IEC 60874-14-5:1997

Connectors for optical fibres and cables - Part 14-5: Detail specification for fibre optic connector type SC-PC untuned terminated to single-mode fibre type B1

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 23-Jun-1997
• ICS: 33.180.20 - Fibre optic interconnecting devices
• Technical Committee: SC 86B - Fibre optic interconnecting devices and passive components
• Current Stage: PPUB - Publication issued
• Start Date: 24-Jun-1997
• Completion Date: 31-May-1997

Overview

IEC 60874-14-5:1997 is an international standard developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) that provides detailed specifications for SC-PC type untuned fibre optic connectors terminated to single-mode fibre type B1. As part of the IEC 60874 series, this detail specification ensures internationally harmonized requirements for quality, performance, and dimensions of fibre optic connectors used in telecommunication networks, data centers, and structured cabling systems.

The SC-PC connector is widely recognized for its reliable performance and suitability for use in high-speed optical communication applications, which demand low attenuation and secure connections. This standard sets forth criteria to support global interoperability of optical fibre components and is referenced in network cabling standards such as ISO/IEC 11801.

Key Topics

The standard covers several core areas relevant to the performance and reliability of SC-PC connectors for single-mode fibre type B1:

• Product Identification and Classification: Defines connector type (SC-PC), configuration (plug–adapter–plug), and application scope.
• Dimensional Specifications: Specifies precise measurements and required tolerances for connector subcomponents, including plug, ferrule, and adaptor.
• Performance Requirements: Details optical parameters such as attenuation (insertion loss), return loss, and mechanical reliability under environmental stress.
• Quality Assurance and Testing: Outlines procedures for qualification, periodic inspection, and lot-by-lot testing, referencing appropriate IEC test methods.
• Safety Guidance: Provides recommendations for safe handling of optical fibres, especially to prevent injury or accidental eye exposure to fibre-optic emissions.
• Marking and Colour Coding: Specifies marking conventions for manufacturer identification and preferred colours for components (such as blue boot and coupling sleeve, per RAL 5015).

Applications

IEC 60874-14-5:1997 provides value across a range of industries and scenarios involving optical fibre connectivity:

• Telecommunications: Ensures reliable fibre terminations in core, metro, and access optical networks.
• Data Centers: Facilitates high-speed data transmission with assured connector performance and consistency.
• Structured Cabling: Supports generic cabling systems in commercial or industrial buildings per ISO/IEC 11801.
• Industrial Automation: Provides robust connectivity for systems requiring high signal integrity and minimal downtime.
• Test & Measurement: Ensures reference grade connectors and interfaces used for quality assurance.

Typical use cases include patch cords, interconnection cabinets, distribution frames, and equipment terminations where low insertion loss and high repeatability are critical.

Related Standards

To ensure global interoperability and consistency in fibre optic systems, IEC 60874-14-5:1997 references several related standards:

• IEC 60874-1: Generic specification for connectors for optical fibres and cables.
• IEC 60874-14-3: Detail specification for fibre optic connector adaptors, relevant to SC configurations.
• IEC 60793-2: Specifications for single-mode fibre (type B1) used in connector assemblies.
• IEC 61300 series: Test and measurement procedures for optical interconnecting devices (e.g., attenuation, return loss, mechanical endurance).
• ISO/IEC 11801: International standard for generic cabling for customer premises.

Adopting IEC 60874-14-5 ensures compliance with international best practices in fibre optic connector design, manufacturing, quality control, and application, thus providing reliable integration into modern communications infrastructure.

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL
IEC
STANDARD
60874-14-5
QC 910004XX0005
First edition
1997-06
Connectors for optical fibres and cables –
Part 14-5:
Detail specification for fibre optic connector
type SC-PC untuned terminated to single-mode
fibre type B1
Reference number
IEC 60874-14-5: 1997(E)
Validité de la présente publication Validity of this publication
Le contenu technique des publications de la CEI est The technical content of IEC publications is kept under
constamment revu par la CEI afin qu'il reflète l'état constant review by the IEC, thus ensuring that the
actuel de la technique. content reflects current technology.
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reconfirmation de la publication sont disponibles of the publication is available from the IEC Central
auprès du Bureau Central de la CEI. Office.
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Comités nationaux de la CEI et dans les documents sources:
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Publié annuellement et mis à jour régulièrement Published yearly with regular updates
Terminologie Terminology
En ce qui concerne la terminologie générale, le lecteur For general terminology, readers are referred to
se reportera à la CEI 60050: Vocabulaire IEC 60050: International Electrotechnical Vocabulary
Electrotechnique International (VEI), qui se présente (IEV), which is issued in the form of separate chapters
sous forme de chapitres séparés traitant chacun d'un each dealing with a specific field. Full details of the
sujet défini. Des détails complets sur le VEI peuvent IEV will be supplied on request. See also the IEC
être obtenus sur demande. Voir également le Multilingual Dictionary.
dictionnaire multilingue de la CEI.
Les termes et définitions figurant dans la présente The terms and definitions contained in the present
publication ont été soit tirés du VEI, soit publi-cation have either been taken from the IEV or
spécifiquement approuvés aux fins de cette have been specifically approved for the purpose of this
publication. publication.
Symboles graphiques et littéraux Graphical and letter symbols
Pour les symboles graphiques, les symboles littéraux For graphical symbols, and letter symbols and signs
et les signes d'usage général approuvés par la CEI, le approved by the IEC for general use, readers are
lecteur consultera: referred to publications:
– IEC 60027: Letter symbols to be used in electrical
– la CEI 60027: Symboles littéraux à utiliser en
technology;
électrotechnique;
– IEC 60417: Graphical symbols for use on
– la CEI 60417: Symboles graphiques utilisables sur
equipment. Index, survey and compilation of the
le matériel. Index, relevé et compilation des feuilles
individuelles; single sheets;
Symboles graphiques pour schémas; – IEC 60617: Graphical symbols for diagrams;
– la CEI 60617:
and for medical electrical equipment,
et pour les appareils électromédicaux,
– IEC 60878: Graphical symbols for electromedical
– la CEI 60878: Symboles graphiques pour
equipment in medical practice.
équipements électriques en pratique médicale.
Les symboles et signes contenus dans la présente The symbols and signs contained in the present
publication ont été soit tirés de la CEI 60027, de la publication have either been taken from IEC 60027,
IEC 60417, IEC 60617 and/or IEC 60878, or have
CEI 60417, de la CEI 60617 et/ou de la CEI 60878,
been specifically approved for the purpose of this
soit spécifiquement approuvés aux fins de cette
publication.
publication.
Publications de la CEI établies par le IEC publications prepared by the same
même comité d'études technical committee
The attention of readers is drawn to the end pages of
L'attention du lecteur est attirée sur les listes figurant
this publication which list the IEC publications issued
à la fin de cette publication, qui énumèrent les
by the technical committee which has prepared the
publications de la CEI préparées par le comité
present publication.
d'études qui a établi la présente publication.

INTERNATIONAL
IEC
STANDARD
60874-14-5
QC 910004XX0005
First edition
1997-06
Connectors for optical fibres and cables –
Part 14-5:
Detail specification for fibre optic connector
type SC-PC untuned terminated to single-mode
fibre type B1
 IEC 1997 Droits de reproduction réservés  Copyright - all rights reserved
Aucune partie de cette publication ne peut être reproduite ni No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in
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procédé, électronique ou mécanique, y compris la photo- including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in
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CODE PRIX
Commission Electrotechnique Internationale
PRICE CODE P
International Electrotechnical Commission
Pour prix, voir catalogue en vigueur
For price, see current catalogue

– 2 – 60874-14-5 © IEC:1997(E)
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
––––––––
CONNECTORS FOR OPTICAL FIBRES AND CABLES –
Part 14-5: Detail specification for fibre optic connector type SC-PC
untuned terminated to single-mode fibre type B1
FOREWORD
1) The IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of the IEC is to promote
international co-operation on all questions concerning standardization in the electrical and electronic fields. To
this end and in addition to other activities, the IEC publishes International Standards. Their preparation is
entrusted to technical committees; any IEC National Committee interested in the subject dealt with may
participate in this preparatory work. International, governmental and non-governmental organizations liaising
with the IEC also participate in this preparation. The IEC collaborates closely with the International Organization
for Standardization (ISO) in accordance with conditions determined by agreement between the two
organizations.
2) The formal decisions or agreements of the IEC on technical matters express, as nearly as possible, an
international consensus of opinion on the relevant subjects since each technical committee has representation
from all interested National Committees.
3) The documents produced have the form of recommendations for international use and are published in the form
of standards, technical reports or guides and they are accepted by the National Committees in that sense.
4) In order to promote international unification, IEC National Committees undertake to apply IEC International
Standards transparently to the maximum extent possible in their national and regional standards. Any
divergence between the IEC Standard and the corresponding national or regional standard shall be clearly
indicated in the latter.
5) The IEC provides no marking procedure to indicate its approval and cannot be rendered responsible for any
equipment declared to be in conformity with one of its standards.
6) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this International Standard may be the subject
of patent rights. The IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
International Standard IEC 60874-14-5 has been prepared by subcommittee 86B: Fibre optic
interconnecting devices and passive components, of IEC technical committee 86: Fibre optics.
The text of this standard is based on the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
86B/875/FDIS 86B/1004/RVD
Full information on the voting for the approval of this standard can be found in the report on
voting indicated in the above table.
The QC number that appears on the front cover of this publication is the specification number
in the IEC Quality Assessment System for Electronic Components (IECQ).
The references to clauses or subclauses of IEC 60874-1 indicated in this part apply to the third
edition of IEC 60874-1.
60874-14-5 © IEC:1997(E) – 3 –
CONNECTORS FOR OPTICAL FIBRES AND CABLES
Part 14-5: Detail specification for fibre optic connector type SC-PC untuned terminated
to single-mode fibre type B1
NATIONAL STANDARDS ORGANIZATION: .
Date: .
DETAIL SPECIFICATION IEC QC 910004XX0005.
FIBRE OPTIC COMPONENT OF ASSESSED QUALITY IN ACCORDANCE WITH
• GENERIC SPECIFICATION: QC 910000 (IEC 60874-1)
• BLANK DETAIL SPECIFICATION: QC 910001 (IEC 60874-1-1)
CONNECTOR SET FOR OPTICAL FIBRES AND CABLES
CLASSIFICATION:
Type: Name: SC
For use in datacom applications as specified in ISO/IEC International Standard 11801:
“Generic cabling for customer premises”
Configuration: plug-adaptor-plug
Coupling: push-pull
Control dimensions:
– Plug: see figures 1, 2 and 3
– Adaptor: see IEC 60874-14-3
Arrangement: patchcord arrangement
Style: Fibre retention: as required
Cable retention: as required
Optical coupling: butting
Alignment: resilient sleeve alignment
Variants: see page 7
Climatic category: 10/60/4
Environmental category: 4
Assessment level: A
QUALIFICATION PROCEDURE: Fixed sample procedure
SAFETY WARNING: Take care when handling small diameter optical fibre to prevent puncturing the skin, especially
in the eye area. Direct viewing of the end of an optical fibre when it is propagating energy is not recommended unless
prior assurance is obtained as to the safe energy output level.
Applicable fibre cable information
Mode field diameter In accordance with IEC 60793-2
Cladding diameter In accordance with IEC 60793-2
Core/cladding concentricity error In accordance with IEC 60793-2
Buffer diameter
250 ± 15, 500 ± 30, 900 ± 50 μm
Jacket outer diameter As required per variant
Fibre cut-off wavelength 1 100 – 1 280 nm
Additional information
– Attenuation in random connection:
less than 0,80 dB (95 % probability)
less than 0,40 dB (average)
– 4 – 60874-14-5 © IEC:1997(E)
IEC  658/97
Figure 1 – Plug mating face dimensions

60874-14-5 © IEC:1997(E) – 5 –
Dimensions
Reference Minimum Maximum Notes
A 2,4985 mm 2,4995 mm
B 4,8 mm 4,9 mm
C 6,8 mm 7,4 mm
D 4,9 mm 5,3 mm
E 6,7 mm 6,8 mm
F 19° 23°
G 25° 35°
H 7,15 mm 7,50 mm 1, 2
I 0,8 mm 1,2 mm
J 5,3 mm 5,5 mm
K –0,1 mm 0,05 mm 3
L 2,11 mm 2,5 mm
M 2,0 mm 2,8 mm
N 6,6 mm 6,8 mm
O 1,6 mm 1,8 mm
P 8,89 mm 8,99 mm
Q
0,8 mm 1,0 mm
R 7,29 mm 7,39 mm
rS 0,8 mm 0,9 mm Radius
T 4,05 mm 4,15 mm
U 5,4 mm 5,6 mm
V 0 mm 0,5 mm
cBC 0 mm 0,5 mm Chamfer
NOTES
1 Ferrule compression force shall be from 7,8 N to 11,8 N, when the ferrule is
compressed to a point where H is 7 ± 0,1 mm.
2 This value shows the dimension after the ferrule is polished and in the unmated
condition.
3 The negative dimension indicates that the position of the inside bottom plane is
left-direction relative to the mechanical reference plane.
4 Where a tolerance of form is not specified, the limits of the dimensions for a
feature control the form as well as the size.
5 Where interrelated features of size (features shown with a common axis or centre
plane) have no geometric tolerance of location or run out specified, the limits of the
dimensions for a feature control the location tolerance as well as the size.
6 Where perpendicular features (features shown at right angles) have no geometric
tolerance of orientation or run out specified, the limits of the dimensions for a feature
control the orientation tolerance as well as the size.
Figure 1 – Plug mating face dimensions (continued)

– 6 – 60874-14-5 © IEC:1997(E)
IEC  648/97
Dimensions
Reference Minimum Maximum Notes
rBF 10 mm 25 mm 1, radius
BK –0,0001 mm see graph 2
BG 1,76 mm 2,26 mm diameter, 4
BG 1,90 mm 2,26 mm diameter, 5
BI 25° 35
°
NOTES
1 Eccentricity of a spherical polished ferrule endface is less than 50 μm.
2 The negative dimension refers to the fibre protrusion.
3 Break edge.
4 This value is applicable to the variant numbers 1001, 1003, 1005 and 1007.
5 This value is applicable to the variant numbers 1002, 1004, 1006 and 1008.
Figure 2a – Ferrule endface geometry after termination
IEC  649/97
3 2
Allowable undercut = –0,02*Radius + 1,3*Radius – 31*Radius + 325
Figure 2b – Allowable undercut BK versus radius rBF

60874-14-5 © IEC:1997(E) – 7 –
IEC  650/97
Dimensions
mm
Reference Minimum Maximum Notes
BD 60
BE 2,2 1
BE 2,6 2
BE 2,9 3
BE 3,2 4
NOTES
1 This value is applicable to the variants number –1001 and –1002.
2 This value is applicable to the variants number –1003 and –1004.
3 This value is applicable to the variants number –1005 and –1006.
4 This value is applicable to the variants number –1007 and –1008.
Figure 3 – Plug dimension
– 8 – 60874-14-5 © IEC:1997(E)
VARIANT IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS
Number: QC 910X01/0005-ZZZZ
ZZZZ Component name Variant feature
Applicable cable jacket diameter Ferrule material Dimension BG
1001 Plug 2,0 mm Zirconia 1, 76 – 2,26
1002 Plug 2,0 mm Zirconia 1, 90 – 2, 26
1003 Plug 2,4 mm Zirconia 1, 76 – 2,26
1004 Plug 2,4 mm Zirconia 1, 90 – 2, 26
1005 Plug 2,7 mm Zirconia 1, 76 – 2,26
1006 Plug 2,7 mm Zirconia 1, 90 – 2, 26
1007 Plug 3,0 mm Zirconia 1, 76 – 2,26
1008 Plug 3,0 mm Zirconia 1, 90 – 2, 26
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
Preferred colour:
Colour of the coupling sleeve and boot shall be blue according to: RAL 5015.
Component marking:
The name and/or manufacturer’s identification mark may be permanently identified. Figure 4 shows an example of
the location of the component marking.
IEC  659/97
Figure 4 – Example of component marking

60874-14-5 © IEC:1997(E) – 9 –
TABLE 1
FIXED SAMPLE TEST SCHEDULE FOR QUALIFICATION APPROVAL
Test sequence Reference IEC 60874-1 n
(IEC 61300)
Group 0
– Visual examination 4.4.1 (3-1) 20
– Dimensions 4.4.2 (3-1)
– Ferrule compression force 4.4.12 (3-22)
Group 1
– Attenuation 4.4.7 (3-4) 20
– Return loss 4.4.12 (3-6)
Group 2
–Cold 4.5.17 (2-17)
– Dry heat 4.5.18 (2-18) 6
– Damp heat (steady state) 4.5.19 (2-19)
Group 3
–Drop 4.5.14 (2-12)
– Engagement and separation force 4.4.5 (3-11) 6
– Mechanical endurance 4.5.32 (2-2)
Group 4
–Vibration 4.5.1 (2-1) 4
– Change of temperature (test Nb) 4.5.22 (2-22)
Group 5
– Strength of coupling mechanism 4.5.6 (2-6) 4
– Cable pulling 4.5.4 (2-4)
– Cable torsion 4.5.5 (2-5)
Group 6
– Fibre or ferrule retention 4.5.2 (2-4) NA
NOTES
1 n = sample size (number of plugs).
2 To satisfy the qualification approval requirements of the detail specification there shall
be no failures of any in the sample groups for any test parameter. If a failure does occur
this shall be investigated and the cause of failure identified and corrected. The test which
is affected shall then be repeated using the minimum sample size stated in this detail
specification.
A fully documented test report and supporting data shall be prepared and shall be
available for inspection. Failures and the corrective action taken to eliminate failures
shall be documented and evidence shall be presented to show that the corrective action
will have no detrimental effect on the performance
...