In the summer of 2019, the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) published revised safety guidance for exposed cables in railway tunnels, urging that all cables comply with the Construction Products Regulation (CPR) characteristics of low flammability, low fire spread, low toxicity, and low smoke density. In January 2020, the B2 classification was reaffirmed as the general minimum fire safety requirement for this application.
In response, Corning has introduced the FREEDM™ B2 family of gel-free, loose-tube, dual-jacket indoor/outdoor cables, developed to provide the backbone for optical cabling infrastructure in railway tunnels in the EU and globally.
The cable family has already been deployed in Central Europe and has proven its effectiveness in the region's major urban networks.
“New technological advancements and changing consumer habits mean that it is vital to regularly review and update fire safety governance. Even more important is the capability and availability of hardware to implement those changes,” says Matthias Nitschke, Director of Product Line Management at Corning Optical Communications.
“We have moved quickly and effectively to develop and implement our CPR B2 certified cable portfolio, ensuring that connectivity infrastructure in large-scale rail networks can now meet the most stringent EU fire safety specifications. Furthermore, Corning’s EMEA testing laboratory and manufacturing facilities are now CPR System 1+ certified in collaboration with a notified body. This gives us end-to-end capabilities in flame-resistant cables, from materials science to manufacturing and now CPR cable testing and certification.”
FREEDM™ B2 class cables provide a number of benefits for rail operators and installers, including:
• Completely gel-free cable construction, which saves installation time and supports burn behavior in the event of a fire by creating less hazardous residue, along with low flammability, low fire spread, low toxicity, and low smoke density.
• Armored cable that allows for greater protection in demanding environments.
• From 12 to 192 optical fibers.
• Versatility in various environments, including indoor/outdoor, ducted/buried, and surface-mounted applications.
• Water-blocking technology for indoor/outdoor applications, creating a moisture barrier.
• Easily identifiable cable printing and CE marking on the cable jacket to provide complete transparency to the customer regarding the cable's CPR-assessed performance.
