AFL recently introduced a new gel-free, dry buffer tube technology to its All-Dielectric Self-Supporting (ADSS) Fiber Optic Cable Family. There’s no support or messenger wire required with this technology, so it makes installation cost-friendly and simple especially when building a fiber optic network. The dry buffer tube technology is also helpful for installation in distribution and transmission environments, even if live-line installations are required.
This gel-free, dry buffer tube technology has a specialized water-blocking binder that absorbs any moisture around the cable. This makes the technology not only time saving, but more convenient and efficient to access the fibers as there’s no need for gel cleanup.
AFL-ADSS (double jacket designs) and Flex-Span® ADSS Fiber Optic Cable (single jacket designs) now have the option of gel-filled or the new gel-free technology. Both the gel-filled and gel-free options are made and tested in compliance with the IEEE 1222 industry standard for ADSS cables. While AFL believes there’s an appropriate application for each, they state that “either option should provide equally reliable performance”.
