IEC 61300-1:2003

INTERNATIONAL IEC
STANDARD
61300-1
Second edition
2003-06
Fibre optic interconnecting devices
and passive components –
Basic test and measurement procedures –
Part 1:
General and guidance
Dispositifs d'interconnexion et composants
passifs à fibres optiques –
Méthodes fondamentales d'essais et de mesures –
Partie 1:
Généralités et guide
Reference number
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INTERNATIONAL IEC
STANDARD
61300-1
Second edition
2003-06
Fibre optic interconnecting devices
and passive components –
Basic test and measurement procedures –
Part 1:
General and guidance
Dispositifs d'interconnexion et composants
passifs à fibres optiques –
Méthodes fondamentales d'essais et de mesures –
Partie 1:
Généralités et guide
 IEC 2003  Copyright - all rights reserved
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Q
International Electrotechnical Commission
Международная Электротехническая Комиссия
For price, see current catalogue

– 2 – 61300-1  IEC:2003(E)
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 3

INTRODUCTION .5

1 Scope . 6

2 Normative references. 6

3 Terms and definitions . 7
4 Standard atmospheric conditions . 8
5 Significance of the numerical value of a quantity. 8
6 Graphical symbols and terminology.10
7 Safety.10
8 Calibration .10
9 Launch conditions.10
Annex A (normative) Round robin calibration procedure .11
Annex B (normative) Launch conditions .14

61300-1  IEC:2003(E) – 3 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION

___________
FIBRE OPTIC INTERCONNECTING DEVICES

AND PASSIVE COMPONENTS –
BASIC TEST AND MEASUREMENT PROCEDURES –

Part 1: General and guidance
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 specifications, 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 61300-1 has been prepared by subcommittee 86B: Fibre optic
interconnecting devices and passive components, of IEC technical committee 86: Fibre optics.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition published in 1995. It constitutes a
technical revision.
The text of this standard is based on the following documents:

FDIS Report on voting
86B/1849/FDIS 86B/1877/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.
This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
IEC 61300 consists of the following parts, under the general title: Fibre optic interconnecting
devices and passive components – Basic test and measurement procedures:
− Part 1: General and guidance
− Part 2: Tests
− Part 3: Examinations and measurements

– 4 – 61300-1  IEC:2003(E)
The committee has decided that the contents of this publication will remain unchanged until

2008. At this date, the publication will be

• reconfirmed;
• withdrawn;
• replaced by a revised edition, or

• amended.
A bilingual version of this standard may be issued at a later date.

61300-1  IEC:2003(E) – 5 –
INTRODUCTION
The publications of the IEC 61300 series contain fundamental information on environmental

testing procedures and measurement procedures relating to fibre optic interconnecting

devices and passive components. They are intended to be used to achieve uniformity and

reproducibility in environmental testing procedures and measurement procedures.

The term "test procedure" refers to procedures commonly known as environmental tests. The

expressions "environmental conditioning" and "environmental testing" refer to the

environments to which components or equipment may be exposed so that an assessment may

be made of their performance under the conditions of use, transport and storage.

The term "measurement procedure" refers to those measurements which are necessary
to assess the physical and optical characteristics of a component and may also be used
before, during or after a test procedure to measure the effects of environmental conditioning or
testing. The return loss and attenuation tests are examples of measurement procedures.
The requirements for the performance of components or equipment subjected to the test and
measurement procedures described in this standard are not included. The relevant
specification for the device under test defines the allowed performance limits.
When drafting a specification or purchase contract, only those tests should be specified which
are necessary for the relevant components or equipment taking into account the technical and
economic aspects.
The environmental test procedures are contained in the IEC 61300-2 series and the
measurement procedures in the IEC 61300-3 series. Each test or measurement procedure is
published as a stand-alone publication so that it may be modified, expanded or cancelled
without having an effect on any other test or measurement procedure. However, it should be
noted that, where practical, reference is made to other standards as opposed to repeating all
or part of already existing standards. As an example, the cold test for fibre optic apparatus
refers to IEC 60068-2-1, but it also provides other needed information such as purpose,
recommended severities and a list of items to be specified.
Multiple methods may be contained in a test or measurement procedure. As an example,
several methods of measuring attenuation are contained in the attenuation measurement
procedure.
If more than one method is contained in a test or measurement procedure, the reference
method is identified.
– 6 – 61300-1  IEC:2003(E)
FIBRE OPTIC INTERCONNECTING DEVICES

AND PASSIVE COMPONENTS –
BASIC TEST AND MEASUREMENT PROCEDURES –

Part 1: General and guidance
1 Scope
This part of IEC 61300 contains a series of environmental test and measurement procedures
and, in some cases, preferred severities designed to assess the ability of fibre optic
interconnecting devices and passive components to perform under expected service
conditions. Although the severities are primarily intended for land-based communications, the
procedures may be used for other applications.
The object of this standard is to provide uniform and reproducible environmental test
procedures and measurement procedures, for those preparing specifications for fibre optic
interconnecting devices and passive components.
These test and measurement procedures are based on available international engineering
experience and judgement, and are designed to provide information on the following properties
of components and equipment, such as connectors, splices, switches, attenuators, etc.:
a) ability to operate within specified limits of temperature, pressure, humidity, mechanical
stress or other environmental conditions and certain combinations of these conditions;
b) ability to withstand storage and transport;
c) ability to meet the specified levels of optical performance.
The tests in this standard permit the performance of sample components or equipment to be
compared. To assess the overall quality of a production lot, the test procedures should be
applied in accordance with a suitable sampling plan and may be supplemented by appropriate
additional tests, if necessary.
To provide tests appropriate to the different intensities of an environmental condition, some of
the test procedures have a number of degrees of severity. These different degrees of severity
are obtained by varying the time, temperature or some other determining factor separately or
in combination.
This standard should be used in combination with the relevant specification which will define
the tests to be used, the required degree of severity for each of them, their sequence,

if relevant, and the permissible performance limits. In the event of conflict between this basic
standard and the relevant specification, the latter will take precedence.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document.
For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition
of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
IEC 60050-731, International Electrotechnical Vocabulary – Chapter 731: Optical fibre
communication
IEC 60068-2-1 Environmental testing – Part 2: Tests – Tests A: Cold

61300-1  IEC:2003(E) – 7 –
IEC 60617 [DB-2002] , Graphical symbols for diagrams

IEC 60825-1, Safety of laser products – Part 1: Equipment classification, requirements and

user's guide
IEC 60825-2, Safety of laser products – Part 2: Safety of optical fibre communication
systems
IEC 61300-3-1, Fibre optic interconnecting devices and passive components – Basic test and

measurement procedures – Part 3-1:Examinations and measurements – Visual examination

IEC 61315, Calibration of fibre optic power meters

ISO 4288, Geometrical Product Specifications (GPS) – Surface texture: Profile method –
Rules and procedur
...