August 12, 2009 -- Intertek, a specialist in testing, inspection and certification services, announced an expansion of scope for its Fiber Optic Components (FOC) certification services.

Intertek's Lexington, Kentucky lab, a Verizon-certified Independent Test Laboratory (ITL) under Verizon's Fiber Optic Component (FOC) program, can now provide GR-20-CORE and GR-409-CORE testing. These standards cover optical fiber, optical fiber cables, and premises fiber optic cables.

"The addition of the GR-20-CORE and GR-409-CORE to Intertek's list of approved FOC standards allows manufacturers of fiber optic cables and components to shorten their time to market by consolidating testing of their entire fiber optic / OSP product line at Intertek," says Keith Kuhn, general manager, Intertek.

Intertek's Lexington lab is also approved to test to GR-13-CORE (Pedestal Terminal Closure); GR-771-CORE (Fiber Optic Splice Closures); and GR-765-CORE (Single Fiber Single-Mode Optical Splices and Splicing Systems).

Intertek tests safety, reliability and performance of fiber optic components (FOC) including connectors, fiber cables, fiber distribution frames, splice closures, pedestals and indoor/outdoor fiber cabinets. FOC testing includes geometric tolerances, mechanical testing (vibration, shock, seismic etc.), fiber integrity (tensile loading, fiber flex and twist testing), environmental (thermal cycling, thermal shock, life aging), and chemical exposure testing (gaseous airborne contaminants, salt spray).

On the Web:
www.intertek.com