Panduit FS2EPKEKENEM008 8m E-Code LC OM4+ Patch Cord

Panduit FS2EPKEKENEM008 Opti-Core OM4+ 8-Meter Coded Duplex LC Fiber Patch Cord

Panduit's FS2EPKEKENEM008 delivers physical-layer security for mission-critical fiber links where unauthorized patch changes can't be tolerated. This 8-meter (26.25 ft) OM4+ duplex LC patch cord uses E-code keyed connectors on both ends, restricting mating to matching E-coded infrastructure—essential in multi-tenant datacenters, secure facilities, and enterprise backbones where color alone isn't enough to prevent accidental or malicious cross-connects. OFNP plenum rating clears it for air-handling spaces without conduit, and Signature Core construction keeps insertion loss under 0.15 dB typical for 40/100G links that can't afford margin erosion.

Key Features

• E-coded duplex LC connectors—mechanical keying prevents insertion into non-E ports, adding physical security beyond cable color
• OM4+ Signature Core fiber—50/125 µm laser-optimized multimode rated for 40GBASE-SR4 to 150 m, 100GBASE-SR4 to 100 m
• OFNP plenum jacket—UL 910 flame test compliant for installation in return-air plenums, raised floors, and drop ceilings without conduit
• Ultra-low insertion loss (≤0.15 dB typical)—factory-terminated and tested, shipping with individual test reports
• 1.6 mm zipcord jacket—tight bend radius for high-density patch panels, orange for 850 nm multimode identification per TIA-598-D
• 8-meter length—ideal for row-to-row datacenter links, cross-aisle connections, or equipment-room patch fields where standard 3 m cords fall short

The E-code keying system solves a persistent problem in shared infrastructure: even with rigorous color discipline, a tech with the wrong patch cord can complete a physical connection to the wrong port. Panduit's coded connectors use a mechanical tab-and-slot arrangement that makes cross-connection physically impossible—the E-code tab on this cord's LC connector will only mate with an E-code slot on a corresponding adapter or panel port. Deploy this across a security zone or tenant boundary, and you've added a hardware enforcement layer that survives shifts, contractor work, and emergency changes. The orange OM4+ cable is still visually distinct for day-to-day workflow, but the keying ensures mistakes don't propagate to the physical layer. Insertion loss ships ≤0.15 dB per connector (≤0.30 dB total link), well within the 0.75 dB connector budget for 40G/100G SR optics, and return loss exceeds 20 dB to minimize back-reflection on VCSEL transmitters. Signature Core fiber is Panduit's tighter-tolerance OM4 variant, holding modal bandwidth above the 4700 MHz·km OM4 floor to preserve headroom on parallel optics.

OFNP plenum rating means the jacket is UL 910-tested for flame spread and smoke density, clearing NEC Article 770 requirements for fiber in air-handling spaces. In practice, that lets you run this cord in the ceiling return plenum of an office floor, under a raised datacenter floor, or through a vertical riser without enclosing it in conduit or EMT—critical when patching between racks in a hot-aisle/cold-aisle layout where conduit isn't an option. The 1.6 mm zipcord construction keeps the bend radius tight (10× cable diameter minimum, so ~16 mm) for dense 1U patch panels where every millimeter of service loop counts. At 8 meters, this cord bridges typical datacenter row spacing (6-7 meters of horizontal run plus vertical drops and service loops) without requiring field splicing or mid-span slack management. Common deployments include SAN fabric links between storage arrays and core switches, 40G QSFP+ SR4 uplinks from top-of-rack to spine, and 100G QSFP28 SR4 connections in leaf-spine architectures where physical isolation between tenants or security zones is mandatory.

Factory termination and testing ship with each cord—Panduit provides individual IL/RL test data, so you can log as-built performance for baseline troubleshooting and warranty claims. The coded connector system integrates with Panduit's broader Opti-Core portfolio (modules, panels, trunks), letting you build an end-to-end keyed infrastructure where every A-code zone, E-code zone, or custom-code zone is mechanically isolated. For installations subject to NERC CIP physical security controls, ITAR access restrictions, or PCI DSS network segmentation audits, the mechanical key provides an auditable control that cable color and labeling alone can't satisfy.