IEC 61280-4-5:2020

Fibre-optic communication subsystem test procedures - Part 4-5: Installed cabling plant - Attenuation measurement of MPO terminated fibre optic cabling plant using test equipment with MPO interfaces

IEC 61280-4-5:2020 is applicable to the measurement of attenuation and determination of polarity and length of installed multimode and single-mode optical fibre cabling plant, terminated with MPO connectors, using test equipment having an MPO interface. This cabling plant can include multimode or single-mode optical fibres, connectors, adapters, splices, and other passive devices. The cabling can be installed in a variety of environments including residential, commercial, industrial, and data centre premises, as well as outside plant environments. In this document, the optical fibres that are addressed include sub-categories A1-OMx, where x = 2, 3, 4 and 5 (50/125 μm) multimode optical fibres, as specified in IEC 60793-2-10, and category B-652 and B-657 (9/125 μm) single-mode optical fibres, as specified in IEC 60793-2-50. The attenuation measurements of the other multimode and single-mode categories can also be made using a light source and power meter (LSPM) or optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) utilising an internal or external optical switch having one MPO interface. Multimode measurements are made with an 850 nm source because transceivers used for parallel optics applications having an MPO interface only operate at 850 nm; 1 300 nm measurements are optional. Single-mode measurements are made with a 1 310 nm and/or 1 550 nm source because transceivers used for parallel optics applications having an MPO interface operate at these wavelengths. This document does not include descriptions of cabling that is not exclusively MPO to MPO.
The contents of the corrigendum of January 2022 have been included in this copy.

Procédures d'essai des sous-systèmes de télécommunication fibroniques - Partie 4-5: Installation câblée - Mesurage de l’affaiblissement de l’installation câblée à fibres optiques à terminaisons MPO utilisant un équipement d’essai avec interfaces MPO

IEC 61280-4-5:2020 s'applique au mesurage de l'affaiblissement et à la détermination de la polarité et de la longueur d’une installation câblée à fibres optiques multimodales et unimodales, avec terminaisons par connecteurs MPO, utilisant un équipement d’essai à interface MPO. Cette installation câblée peut inclure des fibres optiques multimodales ou unimodales, des connecteurs, des adaptateurs, des épissures et d'autres dispositifs passifs. Le câblage peut être installé dans différents environnements, y compris des locaux résidentiels, commerciaux ou industriels et des centres de traitement de données, ainsi que dans des environnements d'installations extérieures.Les fibres optiques traitées dans le présent document comprennent les fibres optiques multimodales des sous-catégories A1-OMx, où x = 2, 3, 4 et 5 (50/125 μm), telles que spécifiées dans l’IEC 60793-2-10, et les fibres optiques unimodales des catégories B‑652 et B‑657 (9/125 μm), telles que spécifiées dans l'IEC 60793-2-50. Les mesurages de l’affaiblissement des autres catégories multimodales et unimodales peuvent également être effectués en utilisant une source lumineuse et un mesureur de puissance (MPSL) ou un réflectomètre optique dans le domaine temporel (OTDR – optical time domain reflectometer) avec commutateur optique interne ou externe à interface MPO. Les mesurages des catégories multimodales sont effectués avec une source lumineuse de 850 nm étant donné que les émetteurs-récepteurs utilisés pour les applications optiques parallèles à interface MPO fonctionnent uniquement avec une source lumineuse de 850 nm. Les mesurages avec une source lumineuse de 1 300 nm sont facultatifs. Les mesurages des catégories unimodales sont effectués avec une source lumineuse de 1 310 nm et/ou 1 550 nm étant donné que les émetteurs-récepteurs utilisés pour les applications optiques parallèles à interface MPO fonctionnent à ces longueurs d’onde. Le présent document ne comprend pas les descriptions du câblage qui n’utilise pas exclusivement une interface MPO/MPO.
Le contenu du corrigendum de janvier 2022 a été pris en considération dans cet exemplaire.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 21-Jul-2020
• ICS: 01 - GENERALITIES. TERMINOLOGY. STANDARDIZATION. DOCUMENTATION
• ICS: 33.180.01 - Fibre optic systems in general
• Technical Committee: SC 86C - Fibre optic systems and active devices
• Drafting Committee: WG 1 - TC 86/SC 86C/WG 1
• Current Stage: PPUB - Publication issued
• Start Date: 21-Aug-2020
• Completion Date: 22-Jul-2020

Relations

• Corrected By: IEC 61280-4-5:2020/COR1:2022 - Corrigendum 1 - Fibre-optic communication subsystem test procedures - Part 4-5: Installed cabling plant - Attenuation measurement of MPO terminated fibre optic cabling plant using test equipment with MPO interfaces
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023

Standards Content (Sample)

IEC 61280-4-5 ®
Edition 1.0 2020-07
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
colour
inside
Fibre-optic communication subsystem test procedures –
Part 4-5: Installed cabling plant – Attenuation measurement of MPO terminated
fibre optic cabling plant using test equipment with MPO interfaces
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from
either IEC or IEC's member National Committee in the country of the requester. If you have any questions about IEC
copyright or have an enquiry about obtaining additional rights to this publication, please contact the address below or
your local IEC member National Committee for further information.

IEC Central Office Tel.: [phone]
3, rue de Varembé [e-mail]
CH-1211 Geneva 20 www.iec.ch
Switzerland
About the IEC
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is the leading global organization that prepares and publishes
International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies.

About IEC publications
The technical content of IEC publications is kept under constant review by the IEC. Please make sure that you have the
latest edition, a corrigendum or an amendment might have been published.

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further assistance, please contact the Customer Service

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IEC 61280-4-5 ®
Edition 1.0 2020-07
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
colour
inside
Fibre-optic communication subsystem test procedures –

Part 4-5: Installed cabling plant – Attenuation measurement of MPO terminated

fibre optic cabling plant using test equipment with MPO interfaces

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
ICS 33.180.01 ISBN 978-2-8322-8670-8

– 2 – IEC 61280-4-5:2020 © IEC 2020
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 7
1 Scope . 9
2 Normative references . 9
3 Terms, definitions, graphical symbols and abbreviated terms. 10
3.1 Terms and definitions . 10
3.2 Graphical symbols . 12
3.3 Abbreviated terms . 14
4 Test methods . 14
4.1 General . 14
4.2 Cabling configurations and applicable test methods . 15
5 Overview of uncertainties . 16
5.1 General . 16
5.2 Sources of significant uncertainties . 16
5.3 Consideration of the PM . 17
5.4 Consideration of test cord connector grade . 17
5.5 Typical uncertainty values for multimode testing . 17
5.6 Typical uncertainty values for single-mode testing . 19
6 Apparatus . 20
6.1 General . 20
6.2 Light source . 20
6.2.1 General . 20
6.2.2 Stability . 20
6.2.3 Spectral characteristics (LSPM measurement) . 21
6.3 Launch cord . 21
6.4 Receive or tail cord . 22
6.5 Substitution cord . 22
6.6 Adapter cord . 23
6.7 Power meter – LSPM methods only. 23
6.8 OTDR apparatus . 24
6.9 Connector end face cleaning and inspection equipment . 24
6.10 Adapters . 24
7 Procedures . 24
7.1 General . 24
7.2 Common procedures . 25
7.2.1 Care of the test cords . 25
7.2.2 Take reference measurements. 25
7.2.3 Inspect and clean the ends of the optical fibres in the cabling . 25
7.2.4 Take the measurements . 25
7.2.5 Make the calculations . 25
7.2.6 Multi-fibre and bi-directional testing . 25
7.3 Calibration . 26
7.4 Safety . 26
8 Calculations . 26
9 Documentation . 26
9.1 Information for each test . 26
9.2 Information to be available . 26

Annex A (normative) One-cord method . 27
A.1 Applicability of the test method . 27
A.2 Apparatus . 27
A.3 Procedure for unpinned to unpinned cabling with unpinned power meter . 27
A.4 Procedure for unpinned to pinned cabling with unpinned power meter . 28
A.5 Procedure for pinned to pinned cabling with pinned power meter . 29
A.6 Procedure for unpinned to unpinned cabling with pinned power meter and
gender-neutral test cord . 30
A.7 Calculation . 31
A.8 Components of reported attenuation . 31
Annex B (normative) Three-cord method . 32
B.1 Applicability of the test method . 32
B.2 Apparatus . 32
B.3 Procedure for unpinned to unpinned cabling . 32
B.4 Procedure for unpinned to pinned cabling . 33
B.5 Procedure for pinned to pinned cabling . 34
B.6 Procedure, channel test (general) . 35
B.7 Calculations . 36
B.8 Components of reported attenuation . 36
Annex C (normative) Adapter-cord method . 37
C.1 Applicability of the test method . 37
C.2 Apparatus . 37
C.3 Procedure for unpinned to unpinned cabling with pinned power meter . 37
C.4 Procedure for unpinned to pinned cabling with pinned power meter . 38
C.5 Procedure for pinned to unpinned cabling with unpinned power meter . 39
C.6 Procedure for pinned to pinned cabling with unpinned power meter . 40
C.7 Calculations . 41
C.8 Components of reported attenuation . 42
Annex D (normative) Equipment cord method . 43
D.1 Applicability of the test method . 43
D.2 Apparatus . 43
D.3 Procedure . 43
D.4 Calculation . 44
D.5 Components of reported attenuation . 44
D.6 Typical uncertainty values . 45
Annex E (normative) Optical time domain reflectometer . 46
E.1 Applicability of the test method . 46
E.2 Apparatus . 46
E.2.1 General . 46
E.2.2 OTDR . 46
E.2.3 Test cords . 47
E.3 Procedure (test method) . 47
E.4 Calculation . 48
E.4.1 General . 48
E.4.2 Connection location . 48
E.4.3 Definition of the power levels F and F . 49
1 2
E.4.4 Alternative calculation. 50
E.5 OTDR uncertainties . 52

– 4 – IEC 61280-4-5:2020 © IEC
...

IEC 61280-4-5 ®
Edition 1.0 2020-07
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
colour
inside
Fibre-optic communication subsystem test procedures –
Part 4-5: Installed cabling plant – Attenuation measurement of MPO terminated
fibre optic cabling plant using test equipment with MPO interfaces

Procédures d'essai des sous-systèmes de télécommunication fibroniques –
Partie 4-5: Installation câblée – Mesurage de l’affaiblissement de l’installation
câblée à fibres optiques à terminaisons MPO utilisant un équipement d’essai
avec interfaces MPO
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from
either IEC or IEC's member National Committee in the country of the requester. If you have any questions about IEC
copyright or have an enquiry about obtaining additional rights to this publication, please contact the address below or
your local IEC member National Committee for further information.

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About the IEC
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is the leading global organization that prepares and publishes
International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies.

About IEC publications
The technical content of IEC publications is kept under constant review by the IEC. Please make sure that you have the
latest edition, a corrigendum or an amendment might have been published.

IEC publications search - webstore.iec.ch/advsearchform Electropedia - www.electropedia.org
The advanced search enables to find IEC publications by a The world's leading online dictionary on electrotechnology,
variety of criteria (reference number, text, technical containing more than 22 000 terminological entries in English
committee,…). It also gives information on projects, replaced and French, with equivalent terms in 16 additional languages.
and withdrawn publications. Also known as the International Electrotechnical Vocabulary

(IEV) online.
IEC Just Published - webstore.iec.ch/justpublished
Stay up to date on all new IEC publications. Just Published IEC Glossary - std.iec.ch/glossary
details all new publications released. Available online and 67 000 electrotechnical terminology entries in English and
once a month by email. French extracted from the Terms and Definitions clause of
IEC publications issued since 2002. Some entries have been
IEC Customer Service Centre - webstore.iec.ch/csc collected from earlier publications of IEC TC 37, 77, 86 and
If you wish to give us your feedback on this publication or CISPR.

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IEC 61280-4-5 ®
Edition 1.0 2020-07
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
colour
inside
Fibre-optic communication subsystem test procedures –

Part 4-5: Installed cabling plant – Attenuation measurement of MPO terminated

fibre optic cabling plant using test equipment with MPO interfaces

Procédures d'essai des sous-systèmes de télécommunication fibroniques –

Partie 4-5: Installation câblée – Mesurage de l’affaiblissement de l’installation

câblée à fibres optiques à terminaisons MPO utilisant un équipement d’essai

avec interfaces MPO
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
INTERNATIONALE
ICS 33.180.01 ISBN 978-2-8322-9165-8

– 2 – IEC 61280-4-5:2020 © IEC 2020
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 7
1 Scope . 9
2 Normative references . 9
3 Terms, definitions, graphical symbols and abbreviated terms. 10
3.1 Terms and definitions . 10
3.2 Graphical symbols . 12
3.3 Abbreviated terms . 14
4 Test methods . 14
4.1 General . 14
4.2 Cabling configurations and applicable test methods . 15
5 Overview of uncertainties . 16
5.1 General . 16
5.2 Sources of significant uncertainties . 16
5.3 Consideration of the PM . 17
5.4 Consideration of test cord connector grade . 17
5.5 Typical uncertainty values for multimode testing . 17
5.6 Typical uncertainty values for single-mode testing . 19
6 Apparatus . 20
6.1 General . 20
6.2 Light source . 20
6.2.1 General . 20
6.2.2 Stability . 20
6.2.3 Spectral characteristics (LSPM measurement) . 21
6.3 Launch cord . 21
6.4 Receive or tail cord . 22
6.5 Substitution cord . 22
6.6 Adapter cord . 23
6.7 Power meter – LSPM methods only. 23
6.8 OTDR apparatus . 24
6.9 Connector end face cleaning and inspection equipment . 24
6.10 Adapters . 24
7 Procedures . 24
7.1 General . 24
7.2 Common procedures . 25
7.2.1 Care of the test cords . 25
7.2.2 Take reference measurements. 25
7.2.3 Inspect and clean the ends of the optical fibres in the cabling . 25
7.2.4 Take the measurements . 25
7.2.5 Make the calculations . 25
7.2.6 Multi-fibre and bi-directional testing . 25
7.3 Calibration . 26
7.4 Safety . 26
8 Calculations . 26
9 Documentation . 26
9.1 Information for each test . 26
9.2 Information to be available . 26

Annex A (normative) One-cord method . 27
A.1 Applicability of the test method . 27
A.2 Apparatus . 27
A.3 Procedure for unpinned to unpinned cabling with unpinned power meter . 27
A.4 Procedure for unpinned to pinned cabling with unpinned power meter . 28
A.5 Procedure for pinned to pinned cabling with pinned power meter . 29
A.6 Procedure for unpinned to unpinned cabling with pinned power meter and
gender-neutral test cord . 30
A.7 Calculation . 31
A.8 Components of reported attenuation . 31
Annex B (normative) Three-cord method . 32
B.1 Applicability of the test method . 32
B.2 Apparatus . 32
B.3 Procedure for unpinned to unpinned cabling . 32
B.4 Procedure for unpinned to pinned cabling . 33
B.5 Procedure for pinned to pinned cabling . 34
B.6 Procedure, channel test (general) . 35
B.7 Calculations . 36
B.8 Components of reported attenuation . 36
Annex C (normative) Adapter-cord method . 37
C.1 Applicability of the test method . 37
C.2 Apparatus . 37
C.3 Procedure f
...