Fiber Optic Cable Protection Sleeves: When Heat Shrink Isn’t the Best Fit

Fiber optic cables are widely used across aerospace, utilities, industrial, and defense applications, but their fragility makes them uniquely challenging to protect, especially in environments where abrasion, movement, or maintenance access are factors.

One of the most common solutions people turn to for fiber optic cable protection is heat shrink tubing. But, that’s not always the best option.

Where Heat Shrink Falls Short for Fiber Optics

Heat shrink tubing offers a clean, semi-permanent way to seal and protect cable assemblies. It’s widely used in electrical installations, but it comes with some limitations when applied to fiber optic harnesses:

• Thermal stress – The heat required to shrink heat shrink tubing can damage delicate fibers.
  
  
• No reworkability – Once installed, heat shrink must be cut away for repairs or inspection.
  
  
• No access – You can’t inspect, splice, or reroute cables without fully removing heat shrink tubing.
  
  
• Installation complexity – Requires heating tools and complete disconnection of cables to install cleanly.
  
  

These issues can make heat shrink impractical for pre-terminated fiber assemblies, tight enclosures, or systems that require ongoing access and reconfiguration.

An Alternative: Self-Wrapping Fiber Optic Cable Protection Sleeves

For applications where access and protection are both critical, self-wrapping fiber optic cable protection sleeves provide an alternative to heat shrink that’s worth considering.

These sleeves are typically woven from high-performance materials (like Nomex® or PPS), and instead of requiring heat, they wrap around the cable bundle and hold in place with a self-wrapping design. This makes them especially useful for:

• Rework and retrofits – Easily add or remove protection without disturbing connectors
  
  
• Fiber optic routing – Protects delicate fibers without applying radial pressure or heat
  
  
• Harsh environments – If your application requires enhanced abrasion resistance, flame retardance, or fluid protection braided sleeving can provide better protection than heat shrink.
  
  

Before you decide on a fiber optic sleeving solution, it’s critical to understand how the performance specs apply to your application. At Titan Electronics, we often recommend ROUNDIT® 2000 NX VTR for a fiber optic sleeve that meets the demanding requirements of aerospace, utility, and industrial environments. ROUNDIT® 2000 NX VTR is a self-wrapping sleeve specifically designed to protect fiber optic harnesses while withstanding abrasion, extreme temperatures, and exposure to fluids. 

Technical Specs: ROUNDIT® 2000 NX VTR

Property	Result
Operating Temp (Continuous)	-60ºC to +200ºC
Thermal Shock Limit	Short-term to +220ºC
Flammability Rating	FAR 25.853, EN2825/2826 compliant
Water Repellency	Pass (EN 6059 Part 305)
Abrasion Resistance	Pass (EN 6059 Part 403)
Dynamic Cut-Through	Pass (EN 6059 Part 405)
Fluid Resistance	Good resistance to JP-4, Skydrol, mineral oil, synthetic oil, cleaners, de-icing fluid
Mould Growth	Pass (EN 6059 Part 306)
Construction	Woven Nomex® + PPS blend
Self-wrapping	Yes – install/remove without disconnecting cables
Halogen-Free	Yes
Visual Identifier	Violet tracer to identify fiber harnesses

Part Number	Application Range (mm)	Max Weight (g/m)	Standard Packaging (m)
ROUNDIT 2000 NX VTR 5-5/7	1 – 5	13	150
ROUNDIT 2000 NX VTR 8-5/7	5 – 8	18	100
ROUNDIT 2000 NX VTR 13-5/7	8 – 13	26	50
ROUNDIT 2000 NX VTR 19-5/7	13 – 19	38	25
ROUNDIT 2000 NX VTR 25-5/7	19 – 25	47	25
ROUNDIT 2000 NX VTR 32-5/7	25 – 32	65	25
ROUNDIT 2000 NX VTR 40-5/7	32 – 40	90	25

Let’s Talk About Your Application

Protecting fiber optic cables requires balancing physical protection, thermal limits, and serviceability. While heat shrink may be familiar, it isn’t always the right solution especially in fiber applications that demand high-temp tolerance and access for maintenance or upgrades.

Self-wrapping sleeves like ROUNDIT® 2000 NX VTR are an excellent alternative. By combining abrasion and fluid resistance with reusability and no-heat installation, they help engineers and techs protect sensitive fiber without compromising on performance. Contact your product specialists at Titan Electronics for more information.

About The Author

Joe Wigginton is a seasoned Sales Manager with a rich background in the aerospace and defense industries. With over 20 years of experience in the cable and cable protection sector, Joe initially served as a manufacturers' representative for 5 years before taking the entrepreneurial route. For the past 15 years, he has successfully owned and operated a business dedicated to supporting customers with top-quality products and solutions.

Beyond his professional achievements, Joe has traveled extensively worldwide to forge meaningful relationships and source the best products to meet our customers' needs. His global perspective and commitment to excellence make him a valuable asset to our team and clients alike.