IEC 60794-1-20:2014

IEC 60794-1-20
®


Edition 1.0 2014-01
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
colour
inside


Optical fibre cables –
Part 1-20: Generic specification – Basic optical cable test procedures – General
and definitions


Câbles à fibres optiques –
Partie 1-20: Spécification générique – Procédures fondamentales d’essais des
câbles optiques – Généralités et définitions

IEC 60794-1-20:2014-01(EN-FR)

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IEC 60794-1-20

®


Edition 1.0 2014-01




INTERNATIONAL



STANDARD




NORME



INTERNATIONALE
colour

inside










Optical fibre cables –

Part 1-20: Generic specification – Basic optical cable test procedures – General

and definitions






Câbles à fibres optiques –


Partie 1-20: Spécification générique – Procédures fondamentales d’essais des

câbles optiques – Généralités et définitions












INTERNATIONAL

ELECTROTECHNICAL

COMMISSION


COMMISSION

ELECTROTECHNIQUE

PRICE CODE
INTERNATIONALE

CODE PRIX M


ICS 33.180.10 ISBN 978-2-8322-1365-0



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® Registered trademark of the International Electrotechnical Commission
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– 2 – 60794-1-20 © IEC:2014
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 3
1 Scope and object . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 6
3.1 Common terms . 6
3.2 Cable definitions . 7
3.3 Ribbon definitions . 7
4 General and guidance . 7
4.1 General . 7
4.2 Test procedure format . 7
4.3 Standard atmospheric conditions . 7
4.4 Standard test conditions . 7
4.5 Expanded test conditions . 7
4.6 Graphical symbols and terminology . 8
4.7 Safety and environmental aspects . 8
4.8 Calibration . 8
4.8.1 Calibration process . 8
4.8.2 Assessment of uncertainties . 8
4.9 Definition of “No change in attenuation” . 8
4.9.1 General . 8
4.9.2 No change in attenuation, single-mode (class B) . 9
4.9.3 No change in attenuation, multimode (category A1) . 9
4.9.4 No change in attenuation, plastic optical fibre (category A4) . 9
4.9.5 Allowable change in attenuation during mechanical

and environmental tests . 9
4.10 Definition of “No change in fibre strain” . 9
4.10.1 General . 9
4.10.2 Allowable change in fibre strain during mechanical
and environmental tests . 10
4.11 Preconditioning . 10
4.12 Cable load definitions . 10
4.13 Recovery time . 10
4.14 Cable qualification test plan . 10
5 Test procedures . 11
6 Test methods and cross references . 11
Annex A (normative) Optical launch conditions . 12
Bibliography . 13


Table 1 – Test methods – Cross reference . 11

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60794-1-20 © IEC:2014 – 3 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________

OPTICAL FIBRE CABLES –

Part 1-20: Generic specification –
Basic optical cable test procedures –
General and definitions

FOREWORD
1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of IEC is to promote
international co-operation on all questions concerning standardization in the electrical and electronic fields. To
this end and in addition to other activities, IEC publishes International Standards, Technical Specifications,
Technical Reports, Publicly Available Specifications (PAS) and Guides (hereafter referred to as “IEC
Publication(s)”). Their preparation is entrusted to technical committees; any IEC National Committee interested
in the subject dealt with may participate in this preparatory work. International, governmental and non-
governmental organizations liaising with the IEC also participate in this preparation. IEC collaborates closely
with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in accordance with conditions determined by
agreement between the two organizations.
2) The formal decisions or agreements of IEC on technical matters express, as nearly as possible, an international
consensus of opinion on the relevant subjects since each technical committee has representation from all
interested IEC National Committees.
3) IEC Publications have the form of recommendations for international use and are accepted by IEC National
Committees in that sense. While all reasonable efforts are made to ensure that the technical content of IEC
Publications is accurate, IEC cannot be held responsible for the way in which they are used or for any
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4) In order to promote international uniformity, IEC National Committees undertake to apply IEC Publications
transparently to the maximum extent possible in their national and regional publications. Any divergence
between any IEC Publication and the corresponding national or regional publication shall be clearly indicated in
the latter.
5) IEC itself does not provide any attestation of conformity. Independent certification bodies provide conformity
assessment services and, in some areas, access to IEC marks of conformity. IEC is not responsible for any
services carried out by independent certification bodies.
6) All users should ensure that they have the latest edition of this publication.
7) No liability shall attach to IEC or its directors, employees, servants or agents including individual experts and
members of its technical committees and IEC National Committees for any personal injury, property damage or
other damage of any nature whatsoever, whether direct or indirect, or for costs (including legal fees) and
expenses arising out of the publication, use of, or reliance upon, this IEC Publication or any other IEC
Publications.
8) Attention is drawn to the Normative references cited in this publication. Use of the referenced publications is
indispensable for the correct application of this publication.
9) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this IEC Publication may be the subject of
patent rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
International Standard IEC 60794-1-20 has been prepared by subcommittee 86A: Fibres and
cables, of IEC technical committee 86: Fibre optics.
This first edition of IEC 60794-1-20 cancels and replaces the general and guidance part of the
second edition of IEC 60794-1-2 published in 2003. It constitutes a technical revision.
It has been decided to split the second edition of IEC 60794-1-2 into six new documents:
– IEC 60794-1-2:2003, Optical fibre cables – Part 1-2: Generic specification – Basic optical
cable test procedures (second edition)
– IEC 60794-1-2:2013, Optical fibre cables –Part 1-2: Generic specification – Cross
reference table for optical cable test procedures (third edition)
– IEC 60794-1-20, Optical fibre cables – Part 1-20: Generic specification – Basic optical
cable test procedures – General and definitions

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– 4 – 60794-1-20 © IEC:2014
– IEC 60794-1-21, Optical fibre cables – Part 1-21: Generic specification – Basic optical
cable test procedures – Mechanical tests methods
– IEC 60794-1-22, Optical fibre cables – Part 1-22: Generic specification – Basic optical
cable test procedures – Environmental tests methods
– IEC 60794-1-23, Optical fibre cables – Part 1-23: Generic specification – Basic optical
cable test procedures – Cable elements tests methods
– IEC 60794-1-24, Optical fibre cables – Part 1-24: Generic specification – Basic optical
cable test procedures – Electrical tests methods
This standard is intended to be used in conjunction with IEC 60794-1-1: Optical fibre cables –
Part 1-1: Generic specification – General.
The text of this standard is based on the following documents:
CDV Report on voting
86A/1476/CDV 86A/1514/RVC

Full information on the voting for the approval of this standard can be found in the report on
voting indicated in the above table.
This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
A list of all the parts in the IEC 61754 series, under the general title Optical fibre cables, can
be found on the IEC website.
The committee has decided that the contents of this publication will remain unchanged until
the stability date indicated on the IEC web site under "http://webstore.iec.ch" in the data
related to the specific publication. At this date, the publication will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.

IMPORTANT – The 'colour inside' logo on the cover page of this publication indicates
that it contains colours which are considered to be useful for the correct
understanding of its contents. Users should therefore print this document using a
colour printer.

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60794-1-20 © IEC:2014 – 5 –
OPTICAL FIBRE CABLES –

Part 1-20: Generic specification –
Basic optical cable test procedures –
General and definitions



1 Scope and object
This part of IEC 60794 applies to optical fibre cables for use with telecommunication
equipment and devices employing similar techniques, and to cables having a combination of
both optical fibres and electrical conductors.
The object of this standard is to define test procedures to be used in establishing uniform
requirements for the geometrical, transmission, material, mechanical, ageing (environmental
exposure) and climatic properties of optical fibre cables, and electrical requirements where
appropriate.
Throughout this standard the wording “optical cable” may also include optical fibre units,
microduct fibre units, etc.
2 Normative references
The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and
are indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any
amendments) applies.
IEC 60793-1 (all parts 1), Optical fibres – Measurement methods and test procedures
IEC 60793-1-40, Optical fibres – Measurement methods and test procedures – Attenuation
IEC 60793-1-41, Optical fibres – Part 1-41: Measurement methods and test procedures –
Bandwidth
IEC 60793-1-46, Optical fibres: Measurement methods and test procedures – Monitoring of
changes in optical transmittance
IEC 60793-1-48, Optical fibres – Part 1-48: Measurement methods and test procedures –
Polarization mode dispersion
IEC 60793-2 (all parts), Optical fibres
IEC 60793-2-10, Optical fibres – Part 2-10: Product specifications – Sectional specification for
category A1 multimode fibres
IEC 60793-2-40, Optical fibres – Part 2-10: Product specifications – Sectional specification for
category A4 multimode fibres
IEC 60793-2-50, Optical fibres – Part 2-10: Product specifications – Sectional specification for
class B single-mode fibres
IEC 60794-1 (all parts), Optical fibre cables – Part 1: Generic specification

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– 6 – 60794-1-20 © IEC:2014
IEC 60794-1-1, Optical fibre cables – Part 1-1: Generic specification – General
IEC 60794-1-2:2013, Optical fibre cables –Part 1-2: Generic specification – Cross reference
table for optical cable test procedures (third edition)
IEC 60794-2 (all parts), Optical fibre cables – Part 2: Indoor cables
IEC 60794-3 (all parts), Optical fibre cables – Part 3: Outdoor cables
IEC 60794-3-20, Optical fibre cables – Part 3-20: Outdoor cables – Family specification for
self-supporting aerial telecommunication cables
IEC 60794-4, Optical fibre cables:– Part 4: Aerial optical cables along electrical power lines
IEC 60794-5, Optical fibre cables – Part 5: Sectional specification – Microduct cabling for
installation by blowing
IEC 61931, Fibre optic – Terminology
IEC/TR 62362, Selection of optical fibre cable specifications relative to mechanical, ingress,
climatic or electromagnetic characteristics – Guidance
ISO/IEC 98-3, Uncertainty of measurement – Part 3: Guide to the expression of uncertainty in
measurement (GUM:1995)
ISO/IEC Guide 99, International vocabulary of metrology – Basic and general concepts and
associated terms (VIM)
ISO/IEC 11801, Information technology – Generic cabling for customer premises
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions in the IEC 60793-2 series,as well
as the following, apply.
3.1 Common terms
3.1.1
multimode fibre
MMF
fibre conforming to IEC 60793-2-10
3.1.2
single-mode fibre
SMF
fibre conforming to IEC 60793-2-50
3.1.3
plastic optical fibre
POF
fibre conforming to IEC 60793-2-40
3.1.4
low water peak
LWP
fibre – single-mode fibre conforming to IEC 60793-2-50, category B1.3

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60794-1-20 © IEC:2014 – 7 –
3.1.5
bend-insensitive fibre
single-mode fibre conforming to IEC 60793-2-50, category B6
3.1.6
laser optimized multimode fibre
multimode fibre conforming to IEC 60793-2-10, implementations A1a.2 or A1a.3
3.2 Cable definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions in IEC 60794-1-1, IEC 60794-2,
IEC 60794-3, IEC 60794-4 and IEC 60794-5 apply.
3.3 Ribbon definition
3.3.1
ribbon
several optical fibres, typically 4, 8 and 12, joined together in a flat formation.
4 General and guidance
4.1 General
Not all tests are required for a cable design. It depends on the application and the detail
specification.
4.2 Test procedure format
The standard order of each test method is in general as follows. Additional clauses may be
inserted, whilst maintaining this general order:
– object;
– sample;
– apparatus;
– procedure;
– requirement;
– details to be specified;
– details to be reported.
4.3 Standard atmospheric conditions
Two sets of allowable ambient conditions for cable testing are defined for use in testing in this
specification:
4.4 Standard test conditions
– temperature +23 °C ± 5 °C;
– pressure site ambient;
– relative humidity 20 % to 70 %.
4.5 Expanded test conditions
– temperature + 25 °C ± 15 °C;
– pressure site ambient;
– relative humidity 5 % to 95 %.

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The standard test conditions shall be used as the default ambient criteria when performing
tests. The expanded test conditions are allowed for ambient criteria when performing tests.
NOTE A tightly controlled temperature range is considered unnecessary for most cable tests.
Consideration should be given to the effects of temperature differences and variations on
electronic and optical test equipment that may be used in performing the tests. It may be
necessary to maintain such equipment at the controlled test conditions by appropriate means.
4.6 Graphical symbols and terminology
See IEC 61931.
4.7 Safety and environmental aspects
All applicable safety and environmental regulations shall be met. Where compliance to
ISO/IEC 11801 is required, the information described in IEC/TR 62362 shall be taken into
account.
4.8 Calibration
4.8.1 Calibration process
Ensure the apparatus is calibrated and adjusted in accordance with the manufacturer's
instructions before use in order to minimize measurement uncertainty.
Record relevant information of the calibration process, such as the calibrated value and
uncertainty of the reference material or test equipment used. ISO/IEC Guide 99-12 refers.
1
4.8.2 Assessment of uncertainties
Measurement uncertainty may be defined as the range within which the true value of a
measured quantity (the measured) is estimated to lie, within a given likelihood (or confidence
level). The measurement uncertainty normally comprises several components, some of which
may be estimated using statistical techniques (known as type A uncertainties) whilst others
may be estimated on the basis of experience or other information (known as type B
uncertainties). Components of uncertainty, or variance, are additive, and a confidence interval
may be calculated for the measurements based on the sum of the variance components.
A typical build-up of uncertainty may include the following sources of uncertainty:
– calibration uncertainty of reference materials or equipment used – normally stated on the
calibration certificates of the standards;
– transfer uncertainty – estimated changes in the certified values of reference materials or
equipment since they were calibrated;
– operational uncertainty – estimated effects of environmental conditions, such as temper-
ature and humidity.
– statistical (random) uncertainty in the measurement of the specimen and the calibration
standard – due to, for example, electrical noise, vibration, data quantization, etc.
4.9 Definition of “No change in attenuation”
4.9.1 General
For some of the parameters specified in this standard, the objective is no change in
attenuation.
___________
1
See ISO/IEC Guide 98-3.

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60794-1-20 © IEC:2014 – 9 –
These parameters may be affected by measurement uncertainty arising from measurement
errors or calibration errors due to a lack of suitable reference standards. Acceptance criteria
shall be interpreted with respect to this consideration.
4.9.2 No change in attenuation, single-mode (class B)
The total uncertainty of measurement for this standard shall be ≤ ± 0,05 dB for attenuation or
± 0,05 dB/km for attenuation coefficient. Any measured value within this range shall be
considered as “no change in attenuation”.
The requirement for these parameters is indicated as “no change (≤ ± 0,05 dB or
≤ ± 0,05 dB/km)”.
By agreement between customer and supplier, minor deviation from this limit may be
accepted at some low frequency, e.g. less than 10 %. However, for mechanical tests no
deviation in excess of 0,15 dB shall be accepted. For environmental tests, no deviation in
excess of 0,10 dB/km shall be accepted.
4.9.3 No change in attenuation, multimode (category A1)
The total uncertainty of measurement for this standard shall be ≤ ± 0,2 dB for attenuation or
≤ ± 0,2 dB/km for attenuation coefficient.
Any measured value within this range shall be considered as “no change in attenuation”.
The requirement for these parameters is indicated as “no change
(≤ ± 0,2 dB or ≤ ± 0,2 dB/km)”.
By agreement between customer and supplier, minor deviation from this limit may be
accepted at some low frequency, e.g. less than 10 %. However for mechanical tests no
deviation in excess of 0,5 dB shall be accepted. For environmental tests no deviation in
excess of 0,5 dB/km shall be accepted.
4.9.4 No change in attenuation, plastic optical fibre (category A4)
The total uncertainty of measurement for this standard shall be ≤ ± 2 % for attenuation.
Any measured value within this range shall be considered as “no change in attenuation”.
The requirement for these parameters is indicated as “No change (≤ + 2 %)”.
For mechanical tests no deviation excess of 2 % shall be allowed.
For environmental tests no change, as defined in the relevant specification.
4.9.5 Allowable change in attenuation during mechanical and environmental tests
Depending on fibre type, single-mode or multimode, cable design and application the
allowable change criteria might differ.
4.10 Definition of “No change in fibre strain”
4.10.1 General
For some of the parameters specified in this standard, the objective is no change in strain.

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– 10 – 60794-1-20 © IEC:2014
These parameters may be affected by measurement uncertainty arising from measurement
errors or calibration errors due to a lack of suitable reference standards. Acceptance criteria
shall be interpreted with respect to this consideration.
The total uncertainty of measurement for this standard shall be ± 0,05 % (this value to be
checked) strain.
Any measured value within this range shall be considered as “no change in strain”.
4.10.2 Allowable change in fibre strain during mechanical and environmental tests
Unless otherwise specified in the detail specification, these values are as follows:
– 20 % of proof strain for long-term loads;
– 60 % of proof strain for short term loads.
4.11 Preconditioning
Most tests are performed at ambient conditions or begin at ambient conditions, per 4.3. The
intent is that the preconditioning achieve thermal stability. Unless otherwise specified,
precondition samples at ambient conditions for a minimum of 12 h prior to the test.
4.12 Cable load definitions
Long-term load: T A load which, for the purposes of the tests herein, represents a load
L
that a cable may be expected to experience over long periods of time,
including its entire lifetime. This is the rated maximum load for which a
cable is subject in long term tests.
Short-term load: T Often called the rated installation load. This is the maximum load for
S
which a cable is rated, i.e. the load that represents the maximum
specified load for the cable.
The cable load definitions for aerial cables differ. See IEC 60794-3-20 and IEC 60794-4.
4.13 Recovery tim
...