FREEDM® LST™ Gel-Free Interlocking Armored Cables
The Corning FREEDM® LST™ Gel-Free Interlocking Armored Cable delivers superior crush protection and high-speed data transmission in demanding indoor and outdoor environments. Flame-retardant, riser-rated, and built with spirally wrapped aluminum interlocking armor — this cable is engineered for interbuilding and intrabuilding backbones where standard non-armored cables fall short.
FREEDM® LST™ Gel-Free Interlocking Armored Cable
by Corning
Corning's FREEDM® LST™ Interlocking Armored Cable combines the installation ease of a gel-free design with the rugged durability of spirally wrapped aluminum interlocking armor — providing seven times the crush protection of non-armored cables. The flexible armor design allows installation without additional conduit even in space-constrained environments, while the flame-retardant riser-rated jacket enables seamless indoor/outdoor transitions.
Key Features
Flexible Interlocking Armor
Spirally wrapped aluminum interlocking armor delivers seven times the crush protection of non-armored cables — ideal for industrial and heavy-traffic areas. Despite its robust protection, the flexible design allows installation without additional conduit, even in space-constrained environments.
Gel-Free Waterblocking
Water-swellable materials replace traditional flooding gel — making cable preparation more efficient and eliminating the need for cleanup at every access point. Provides effective moisture protection without the mess associated with conventional gel-filled armored cables.
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.
UV-Resistant, Flame-Retardant Jacket
The rugged outer jacket is UV-resistant and flame-retardant — meeting NEC® OFCR and CSA OFC FT-4 riser fire-rating requirements to enable seamless indoor/outdoor transitions without cable change-out at the building entry point.
No Conduit Required
The interlocking armor construction provides sufficient mechanical protection to eliminate the need for additional conduit in many applications — reducing material costs, simplifying routing in tight spaces, and accelerating installation in industrial and high-traffic environments.
Broad Fiber Type Support
Available in singlemode OS2 for long-distance transmission and multimode OM1, OM2, OM3, and OM4 for shorter-reach applications — covering the full range of network fiber specifications in a single armored cable platform rated for demanding indoor and outdoor environments.
Technical Specifications
All FREEDM® LST™ Gel-Free Interlocking Armored Cable configurations comply with NEC® OFCR, CSA OFC FT-4, and ANSI/ICEA S-104-696 standards.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Fiber Count | 2 to 24 fibers |
| Fiber Types | Singlemode (OS2), Multimode (OM1, OM2, OM3, OM4) |
| Armor Type | Spirally wrapped aluminum interlocking armor |
| 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 | NEC® OFCR, CSA OFC FT-4, ANSI/ICEA S-104-696 |
| Crush Protection | 7× vs. non-armored cables |
| Waterblocking | Gel-free — water-swellable materials |
| Installation Types | Aerial (lashed), duct, riser, and industrial indoor/outdoor |
| Construction | LST™ loose tube, gel-free, interlocking armored, riser-rated |
Applications
The FREEDM® LST™ Gel-Free Interlocking Armored Cable excels wherever standard non-armored cables lack the mechanical protection required for reliable long-term performance.
Industrial & Heavy-Traffic Areas
The interlocking armor's seven-times crush resistance makes this cable the preferred choice for factory floors, utility tunnels, and other industrial environments where mechanical damage is a constant risk to standard fiber optic cables.
Interbuilding & Intrabuilding Backbones
Aerial, duct, and riser backbone routes connecting buildings across a campus — where the riser-rated flame-retardant jacket enables the cable to transition directly from outdoor to indoor environments without a mid-route cable change-out.
High-Fiber-Count Trunking
Space-constrained conduit and vault environments where the armored construction eliminates the need for additional protective conduit — enabling higher fiber density in existing pathway infrastructure without expensive conduit additions.
Demanding Outdoor Deployments
Direct-routed outdoor aerial and duct applications in areas with rodent activity, ground movement, or physical interference risk — where the interlocking armor provides a durable protective layer that standard loose tube cables cannot match.