FEBRUARY 3, 2011 -- General Cable has added optical fiber nonconductive riser (OFNR) tight-buffer distribution fiber cables to its 17 Free line of halogen-free cables. According to General, the NextGen brand UL-rated Type OFNR cables will be offered at a competitive price and feature substantiated green properties.
"NextGen's 17 Free line of Type OFNR Tight Buffer Distribution Cables, which is more environmentally friendly, also features a lightweight, flexible design that simplifies installation," says Greg Carnes, product manager for General Cable fiber-optic cables. "These tight-buffered fibers are easy to handle and strip for field connectorization."
General Cable calls its halogen-free product line 17 Free because halogens fall into Group 17 of the Periodic Table. Cables in the 17 Free line do not contain any chlorine, fluorine, bromine or iodine, reducing the cable's overall toxicity and, according to General, resulting in a more environmentally friendly "green" product.
"As part of our green commitment, we continue to find innovative ways to exceed the requirements of our customers," explains Bob Kenny, vice president and general manager of General Cable Communication Cables. "Our 17 Free product line is a great example of turning end-user feedback into reality and we are working to continue to develop other sustainable 17 Free options, including electronic cables and cord products."
The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) announced the LEED Pilot Credit 2 in late 2009. The pilot credit is a credit geared to reducing the release of persistent bio-accumulative toxic chemicals, or PBTs, associated with the lifecycle of building materials, including electrical wiring and cable jacketing.
Based on this LEED credit and earlier requests for green products General Cable, which is a member of the USGBC and of the Green Suppliers Network, had its research-and-development staff (known as the Wire Wizards) examine the jacket of its fiber and premises cables, which has led to the successful engineering of these 17 Free halogen-free versions.