GENEVA - The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) in Geneva, Switzerland, has published the first global blown-fiber standard, IEC 60794-5. The document includes definitions of blown-fiber products and a test menu for systems integrators.
This new standard confirms the extent to which blown fiber has been accepted worldwide, and provides manufacturers, installers, and systems integrators with shared, authoritative guidelines.
IEC 60794-5 (“Microduct cabling for installation by blowing”) addresses issues such as including optical fibers, microducts, optical fiber cables, microduct fiber unit cables, markings, installation and operating conditions, testing, and quality assurance.
Industry experts say the new standard has the potential to improve blown-fiber technology and installations. “IEC 60794-5 serves the best interests of the blown-fiber market,” says Dave Stockton, technical director of Emtelle Europe in Amersfoort, The Netherlands.
The test methods to which the document refers come from the internationally recognized standard IEC 60794-1-2, which is widely accepted in the fiber-optic cable industry.
Currently in draft form, another two standards (IEC 60794-5-10 and 60794-5-20) will detail the acceptance criteria for the testing of minicables and fiber unit systems. It is envisaged that these standards will be finalized 2007-2008.
