Fiber optic cable jacket colors – and why you shouldn’t rely on them
06.29.2023 | There are standadized colors not only for optical fibers but also for the cables that hold them. The benefit of it: One can tell the fiber type that’s inside of the cable at first glance. However, not all cable manufacturers follow the standard.
EN 60794 demands that the jackets of fiber optic cables are color coded, which means the jacket color depends on the type and category of the optical fibers. The standard also recognizes printing on the cable as an alternative. IEC TR 63194 specifies IEC color codes and lists country-specific color codes in annexes A to G. ANSI/TIA-598-D also specifies a color code that is similar to the one in EN 60794.
However, not all cable manufacturers follow the color code completely, and especially in legacy installations cables with OM4 fibers and aqua jacket can be found as well as orange cables that have singlemode fibers inside. It is always a good idea to have a look at the printing on the jacket.
Author:
Dirk Traeger
Technical Solutions Manager DataVoice