ABSTRACT: GR-409 sets forth proposed generic technical requirements and characteristics of single-mode and multimode optical fibers, optical fiber ribbons, and optical fiber cables for indoor plant use. The requirements are based on National and International accepted industry standards and specifications, communications service providers' needs and deployment environments, and the optical fiber and cable manufacturers' view of industry required criteria.

This document includes proposed functional design criteria, generic mechanical and optical performance requirements, and desired features. It specifies test methods for comparing the fiber, ribbon, or cable product against the stated generic requirements. The specified test methods are intended to provide a consistent and repeatable methodology that reflects the operational conditions for optical fiber, ribbon, and cable analysis.

GR-409 is also intended to specify sampling criteria and test methodology information for Independent Test Laboratories (ITLs) to provide consistent and repeatable results for optical fiber, ribbon, and cable test programs. This testing information is for ITL testing only, and is not sufficient for production testing for manufacturer quality control testing that requires many more test samples to achieve the desired statistical significance.

Issue 2 reflects the following:

• Requirements call out and reference recognized National or International Standards where the actual criteria value is published by an industry-recognized standards body
• Test procedures call out and reference National Standards in the main body of the document
• Sample size information has been added for each of the requirements where specific ITL product testing is called for
• Reference is made to GR-20 for most fiber and fiber ribbon specifications
• New single-mode fiber types have been added for optical requirements
• Multimode fiber requirements have been expanded
• The Fiber Cleavability requirement has been eliminated
• Section 5 has been modified to include buffered fibers
• Fiber fusability and cleavability requirements for ribbon have been eliminated
• The cable type designations have been reorganized and restated to align with the National standards, resulting in some new cable type terms
• Information on cable jacket materials has been expanded to include new materials
• A new appendix has been added to provide a list of deleted requirements.