Installation Manual
BEST PRACTICES
FS061
© Panduit Corp. 2018
For Technical Support: www.panduit.com/resources/install_maintain.asp
Page 10 of 12
Fiber Inspection and Cleaning
Note: Per industry standards, Panduit fully supports the practice that all fiber connector end faces be
inspected and if necessary, cleaned and re-inspected prior to mating.
Initial Inspection
1. Ensure that no laser or power source is present.
2. Remove any protective caps that may be present on the individual fiber you intend to test.
3.
Inspect the connector end faces that are intended to be mated using a high quality 200 X
magnification (no larger) fiber inspection device designed for that purpose.
4.
If upon inspection, the end faces prove to be free and clear of any contaminants, proceed to mate
the connectors.
Cleaning Regimen A
5.
If upon inspection, an end face appears dirty, proceed to clean the fiber with a reel type, micro
fabric-based dry cleaner such as Panduit #FMTPMFCT (for Male MPO/MTP connectors) and
#FMTPFCT (for all other connector types) or a 1.25mm, 2.5mm or MPO type Fiber Adapter Cleaner.
6.
Re-inspect the fiber end faces with the fiber inspection device to determine whether dirt has been
removed.
7. If any dirt remains, repeat steps 5 and 6.
8.
If upon inspection, the end faces prove to be free and clear of any contaminants, proceed to mate
the connectors.
Cleaning Regimen B – after Regimen A is deemed insufficient
9.
If after 2 attempts, the dry cleaning procedure proves to be insufficient, proceed to a wet
cleaning method.
a.
The wet cleaning method most commonly employed is the use of 90+% Isopropyl
Alcohol, (99% preferable), applied to a cleaning swab - Panduit # FSWB-C.
b.
The swab is then rubbed over the entire face of the connector with moderate pressure to
remove
any remaining contaminants.
c. Immediately dry the end face with the dry cleaner, as in step #5.
10.
Re-inspect each fiber end face once again with the fiber inspection device to determine that all dirt
has been removed.
11.
If upon inspection, the end faces prove to be free and clear of any contaminants, proceed to
mate
the connectors.