As we all know, There are several parts that made up the fiber cable. Each part starting from the cladding, then the coating, strength member and lastly the outer jacket is covered at the top of each other to give protection and shielding especially the conductors and the fiber core. Above all of these, the outer jacket is the first layer of protection and adds strength to the fiber to withstand different conditions such as fire, moisture, chemical, and stress during installations and operations.
Fiber cable outer jackets can be classified into several types in terms of different materials. These materials have different characteristics and use that depends on the application’s setting. The list below shows the most popular types of outer jacket materials and its uses.
Fiber Cable Outer Jacket Material Types:
| Material | Characteristics and Uses |
| PVC (Polyvinylchloride) | Most commonly used material for outer jacket. It is low cost, strong, flexible, fire resistant and can be used in many applications. |
| PE (Polyethylene) | Very good electrical properties while maintaining high insulation. PE cables may be firm and solid but are more flexible. |
| PVDF (Polyvinyl Difluoride) | Has more flame-resistant properties than the PE cable and primarily used for plenum areas. |
| PUR (Polyurethane) | PUR is very flexible and scratch resistant that is mainly used in low-temperature environments. |
| LSZH (Low Smoke Zero Halogen) | LSZH is less toxic than PVC. It has a flame-retardant outer cover that doesn’t produce halogen when heated. Mainly used in confined installations. |