EN IEC 60793-1-32:2018

Optical fibres - Part 1-32: Measurement methods and test procedures - Coating strippability

This part of IEC 60793 is intended primarily for testing either fibres as produced by a fibre manufacturer or subsequently overcoated (tight buffered) using various polymers. The test can be performed either on fibres as produced, or after exposure to various environments. This test applies to A1, A2, A3, B and C fibres with a nominal glass dimension of 125 µm. The object of this document is to establish uniform requirements for the mechanical characteristic - coating strippability. This test quantifies the force required to mechanically remove the protective coating from optical fibres along their longitudinal axis. This test is not intended as a means to maximize fibre strength after the coating is removed nor is it intended to specify the best conditions for field stripping of optical fibres. This test is designed for optical fibres having polymeric coatings with nominal outer diameters in the range of 200 µm to 900 µm.

Lichtwellenleiter - Teil 1-32: Messmethoden und Prüfverfahren - Absetzbarkeit der Beschichtung

Fibres optiques - Partie 1-32: Méthodes de mesure et procédures d'essai - Dénudabilité du revêtement

La CEI 60793-1-32:2010 est destinée principalement aux essais des fibres, dès leur production par un fabricant de fibres, ou après revêtement ultérieur (revêtement protecteur serré) au moyen de divers polymères. L'essai peut être effectué soit sur des fibres issues de production, soit après exposition à divers environnements. Le présent essai s'applique aux fibres de type A1, A2, A3, B et C. Cette édition a été modifiée pour inclure les pratiques utilisées actuellement sur le marché. Cette publication contient des couleurs qui sont considérés comme étant utile pour une bonne compréhension de son contenu.

Optična vlakna - 1-32. del: Metode merjenja in preskusni postopki - Lupljivost prevleke (IEC 60793-1-32:2018)

Standard IEC 60793-1-32:2010(E) je namenjen predvsem za preskušanje vlaken v obliki, kot jih izdeluje proizvajalec vlaken, oziroma naknadno prekritih (tesen pufer) z različnimi polimeri. Preskus je mogoče izvesti na vlaknih neposredno iz proizvodnje ali po izpostavljenosti različnim okoljem. Ta preskus se uporablja za vlakna A1, A2, A3, B in C. Ta izdaja je bila spremenjena in vključuje trenutne prakse na trgu.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 20-Dec-2018
• Withdrawal Date: 20-Dec-2021
• 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: 21-Dec-2018
• Completion Date: 21-Dec-2018
• Ref Project: SIST EN IEC 60793-1-32:2019 - Optical fibres - Part 1-32: Measurement methods and test procedures - Coating strippability (IEC 60793-1-32:2018)

Relations

• Replaces: EN 60793-1-32:2010 - Optical fibres - Part 1-32: Measurement methods and test procedures - Coating strippability
• Effective Date: 07-Jun-2022
• Referred By: EN 3745-202:2005 - Aerospace series - Fibres and cables, optical, aircraft use - Test methods - Part 202: Fibre dimensions
• Effective Date: 09-Feb-2026
• Referred By: EN IEC 60793-2-60:2025 - Optical fibres - Part 2-60: Product specifications - Sectional specification for class C single-mode interconnection fibres
• Effective Date: 03-Feb-2026
• Referred By: 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 60793-2:2016 - Optical fibres - Part 2: Product specifications - General
• Effective Date: 03-Feb-2026
• Referred By: EN IEC 60794-2-50:2023 - Optical fibre cables - Part 2-50: Indoor cables - Family specification for simplex and duplex cables for use in terminated cable assemblies
• Effective Date: 03-Feb-2026
• Referred By: EN 60794-3:2015 - Optical fibre cables - Part 3: Sectional specification - Outdoor cables
• Effective Date: 03-Feb-2026
• Referred By: EN IEC 60794-2-50:2020 - Optical fibre cables - Part 2-50: Indoor cables - Family specification for simplex and duplex cables for use in terminated cable assemblies
• Effective Date: 03-Feb-2026
• Referred By: EN IEC 61158-2:2023 - Industrial communication networks - Fieldbus specifications - Part 2: Physical layer specification and service definition
• Effective Date: 03-Feb-2026
• Referred By: EN 60793-1-1:2017 - Optical fibres - Part 1-1: Measurement methods and test procedures - General and guidance
• Effective Date: 03-Feb-2026
• Referred By: EN IEC 60794-3:2022 - Optical fibre cables - Part 3: Outdoor cables - Sectional specification
• Effective Date: 03-Feb-2026
• Referred By: EN IEC 60793-2-50:2025 - Optical fibres - Part 2-50: Product specifications - Sectional specification for class B single-mode fibres
• Effective Date: 03-Feb-2026
• Referred By: EN 60793-2-10:2017 - Optical fibres - Part 2-10: Product specifications - Sectional specification for category A1 multimode fibres
• Effective Date: 03-Feb-2026
• Referred By: EN 60793-2-50:2016 - Optical fibres - Part 2-50: Product specifications - Sectional specification for class B single-mode fibres
• Effective Date: 03-Feb-2026
• Referred By: 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

Overview

EN IEC 60793-1-32:2018 is a European and international standard developed by CLC and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). It focuses on optical fibres, specifically providing test methods and procedures for measuring coating strippability. The standard applies primarily to optical fibres as produced by manufacturers or after the application of various polymer overcoatings, including tight-buffered fibres. The test determines the mechanical force required to remove the protective polymer coating from the fibre along its longitudinal axis, ensuring consistent performance and reliability in further manufacturing processes.

The standard is applicable to A1, A2, A3, B, and C category fibres, with a nominal glass dimension of 125 µm and coating diameters in the 200 µm to 900 µm range. EN IEC 60793-1-32:2018 aims to establish uniform requirements for assessing and quantifying coating strippability, supporting quality control and product specification in the fibre optic industry.

Key Topics

• Scope of Testing:

  • Quantifies the force needed to mechanically strip polymer coatings from optical fibres.
  • Covers both newly produced and environmentally exposed fibres.
  • Not intended for maximizing fibre strength post-stripping or specifying field stripping methods.

• Applicable Fibre Types:

  • Includes A1, A2, A3, B, and C fibre categories.
  • Standardized for fibres with a nominal glass core of 125 µm.
  • Relevant to fibres with polymeric coatings (200 µm to 900 µm O.D.).

• Test Procedures:

  • Outlines apparatus requirements such as tensile testers, load cells, and appropriate stripping tools.
  • Describes steps for specimen preparation, including sample size, strip length, and preconditioning.
  • Specifies calculation methods for both average and peak strip force values.

• Documentation and Reporting:

  • Mandates documentation of test conditions, stripping tool specifications, strip rates, measurement results, and environmental factors.
  • Emphasizes reproducibility and traceability in reporting outcomes.

Applications

EN IEC 60793-1-32:2018 provides value across multiple areas in the fibre optic sector:

• Quality Assurance:

  • Ensures fibre coatings meet mechanical removal requirements, crucial for subsequent processing such as splicing, connectorization, or cable assembly.
  • Enables manufacturers and suppliers to provide consistent, reliable products that conform to international benchmarks.

• Product Development and Specification:

  • Useful for research and development teams designing new optical fibre coatings or buffer systems.
  • Facilitates the evaluation of new materials and processes to meet industry expectations.

• Manufacturing and Assembly Processes:

  • Supports process engineers in fine-tuning handling and stripping operations.
  • Allows for control of stripping force parameters, minimizing fibre damage and maximizing yield in high-volume production.

• Compliance and Procurement:

  • Aids procurement professionals and system integrators in verifying supplier claims and ensuring product conformity.
  • Can be referenced in contractual specifications and technical agreements.

Related Standards

Related standards that complement EN IEC 60793-1-32:2018, especially for measurement methods and product specifications in optical fibres, include:

• IEC 60793-1-1: Optical fibres – Part 1-1: Measurement methods and test procedures – General and guidance
• IEC 60793-2-10: Product specifications for category A1 multimode fibres
• IEC 60793-2-20: Product specifications for category A2 multimode fibres
• IEC 60793-2-30: Product specifications for category A3 multimode fibres
• IEC 60793-2-50: Product specifications for class B single-mode fibres
• IEC 60793-2-60: Product specifications for category C single-mode intraconnection fibres

These related standards collectively support the design, testing, quality control, and application of optical fibres for telecommunications, data centers, and advanced optical networks.

EN IEC 60793-1-32:2018 helps ensure that optical fibre coating removal meets rigorous, repeatable international requirements, supporting the broader goals of reliability and interoperability in fibre optics.

Standards Content (Sample)

2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.Lichtwellenleiter - Teil 1-32: Messmethoden und Prüfverfahren - Absetzbarkeit der Beschichtung
(IEC 60793-1-32:2018)Fibres optiques - Partie 1-32: Méthodes de mesure et procédures d'essai - Dénudabilité du revêtement
(IEC 60793-1-32:2018)Optical fibres - Part 1-32: Measurement methods and test procedures - Coating strippability (IEC 60793-1-32:2018)33.180.10Fibres and cablesICS:Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z:EN IEC 60793-1-32:2018SIST EN IEC 60793-1-32:2019en01-marec-2019SIST EN IEC 60793-1-32:2019SLOVENSKI
STANDARDSIST EN 60793-1-32:20101DGRPHãþD

EUROPEAN STANDARD NORME EUROPÉENNE EUROPÄISCHE NORM
EN IEC 60793-1-32
December 2018 ICS 33.180.10
Supersedes
EN 60793-1-32:2010
English Version
Optical fibres - Part 1-32: Measurement methods and test procedures - Coating strippability (IEC 60793-1-32:2018)
Fibres optiques - Partie 1-32: Méthodes de mesure et procédures d'essai - Dénudabilité du revêtement (IEC 60793-1-32:2018)
Lichtwellenleiter - Teil 1-32: Messmethoden und Prüfverfahren - Absetzbarkeit der Beschichtung (IEC 60793-1-32:2018) This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2018-12-20. 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: Rue de la Science 23,
B-1040 Brussels © 2018 CENELEC All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC Members.
Ref. No. EN IEC 60793-1-32:2018 E SIST EN IEC 60793-1-32:2019

This document supersedes EN 60793-1-32:2010. 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 60793-1-32:2018 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 60793-2-10 NOTE Harmonized as EN 60793-2-10 IEC 60793-2-20 NOTE Harmonized as EN 60793-2-20 IEC 60793-2-30 NOTE Harmonized as EN 60793-2-30 IEC 60793-2-50 NOTE Harmonized as EN 60793-2-50 IEC 60793-2-60 NOTE Harmonized as EN 60793-2-60
Normative references to international publications with their corresponding European publications The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
NOTE 1
Where 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 60793-1-1 - Optical fibres – Part 1-1: Measurement methods and test procedures – General and guidance EN 607933-1-1 -
IEC 60793-1-32 Edition 3.0 2018-11 INTERNATIONAL STANDARD NORME INTERNATIONALE Optical fibres –
Part 1-32: Measurement methods and test procedures – Coating strippability
Fibres optiques –
Partie 1-32: Méthodes de mesure et procédures d’essai – Dénudabilité du revêtement
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION COMMISSION ELECTROTECHNIQUE INTERNATIONALE
ICS 33.180.10
ISBN 978-2-8322-6293-1
– 2 – IEC 60793-1-32:2018 © IEC 2018 CONTENTS FOREWORD . 3 1 Scope . 5 2 Normative references . 5 3 Terms and definitions . 5 4 Apparatus . 5 4.1 Tensile equipment. 5 4.2 Load cell . 6 4.3 Transducer amplifier . 6 4.4 Stripping tool . 6 4.5 Fibre guide . 7 5 Specimen preparation . 7 5.1 Representative sample . 7 5.2 Strip length . 7 6 Procedure . 8 6.1 General . 8 6.2 Stripping rate . 8 6.3 Preconditioning . 8 6.4 Calibrating the transducer amplifier . 8 6.5 Loading the test specimen . 8 6.6 Stripping the coating . 9 7 Calculations . 9 7.1 Calculation for the value of a specimen . 9 7.1.1 General . 9 7.1.2 Approach 1 – Average strip force . 9 7.1.3 Approach 2 – Peak strip force . 9 7.2 Calculation of the reported value. 9 8 Documentation . 9 8.1 Information to be presented . 9 8.2 Information to be available for each test. 10 9 Specification information . 10 Bibliography . 11
Figure 1 – Example of test arrangement . 6 Figure 2 – Length of fibre to be stripped . 8
IEC 60793-1-32:2018 © IEC 2018 – 3 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION ____________
OPTICAL FIBRES –
Part 1-32: Measurement methods and test procedures –
Coating strippability
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 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 60793-1-32 has been prepared by subcommittee 86A: Fibres and cables, of IEC technical committee 86: Fibre optics. This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition published in 2010. This edition constitutes a technical revision. This edition includes the following significant technical change with respect to the previous edition: expansion of the range of coating dimensions applicable to the procedure detailed in this document to accommodate optical fibres with a 200 µm coating dimension. SIST EN IEC 60793-1-3
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