What is BS EN IEC 60793‑1‑54 - Optical fibres about?
BS EN IEC 60793 is a series on optical fibres. Optical fibres are used most often as a means to transmit light between the two ends of the fibre and find wide usage in fibre-optic communications. BS EN IEC 60793‑1‑54 outlines a method for measuring the steady-state response of optical fibres and optical cables exposed to gamma radiation. BS EN IEC 60793‑1‑54 can be employed to determine the level of radiation-induced attenuation produced in Class B single-mode or Class A, category A1 and A2 multimode optical fibres, in either cabled or uncabled form, due to exposure to gamma radiation. The background of the knowledge that is necessary to perform correct, relevant and expressive irradiation tests as well as to limit measurement uncertainty is presented separately BS EN IEC 60793‑1‑54.
Who is BS EN IEC 60793‑1‑54 - Optical fibres for?
BS EN IEC 60793‑1‑54 on optical fibres is useful for:
- Optical fibre manufacturers
- Telecommunication sector
- Design engineer
- Quality control personnel
- IT sector
Why should you use BS EN IEC 60793‑1‑54 - Optical fibres?
The attenuation of cabled and uncabled optical fibres generally increases when exposed to gamma radiation. This is primarily due to the trapping of radiolytic electrons and holes at defect sites in the glass (i.e., the formation of "colour centres"). The test procedure described in BS EN IEC 60793‑1‑54 focuses on two regimes of interest: the low dose rate regime suitable for estimating the effect of environmental background radiation, and the high dose rate regime suitable for estimating the effect of adverse nuclear environments. The testing of the effects of environmental background radiation is achieved with an attenuation measurement approach like IEC 60793-1-40 method A, cut-back.
The effects of adverse nuclear environments are tested by monitoring the power before, during and after exposure of the test sample to gamma radiation. The depopulation of colour centres by light (photobleaching) or by heat causes recovery (lessening of radiation-induced attenuation). The test method as described in BS EN IEC 60793‑1‑54 is written to contain a clear, concise listing of instructions. This test is not a material test for the non-optical material components of a fibre optic cable. If the degradation of cable materials exposed to irradiation is studied, other test methods will be used. Using BS EN IEC 60793‑1‑54 you can measure the steady-state response of optical fibres and optical cables exposed to gamma radiation.
What’s changed since the last update?
BS EN IEC 60793‑1‑54:2018 supersedes BS EN 60793‑1‑54:2013. BS EN IEC 60793‑1‑54:2018 includes some technical changes with respect to BS EN 60793‑1‑54:2013. These include:
- Test conditions related to photobleaching have been changed
- The test length has been modified to yield a total induced attenuation in the test sample at the end of the irradiation between 3 dB and 10 dB.
