EN 60794-1-3:2017

• Abstract:

  IEC 60794-1-3:2017(E) is a generic specification covering optical cable elements. Requirements which are described in this document apply to elements of optical fibre cables for use with telecommunication equipment and devices employing similar techniques. The elements which are the subject of this document are those which apply to several cable types of IEC 60794 (all parts) and as defined by sectional specifications IEC 60794-2, IEC 60794-3, IEC 60794‑4, and IEC 60794-5. The requirements for cable elements are described in the IEC 60794-1-3X series for which the IEC 60794-1-31 is the first one, and family specifications and detailed specifications of the aforementioned sectional specifications can define specific cables families and types. Keywords: optical fibre cables, telecommunication equipment

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 27-Jul-2017
• Withdrawal Date: 14-Jun-2020
• ICS: 33.180.10 - Fibres and cables
• Technical Committee: CLC/TC 86A - Optical fibres and optical fibre cables
• Drafting Committee: IEC/SC 86A - IEC_SC_86A
• Current Stage: 6060 - Document made available - Publishing
• Start Date: 28-Jul-2017
• Completion Date: 28-Jul-2017
• Ref Project: SIST EN 60794-1-3:2017 - Optical fibre cables - Part 1-3: Generic specification - optical cable elements (IEC 60794-1-3:2017)

• Refers: EN 60794-2:2017 - Optical fibre cables - Part 2: Indoor cables - Sectional specification
• Effective Date: 03-Feb-2026
• Refers: EN IEC 60794-1-2:2021 - Optical fibre cables - Part 1-2: Generic specification - Basic optical cable test procedures - General guidance
• Effective Date: 03-Feb-2026
• Refers: EN IEC 60794-3:2022 - Optical fibre cables - Part 3: Outdoor cables - Sectional specification
• Effective Date: 03-Feb-2026
• Refers: EN 60794-5:2016 - Optical fibre cables - Part 5: Sectional specification - Microduct cabling for installation by blowing
• Effective Date: 03-Feb-2026
• Refers: EN IEC 60794-1-1:2023 - Optical fibre cables - Part 1-1: Generic specification - General
• Effective Date: 03-Feb-2026
• Refers: EN IEC 60794-1-23:2019 - Optical fibre cables - Part 1-23: Generic specification - Basic optical cable test procedures - Cable element test methods
• Effective Date: 03-Feb-2026
• Refers: EN IEC 60794-4:2018 - Optical fibre cables - Part 4: Sectional specification - Aerial optical cables along electrical power lines
• Effective Date: 03-Feb-2026
• Referred By: EN 3745-505:2018 - Aerospace series - Fibres and cables, optical, aircraft use - Test methods - Part 505: Cable tensile strength
• Effective Date: 09-Feb-2026
• Referred By: EN 60794-1-20:2014 - Optical fibre cables - Part 1-20: Generic specification - Basic optical cable test procedures - General and definitions
• Effective Date: 03-Feb-2026

Overview

EN 60794-1-3:2017 (equivalent to IEC 60794-1-3:2017) is a generic specification for optical cable elements used in optical fibre cables. It defines requirements that apply to elements common across the IEC 60794 series and to cable types described in sectional specifications (IEC 60794-2, -3, -4, -5). The document frames how cable elements are specified and tested for use with telecommunication equipment and related devices.

Key topics and requirements

• Scope and purpose: Establishes a common, general specification for optical cable elements that can be reused across multiple cable families and types.
• Elements covered: Includes, but is not limited to:
  • Optical fibre ribbons
  • Buffered fibres
  • Ruggedized fibre / ruggedized fibre elements
  • Polymeric tubes
  • Micro modules (definition under development)
• Test methods: References and relies on the IEC 60794-1-2 generic test procedures and IEC 60794-1-23 cable element test methods. Specific test methods, materials, dimensions and construction attributes are defined in subordinate sectional and family specifications.
• Modularity and reusability: Elements are defined to be sufficiently general to apply across more than one sectional specification (indoor, outdoor, aerial, microduct).
• Standardization structure: Part of a series (IEC 60794-1-3X), with IEC 60794-1-31 identified as the first sectional specification for optical fibre ribbons (under preparation at time of publication).

Applications and who uses it

• Cable designers and manufacturers: Use EN 60794-1-3 to define, design and produce standardized cable elements that can be integrated into multiple cable types.
• Test laboratories and quality assurance teams: Use referenced test methods (IEC 60794-1-2, -1-23) to validate element performance and conformity.
• System integrators and network operators: Refer to this specification when specifying cables and components for telecommunication networks, ensuring compatibility with indoor/outdoor, aerial and microduct deployments.
• Procurement and standards writers: Adopt common element definitions to simplify contracts and technical specifications for optical fibre deployments.

Practical value

• Promotes interoperability and consistency across cable families by standardizing the definition and testing of cable elements.
• Reduces duplication of effort by providing a single, generic specification that sectional standards and family specifications can reference.
• Facilitates clearer product documentation, compliance assessment, and procurement for telecommunication equipment and infrastructure projects.

Related standards

• IEC/EN 60794 series (all parts) - Optical fibre cables
• IEC 60794-1-1 - Generic specification: General
• IEC 60794-1-2 - Generic specification: Basic optical cable test procedures
• IEC 60794-1-23 - Cable element test methods
• IEC 60794-2, -3, -4, -5 - Sectional specifications (indoor, outdoor, aerial, microduct)

Keywords: optical fibre cables, optical cable elements, telecommunication equipment, cable elements, IEC 60794, EN 60794-1-3.

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-oktober-2017
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Optical fibre cables - Part 1-3: Generic specification - optical cable elements (IEC 60794-
1-3:2017)
Câbles à fibres optiques - Partie 1-3: Spécification générique - Eléments de câbles
optiques (IEC 60794-1-3:2017)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 60794-1-3:2017
ICS:
33.180.10 2SWLþQDYODNQDLQNDEOL Fibres and cables
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD EN 60794-1-3

NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
July 2017
ICS 33.180.10
English Version
Optical fibre cables - Part 1-3: Generic specification - optical
cable elements
(IEC 60794-1-3:2017)
Câbles à fibres optiques - Partie 1-3: Spécification Lichtwellenleiterkabel - Teil 1-3: Fachgrundspezifikation -
générique - Eléments de câbles optiques LWL-Kabelelemente
(IEC 60794-1-3:2017) (IEC 60794-1-3:2017)
This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2017-06-15. CENELEC members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC
Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.
Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre or to any CENELEC member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation
under the responsibility of a CENELEC member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the
same status as the official versions.
CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels
© 2017 CENELEC All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC Members.
Ref. No. EN 60794-1-3:2017 E
European foreword
The text of document 86A/1764/CDV, future edition 1 of IEC 60794-1-3, prepared by SC 86A "Fibres
and cables" of IEC/TC 86 "Fibre optics" was submitted to the IEC-CENELEC parallel vote and
approved by CENELEC as EN 60794-1-3:2017.
The following dates are fixed:
(dop) 2018-03-15
• latest date by which the document has to be implemented at
national level by publication of an identical national
standard or by endorsement
• latest date by which the national standards conflicting with (dow) 2020-06-15
the document have to be withdrawn

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CENELEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Endorsement notice
The text of the International Standard IEC 60794-1-3:2017 was approved by CENELEC as a
European Standard without any modification.
In the official version, for Bibliography, the following notes have to be added for the standards
indicated
IEC 60794 (series) NOTE Harmonized as EN 60794 (series).
IEC 60794-1-31 NOTE Harmonized as EN 60794-1-31.
Annex ZA
(normative)
Normative references to international publications
with their corresponding European publications
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.
NOTE 1 When an International Publication has been modified by common modifications, indicated by (mod), the relevant
EN/HD applies.
NOTE 2 Up-to-date information on the latest versions of the European Standards listed in this annex is available here:
www.cenelec.eu.
Publication Year Title EN/HD Year
IEC 60794-1-1 -  Optical fibre cables - Part 1-1: Generic EN 60794-1-1 -
specification - General
IEC 60794-1-2 -  EN 60794-1-2 -
IEC 60794-1-23 -  Optical fibre cables -- Part 1-23: Generic EN 60794-1-23 -
specification - Basic optical cable test
procedures - Cable element test methods
IEC 60794-2 -  - -
IEC 60794-3 -  Optical fibre cables - Part 3: Outdoor EN 60794-3 -
cables - Sectional specification
IEC 60794-4 -  Optical fibre cables -- Part 4: Sectional EN 60794-4 -
specification - Aerial optical cables along
electrical power lines
IEC 60794-5 -  Optical fibre cables -- Part 5: Sectional EN 60794-5 -
specification - Microduct cabling for
installation by blowing
IEC 60794-1-3 ®
Edition 1.0 2017-05
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
Optical fibre cables –
Part 1-3: Generic specification – Optical cable elements

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
ICS 33.180.10 ISBN 978-2-8322-4280-3

– 2 – IEC 60794-1-3:2017 © IEC 2017

CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 3
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms, definitions, symbols and abbreviated terms . 5
4 Requirements . 6
4.1 General . 6
4.2 Test methods . 6
4.3 Cable elements . 6
Bibliography . 7

IEC 60794-1-3:2017 © IEC 2017 – 3 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
OPTICAL FIBRE CABLES –
Part 1-3: Generic specification – Optical cable elements

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 ele
...