Superior Essex Now Offers Macrobend Resistant Multimode Fibers

Three New ICEA Standards Sent to ANSI for Approval

The Communications Division of ICEA (Insulated Cable Engineers Association) held working group meetings, during which S-84-608 (Filled, Polyolefin Insulated, Copper Conductor Technical Requirements) was sent for ANSI (American National Standards Institute) approval along with ICEA S-83-596 (Optical Fiber Indoor Cable) and S-86-634 (Buried Telecommunications Wire, Filled). The meetings were held during the week of June 7 in Nashua, NH.

Also during session, there were several updates made to S-84-608 in an effort to harmonize it with the recently published Telcordia GR-421-CORE.This is the first step towards getting updates made to RUS PE-39 and PE-89, which were last published in 1993.

ICEA Working Group 730 is finalizing test procedures for a new standard, Fiber Optic Cable for Multi-Dwelling Units (MDU), and hopes to have a draft ready for circulation at the next meeting. It will be the first industry standard for this relatively new cable family, which has some unique installation considerations.

The next ICEA meeting will be held during the week of September 13 in Columbus, GA.

		Visit icea.net

Gain Flexibility with Toneable Drop FTTP (Series 571Q) From Superior Essex

The most flexible solution on the market for fiber to the premise (FTTP) applications, the Toneable Drop FTTP cable from Superior Essex has a small profile, which reduces cost and increases both ease of use and access to small conduits, and is easy to locate after installation.

The durable design incorporates two dielectric rigid rods for tensile and crush protection, bracketing a single enhanced loose tube containing up to 12 optical fibers and PFM gel, an easy to clean, non-sticky, water-blocking gel that reduces the friction between the buffer tube and optical fibers during the tube removal process.

		Download the catalog page (PDF)

Copper Wire and Cable Maximum Pulling Tension

Superior Essex has created a free technical guide to help installers avoid common missteps when pulling cable. The guide, available for download, covers such topics as recommended methods for ensuring that the tension is applied to all elements, the maximum allowable pulling tension, and influences to consider when pulling cable.

		Download the Tech Guide (PDF)

Visit with Superior Essex at a Defense Conference Near You

Defense contractors looking for the latest cable technologies can meet with Superior Essex to discuss application challenges and solutions at upcoming AFCEA or AFTIC conferences in August.

•	AFCEA LandWar Net – Booth 207 - August 3-5, Tampa, FL
•	AFCEA Ft. Bragg – Booth P44 - August 17- 18, Ft. Bragg, NC
•	AFITC – Booth 326 - August 30-Sept 2, Montgomery, AL

		View the complete 2010 Superior Essex Events Calendar

Cable and LEED points

Q: Does LEED currently allow for any points to be awarded based on any attributes of the cable products selected for the building?

A: Yes. In 4Q09 USGBC created a “pilot credit” that can provide 1 LEED point for the use of certain products (including cables, window frames, ceiling and floor tiles, conduit and other products) that do not contain halogenated organic compounds. Vinyl, PVCs, FEP and other fluorinated materials are classified as Halogenated Organic compounds and are widely used in communications cable products for their fire, smoke and low dielectric properties (in the case of FEP).

In order for cable products to help earn this pilot credit point, the cables must not exceed defined limits for the content of halogenated organic compounds. This criteria is controversial because many experts in the plastics industry have shown that PVC and FEP plastics are not any less “green” than alternative materials used in cable construction, yet PVC and FEP plastics are very beneficial in terms of fire/smoke suppression and make them indispensible for construction of riser and plenum rated cables. Details on this pilot credit program are available here.

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