| Just like copper cables, NEC (National Electrical Code) | | | | central strength member which is usually steel. OFCP |
| requires indoor fiber optic cables be marked with their | | | | cables must be properly grounded at both ends. As a |
| fire and smoking ratings. NEC requires all indoor fiber | | | | result, OFCP cables can not be installed in the same |
| cables be marked correctly and installed properly for | | | | cable tray or conduit as power cables. |
| its intended use. | | | | OFNR Cables: |
| According to NEC, a building's inside area is divided | | | | OFNR stands for Optical Fiber Nonconductive Riser. |
| into three types of sections: plenums, risers and | | | | OFNR cables are used in Riser areas which are |
| general purpose areas. | | | | building vertical shafts or runs from one floor to |
| :: What is a Plenum area? | | | | another floor. OFNR cables can not be installed in |
| A Plenum area is a building space used for air flow or | | | | plenum areas since they do not have the required |
| air distribution system. In most buildings, the area | | | | fire and smoking rating as Plenum rated cables. OFNP |
| above a drop ceiling or under a raised floor is used as | | | | plenum cables can be used as substitutes for OFNR |
| the air return (source of air) for the air conditioning. | | | | cables. |
| Those drop ceiling and raised floors are also where | | | | OFCR Cables: |
| fiber cables are often installed. If those cables were | | | | OFCR stands for Optical Fiber Conductive Riser. |
| burning, they would give off toxic fumes and the | | | | OFCR cables have the same fire rating characteristics |
| fumes would be fed to the rest of the building by | | | | as OFNR cables but they have conducting armor or |
| the air conditioner. As a result, people could be injured | | | | central strength member which is usually steel. OFCR |
| even though they are a long way from the fire. | | | | cables should also be properly grounded at both ends. |
| :: What is a Riser area? | | | | OFCP cables can be used as substitutes for OFCR |
| A Riser area is a floor opening, shaft or duct that | | | | cables. OFCR cables can not be installed in the same |
| runs vertically through one or more floors | | | | cable trays or conduits as power cables. |
| :: What is General Purpose area? | | | | OFNG Cables: |
| All other area that is not plenum or riser and on the | | | | OFNG stands for Optical Fiber Nonconductive |
| same floor is a general purpose area. | | | | General-Purpose. They are typically used in horizontal |
| :: Fiber Optic Cable Fire and Smoking Rating Markings | | | | cabling, single floor applications. OFNG cables can not |
| OFNP Cables: | | | | be used in plenums or risers. OFNP and OFNR cables |
| OFNP stands for Optical Fiber Nonconductive Plenum. | | | | both can be used as substitutes for OFNG cables. |
| OFNP cables have fire-resistance and low smoke | | | | OFCG Cables: |
| production characteristics. They can be installed in | | | | OFCG stands for Optical Fiber Conductive |
| ducts, plenums and other spaces used for building | | | | General-Purpose. They have the same fire |
| airflow. This is the highest fire rating fiber cable and | | | | characteristics as OFNG cables but they have |
| no other cable types can be used as substitutes. | | | | conducting armor or central strength members which |
| OFCP Cables: | | | | is typically steel. OFCG cables should be properly |
| OFCP stands for Optical Fiber Conductive Plenum. | | | | grounded at both ends. They should not be installed |
| OFCP cables have the same fire and smoking rating | | | | in the same cable tray or conduits as power cables. |
| as OFNP cables but they have a conducting armor or | | | | |