EN 50290-2-23:2013

Communication cables - Part 2-23: Common design rules and construction - Polyethylene insulation for multi-pair cables used in access telecommunication networks: Outdoor cables

This European Standard gives specific requirements for PE compounds to be used for the insulation of telephone wire for external plant. Using raw material and type test data as outlined in this standard, the raw material supplier will have sufficient data to demonstrate compliance and warrant that the material is suitable for the specified application.

Kommunikationskabel - Teil 2-23: Gemeinsame Regeln für Entwicklung und Konstruktion – Polyethylen-Isoliermischungen für vielpaarige Kabel in Telekommunikationsnetzwerken: Außenkabel

Câbles de communication - Partie 2-23: Règles de conception communes et construction - Polyéthylène pour enveloppes isolantes

Komunikacijski kabli - 2-23. del: Skupna pravila načrtovanja in konstrukcija - Izolacija PE

Ta evropski standard določa posebne zahteve za zmesi PE, ki se uporabljajo za izolacijo telefonskih žic za zunanje obrate. Z uporabo podatkov o surovini in tipskem preskušanju, kot je opisano v tem standardu, bo imel dobavitelj surovin dovolj podatkov, da dokaže skladnost in jamči, da je material ustrezen za opredeljeno uporabo.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 31-Oct-2013
• Withdrawal Date: 15-Sep-2016
• ICS: 29.035.20 - Plastics and rubber insulating materials
• ICS: 33.120.10 - Coaxial cables. Waveguides
• Technical Committee: CLC/TC 46X - Communication cables
• Drafting Committee: CLC/TC 46X - Communication cables
• Parallel Committee: IEC/TC 46 - IEC_TC_46
• Current Stage: 9093 - Decision to confirm - Review Enquiry
• Start Date: 26-May-2021
• Completion Date: 23-Sep-2025
• Directive: 2006/95/EC - Directive 2006/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 on the harmonisation of the laws of Member States relating to electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits (codified version)
• Directive: 2014/35/EU - Directive 2014/35/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to the making available on the market of electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits
• Directive: 2014/53/EU - Directive 2014/53/EU of The European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to the making available on the market of radio equipment and repealing Directive 1999/5/EC
• Ref Project: SIST EN 50290-2-23:2014 - Communication cables - Part 2-23: Common design rules and construction - PE insulation

Relations

• Replaces: EN 50290-2-23:2001 - Communication cables - Part 2-23: Common design rules and construction - PE insulation
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2023

Overview

EN 50290-2-23:2013 is a European Standard developed by CLC for communication cables, specifically addressing the common design rules and construction of polyethylene (PE) insulation for multi-pair telephone cables used in outdoor access telecommunication networks. This standard provides detailed requirements for PE compounds utilized in insulation to ensure optimal performance and durability in external environments. It supports raw material suppliers in demonstrating compliance through specified raw material and type testing, guaranteeing suitability for outdoor telecommunication cable insulation applications.

Key Topics

• Scope and Application
  EN 50290-2-23:2013 covers specifications for PE insulation compounds used in multi-pair cables designed for outdoor telecommunication networks. It ensures insulation materials meet rigorous mechanical, thermal, and environmental performance criteria.

• Raw Material Requirements
  The standard defines compound test requirements such as density, melt flow index, hardness (Shore D), and mechanical properties including tensile strength and elongation at break. These parameters are measured on granules or moulded plaques, providing a comprehensive profile of compound suitability.

• Cable Insulation Performance
  Requirements for wire insulation include maximum rated operating temperature (typically 70-80 °C), mechanical characteristics, shrinkage limits, tensile strength after ageing, wrapping behavior, and long-term stability tests. These ensure the cable's insulation withstands environmental and operational stresses.

• Testing Methods and Compliance
  EN 50290-2-23 references numerous standardized test methods (such as EN ISO, IEC standards) for verifying physical and mechanical properties, thermal endurance, oxidative induction time, and ageing resistance. This thorough testing regime facilitates consistent quality assurance.

• Health, Safety, and Environmental Compliance
  The standard aligns with broader safety objectives, including the Low Voltage Directive (LVD), and mandates compliance with EN 50290-2-20 for health, safety, and environmental regulations covering raw materials and cable production.

Applications

• Outdoor Telecommunication Networks
  The standard is applied primarily in the manufacturing and specification of multi-pair telephone cables with polyethylene insulation intended for external or outdoor installations, including urban and rural access networks.

• Access Network Infrastructure
  It supports the deployment of telecommunication cables in various environmental conditions, ensuring durability and electrical performance across access networks, supporting analog and digital telephony, DSL, and other subscriber line applications.

• Cable Manufacturer Quality Control
  Cable producers rely on the standard’s specifications and test guidelines to select and verify PE compounds that meet performance criteria for outdoor insulation, to enhance product reliability and longevity.

• Raw Material Supplier Certification
  Compound suppliers utilize the detailed test requirements within EN 50290-2-23 to certify their PE materials, providing guarantees of suitability for outdoor telecommunication cable insulation.

Related Standards

• EN 50290-2-20
  General common design rules and construction principles for communication cables, including overall health, safety, and environmental provisions.

• EN 50407 (Parts 1 & 2)
  Product standards covering multi-pair cables used in high bit rate digital access telecommunication networks, complementing insulation and construction requirements.

• EN 60811 Series
  Test methods for non-metallic materials used in electric and optical fibre cables, including thermal, mechanical, and ageing tests specific to insulation and sheathing compounds.

• EN ISO 527 and EN ISO 868
  Standards for determination of tensile properties and hardness of plastics, underpinning mechanical property assessments required by EN 50290-2-23.

• Additional EN 50290 Subparts
  Other parts address insulation and sheathing compounds, including PVC and halogen-free materials, ensuring comprehensive guidance for communication cable construction.

---

By adhering to EN 50290-2-23:2013, manufacturers and suppliers ensure that outdoor multi-pair telecommunication cables are insulated with high-quality polyethylene compounds that offer robust performance, safety compliance, and environmental resistance suitable for modern access networks. This standard is a key reference for designing durable, reliable telecommunication infrastructure with optimized polyethylene insulation materials.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-januar-2014
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,]RODFLMD3(
Communication cables - Part 2-23: Common design rules and construction - PE
insulation
Kommunikationskabel - Teil 2-23: Gemeinsame Regeln für Entwicklung und Konstruktion
- PE-Isoliermischungen
Câbles de communication - Partie 2-23: Règles de conception communes et construction
- Polyéthylène pour enveloppes isolantes
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 50290-2-23:2013
ICS:
29.035.20 3ODVWLþQLLQJXPHQLL]RODFLMVNL Plastics and rubber insulating
PDWHULDOL materials
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 50290-2-23
NORME EUROPÉENNE
November 2013
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 29.035.20; 33.120.10 Supersedes EN 50290-2-23:2001

English version
Communication cables -
Part 2-23: Common design rules and construction -
Polyethylene insulation for multi-pair cables used in access
telecommunication networks: Outdoor cables

Câbles de communication -  Kommunikationskabel -
Partie 2-23: Règles de conception Teil 2-23: Gemeinsame Regeln für
communes et construction - Entwicklung und Konstruktion –
Polyéthylène pour enveloppes isolantes Polyethylen-Isoliermischungen für
vielpaarige Kabel in
Telekommunikationsnetzwerken:
Außenkabel
This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2013-09-16. 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, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United
Kingdom.
CENELEC
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

© 2013 CENELEC - All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC members.
Ref. No. EN 50290-2-23:2013 E
Contents
Foreword . 3
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Compound test requirements . 6
4 Cable test requirements . 6
5 Health, Safety and Environmental Regulations . 6
Bibliography . 10

- 3 - EN 50290-2-23:2013
Foreword
This document (EN 50290-2-23:2013) has prepared by CLC/TC 46X "Communication cables".
The following dates are fixed:
• latest date by which this document has
(dop) 2014-09-16
to be implemented at national level by
publication of an identical national
standard or by endorsement
• latest date by which the national
(dow) 2016-09-16
standards conflicting with this
document have to be withdrawn
This document supersedes EN 50290-2-23:2001.
− The document has been entirely restructured.
− The main change is the introduction of the new Table 1 for the test to be performed on granules.
This document should be read in conjunction with Part 2-20 of EN 50290, the product standard EN 50407 (all
parts) and other applicable product standards.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. CENELEC [and/or CEN] shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document has been prepared under a mandate given to CENELEC by the European Commission and the
European Free Trade Association, and supports essential requirements of EU Directive(s).
This standard covers the Principle Elements of the Safety Objectives for Electrical Equipment Designed for Use
within Certain Voltage Limits (LVD - 2006/95/EC).
EN 50290-2, Communication cables, is divided into the following sub-parts:
− Part 2-1: Common design rules and construction;
− Part 2-2: Common design rules and construction  Polyethylene insulation for multi element metallic data
cables for indoor application [currently at Enquiry stage];
− Part 2-3: Common design rules and construction  Polyethylene insulation for coaxial cables [currently at
Enquiry stage];
− Part 2-4: Common design rules and construction  Polypropylene insulation for coaxial cables [currently at
Enquiry stage];
− Part 2-20: Common design rules and construction  General;
− Part 2-21: Common design rules and construction  PVC insulation compounds;
− Part 2-22: Common design rules and construction  PVC sheathing compounds;
− Part 2-23: Common design rules and construction  PE insulation [the present document];

− Part 2-24: Common design rules and construction  PE sheathing;
− Part 2-25: Common design rules and construction  Polypropylene insulation for compounds;
− Part 2-26: Common design rules and construction  Halogen free flame retardant insulation compounds;
− Part 2-27: Common design rules and construction  Halogen free flame retardant thermoplastic sheathing
compounds;
− Part 2-28: Common design rules and construction  Filling compounds for filled cables;
− Part 2-29: Common design rules and construction  Cross-linked PE insulation compounds;
− Part 2-30: Common design rules and construction  Poly(tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene) (FEP)
insulation and sheathing;
− Part 2-32: Common design rules and construction  Halogen free insulation compounds for flame retardant
and fire resistant cables [currently at Enquiry stage].
_________
- 5 - EN 50290-2-23:2013
1 Scope
This European Standard gives specific requirements for PE compounds to be used for the insulation of
telephone wire for external plant.
Using raw material and type test data as outlined in this standard, the raw material supplier will have sufficient
data to demonstrate compliance and warrant that the material is suitable for the specified application.
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.
EN 50290-2-20, Communication cables  Part 2-20: Common design rules and construction  General
EN 60216 (all parts), Electrical insulating materials  Thermal endurance properties (IEC 60216, all parts)
EN 60811-401, Electric and optical fibre cables  Test methods for non-metallic materials  Part 401:
Miscellaneous tests  Thermal ageing methods  Ageing in an air oven (IEC 60811-401)
EN 60811-407, Electric and optical fibre cables  Test methods for non-metallic materials  Part 407:
Miscellaneous tests  Measurement of mass increase of polyethylene and polypropylene compounds
(IEC 60811-407)
EN 60811-408, Electric and optical fibre cables  Test methods for non-metallic materials  Part 408:
Miscellaneous tests  Long-term stability test of polyethylene and polypropylene compounds (IEC 60811-408)
EN 60811-501, Electric and optical fibre cables  Test methods for non-metallic material
...