cable Fire resistant Construction Details

Core structure

The cable is based on a central loose tube design with water-blocking glass yarn, fire resistant inner jacket layers and a longitudinal fire barrier based on mica tape. This construction is chosen to maintain optical function while improving thermal resilience and mechanical stability.

Armor and outer protection

Corrugated steel tape is used as the main armor layer to improve crush performance and rodent resistance. The outer sheath is a fire resistant LSZH-UV compound in red color, supporting both safety coding and weather exposure.

Fiber options

Common project options include OM1, OM3, OM4, OM5 multi-mode and OS2 single-mode fibers. Depending on system design, bend-optimized fiber options may also be specified for tighter routing conditions.

Installation profile

The cable is suitable for critical network routes in MAN, WAN and LAN environments, as well as duct installations where a lighter and more compact construction is preferred over heavier specialty designs.

Technical Specifications

Fiber count4-24 fibers
Fiber typesOM1, OM3, OM4, OM5 multi-mode and OS2 single-mode options
Strength membersWater blocking glass yarn
Loose tube diameter2.8 mm
Inner jacketFire resistant LSZH
ArmorCorrugated steel tape
Outer jacketFire resistant LSZH-UV, red outer sheath
Approx. cable weight170 kg/km
Outer diameter12.0 mm ±
Tensile load1600 / 2500 N (perm / inst)
Crush resistance2000 N (IEC 60794-1-2 E3)
Temperature range-30 °C to +70 °C (IEC 60794-1-2 F1)
Minimum bending radius20 x outer diameter (IEC 60794-1-2 E11)
Sample optical characteristic shown on page50/125 OM2, 850 / 1310 nm, attenuation max. 3.0 / 1.0 dB/km

Note: fiber type, core count and exact construction details can be configured according to project scope, fire requirement and installation environment.

Fire Resistant Fiber Cable Standards and Compliance

This page construction is aligned with the fire-performance language commonly required in life-safety and critical communication projects. The current product page references IEC 60331-25, IEC 60754-2, IEC 61034-2, IEC 60794 series, TIA/EIA 568-C.3 and Telcordia GR-409-CORE.

What the fire standards cover

  • IEC 60331-25 addresses circuit integrity testing for optical fibre cables under fire exposure.
  • IEC 60754-2 evaluates the corrosivity and acidity of gases evolved during combustion.
  • IEC 61034-2 measures smoke density under defined burning conditions.
  • EN 50575 / CPR is used in building applications to classify reaction to fire.

Why this matters in specification work

In real projects, buyers often confuse fire resistant with flame retardant or treat CPR as a replacement for fire survival testing. That is incorrect. Critical routes usually need the right combination of circuit integrity performance, low smoke behavior, halogen-free materials and project-specific mechanical protection.

FAQ About Fire Resistant Fiber Cable

What does FE180 / PH120 mean on a fire resistant fiber cable?
FE180 generally refers to maintaining circuit integrity during fire exposure, while PH120 is used for defined fire-and-mechanical-shock performance conditions. In plain terms, these ratings indicate that the cable is designed to keep the communication path alive during a fire for a defined period.
Is fire resistant fiber cable the same as CPR B2ca cable?
No. They describe different performance areas. Fire resistant cable focuses on continued function during fire. CPR classes such as B2ca describe reaction to fire in building applications, including flame spread, smoke, droplets and acidity behavior.
Can this fire resistant fiber cable be used outdoors?
Yes, the current construction includes a UV-stabilized outer sheath and is positioned for indoor and selected outdoor or duct routes. Final suitability should still be matched to the exact installation method, route protection and project specification.
Which fibre types are available in this fire resistant fiber cable range?
Common options include OM1, OM3, OM4, OM5 multi-mode and OS2 single-mode fibres. Exact fibre choice depends on transmission distance, active equipment and whether the project is backbone, horizontal distribution or life-safety related.
Why is steel tape armor used in this cable?
Corrugated steel tape improves crush resistance and rodent protection. It also helps the cable survive tougher physical environments than a purely non-metallic fire cable, especially in ducts, service routes and infrastructure corridors.
Is this cable only for fire alarm systems?
No. Fire alarm systems are one major use case, but the cable can also be selected for tunnels, metro lines, public buildings, industrial facilities and any route where communication continuity during fire is part of the design requirement.

Need the right fire-performance cable for a project?

If your specification needs fire survival, CPR alignment, mechanical protection and the correct fiber type in one construction, review the datasheet first and then match the cable to the route conditions, standards and core count required by the project.