Overview
IEC 60794-2-41:2008 is an IEC product specification for simplex and duplex buffered A4 fibres (A4a through A4g) intended for indoor use. It defines construction, dimensional limits and verification tests for buffered multimode Category A4 fibres that can be cut into short lengths and used in patchcord cable assemblies. The standard is complementary to the sectional and generic IEC 60794 series documents and references the A4 fibre product specification IEC 60793-2-40.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope & intended use
- Indoor simplex and duplex buffered multimode fibres (A4a–A4g).
- Can be supplied in short lengths for patchcords; no fibre splice in delivery unless agreed.
- Designed for a nominal operating lifetime of at least 15 years.
- Construction
- Multimode fibres must meet IEC 60793-2-40.
- Buffer types: tight or semi-tight; buffer removability: tight 15–25 mm, semi-tight 0.2–2.0 m.
- No sheath, ripcord, or strength/anti-buckling members are specified for these buffered fibres.
- Buffer marking optional by agreement.
- Dimensions
- Typical nominal buffered diameters: Simplex 2.2 mm (A4a/b/d/e/f/g) and 1.5 mm (A4c); duplex forms shown as 2.2×4.4 mm or 1.5×3.0 mm with specified tolerances.
- Mechanical and optical test requirements
- Tensile performance to 4% elongation with specified minimum loads (example: A4a/d simplex 56 N; A4c simplex 16 N; duplex values typically double).
- Limits on change in attenuation after tests: typically ≤ 0.2 dB (tensile, crush, impact, bend).
- Specific test methods and parameters are given (crush force 7 N/mm for simplex, impact energy 0.2 J, bend mandrel 50 mm, etc.).
- Tests include dimensional checks, tensile, crush, impact, bend, repeated bending, low-temperature bend, flexing, torsion, kink, environmental exposures, transmission and fire performance where applicable.
Applications and who uses this standard
- Useful for:
- Cable and patchcord manufacturers producing indoor buffered multimode fibre assemblies.
- Component suppliers specifying buffered fibre geometry and performance.
- System integrators, installers and procurement/specification engineers selecting indoor patchcords and short-length buffered fibres.
- Test laboratories and compliance officers verifying mechanical and optical performance.
- Typical applications: indoor patchcords, patch panels, short interconnect leads in LAN, data center horizontal cabling and premise wiring where A4 multimode buffered fibres are required.
Related standards
- IEC 60794-1-1 (generic specification – general)
- IEC 60794-1-2 (generic specification – basic optical cable test procedures)
- IEC 60794-2 (indoor cables – sectional specification)
- IEC 60793-2-40 (product specifications – Category A4 multimode fibres)
- Additional normative references: IEC 60189-1, IEC 60793-1-20/21/46/50/51/52
Keywords: A4a through A4g fibres, buffered A4 fibres, patchcord cable assemblies, indoor optical fibre cables, IEC 60794-2-41.
Open preview (PDF)Optical fibre cables - Part 2-41: Indoor cables - Product specification for simplex and duplex buffered A4 fibres
