Fire retardant and low-smoke optical communications cable

An optical communication cable, comprising:

• an outer cable jacket including an outer surface defining the outermost surface of the cable;
• a plurality of optical fiber subunits surrounded by the outer cable jacket, each optical fiber subunit comprising:
• a subunit jacket defining a subunit passage;
• and
• a plurality of optical fibers located within the subunit passage, each optical fiber including an outer polymer buffer coating having an outer diameter of at least 400 μm;
• wherein the outer cable jacket is formed from a halogen containing polymer material including a fire retardant material;
• wherein the subunit jacket is formed from a polyolefin polymer material including a fire retardant material comprising at least one metal hydroxide fire retardant, wherein the at least one metal hydroxide fire retardant produces water in the presence of fire and/or heat;
• wherein the optical communication cable is plenum burn test rated as described in NFPA 262 utilizing the Steiner Tunnel burn test.

A plenum rated, fire retardant and low smoke optical communication cable comprising:

• an outer cable jacket including an outer surface defining the outermost surface of the cable;
• a central strength member surrounded by the outer cable jacket, the central strength member comprising:
• a tensile strength element;
• and
• a polymer overcoat layer surrounding the tensile strength member;
• and
• a plurality of optical fiber subunits located around the central strength member within the outer cable jacket, each optical fiber subunit comprising:
• a subunit jacket defining a subunit passage;
• and
• a plurality of optical fibers located within the subunit passage, each optical fiber comprising:
• a glass core;
• and
• a polymer buffer coating surrounding the glass core and having an outer diameter greater than 400 μm;
• wherein the number of optical fiber subunits is at least three and the number of optical fibers in each subunit is at least two;
• wherein the outer cable jacket is formed from a polyvinylchloride material including a fire retardant material;
• wherein the polymer buffer coating is formed from a polyethylene material including a fire retardant material;
• wherein the subunit jacket is formed from a polyethylene material including a fire retardant material comprising at least one metal oxide fire retardant;
• wherein the polymer overcoat layer is formed from a polyvinylchloride material including a fire retardant material;
• wherein the optical communication cable is plenum burn test rated as described in NFPA 262 utilizing the Steiner Tunnel burn test.