IEC 60794-1-22:2012

IEC 60794-1-22
®

Edition 1.0 2012-06
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD

colour
inside


Optical fibre cables –
Part 1-22: Generic specification – Basic optical cable test procedures –
Environmental test methods

IEC 60794-1-22:2012(E)

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IEC 60794-1-22

®


Edition 1.0 2012-06




INTERNATIONAL



STANDARD








colour

inside










Optical fibre cables –

Part 1-22: Generic specification – Basic optical cable test procedures –

Environmental test methods



























INTERNATIONAL

ELECTROTECHNICAL

COMMISSION

PRICE CODE
U


ICS 33.180.10 ISBN 978-2-83220-131-2



  Warning! Make sure that you obtained this publication from an authorized distributor.


® Registered trademark of the International Electrotechnical Commission

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– 2 – 60794-1-22 © IEC:2012(E)

CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 5
1 Scope . 7
2 Normative references . 7
3 Method F1 – Temperature cycling . 8
3.1 Object . 8
3.2 Sample . 8
3.3 Apparatus . 9
3.4 Procedure . 9
3.4.1 Initial measurement . 9
3.4.2 Pre-conditioning . 9
3.4.3 Conditioning . 9
3.4.4 Recovery . 11
3.5 Requirements . 12
3.6 Details to be specified . 12
3.7 Details to be reported . 12
4 Method F2 – Contamination (test deleted) . 12
5 Method F3 – Sheath integrity (test deleted) . 12
6 Method F4 External static pressure (test deleted) . 12
7 Method F5 – Water penetration . 12
7.1 Object . 12
7.2 Sample . 13
7.2.1 Method F5A . 13
7.2.2 Method F5B . 13
7.2.3 Method F5C (for cables with swellable water blocking material) . 13
7.3 Apparatus . 13
7.3.1 Test fixtures and set-up . 13
7.3.2 Water . 14
7.3.3 Orifice . 14
7.4 Procedure . 14
7.4.1 Method F5A and F5B . 14
7.4.2 Method F5C . 14
7.5 Requirements . 14
7.6 Details to be specified . 14
7.7 Details to be reported . 15
8 Method F6 – Unknown (test deleted) . 17
9 Method F7 – Nuclear radiation . 17
9.1 Object . 17
9.2 Sample . 18
9.3 Apparatus . 18
9.4 Procedure . 18
9.4.1 Fibres . 18
9.4.2 Materials . 18
9.5 Requirements . 18
9.6 Details to be specified . 18

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60794-1-22 © IEC:2012(E) – 3 –
10 Method F8 – Pneumatic resistance . 18
10.1 Object . 18
10.2 Sample . 18
10.3 Apparatus . 18
10.4 Procedure . 18
10.5 Requirement . 19
10.6 Details to be specified . 19
11 Method F9 – Ageing . 19
11.1 Object . 19
11.2 Sample . 19
11.3 Apparatus . 19
11.4 Procedure . 20
11.5 Requirement . 20
11.6 Details to be specified . 20
12 Method F10 – Underwater cable resistance to hydrostatic pressure . 20
12.1 Object . 20
12.2 Sample . 20
12.3 Apparatus . 20
12.4 Procedure . 20
12.5 Requirements . 21
12.6 Details to be specified . 21
13 Method F11 – Sheath shrinkage (cables intended for patch cords) . 21
13.1 Object . 21
13.2 General . 21
13.3 Apparatus . 21
13.4 Conditioning . 21
13.5 Sampling . 21
13.6 Procedure . 22
13.7 Requirements . 22
13.8 Details to be specified . 22
13.9 Details to be reported . 23
14 Method F12 – Temperature cycling of cables used for patch cords . 23
14.1 Object . 23
14.2 Apparatus . 23
14.3 Sample . 23
14.4 Procedure . 23
14.5 Requirements . 23
14.6 Details to be specified . 24
15 Method F13 – Microduct pressure-withstand . 24
15.1 Object . 24
15.2 General . 24
15.3 Samples . 24
15.4 Test equipment . 24
15.5 Procedure . 24
15.6 Requirements . 25
15.7 Details to be specified . 25
16 Method F14 – Cable UV resistance test . 25
16.1 Object . 25

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– 4 – 60794-1-22 © IEC:2012(E)
16.2 Sample . 25
16.3 Apparatus . 25
16.4 Procedure . 25
16.5 Conditioning . 25
16.6 Requirements . 26
16.7 Details to be specified . 26
17 Method F15 – Cable external freezing test . 26
17.1 Object . 26
17.2 Sample . 26
17.3 Apparatus . 27
17.4 Procedure . 27
17.5 Requirements . 27
17.6 Details to be specified . 27
Annex A (normative) Colour permanence . 28

Figure 1 – First cycle(s) procedure . 11
Figure 2 – Last cycle procedure . 11
Figure 3 – Method F5-A . 15
Figure 4 – Method F5-B . 15
Figure 5 – Method F5C pre-soaked sample . 16
Figure 6 – Method F5C Alternative pre-soak procedure . 16
Figure 7 – Method F5C Orifice . 17
Figure 8 – Method F5C Longer sample . 17

Table 1 – Minimum soak time t . 10
1

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60794-1-22 © IEC:2012(E) – 5 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________

OPTICAL FIBRE CABLES –

Part 1-22: Generic specification –
Basic optical cable test procedures –
Environmental test methods


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
misinterpretation by any end user.
4) In order to promote international uniformity, IEC National Committees undertake to apply IEC Publications
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between any IEC Publication and the corresponding national or regional publication shall be clearly indicated in
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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 60794-1-22 has been prepared by subcommittee 86A: Fibres and
cables, of IEC technical committee 86: Fibre optics.
This edition of IEC 60794-1-22 cancels and replaces the environmental tests 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, Optical fibre cables – Part 1-2: Generic specification – Basic optical cable
test procedures
– IEC 60794-1-20, Optical fibre cables – Part 1-20: Generic specification – Basic optical
cable test procedures – General and definitions
– IEC 60794-1-21, Optical fibre cables – Part 1-21: Generic specification – Basic optical
cable test procedures – Mechanical tests methods

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– 6 – 60794-1-22 © IEC:2012(E)
– 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
The text of this standard is based on the following documents:
CDV Report on voting
86A/1424/CDV 86A/1445/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 60794 series, published 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.
A bilingual version of this publication may be issued at a later date.

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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60794-1-22 © IEC:2012(E) – 7 –
OPTICAL FIBRE CABLES –

Part 1-22: Generic specification –
Basic optical cable test procedures –
Environmental test methods



1 Scope
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 environmental performance.
Throughout the standard the wording “optical cable” may also include optical fibre units,
microduct fibre units, etc.
See IEC 60794-1-2 for general requirements and definitions and reference guide to test
methods of all types.
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 60068-2-14:2009, Environmental testing – Part 2-14: Tests – Test N: Change of
temperature
IEC 60304, Standard colours for insulation for low-frequency cables and wires
IEC 60544-1, Electrical insulating materials – Determination of the effects of ionizing radiation
– Part 1: Radiation interaction and dosimetry
IEC 60793-1-40, Optical fibres – Part 1-40: Measurement methods and test procedures –
Attenuation
IEC 60793-1-46, Optical fibres – Part 1-46: Measurement methods and test procedures –
Monitoring of changes in optical transmittance
IEC 60793-1-54, Optical fibres – Part 1-54: Measurement methods and test procedures –
Gamma irradiation
IEC 60794-1-1, Optical fibre cables – Part 1-1: Generic specification – General
IEC 60794-1-2, Optical fibre cables – Part 1-2: Generic specification – Basic optical cable test
procedures
IEC 60811-502, Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials –
Part 502: Mechanical tests – Shrinkage test for insulations

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– 8 – 60794-1-22 © IEC:2012(E)
IEC 60811-503, Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials –
Part 503: Mechanical tests – Shrinkage test for sheaths
ISO 4892-2, Plastics – Methods of exposure to laboratory light sources – Part 2: Xenon-arc
lamps
ISO 4892-3, Plastics – Methods of exposure to laboratory light sources – Part 3: Fluorescent
UV lamps
3 Method F1 – Temperature cycling
3.1 Object
This measuring method applies to optical fibre cables which are tested by temperature cycling
in order to determine the stability behaviour of the attenuation of cables submitted to
temperature changes.
Changes in the attenuation of optical fibre cables which may occur with changing
temperatures are generally the result of buckling or tensioning of the fibres resulting from
differences between their thermal expansion coefficient and the coefficients of the cable
strength and sheath members. Test conditions for temperature-dependent measurements
shall simulate the worst conditions.
This test can be used either for monitoring cable behaviour in the temperature range which
may occur during storage, transportation and usage or to check, in a selected temperature
range (usually wider than that required for the above-mentioned case), the stability behaviour
of the attenuation connected to a substantially microbend-free situation of the fibre within the
cable structure.
NOTE 1 Method F12 is a specialized subset of this method, specifically addressing cables for use in patchcords.
NOTE 2 The ageing test, F9, uses Method F1 as its pre- and post-test temperature cycle. Often these tests are
done together.
3.2 Sample
The sample shall be a factory length or a sample of sufficient length as indicated in the detail
specification but, nevertheless, of length appropriate to achieve the desired accuracy of
attenuation measurements.
In order to gain reproducible values, the cable sample shall be brought into the climatic
chamber in a manner such that the deployment does not affect the measurement. Such
methods could be a loose coil or on a reel with large diameter coils, cushioned reels with a
soft layer or a zero tension facility device.
The ability of the fibre(s) to accommodate differential expansion and contraction (e.g. by
slipping within the cable) could be influenced by the bending radius of the cable. Sample
conditioning should, therefore, be realized as close as possible to normal usage conditions.
The bend diameter of the cable sample shall not violate the minimum bend diameter of the
cable, tube or other unit as specified by the detail specification.
Potential problems are due to an actual difference between the expansion coefficients of the
test sample and of the holder (e.g. reel, basket, plate) which can induce, during thermal
cycles, a significant effect on the test result if "no effect" conditions are not completely
fulfilled. The intent is to simulate the installed condition, in which the cable is generally
straight for the majority of its length.
Parameters of influence are mainly the details of conditioning, the type and materials of the
holder, the diameter of the sample coil or reel.

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60794-1-22 © IEC:2012(E) – 9 –
General recommendations include the following:
a) The winding diameter shall be large enough to keep the ability of the fibre to
accommodate differential expansion and contraction. A winding diameter substantially
greater than the value selected for cable delivery may be necessary.
b) Any risk of cable expansion (or contraction) limitation created by conditioning shall be
suppressed. In particular, special care should be taken to avoid residual tension on the
cable during the test. For example, a tight winding on a drum is not recommended as it
can limit cable contraction at low temperature. On the other hand, a
...