Flame retardant blowable optical cable in compliance with CPR requirements

摘要

This paper presents a study on the upgrading of a MLT cable design to satisfy both requirements: suitability to air blowing installation and fire performance in accordance with the stringent CPR specifications. The final design has been defined by adjusting the extent of burnable components in the cable to reach an optimized configuration. A highly flame-retardant compound was introduced, improving the protection of tubes against the flame. In addition, cable design has been revised, aiming to reduce the total amount of burnable materials in the cable. Full characterization of the cable was performed, including fire performance according to EN 50399, mechanical tests according to IEC 60794 and blowing behavior evaluation according to IEC 60794-5-10.