IEC TR 62627-01:2016

IEC TR 62627-01 ®
Edition 2.0 2016-01
TECHNICAL
REPORT
colour
inside
Fibre optic interconnecting devices and passive components –
Part 01: Fibre optic connector cleaning methods

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IEC TR 62627-01 ®
Edition 2.0 2016-01
TECHNICAL
REPORT
colour
inside
Fibre optic interconnecting devices and passive components –

Part 01: Fibre optic connector cleaning methods

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
ICS 33.180.20 ISBN 978-2-8322-3125-8

– 2 – IEC TR 62627-01:2016 © IEC 2016

CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 4

1 Scope . 6

2 Normative references . 6

3 Terms and definitions . 6

3.1 Cleaners . 6

3.2 Optical connector parts . 7

4 Application of optical connectors . 8

4.1 General . 8
4.2 Influence of contamination of optical connector end-faces. 8
5 Care in handling optical connectors . 8
5.1 General . 8
5.2 Storage of optical connectors . 8
5.3 Connection of optical connector plugs to ports on optical network equipment . 8
5.4 Disconnection of optical connector plugs to ports . 8
6 Dust caps . 8
7 Cleaning tools and machines . 9
7.1 General . 9
7.2 Reel type cleaner . 9
7.3 Stick type cleaner . 9
7.4 Pen type cleaner . 10
7.5 Adhesive backed stick type cleaner . 10
7.6 Gas and vacuum cleaning machine . 11
7.7 Air duster . 11
7.8 Tissue and solvent, wet cleaning . 12
8 Optical connectors and their applicable cleaning tools and machines . 12
9 Procedures . 12
9.1 General . 12
9.2 Basic procedure of cleaning . 12
9.3 Procedure to clean exposed plug end-faces with a reel type cleaner . 13
9.4 Procedure for port cleaning using a stick type or a pen type cleaner . 13
9.5 Procedure for port cleaning using an adhesive backed stick type cleaner. 15

9.6 Cleaning procedure using a gas and vacuum type cleaning machine . 15
Annex A (informative) Precautions for the cleaning process . 16
A.1 Material to be cleaned . 16
A.1.1 Plug connector . 16
A.1.2 Plug connector inside adaptors . 16
A.1.3 Adaptor for a cylindrical ferrule plug . 16
A.1.4 Timing of the cleaning . 16
A.2 Additional information . 16
Annex B (informative) General information on contamination . 18
B.1 Impact of contamination . 18
B.1.1 General . 18
B.1.2 High power levels . 18
B.1.3 High data rates . 18
B.2 Source of contamination . 18

B.2.1 Mishandling . 18

B.2.2 Environmental sources . 19

B.2.3 Contamination travels . 19

B.2.4 Contamination migration . 19

B.3 Problems due to end-face contamination . 20

B.3.1 Signal degradation . 20

B.3.2 Permanent damage . 21

Annex C (informative) Example of inspection equipment . 22

Bibliography . 23

Figure 1 –Example of a reel type cleaner . 9
Figure 2 –Example of stick type cleaners . 10
Figure 3 –Example of a pen type cleaner . 10
Figure 4 – Example of an adhesive backed stick type cleaner . 11
Figure 5 – Example of a gas and vacuum cleaning machine . 11
Figure 6 – Example of an air duster . 11
Figure 7 – Cleaning with a reel type cleaner . 13
Figure 8 – Cleaning ports using a stick type cleaner . 14
Figure 9 – Cleaning ports using a pen type cleaner . 14
Figure B.1 – Typical examples of contamination . 19
Figure B.2 – Results of mating . 19
Figure B.3 – Contamination migration . 20
Figure B.4 – Signal degradation due to contamination . 20
Figure B.5 – Permanent damage due to contamination . 21
Figure C.1 – Patch-cord inspection and port inspection . 22

Table 1 – Applicable cleaning tools and machines for typical optical connector parts . 12

– 4 – IEC TR 62627-01:2016 © IEC 2016

INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION

____________
FIBRE OPTIC INTERCONNECTING DEVICES

AND PASSIVE COMPONENTS –
Part 01: Fibre optic connector cleaning methods

FOREWORD
1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of IEC is to promote
international co-operation on all questions concerning standardization in the electrical and electronic fields. To
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agreement between the two organizations.
2) The formal decisions or agreements of IEC on technical matters express, as nearly as possible, an international
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8) Attention is drawn to the Normative references cited in this publication. Use of the referenced publications is
indispensable for the correct application of this publication.
9) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this IEC Publication may be the subject of
patent rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.

The main task of IEC technical committees is to prepare International Standards. However, a
technical committee may propose the publication of a technical report when it has collected
data of a different kind from that which is normally published as an International Standard, for
example "state of the art".
IEC TR 62627-01, which is a Technical Report, has been prepared by subcommittee 86B:
Fibre optic interconnecting devices and passive components, of IEC technical committee 86:
Fibre optics.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition published in 2010. This edition
constitutes a technical revision.

This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous

edition:
a) restructure of clauses;
b) addition of some terms and definitions;

c) addition of information on cleaning tools and machines;

d) addition of information on dust caps;

e) addition of applicable cleaning tools and machines for optical connectors.

The text of this Technical Report is based on the following documents:

Enquiry draft Report on voting
86B/3926/DTR 86B/3943A/RVC
Full information on the voting for the approval of this Technical Report can be found in the
report on voting indicated in the above table.
This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
A list of all parts in the IEC 62627 series, published under the general title Fibre optic
interconnecting devices and passive components, can be found on the IEC website.
The committee has decided that the contents of this publication will remain unchanged until
the stability date indicated on the IEC website under "http://webstore.iec.ch" in the data
related to the specific publication. At this date, the publication will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
A bilingual version of this publication may be issued at a later date.

IMPORTANT – The 'colour inside' logo on the cover page of this publication indicates
that it contains colours which are considered to be useful for the correct
understanding of its contents. Users should therefore print this document using a
colour printer.
– 6 – IEC TR 62627-01:2016 © IEC 2016

FIBRE OPTIC INTERCONNECTING DEVICES

AND PASSIVE COMPONENTS –
Part 01: Fibre optic connector cleaning methods

1 Scope
This part of IEC 62627, which is a Technical Report, details cleaning methods for fibre optic
connectors. It includes typical cleaning tools and machines, and cleaning procedures. Other
cleaning methods may exist. The impact of contamination and the reasons for connector
visual inspection and cleaning are described in Annex B. This Technical Report does not
address the visual inspection criteria, which are covered in IEC 61300-3-35: 2015.
Optical fibre patch cords are handled by the operators and maintenance staff of optical
network systems. This Technical Report may be used as a guideline to prepare instruction
manuals for those involved in optical system maintenance and operation.
This Technical Report covers fibre optic connector plugs, optical adaptors, optical receptacles
(excluding optical transceivers) and dust caps. Guidelines for optical connector end-face
cleaning methods for receptacle style optical transceivers are covered in IEC TR 62572-4.
2 Normative references
The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and
are indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any
amendments) applies.
There are no normative references in this document.
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
3.1 Cleaners
3.1.1
adhesive backed stick type cleaner
cleaning tool for optical connector end-faces, receptacles and optical connector adaptors
using a soft adhesive backing at the end of a stick
3.1.2
air duster
canned air
cleaning tool where compressed air is blown from a nozzle of a can
3.1.3
gas and vacuum type cleaning machine
optical connector end-face cleaning machine in which volatile liquid solvent (gas) is injected
and extracted from a nozzle
3.1.4
pen type cleaner
probe type cleaner
cleaning tool for optical connector end-faces, receptacles and optical connector adaptors

where a tape cleaning cloth at the top of the tool moves and cleans

3.1.5
reel type cleaner
cassette type cleaner
optical connector plug end-face cleaning tool, in which a cleaning cloth roll is packed in a
cassette box, with a small window for cleaning

3.1.6
stick type cleaner
swab type cleaner
optical connector receptacle and optical connector adaptor end-face cleaning tool in which a
cleaning cloth is attached to the top of a stick
3.2 Optical connector parts
3.2.1
bulkhead adaptor
component in which two or more plugs may be mated
Note 1 to entry: A bulkhead adaptor has one or more alignment sleeves in which two or more ferrules are aligned.
3.2.2
dust cap
cover or cap which is attached to an optical connector plug, an optical connector adaptor or
an optical receptacle when the optical connector is not connected to protect it from
contamination
3.2.3
exposed plug end-face
EPE
fibre optic plug without any fixed optical end-face protection, that may be held in the hand
EXAMPLE End of a patch cord.
Note 1 to entry: The ferrule is exposed to the air and is not confined within an alignment sleeve of a bulkhead
adaptor or device port. The end-face of the plug is easy to access and may be brought into contact with cleaning
material.
3.2.4
port
open fibre optic alignment sleeve which contains a fibre optic plug end-face to which a fibre
optic plug may be mated
Note 1 to entry: In the case of a bulkhead adaptor, it is the open side of the adaptor after a fibre optic plug has
been inserted into one side. In the case of an optical device, it is the opening into which a user of the device will
plug a patch cord. The mating side of a port can only be accessed through the alignment sleeve. Therefore the
cleaning material shall be brought to the end-face through the alignment sleeve.
3.2.5
power blocking shuttered adaptor
optical adaptor that has a shutter to block optical power emitted from an optical connector
plug
Note 1 to entry: An optical adaptor with shutter should have a structure that, when two optical connector plugs are
interfaced and the optical connector plug is removed at the shuttered side, the shutter automatically moves to block
emitted optical power. There are two types of optical adaptors with shutter that have already been commercialized:
one focuses on blocking the optical power and the other focuses on dust-proofness. Generally, power blocking
shuttered adaptors that focus on blocking power often have a metal shutter within the optical adaptor.

– 8 – IEC TR 62627-01:2016 © IEC 2016

4 Application of optical connectors

4.1 General
Optical connectors consist of several parts: connector plugs, receptacles, adaptors, dust caps,

etc.
Optical communication network equipment generally has optical adaptors on the front panel or

the back-plane to interface with other equipment or transmission lines. An optical patch cord,

which has optical connector plugs on both ends of an optical fibre cord, is generally used for

optical connection between equipment.

4.2 Influence of contamination of optical connector end-faces
Optical network equipment is located in the central offices, data centres, computer rooms, etc.
The environment of these locations is not necessarily clean, and it is possible that dust or
condensation is introduced onto the optical connector end-faces which may affect their optical
performances (see Annex B).
5 Care in handling optical connectors
5.1 General
Clause 5 describes general care in handling optical connectors.
5.2 Storage of optical connectors
Unused ports on optical network equipment, and unused optical connector plugs on optical
patch cords should be covered or capped by clean dust caps. A dust cap should not enter into
contact with a fibre end-face when fitted. Optical patch cords are recommended to be stored
in clean boxes or bags. Used dust caps should be cleaned before storage. Dust caps should
be stored in clean boxes or bags. It is recommended that storage boxes or bags are ESD
(electric static discharged) processed.
5.3 Connection of optical connector plugs to ports on optical network equipment
For safety reasons, before connection, optical power should be off. Dust caps should be
removed just before the optical connection is made. Before the optical connection, both the
optical connector end-faces to be mated should be inspected, and cleaned if necessary
unless otherwise recommended by the manufacturer. Annex C shows an example of optical
connector end-face visual inspection equipment. The applicable cleaning tools and machines
should be appropriate for optical connector plugs and optical adaptors.

After inspection of optical connector end-faces, the clean optical connector plugs should be
inserted in ports and mated securely.
5.4 Disconnection of optical connector plugs to ports
Before disconnection, optical power should be off.
Immediately after the disconnection, clean dust caps should be fitted to optical connector
plugs and ports.
6 Dust caps
Many shapes and materials of dust caps are available in the market. Appropriate dust caps
should be fitted. For optical connector plugs, there are typically two types of dust caps:
covering the top of the ferrule, or covering part of the plug housing. Dust caps should have a

structure so that their inner surfaces do not come into contact with the ferrule end-face when

dust caps are fitted. Dust caps are recommended to be processed to prevent the creation of a

static electric charge. It is recommended that dust caps should be cleaned using an air duster.

7 Cleaning tools and machines
7.1 General
Clause 7 describes cleaning tools machines for optical connectors.

Optical connector cleaning tools or machines should be used.

Optical connector plugs are easier to clean than optical receptacles or optical adaptors. A
typical cleaning method for optical connector plugs is to wipe the ferrule end-face with a cloth.
As rubbing may produce a static electric charge, which may attract contamination, it is
recommended to use an optical connector cleaner with cloth that has been processe
...