Installation Manual

BEST PRACTICES

FS061

For Technical Support: www.panduit.com/resources/install_maintain.asp

*MTP is a registered trademark of US Conec Ltd

Page 4 of 12

Defect Location

Defects can be further investigated and classified by their location on the end face surface. The end

face surface is defined as the mating surface of a fiber optic connector. It consists of a glass core

and cladding, surrounded by a ferrule made of ceramic, plastic, or metal. It is critical to keep this

entire area protected from damage at all times.

The locations of defects found during inspection are important because performance impairment is a

function of location by zone on the end face. The core area, labeled Zone ‘A’ in Figure 1, is the light

guiding portion of the fiber and is the most sensitive of all of these zones. Defects in Zone ‘A’ directly

affect the light that is transmitted into an adjoining fiber; therefore, adversely affecting performance.

Figure 1 – Typical View of a Single Fiber Connector End Face

Ferrule Chamfer/Surface (Zone ‘D’)

Ferrule End (Zone ‘C’)

Epoxy Bond Line

Fiber Core (Zone ‘A’)

Fiber Cladding (Zone ‘B’)

NOTE: In array type connectors (MPO or MTP*), boundaries between Zones C and D will usually

not be visible due to the array type construction as seen in Figure 4 (page 8).

Defect Specification and Limits

In addition to defect type and location, defects must also be assessed by size and quantity

within allowable specified limits. Workmanship standards should be used as a means to

promote connector quality and should be validated by appropriate research so that proper

inspection, corrective action and disposition can be made.

Unnecessarily stringent workmanship standards only serve to negatively impact installation yield

for the person performing the connectorization. On the other hand, loose workmanship standards

can adversely affect the user, resulting in higher insertion loss and inferior return loss along with

lower overall reliability of the connection.

5.0 Equipment List

Connector Cleaning/Inspection Supplies

The following is the Panduit recommended list of equipment and consumable materials for inspection

and cleaning of interconnection components.