18 August 2003 Atlanta Lightwave -- Superior TeleCom Inc., through its SUPERIOR ESSEX Communications Group, announced the introduction of dry water-blocking functionality for the company's indoor/outdoor tight buffer OFNR (optical fiber nonconductive riser)-rated fiber cable product line. This new cable design complies with the requirements established by Telcordia GR-20 for water blocking of outside plant cables, yet allows for a completely dry cable that can also be used indoors.
The compliance to the GR-20 water-blocking requirement provides significantly more assurance against water penetration than that offered by typical indoor/outdoor tight buffer cables. These new cables also have been verified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) to meet UL-1581 for sunlight and weather resistance, functionalities that are imperative if the cable is exposed to direct sunlight and humid conditions.
"This cable uniquely provides the combination of GR-20 water-blocking and verified UL 1581 sunlight resistance in a 900 micron tight buffer fiber cable design," said Stephen Martin, RCDD/LAN specialist and the director of Premises Product Management for SUPERIOR ESSEX Communications Group. "In many OSP [outside plant] situations, both of these features should be mandated by customers to ensure longevity of performance in the fiber cable.
"The use of dry water-blocking technology will not hinder the efficiency of installation, making this cable a truly universal offering that is as usable indoors as it is outdoors," he added.
Superior Telecom manufactures a broad portfolio of wire and cable products with primary applications in the communications and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) markets.
