ANSI/TIA/EIA 598-A

OPTICAL FIBER CABLE COLOR CODING

The goal of this standard is to provide a uniform identification process for fiber optic cable by color coding the individual fibers and the jacket. The standard applies to premise and outside plant fiber for both long and short haul applications. While the original documentation is focused at the manufacturer, installation and design organizations should be familiar with the color coding scheme of the individual fibers for termination purposes.

When terminating fiber optic cable, each fiber is assigned a numerical position in relation to the termination box positions, beginning with the number one. Each color of fiber then has a corresponding position number that it is associated with.

Optical premise cable:

• is intended primarily for indoor use
• shall meet the appropriate National Electrical Code requirements for particular installations (plenum cable, riser cable, or general purpose cable, as applicable),  and other mechanical and/or environmental requirements as specified for the intended applications
• may be suitable for limited outdoor applications if constructed for that application
• normally consists of one or more fibers of specified fiber sizes, coated or uncoated and buffered to an appropriate specified diameter.
  
  

CABLE TYPES

Distribution Cable

Distribution cable normally consists of two or more fibers bundled together in units and is generally used to distribute signals within a building.

Interconnect Cable or Cord

An Interconnect Cable or Interconnect Cord consists of one or two fibers, reinforced and jacketed, and is intended for short distance applications such as intra-equipment jumpers or patch cords.

A single fiber cable is referred to as a simplex cable, and a two-fiber cable is called duplex cable. A duplex cable consists of two simplex cables or two individual fibers assembled with an overall jacket, or two simplex cables bonded together. A dual fiber cable which can be separated into two individual cables by "tearing" them apart is also referred to as a "zip cord".

Breakout Cable

Premises Breakout Cable is made up of two or more stand alone sub-cables assembled together under a common outer jacket so that each sub-cable can be separated from the main cable for routing to, and termination at, various locations. These cables have a larger overall diameter than normal premise cabling because of the size of the sub cables.

COLOR CODING SCHEME

When multiple fibers are housed in a single buffer tube, the color coding of the fiber optic cables enables the installer/administrator to easily identify the individual fibers. This color scheme may also be used, but is not mandatory for fibers that are identified by their position; eg: ribbon fiber.

When a number of fibers (e.g., 6, 12, 18, 24) form a unit/bundle, and units/bundles are grouped to form groups, the units and groups shall be uniquely identified and shall also follow the color scheme shown in the Fiber Optic Cable Color Code chart. The identification may be accomplished by:

Generally, most manufacturers use the color coding technique for identification purposes. If the number of fiber strands creates the need for bundles to be housed in its own sheath, then the tube itself will be color coded using the colors in the color code table, with the first tube being blue, the second orange etc. The standard allows for a printed legend and bar coding but the size of the individual fibers it too small to easily see, and identify the markings. The original standards documents contain the necessary information for bar coding.

Binder Groups

Just as in copper cabling, groups of fibers can be grouped together using binder twine and/or tape. When this occurs the colors of the identifiers shall be unique and clearly visible and must conform as closely as possible to the requirements of clause 5 in the original standards documents. When binder tape, ribbons or threads are used to bind fibers into groups beyond twelve, 2 binders should be used. The first one will match the base colour for the group in use, and the second one will match the tracer color.

Tracers

Tracer colors may be:

Continuous Intermittent Longitudinal and Spiral Tracers

There are other limitations and specifications which cover these tracers which are geared more toward the manufacturers of the cables and are outside the intent of this document. That information may be obtained from the original standards documentation.

Continuous, Intermittent Ring Stripe and Hash Tracers

COLOR CODING OF OPTICAL PREMISES CABLE

Color coding of premise cable shall follow the Fiber Optic Color Code chart.

Colored outer jackets may be used on Premises Distribution, Interconnect, Breakout Cable or Interconnect Cord, to identify fiber classifications (eg: multimode or singlemode), and fiber sizes (for multimode only). If the cables are color coded for, the cable jacket shall:

Premise Breakout Cable

Shall be color coded as follows:

In Premises Breakout Cable where the cordage units within the cable contain only one fiber (single-fiber cordage), the color coding shall be as follows:

In Premises Breakout Cable where cordage units within the cable contain two fibers (dual-fiber cordage) or more, the color coding shall be as follows:

Summary

Although this standard pertains mostly to the manufacturers of fiber optic cable, the installer/designer should be familiar with the intent, and that is to create a color coding system to aid in the termination of the fiber optic cable. Both groups should understand what to expect from the manufacturer. If a cable has 12 fibers in it and you cannot tell the difference between the black and the blue fiber, then the manufacturer has not done his job properly and the product should be questioned as to its usefullness.