Fiber Characterization Standards – (IEC)
The International Electro-technical Commission (IEC) sets standards for products and defines test methods. The Technical Committee 86 deal with fiber optics. Under this there are three Sub Committee:
- SC86A: – deals with fibers and cables
- SC86B: – deals with fiber optic interconnecting devices and passive components (connectors etc.)
- SC86C: – deals with fiber optic systems and active devices (installed links, amplifiers etc.)
The 61 280-4-x series covers tests on installed cabling links, including attenuation, return loss and PMD.
61 280-4-2: – covers attenuation testing of singlemode links. Richard Ednay of OTT has been appointed as project leader to substantially re-write this standard to produce an initial draft in October 2008. This will also include return loss measurements that were originally destined to (40 into a separate 61 280-4-3 standard.
61280-4-4: – covers PMD test methods for installed links and the Technical Report 61282-9 provides further guidance on PMD test methods.
I IEC 61 300-3-35: – is a new standard for fiber optic connector end face inspection, due for publication in 2008.
The IEC website is at www.iec.ch