Tight Buffer Fiber Optic Cable

Tight buffered and loose tubes are two styles of fiber optic cable construction.
Tight buffer fiber optic cable is generally constructed with 900μm buffered fibers surrounded by aramid yarn or e-glass strength members jacketed in an LSZH outer jacket. In loose-tube cables that hold more than one optical fiber, each individually sleeved core is bundled loosely within an all-encompassing outer jacket.
Tight-buffered fiber cable typically contains anywhere from 1 to 144 fibers, although those with 2, 6, 12, and 24 fibers are the most commonly employed. For particular applications, larger fiber counts like 48 fibers, 96 fibers, and 144 fibers are also obtainable. In contrast, the loose-tube fiber optic cable consists of 12 strands of fiber, but it can range from as little as 6 up to as many as 244 strands.

Tight-buffered cables are mainly designed for indoor applications. The tight buffer construction permits smaller sizes, and lighter-weight configurations, and is generally more flexible and crush-resistant. The main use of tight-buffered cable is within buildings and campuses, and is generally installed on cable trays or in conduits. Instead of a gel layer or sleeve to protect the fiber core, tight-buffered cables use a two-layer coating. One is plastic; the other is waterproof acrylate. Tight buffer fiber optic cable is also suitable for underwater applications owing to its two-layer coating. BTW, loose-tube gel-filled cable is the best for outdoor use, but since it’s inconvenient to be spliced and terminated, it’s not the first choice for indoor/outdoor use.

Tight-buffered cables are also easier to install because there’s no messy gel to clean up and they don’t require a fan-out kit for splicing or termination. You can crimp connectors directly to each fiber.