How to Identify the Fiber Optic Cable Color Code?

Fiber Optic Cable Outer Jacket Color Code

Fiber cable jacket is made of various types of materials. Colored outer jackets or print may be used on outside plant and premises fiber cables, e.g., fiber distribution cables, fiber optic patch cords, etc. In EIA/TIA-598, the fiber color code defines the jacket color codes for different fiber types. It’s important to consider the jacket type when selecting the compatibility with the application’s connectors and environment. So for optical fiber cable that contains only one type of fiber we can easily identify it by its jacket color; unless otherwise specified, the outer jacket of premises cable containing more than one fiber type shall use a printed legend to identify the quantities and types of fibers within the cable, for example "12 Fiber 8 x 50/125, 4 x 62.5/125." 

  • Premise cables with multimode fibers are orange (OM1 & OM2 cable), aqua (OM3 cable) and purple (OM4 cable)
  • Premise cables with singlemode fibers are yellow.
  • Premise cables with mixed (hybrid) fibers are black.
  • Indoor/Outdoor cables with any/all fibers are black.

Here are the jacket color codes for different fiber types:

Fiber Type Color Code
Non-military Applications Military Applications Suggested Print Nomenclature
OM1 62.5/125µm Multimode Orange Slate 62.5/125
OM2 50/125µm Multimode Orange Orange 50/125
OM3 50/125µm (850 nm Laser-Optimized) Multimode Aqua Undefined 850 LO 50/125
OM4 50/125µm (850 nm Laser-Optimized) Multimode Aqua/Violet Undefined 850 LO 50/125
100/140µm Multimode Orange Green 100/140
OS1/OS2 Single Mode Yellow Yellow SM/NZDS, SM
Polarization Maintaining Single Mode Blue Undefined Undefined

 

Notes:

  • Natural jackets with colored tracers may be used instead of solid-color jackets.
  • Because of the limited number of applications for these fibers, print nomenclature is to be agreed upon between the manufacturer and end-user.
  • Other colors may be used provided that the print on the outer jacket identifies fiber classifications.
  • For some premises cable functional types (e.g., plenum cables), colored jacket material may not be available. Distinctive jacket colors for other fiber types may be considered for addition to Table 3 at some future date.

Inner Cable Organizational Fiber Color Code.

Inside a multi-fiber cable, individual fibers are compliant to fiber color code as well. They are often distinguished from one another by color-coded jackets, buffers or tubes on each fiber. According to EIA/TIA-598, inner fibers are color coded in a group of 12 fibers and they are counted in a clockwise direction. Up to 24 individual strands can be manufactured loosely, and after that point, they are usually sectioned into tubes containing 12 each. So there are two situations for multi-fiber patch cords:

  • For cables that consist of multiple buffer tubes each with 12 or fewer strands. Each tube will be numbered or colored following the same fiber color code.
  • For cables that have over 12 strands, the color code repeats itself. Each 12-strand group is identified in some other unique way such as adding a stripe or some other specific marks to the new group.
Fiber Position Jacket Color Fiber Position Jacket Color
1 Blue 13 Blue with black tracer
2 Orange 14 Orange with black tracer
3 Green 15 Green with black tracer
4 Brown 16 Brown with black tracer
5 Slate 17 Slate with black tracer
6 White 18 White with black tracer
7 Red 19 Red with black tracer
8 Black 20 Black with yellow tracer
9 Yellow 21 Yellow with black tracer
10 Violet 22 Violet with black tracer
11 Rose(Pink) 23 Rose with black tracer
12 Aqua 24 Aqua with black tracer

 

Connector Color Code

Connector color code is also a part of the fiber patch cord color code. Inside a multi-fiber cable, individual fibers are compliant to fiber color code as well. They are often distinguished from one another by color-coded jackets, buffers or tubes on each fiber. According to EIA/TIA-598, inner fibers are color coded in a group of 12 fibers and they are counted in a clockwise direction.

Fiber Types Polish Style Connector Body Strain Relief/Mating Adapter
OM1 62.5/125 UPC Beige/Grey Beige/Grey
OM2 50/125 UPC Black Black
OM3/OM4 50/125 laser optimized UPC Aqua Aqua
Single Mode UPC Blue Blue
Single Mode APC Green Green

 

However, with the advent of metallic connectors like the FC and ST, connector color coding becomes difficult. Therefore, colored strain relief boots or shells are also used. The boot color may vary among manufacturers.

One thing to remember on color coding—it’s an industry standard, TIA 598—which means it’s voluntary. Don’t be surprised if you find black, pink, olive or any other color cables. The customer can specify any colors they want. Now the cables with connectors in the photo above become more obvious. The aqua connector and aqua cable tell us that cable is 50/125 OM3 or OM4, and for a short patchcord, there is no real difference in the two. The beige connector on an orange cable says it is 62.5/125 fiber and the yellow cable with blue connector means that patchcord is single-mode fiber with a regular PC connector.

Conclusion

Fiber optic cable color code is a system that helps us distinguish fiber types visually from the colored fiber jacket, fiber connector, fiber boot, etc. Thus, fiber cable color coding is essential to fiber optic communications like the twisted pair color coding to copper wiring systems. LightOptics offers a broad range of standard fiber optic cable types. If you want to know more about fiber cable cord, kindly contact sales@lightoptics.co.uk for more details.

The cookie settings on this website are set to 'allow all cookies' to give you the very best experience. Please click Accept Cookies to continue to use the site.
You have successfully subscribed!
This email has been registered