EN 50289-3-4:2001

• Abstract:

  This Part 3-4 of EN 50289 details the method of test to determine the tensile strength, elongation and shrinkage of insulation and sheath of cables used in analogue and digital communication systems. It is to be read in conjunction with Part 3-1 of EN 50289, which contains essential provisions for its application.

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 20-Aug-2001
• Withdrawal Date: 31-Mar-2004
• ICS: 33.120.10 - Coaxial cables. Waveguides
• Technical Committee: CLC/TC 46X - Communication cables
• Drafting Committee: IEC/TC 46 - IEC_TC_46
• Parallel Committee: IEC/TC 46 - IEC_TC_46
• Current Stage: 9093 - Decision to confirm - Review Enquiry
• Start Date: 08-Apr-2026
• Completion Date: 25-Aug-2026
• Mandate: M/212 - ICT - metallic and optical cables and cabling systems
• Ref Project: SIST EN 50289-3-4:2002 - Communication cables - Specifications for test methods -- Part 3-4: Mechanical test methods - Tensile strength, elongation and shrinkage of insulation and sheath

• Referred By: EN 50290-4-1:2014 - Communication cables - Part 4-1: General considerations for the use of cables - Environmental conditions and safety aspects
• Effective Date: 03-Feb-2026

Overview

EN 50289-3-4:2001 (CENELEC) specifies mechanical test methods for tensile strength, elongation and shrinkage of insulation and sheath used in analogue and digital communication cables. It defines sampling, pre-conditioning, test temperature, test procedures for shrinkage and references EN 60811-1-1 for tensile and elongation measurement techniques. This Part 3-4 is intended to be read with EN 50289-3-1 (general mechanical test requirements) and the relevant cable material standards.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope: Methods to determine tensile strength, elongation and thermal shrinkage of cable insulation and sheaths.
• Pre-conditioning: Tests are performed at least 16 hours after extrusion or cross-linking. For ambient-temperature tests, test pieces must be held at 23 °C ± 5 °C for at least 3 hours before testing.
• Test temperature: Unless otherwise specified by the cable/material standard, tests are carried out at ambient temperature.
• Elongation & tensile strength: Performed in accordance with clause 9 of EN 60811-1-1 (common mechanical property tests for insulating/sheathing materials).
• Shrinkage sampling & preparation:
  • Take one sample about 1.5·L in length (L = length defined in the relevant cable standard), at least 0.5 m from each cable end.
  • Mark a test length of L ± 5 mm on the sample within 5 minutes of cutting; measure initial distance to 0.5 mm accuracy.
  • Remove insulation from both ends up to 2–5 mm from the marks.
• Shrinkage procedure:
  • Support test pieces horizontally in an air oven by the bare conductor ends or on a talc bath to permit free movement of insulation.
  • Heat at the temperature and duration specified in the relevant cable/material standard, cool to room temperature, and re-measure distance between marks.
  • Express shrinkage as the percentage change relative to the initial measured distance.
• Test report: Must record temperature, sample length, shrinkage, elongation and tensile strength.

Applications and users

EN 50289-3-4 is used to:

• Verify mechanical performance of insulation and sheaths for coaxial, twisted-pair and other communication cables.
• Support cable specification, quality control, type testing and conformity assessment. Primary users:
• Cable designers and manufacturers
• Test laboratories and quality assurance teams
• Compliance and standards engineers specifying mechanical test methods for communication cables

Related standards

• EN 50289-3-1 (general mechanical test requirements) - read in conjunction with this Part 3-4
• EN 50290-1-2 (definitions for communication cables)
• EN 60811-1-1 (common test methods for insulating and sheathing materials - referenced for tensile/elongation tests)

Keywords: EN 50289-3-4, tensile strength, elongation, shrinkage, insulation and sheath, communication cables, mechanical test methods, CENELEC.

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-september-2002
Communication cables - Specifications for test methods - Part 3-4: Mechanical test
methods - Tensile strength, elongation and shrinkage of insulation and sheath
Communication cables - Specifications for test methods -- Part 3-4: Mechanical test
methods - Tensile strength, elongation and shrinkage of insulation and sheath
Kommunikationskabel - Spezifikationen für Prüfverfahren -- Teil 3-4: Mechanische
Prüfverfahren - Zugfestigkeit, Dehnung und Schrumpf der Isolierung und des
Kabelmantels
Câbles de communication - Spécifications des méthodes d'essai -- Partie 3-4: Méthodes
d'essais mécaniques - Résistance à la traction, allongement et rétraction de l'isolant et
de la gaine
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 50289-3-4:2001
ICS:
33.120.10 Koaksialni kabli. Valovodi Coaxial cables. Waveguides
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD EN 50289-3-4
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM August 2001
ICS 33.120.10
English version
Communication cables -
Specifications for test methods
Part 3-4: Mechanical test methods -
Tensile strength, elongation and shrinkage of insulation and sheath
Câbles de communication - Kommunikationskabel -
Spécifications des méthodes d'essai Spezifikationen für Prüfverfahren
Partie 3-4: Méthodes d'essais mécaniques - Teil 3-4: Mechanische Prüfverfahren -
Résistance à la traction, allongement et Schrumpf der Isolierung
rétraction de l'isolant et de la gaine
This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2001-03-01. 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 Central Secretariat 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 Central Secretariat has the same status as the official versions.
CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway,
Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.
CENELEC
European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung
Central Secretariat: rue de Stassart 35, B - 1050 Brussels
© 2001 CENELEC - All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC members.
Ref. No. EN 50289-3-4:2001 E
Foreword
This European Standard was prepared by the Technical Committee CENELEC TC 46X, Communication
cables.
The text of the draft was submitted to the formal vote and was approved by CENELEC as EN 50289-3-4 on
2001-03-01.
The following dates were fixed:
– latest date by which the EN has to be implemented
at national level by publication of an identical
national standard or by endorsement (dop) 2002-04-01
– latest date by which the national standards conflicting
with the EN have to be withdrawn (dow) 2004-04-01
This European Standard has been prepared under the European Mandate M/212 given to CENELEC by the
European Commission and the European Free Trade Association.

- 3 - EN 50289-3-4:2001
Contents
1 Scope.4
2 Normative references .4
3 Definitions .4
4 Test values.4
5 Applicability.4
6 Pre-conditioning .4
7 Test temperature .5
8 Elongation .5
9 Tensile strength .
...