FREEDM® Loose Tube, Gel-Free Cable, Non Armored
The Corning FREEDM® Loose Tube, Gel-Free Cable, Non-Armored is a flame-retardant, riser-rated fiber optic cable engineered for both indoor and outdoor installations. Ideal for interbuilding and intrabuilding backbones in aerial, duct, and riser applications, this cable delivers reliable high-speed performance with simplified gel-free installation.
FREEDM® Loose Tube, Gel-Free Cable, Non-Armored
by Corning
Corning's FREEDM® Loose Tube, Gel-Free Cable delivers proven indoor/outdoor performance without the mess of gel-filled cables. Water-swellable waterblocking materials replace traditional flooding gel — meaning no cleanup, no solvents, and faster mid-span access at every closure and splice point. The flame-retardant, UV-resistant jacket and all-dielectric construction make this cable equally at home in aerial, duct, and riser environments.
Key Features
Gel-Free Waterblocking
Water-swellable materials replace traditional flooding gel — providing effective moisture protection with no gel cleanup, no solvents, and significantly faster mid-span access at closures and splice points. Reduces installation time and labor cost at every termination point.
All-Dielectric Construction
The fully dielectric design eliminates the need for grounding or bonding at splice locations — simplifying installation and reducing hardware requirements. The UV-resistant, flame-retardant jacket is rugged, durable, and easy to strip for superior environmental protection.
Flexible Buffer Tubes
Craft-friendly flexible buffer tubes route easily through closures and splice trays, reducing time and effort at every termination point. The SZ-stranded loose tube design isolates fibers from installation and environmental stresses while allowing easy mid-span access.
Color-Coded Tubes & Fibers
Buffer tubes and the fibers within each tube are color-coded for quick, easy identification — reducing installation time and minimizing the risk of errors during splicing and termination work at every closure and distribution point.
Flame-Retardant Jacket
The UV-resistant, flame-retardant outer jacket meets riser fire-rating requirements — enabling this cable to transition seamlessly from outdoor aerial or duct routes directly into building riser environments without cable change-out at the building entry point.
Proven Performance
Corning's extensive FREEDM® loose tube fiber optic cable portfolio delivers reliable, high-speed data transmission across diverse installation environments — backed by proven field performance in aerial, duct, and riser backbone deployments worldwide.
Technical Specifications
All FREEDM® Loose Tube, Gel-Free Cable, Non-Armored configurations comply with ANSI/ICEA S-87-640 and are RoHS compliant per 2011/65/EU.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Fiber Count | 12 to 288 fibers |
| Fiber Types | Singlemode (OS2), Multimode (OM1, OM2, OM3, OM4) |
| Buffer Tube Diameter | 2.5 mm |
| Outer Jacket Material | UV-resistant, flame-retardant jacket |
| Operating Temperature | -40°C to +70°C (-40°F to +158°F) |
| Installation Temperature | -10°C to +60°C (14°F to 140°F) |
| Storage Temperature | -40°C to +70°C (-40°F to +158°F) |
| Standards Compliance | ANSI/ICEA S-87-640 |
| RoHS | Free of hazardous substances per RoHS 2011/65/EU |
| Installation Types | Aerial (lashed), duct, and riser (indoor/outdoor) |
| Waterblocking | Gel-free — water-swellable materials |
| Construction | All-dielectric, SZ-stranded loose tube, non-armored |
Applications
The FREEDM® Loose Tube, Gel-Free Cable is the versatile choice for backbone deployments that span both outdoor and indoor environments.
Interbuilding Backbones
Outdoor aerial and duct routes connecting buildings across a campus — where the gel-free design reduces splice closure turn-up time and the riser-rated jacket eliminates cable change-out at building entry points.
Intrabuilding Riser
Vertical riser runs between floors within a building — where the flame-retardant jacket meets fire safety requirements and the flexible buffer tubes simplify routing through conduit and cable trays in riser pathways.
Aerial & Duct Installations
Lashed aerial and duct backbone applications — where all-dielectric construction eliminates grounding requirements and the broad fiber count range (12–288 fibers) accommodates both current and future capacity in a single cable route.
Enterprise & Telecom Networks
Corporate campus and telecommunications distribution infrastructure where a single cable must serve both outdoor backbone and indoor riser segments — eliminating the splice point and hardware costs of transitioning between separate cable types.