Difference between Loose Tube and Tight Buffered Fiber Optic Cable

Fiber Optic Cable is ideal for networking systems becomes a necessity and more affordable in today’s generation. The cable has two main different styles of construction, Loose Tube and Tight Buffered construction. Both of these types are used for different environments and are excellent rugged fiber optic cables. Loose Tube is used for moderate length indoor and outdoor applications whereas the other one is useful for long-distance outdoor applications having some kind of strengthening members like aramid yarn, stainless steel wire strands or even gel-filled sleeves.

Loose Tube Fiber Cable:
Being the oldest among the two cable types and most proven fiber optic conductor is the Loose Tube Fiber which is designed to be used in the harsh conditions offering excellent protection in an outdoor environment.

Loose tube cable consists of a coated fiber placed within a rugged, abrasion-resistant semi-rigid protective sleeves or tube which is filled with water-resistant gel. The gel surrounds the fiber eliminating tension and mechanical stresses caused by the moisture and temperature. In another way, the gel within the loose tube cable prevents the penetration of water and keeps away from freezing near the fiber in cold temperature. This way the cable is ideal to be used in high humidity environments.

Although the gel-filled loose tube cable is subject to harsh outdoor applications it is not suitable when the cable is submerged or routed around multiple bends.

Tight Buffered Fiber Optic Cable:
Tight buffered construction is optimized for less hostile indoor applications. This fiber optic cable has a two-layer coating and doesn’t require a gel layer to protect the core. The two layers are soft plastic and waterproof acrylate. The plastic lets deformation and lowers the forces. On the other hand, Acrylate ensures physical protection by preventing moisture from the cable. Since this layer is tightly bound to the plastic layer the fiber core does not get exposed when the cable is bent or compressed underwater.

Tight buffered cables are easily installed because the fiber does not contain a gel that is necessary to be cleaned up every time it’s used for the applications. Also, there is no requirement of fiber splicing and termination kit. This cable is also flexible and light in weight when compared to Loose Tube cable and is more suited for LAN/WAN connections, direct burials, and underwater applications.