iSnare.com - Free Content Articles Directory
Authors Contents [Advanced Search][Add OpenSearch][Job Search]
Distribute your articles to thousands of article sites for only $2 and below! Read more...

Index  Computers and Technology
 

What Are OFNP, OFNR, OFNG And OFCG? Understanding Fiber Optic Cable Fire Ratings

 
[ Contact the Author] [ Send to a Friend] [ Article Publisher] [Make PDF] [ Print] [ Bookmark & Share]
 
Read our Terms of Service before reprinting this article. The submitter specified above has claimed the rights to this article.
Colin Yao

Just like copper cables, NEC (National Electrical Code) requires indoor fiber optic cables be marked with their fire and smoking ratings. NEC requires all indoor fiber cables be marked correctly and installed properly for its intended use.

According to NEC, a building's inside area is divided into three types of sections: plenums, risers and general purpose areas.

:: What is a Plenum area?

A Plenum area is a building space used for air flow or air distribution system. In most buildings, the area above a drop ceiling or under a raised floor is used as the air return (source of air) for the air conditioning. Those drop ceiling and raised floors are also where fiber cables are often installed. If those cables were burning, they would give off toxic fumes and the fumes would be fed to the rest of the building by the air conditioner. As a result, people could be injured even though they are a long way from the fire.

:: What is a Riser area?

A Riser area is a floor opening, shaft or duct that runs vertically through one or more floors

:: What is General Purpose area?

All other area that is not plenum or riser and on the same floor is a general purpose area.

:: Fiber Optic Cable Fire and Smoking Rating Markings

OFNP Cables:

OFNP stands for Optical Fiber Nonconductive Plenum. OFNP cables have fire-resistance and low smoke production characteristics. They can be installed in ducts, plenums and other spaces used for building airflow. This is the highest fire rating fiber cable and no other cable types can be used as substitutes.

OFCP Cables:

OFCP stands for Optical Fiber Conductive Plenum. OFCP cables have the same fire and smoking rating as OFNP cables but they have a conducting armor or central strength member which is usually steel. OFCP cables must be properly grounded at both ends. As a result, OFCP cables can not be installed in the same cable tray or conduit as power cables.

OFNR Cables:

OFNR stands for Optical Fiber Nonconductive Riser. OFNR cables are used in Riser areas which are building vertical shafts or runs from one floor to another floor. OFNR cables can not be installed in plenum areas since they do not have the required fire and smoking rating as Plenum rated cables. OFNP plenum cables can be used as substitutes for OFNR cables.

OFCR Cables:

OFCR stands for Optical Fiber Conductive Riser. OFCR cables have the same fire rating characteristics as OFNR cables but they have conducting armor or central strength member which is usually steel. OFCR cables should also be properly grounded at both ends. OFCP cables can be used as substitutes for OFCR cables. OFCR cables can not be installed in the same cable trays or conduits as power cables.

OFNG Cables:

OFNG stands for Optical Fiber Nonconductive General-Purpose. They are typically used in horizontal cabling, single floor applications. OFNG cables can not be used in plenums or risers. OFNP and OFNR cables both can be used as substitutes for OFNG cables.

OFCG Cables:

OFCG stands for Optical Fiber Conductive General-Purpose. They have the same fire characteristics as OFNG cables but they have conducting armor or central strength members which is typically steel. OFCG cables should be properly grounded at both ends. They should not be installed in the same cable tray or conduits as power cables.

Important NoticeDISCLAIMER: All information, content, and data in this article are sole opinions and/or findings of the individual user or organization that registered and submitted this article at Isnare.com without any fee. The article is strictly for educational or entertainment purposes only and should not be used in any way, implemented or applied without consultation from a professional. We at Isnare.com do not, in anyway, contribute or include our own findings, facts and opinions in any articles presented in this site. Publishing this article does not constitute Isnare.com's support or sponsorship for this article. Isnare.com is an article publishing service. Please read our Terms of Service for more information.

Colin Yao is an expert on fiber optic technologies and products. To learn even more about duplex fiber optic cable, simplex fiber optic cable, duplex fiber patch cable, visit Fiber Optics For Sale Co. web site.

Article Tags: cables [See Dictionary], fiber [See Dictionary], fire [See Dictionary]
Got a question about this article? Ask the community!
Article published on May 22, 2008 at Isnare.com
 
Rate this article:

How Do Fiber Optic Cleavers Precisely Cut Optical Fibers in a Flash?
Submitted by: Colin Yao

:: What is optical fiber cleaving Simply put, optical fiber cleaving is the art of cutting glass optical fibers at a perfect 90° angle with a mirror like surface...

Dummies' Guide to Fiber Optic Bit Error Ratio (BER) Measurement
Submitted by: Colin Yao

Bit error ratio (BER) measurement is the fundamental measurement of the quality of the fiber optic communication system...

The Secrets of Choosing Ribbon Fiber
Submitted by: Colin Yao

Do you know why it is so expensive to install Fiber To The Home Why Bell companies are reluctant to deploy fiber optic network directly to consumers in a large scale...

Everything You Need to Know About Fiber Optic Ethernet
Submitted by: Colin Yao

In the last decade, a wide variety of applications have been developed that covers a dozen of datacom networking technologies...

How to Design a High Performance Optical Receiver?
Submitted by: Colin Yao

The structure of an optical receiver is simple: consisting of just a photodiode to produce the electrical current and an amplifier...

How to Design a Highly Reliable Fiber Optic Network
Submitted by: Colin Yao

What happens if a major fiber optic cable is cut or a major hubbing location is destroyed in a fiber network...

Dummies' Guide to Fiber Optic Sensors
Submitted by: Colin Yao

What are fiber optic sensors The fundamental characteristic of all fiber optic sensors is that they depend on some optical properties, such as intensity, phase, state of polarization and wavelength, to be modulated by measurands...

Understanding The Basics Of All Optical Switching
Submitted by: Colin Yao

What is all-optical switching All-optical switching is a process by which light, usually in the form of digital communication signals, is routed from one transmission channel to another, or modulated, without intermediate conversion to another format...

What Are Fiber Optic Circulators? Fiber Optic Communication Tutorial Series
Submitted by: Colin Yao

What is an optical circulator The optical circulator has similar function and design as the optical isolator...

What Are Fiber Optic Isolators? Fiber Optic Communication Tutorial Series
Submitted by: Colin Yao

Why do we need fiber optic isolator Light can be reflected back and forth...

What Are Fiber Optic Attenuators? Fiber Optic Communication Tutorial Series
Submitted by: Colin Yao

Why Do We Need Fiber Optic Attenuators A fiber optic attenuator, also called an optical attenuator, simulates the loss the would be caused by a long length of fiber...

The Current Status of FTTH in the US and the Rest of the World
Submitted by: Colin Yao

Understanding FTTH (Fiber To The Home) FTTH is an all-fiber connection to the home which provides a minimum of 155Mbps bandwidth on both up stream and down stream directions...

What is WDM (Wavelength Division Multiplexing) For Fiber Optic Communication? Fiber Optic Tutorial Series
Submitted by: Colin Yao

What is WDM WDM is the abbreviation for Wavelength Division Multiplexing...

Some Basic Concepts of Fiber Optic Loss Testing
Submitted by: Colin Yao

When testing loss in a fiber optic link, some basic principles must be kept in mind all the time 1...

The Future of Fiber Optic Communication
Submitted by: Colin Yao

There is no question that fiber optic communication is our future Fiber optic communication industry has been enjoying amazing growth for over 15 years...

Design Your Dream Deck With A Computer
Submitted by: Jesse Akre

When going about adding a deck to your home, you want it to be perfect It must fit in with the scheme of your home, and you don’t want it to be too big or too small...

Using IP Cameras in Prisons and Correctional Facilities
Submitted by: Wesley Fernley

In prison and correctional facilities, it's critical to have a proper video surveillance system This is why more and more prisons are opting for the IP Camera which works like a normal surveillance camera but with the added benefit of internet access...

Hightech Cameras Making Sport Training Easier
Submitted by: Jesse Akre

Lately, the advances in commonly used everyday items has increased dramatically We have cell phones that can double as MP3 players, as well as having internet capabilities, video consultations on our computers, digital cameras that can download right to the computer and then be sent in for printing, and so on...

Choosing a Guillotine Style Paper Cutter
Submitted by: Jeff McRitchie

An important piece of equipment to have in your copy room or work area is a guillotine paper cutter Guillotine paper cutters can help you quickly trim large stacks of paper...

MBM Destroyit 3803 Shredder Review
Submitted by: Jeff McRitchie

The Destroyit 3808 is a heavy duty shredder that the manufacturer posits as a centralized, heavy-use office shredder...

MBM Destroyit 4005 Shredder Review
Submitted by: Jeff McRitchie

Strengths: 1 The MBM Destroyit 4005 offers a super-wide 16 inch feed opening...

MBM Destroyit 4605 Shredder Review
Submitted by: Jeff McRitchie

The Destroyit 4606 is a high-capacity industrial shredder with a top-loading mechanism that is rated for continuous use...

DFG E Titan Wire Review
Submitted by: Jeff McRitchie

DFG's E Titan Wire is an electric wire binding system that is meant for ultra heavy duty use In this review, we will take a closer look at this machine a list what we consider to be some of its strengths and weaknesses...

DFG Titan Coil Binding Machine Review
Submitted by: Jeff McRitchie

The DFG Titan Coil is a well-constructed binding system aimed at filling the needs of medium sized organizations who want to have the ability to bind their own documents in the spiral coil style...

DFG Titan Comb Review
Submitted by: Jeff McRitchie

The DFG Titan Comb is a well-constructed, heavy duty plastic comb binding option aimed at smaller binderies, print shops, and other organizations who want the ability to bind booklets, proposals, presentations, and reports in a large variety of sizes and thicknesses...

DFG TitanCoil Ultra Review
Submitted by: Jeff McRitchie

As one of the only spiral coil binding machines on the market capable of punching through hard bound / chipboard covers, DFG's TitanCoil Ultra is aimed at providing a new binding option to print and copy shops as well any organizations who desires the capability of producing hardcover wire bound books...

DFG TitanWire L Review
Submitted by: Jeff McRitchie

As a relatively new company on the binding scene, DFG is setting out to make a name for themselves The TitanWire L is a two-to-one pitch wire binding machine that is aimed at small to medium sized organizations that do a fair amount of binding in the twin loop style...

DFG Wire 1000 Review
Submitted by: Jeff McRitchie

Aimed at small or home offices and organizations that are looking for a method of binding a few dozen or so booklets a week, The DFG Wire 1000 offers the user 3:1 pitch hole punching and three different binding styles at a reasonable price...

How to Get a Free Laptop Through the Internet
Submitted by: Jason Main

A laptop is probably one of the gadgets that anybody would love to have With everything that one could do through a laptop is it not surprising to find many men and women squirming with excitement to have a laptop...

Multi-Utility GPS Cell Phone
Submitted by: Roberto Sedycias

GPS cell phone may help in reducing gas emissions and keep the environment cleaner in a realistic way proving its multi-utility purpose...

Isnare.com Footer Divider

© 2004-2009. Isnare Free Articles - An Isnare Online Technologies Free Articles Project. All Rights Reserved.   Privacy Policy