Overview
IEC TR 62627-02:2010 is a Technical Report from the IEC series "Fibre optic interconnecting devices and passive components." It documents the results of two round robin test (RRT) programs carried out on SC plug style fixed attenuators (both SC/PC and SC/APC). Initiated by CENELEC TC 86BXA, the work was designed to evaluate the accuracy and repeatability of spectral attenuation loss measurements on fixed attenuators and to inform appropriate attenuation tolerance values for performance standards.
Key topics and technical content
- Scope and purpose: Measurement comparison across multiple laboratories to understand measurement variation and practical performance of plug-style attenuators.
- Test programs: Two round robin programs covering SC/PC and SC/APC plug style fixed attenuators with defined test samples and methods.
- Measurement types included:
- Spectral attenuation scans (wavelength dependence)
- Attenuation measurements (LED and laser sources)
- Polarization Dependent Loss (PDL) measurements
- Random mating and mating durability performance with connector grades
- Mechanical interface behaviour for SC plug-style attenuators
- Results presentation: Aggregate plots and per-laboratory annexes, pass/fail tables, and recommendations for relaxed and original performance criteria. Figures and tables include spectral scans, PDL overviews and LED results at common telecom wavelengths (e.g., 1310 nm and 1550 nm).
- Conclusions & recommendations: Summarizes observed wavelength-dependent variations, repeatability issues, and provides guidance on attenuation tolerance values suitable for inclusion in product performance standards.
Practical applications and who uses it
This Technical Report is directly useful to:
- Manufacturers of fibre optic components (attenuators, connectors) for product design, QC tolerances and interface validation.
- Test laboratories and metrology teams that perform attenuation and PDL measurements; helps harmonize methods and interpret inter-lab variation.
- Network operators and system integrators evaluating plug-style attenuators, especially when used on active transceivers where mating durability and wavelength behaviour matter.
- Standards committees and procurement specialists using the RRT evidence to set realistic specification tolerances and acceptance criteria.
- R&D and QA teams seeking to minimize measurement uncertainty and improve connector/attenuator mechanical compatibility.
Related standards and references
The report builds on and references IEC measurement standards used for fibre components, including:
By consolidating RRT data for SC/PC and SC/APC plug style attenuators, IEC TR 62627-02:2010 helps stakeholders set evidence-based tolerances, improve measurement repeatability, and address interoperability and durability issues in fibre optic networks.