Q1. What is an Indoor Gel-Free Micromodule Fiber Cable?
An indoor gel-free micromodule cable features flexible, ultra-thin micro-tubes (micromodules) containing optical fibers, utilizing dry water-blocking materials instead of traditional petroleum gel. This design creates a lighter, smaller-diameter cable that is cleaner to work with and optimized for high-density FTTH and riser networks.
Q2. What are the key benefits of a gel-free (dry) cable design during installation?
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Faster Cable Prep: Removes the need to wipe away messy gel with chemical solvents, reducing fiber preparation time by up to 50% – 70%.
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Tool-Free Fiber Access: Flexible micromodules can easily be stripped by hand without specialized tools, eliminating the risk of micro-cracks or accidental fiber damage caused by stripping pliers.
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Cleaner Work Environment: Eliminates chemical residues, ensuring a neat installation in indoor floor boxes, ODFs, and customer premises.
Q3. What type of fiber is typically used inside micromodule cables?
These cables typically incorporate bend-insensitive single-mode fibers compliant with ITU-T G.657.A1 or G.657.A2 standards. This allows for tight bending radii (as low as 7.5 mm to 10 mm) without causing significant signal attenuation, making them ideal for tight turns in indoor conduits and distribution boxes.
Q4. What are the fire safety and jacket specifications for indoor applications?
Indoor micromodule cables feature LSZH / LSOH (Low Smoke Zero Halogen) outer jackets. In the event of a fire, they emit minimal smoke and zero toxic halogen gases, complying with international flame retardancy standards such as IEC 60332 and European CPR (Construction Products Regulation) requirements.
Q5. How reliable is water blocking in a dry, gel-free cable?
Gel-free micromodule cables use Super Absorbent Polymer (SAP) yarns or tapes instead of gel. When exposed to moisture, these dry materials swell instantly to form a water-proof barrier that blocks water penetration, fully meeting IEC 60794 water-blocking performance standards.
Q6. Is fusion splicing compatible with micromodule fiber?
Yes. Because the fibers inside the micromodules feature standard 250 micron (250 um) primary coating dimensions and are completely free of gel, they require no solvent cleaning and can be cleaved and spliced immediately using any standard fusion splicer and heat-shrink protection sleeves.
