EN IEC 60794-2-23:2024

Optical fibre cables - Part 2-23: Indoor cables - Detail specification for multi-fibre cables for use in MPO connector terminated cable assemblies

IEC 60794-2-23: 2024 is a detail specification and specifies indoor multi-fibre cables for use in MPO (multi-fibre push on) connector terminated cable assemblies.

Lichtwellenleiterkabel - Teil 2-23: LWL-Innenkabel - Bauartspezifikation für Mehrfaserkabel zur Verwendung in mit MPO-Steckverbindern konfektionierten Kabeln

Câbles à fibres optiques - Partie 2-23: Câbles intérieurs - Spécification particulière pour les câbles multifibres utilisés dans les câbles assemblés équipés de connecteurs MPO

IEC 60794-2-23: 2024 est une spécification particulière portant sur les câbles multifibres intérieurs destinés à être utilisés dans les câbles assemblés équipés de connecteurs MPO (multi-fibre push on).

Optični kabli - 2-23. del: Notranji kabli - Podrobna specifikacija za večvlakenske kable za uporabo v kabelskih razdelilnih sestavih, zaključenih z večvlakenskimi natičnimi konektorji (IEC 60794-2-23:2024)

Standard IEC 60794-2-23: 2024 je podrobna specifikacija in določa večvlakenske kable za notranjo uporabo z večvlakenskimi natičnimi konektorji.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 14-Mar-2024
• 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: 15-Mar-2024
• Due Date: 10-Mar-2023
• Completion Date: 15-Mar-2024
• Ref Project: SIST EN IEC 60794-2-23:2024 - Optical fibre cables - Part 2-23: Indoor cables - Detail specification for multi-fibre cables for use in MPO connector terminated cable assemblies (IEC 60794-2-23:2024)

Overview

EN IEC 60794-2-23:2024 (IEC 60794-2-23:2024) is a European adoption of the international detail specification for indoor multi‑fibre optical cables intended for use in MPO (multi‑fibre push‑on) connector terminated cable assemblies. The standard defines construction principles, required tests and performance criteria for high‑density multi‑fibre indoor cables used in cable assemblies and pre‑terminated systems.

Key topics and technical requirements

The standard covers the full lifecycle requirements for multi‑fibre indoor cables used with MPO connectors, including:

• Cable construction and materials

  • Requirements for optical fibres, ribbon structure, strength/anti‑buckling members, ripcord, sheath and sheath marking
  • Examples of single‑sheath and double‑sheath constructions

• Mechanical tests

  • Tensile performance, crush, impact, bending, repeated bending, torsion, kink, abrasion resistance of markings

• Environmental tests

  • Temperature cycling and sheath shrinkage (prepared according to Annex A)
  • General environmental performance consistent with IEC 60794 family test methods

• Transmission and functional checks

  • Transmission requirements to ensure optical performance of fibres and ribbon assemblies after mechanical/environmental stress

• Fire performance

  • Fire safety requirements for indoor use (fire performance criteria are included)

• Test specimens and sample preparation

  • Normative guidance for sample preparation for bending and temperature cycling tests (Annex A)

This standard references and builds on the IEC 60794 family of generic and sectional specifications and relevant fibre measurement standards for attenuation, geometry and material tests.

Applications and who uses this standard

EN IEC 60794-2-23:2024 is aimed at stakeholders involved with high‑density indoor optical cabling and MPO‑terminated assemblies:

• Cable manufacturers designing and qualifying multi‑fibre MPO cables
• Pre‑termination and assembly vendors producing MPO connectorized cable assemblies
• Data centre designers and installers specifying high‑density trunk and backbone cabling
• System integrators and enterprise network specifiers requiring validated indoor cable performance
• Test laboratories performing mechanical, environmental and transmission qualification
• Compliance and procurement teams ensuring products meet European and IEC indoor cable requirements

Common use cases include data centre trunk cables, structured building backbones, telecom central offices and any indoor environment requiring compact MPO connectorized multi‑fibre solutions.

Related standards

Relevant IEC / EN standards referenced by EN IEC 60794-2-23:2024 include:

• IEC/EN IEC 60794-2 (Indoor cables sectional specification)
• IEC 60794-2-20 (Family specification for multi‑fibre optical cables)
• IEC 60794-1‑1 / 1‑2 / 1‑21 / 1‑22 (Generic specification and basic mechanical/environmental test methods)
• IEC 60793 series (Optical fibre measurement and product specifications)

Keywords: EN IEC 60794-2-23:2024, optical fibre cables, multi‑fibre cables, MPO connector, indoor cables, MPO connector terminated cable assemblies, cable construction, mechanical tests, environmental tests.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-maj-2024
Optični kabli - 2-23. del: Notranji kabli - Podrobna specifikacija za večvlakenske
kable za uporabo v kabelskih razdelilnih sestavih, zaključenih z večvlakenskimi
natičnimi konektorji (IEC 60794-2-23:2024)
Optical fibre cables - Part 2-23: Indoor cables - Detail specification for multi-fibre cables
for use in MPO connector terminated cable assemblies (IEC 60794-2-23:2024)
Lichtwellenleiterkabel - Teil 2-23: LWL-Innenkabel - Bauartspezifikation für
Mehrfaserkabel zur Verwendung in mit MPO-Steckverbindern konfektionierten Kabeln
(IEC 60794-2-23:2024)
Câbles à fibres optiques - Partie 2-23: Câbles intérieurs - Spécification particulière pour
les câbles multifibres utilisés dans les câbles assemblés équipés de connecteurs MPO
(IEC 60794-2-23:2024)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN IEC 60794-2-23:2024
ICS:
33.180.10 (Optična) vlakna in kabli Fibres and cables
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD EN IEC 60794-2-23

NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM March 2024
ICS 33.180.10
English Version
Optical fibre cables - Part 2-23: Indoor cables - Detail
specification for multi-fibre cables for use in MPO connector
terminated cable assemblies
(IEC 60794-2-23:2024)
Câbles à fibres optiques - Partie 2-23: Câbles intérieurs - Lichtwellenleiterkabel - Teil 2-23: LWL-Innenkabel -
Spécification particulière pour les câbles multifibres utilisés Bauartspezifikation für Mehrfaserkabel zur Verwendung in
dans les câbles assemblés équipés de connecteurs MPO mit MPO-Steckverbindern konfektionierten Kabeln
(IEC 60794-2-23:2024) (IEC 60794-2-23:2024)
This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2024-03-06. 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, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Türkiye 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
© 2024 CENELEC All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC Members.
Ref. No. EN IEC 60794-2-23:2024 E

European foreword
The text of document 86A/2392/FDIS, future edition 1 of IEC 60794-2-23, 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 IEC 60794-2-23:2024.
The following dates are fixed:
• latest date by which the document has to be implemented at national (dop) 2024-12-06
level by publication of an identical national standard or by endorsement
• latest date by which the national standards conflicting with the (dow) 2027-03-06
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.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national committee. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CENELEC website.
Endorsement notice
The text of the International Standard IEC 60794-2-23:2024 was approved by CENELEC as a
European Standard without any modification.
In the official version, for Bibliography, the following note has to be added for the standard indicated:
IEC 61753-1 NOTE Approved as EN IEC 61753-1
Annex ZA
(normative)
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.cencenelec.eu.
Publication Year Title EN/HD Year
IEC 60793-1-20 - Optical fibres - Part 1-20: Measurement EN 60793-1-20 -
methods and test procedures - Fibre
geometry
IEC 60793-1-21 - Optical fibres - Part 1-21: Measurement EN 60793-1-21 -
methods and test procedures - Coating
geometry
IEC 60793-1-40 - Optical fibres - Part 1-40: Measurement EN IEC 60793-1-40 -
methods and test procedures - Attenuation
IEC 60793-1-46 - Optical fibres - Part 1-46: Measurement EN 60793-1-46 -
methods and test procedures - Monitoring of
changes in optical transmittance
IEC 60793-2-10 - Optical fibres - Part 2-10: Product EN IEC 60793-2-10 -
specifications - Sectional specification for
category A1 multimode fibres
IEC 60793-2-50 - Optical fibres - Part 2-50: Product EN IEC 60793-2-50 -
specifications - Sectional specification for
class B single-mode fibres
IEC 60794-1-1 - Optical fibre cables - Part 1-1: Generic EN IEC 60794-1-1 -
specification - General
IEC 60794-1-2 - Optical fibre cables - Part 1-2: Generic EN IEC 60794-1-2 -
specification - Basic optical cable test
procedures - General guidance
IEC 60794-1-21 - Optical fibre cables - Part 1-21: Generic EN 60794-1-21 -
specification - Basic optical cable test
procedures - Mechanical tests methods
IEC 60794-1-22 - Optical fibre cables - Part 1-22: Generic EN IEC 60794-1-22 -
specification - Basic optical cable test
procedures - Environmental test methods
IEC 60794-1-31 - Optical fibre cables - Part 1-31: Generic EN IEC 60794-1-31 -
specification - Optical cable elements - Optical
fibre ribbon
Publication Year Title EN/HD Year
IEC 60794-1-211 - Optical fibre cables - Part 1-211: Generic EN IEC 60794-1-211 -
specification - Basic optical cable test
procedures - Environmental test methods -
Sheath shrinkage, method F11
IEC 60794-2 - Optical fibre cables - Part 2: Indoor cables - EN 60794-2 -
Sectional specification
IEC 60794-2-20 - Optical fibre cables - Part 2-20: Indoor cables EN 60794-2-20 -
- Family specification for multi-fibre optical
cables
IEC 60811-202 - Electric and optical fibre cables - Test EN 60811-202 -
methods for non-metallic materials - Part 202:
General tests - Measurement of thickness of
non-metallic sheath
IEC 60811-203 - Electric and optical fibre cables - Test EN 60811-203 -
methods for non-metallic materials - Part 203:
General tests - Measurement of overall
dimensions
IEC 60794-2-23 ®
Edition 1.0 2024-01
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
colour
inside
Optical fibre cables –
Part 2-23: Indoor cables – Detail specification for multi-fibre cables for use in

MPO connector terminated cable assemblies

Câbles à fibres optiques –
Partie 2-23: Câbles intérieurs – Spécification particulière pour les câbles

multifibres utilisés dans les câbles assemblés équipés de connecteurs MPO

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
INTERNATIONALE
ICS 33.180.10  ISBN 978-2-8322-8135-2

– 2 – IEC 60794-2-23:2024 © IEC 2024
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 3
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 6
4 Construction . 6
4.1 General . 6
4.2 Optical fibres . 7
4.3 Ribbon structure . 7
4.4 Strength and anti-buckling members . 7
4.5 Ripcord . 7
4.6 Cable sheath . 7
4.7 Sheath marking . 7
4.8 Example of cable construction . 7
5 Tests . 7
5.1 General . 7
5.2 Dimensions . 8
5.3 Mechanical requirements . 8
5.3.1 General . 8
5.3.2 Tensile performance . 8
5.3.3 Crush . 9
5.3.4 Impact . 9
5.3.5 Bending . 9
5.3.6 Repeated bending . 10
5.3.7 Torsion . 10
5.3.8 Kink . 10
5.3.9 Abrasion resistance of cable marking . 11
5.4 Environmental requirements . 11
5.4.1 Temperature cycling . 11
5.4.2 Sheath shrinkage . 12
6 Transmission requirements . 12
7 Fire performance . 12
Annex A (normative) Cable sample preparation for bending and temperature cycling
test . 13
Annex B (informative) Examples of cable constructions . 14
B.1 Optical cables for use in MPO connector terminated cable assemblies, with
single sheath . 14
B.2 Optical cables for use in MPO connector terminated cable assemblies, with
double sheath . 14
Bibliography . 15

Figure A.1 – Sample preparation and length for multi-fibre cables for use in MPO
connector terminated cable assemblies. 13
Figure B.1 – Example of a cross-section of a 12-fibre cable with single sheath . 14
Figure B.2 – Example of a cross-section of a 12-fibre cable with double sheath . 14

Table 1 – Preferred low and high temperatures . 11

IEC 60794-2-23:2024 © IEC 2024 – 3 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
OPTICAL FIBRE CABLES –
Part 2-23: Indoor cables –
Detail specification for multi-fibre cables for use
in MPO connector terminated cable assemblies

FOREWORD
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shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
IEC 60794-2-23 has been prepared by subcommittee 86A: Fibres and cables, of IEC technical
committee 86: Fibre optics. It is an International Standard.
The text of this International Standard is based on the following documents:
Draft Report on voting
86A/2392/FDIS 86A/2412/RVD
Full information on the voting for its approval can be found in the report on voting indicated in
the above table.
– 4 – IEC 60794-2-23:2024 © IEC 2024
The language used for the development of this International Standard is English.
This document was drafted in accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2, and developed in
accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1 and ISO/IEC Directives, IEC Supplement, available
at www.iec.ch/members_experts/refdocs. The main document types developed by IEC are
described in greater detail at www.iec.ch/publications.
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 document will remain unchanged until the
stability date indicated on the IEC website under webstore.iec.ch in the data related to the
specific document. At this date, the document will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn, or
• revised.
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