IEC 61196-1-326:2022

Coaxial communication cables - Part 1-326: Mechanical test methods - Hanger test

IEC 61196-1-326:2022 describes the test methods to evaluate the suitability of hangers to support a cable on an antenna tower, or on other constructions. This document also provides generic criteria to evaluate performance.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 13-Oct-2022
• ICS: 33.120.10 - Coaxial cables. Waveguides
• Technical Committee: SC 46A - Coaxial cables
• Current Stage: PPUB - Publication issued
• Start Date: 14-Oct-2022
• Completion Date: 04-Nov-2022

Overview

IEC 61196-1-326:2022 - "Coaxial communication cables - Part 1-326: Mechanical test methods - Hanger test" defines standardized test methods to evaluate the suitability of hangers and supporting accessories used to secure coaxial cables on antenna towers or other structures. The standard specifies test setups, sample sizes, environmental cycling, pass/fail criteria and reporting requirements to ensure reliable mechanical support without degrading RF performance.

Key topics and requirements

• Scope: Tests assess hanger performance supporting one or more coaxial cable runs; applicable tests can be selected by agreement between supplier and customer.
• Slippage test:
  • Samples: six hangers, three cables; cable length normally 2 m (±1 %) or alternate 0.7 m.
  • Procedure: hanger spacing, marking, thermal cycling (IEC 60068-2-14 Method Nb) and applied weight based on cable mass (weight = cable kg/m × length).
  • Cycle count: 25 cycles; slippage measured at 12 cycles and test end.
  • Requirement: cable slippage shall not exceed the cable diameter and no device damage.
  • Reporting: slippage amounts, cable/accessory dimensions, thermal profile, photos and calibration data.
• Hanger compression test:
  • Samples: three hangers and three cable assemblies.
  • Performed at ambient temperature with RL/IL monitoring while hanger is tightened.
  • Allowable degradation: return loss (RL) ≤ 1.0 dB degradation; insertion loss (IL) ≤ 0.2 dB degradation.
  • Report includes torque, part numbers, photos and diameter data.
• Other mechanical tests: salt mist exposure (referencing IEC 60068-2-11), side loading test and related procedures for evaluating corrosion resistance and lateral load performance.
• Thermal dwell guidance: dwell times depend on specimen weight (e.g., small specimens ≤1.5 kg use shorter dwells; very large specimens >140 kg may require up to 8 h dwell). If operating temperature is unknown, minimum dwell requirements and surface-temperature criteria apply as specified in the standard.

Applications and users

• Cable and hanger manufacturers validating product designs and design margins
• Test laboratories and QA teams performing acceptance and type testing
• Tower engineers, telecom operators and system integrators specifying hanger performance for antenna towers and infrastructure
• Procurement and compliance officers writing supplier requirements and test specifications

Related standards

• IEC 60068-2-14 - Environmental testing: Change of temperature (used for thermal cycling)
• IEC 60068-2-11 - Environmental testing: Salt mist (used for corrosion exposure)

IEC 61196-1-326:2022 provides a practical, repeatable framework for ensuring mechanical support of coaxial communication cables without compromising mechanical integrity or RF performance - essential for reliable tower installations and long-term network availability.

Standards Content (Sample)

IEC 61196-1-326 ®
Edition 1.0 2022-10
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
colour
inside
Coaxial communication cables –
Part 1-326: Mechanical test methods – Hanger test

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IEC 61196-1-326 ®
Edition 1.0 2022-10
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
colour
inside
Coaxial communication cables –

Part 1-326: Mechanical test methods – Hanger test

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
ICS 33.120.10 ISBN 978-2-8322-5775-3

– 2 – IEC 61196-1-326:2022 © IEC 2022
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 3
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 5
4 Test methods . 5
4.1 General . 5
4.2 Slippage test . 5
4.2.1 Samples . 5
4.2.2 Test method . 6
4.2.3 Requirements . 7
4.2.4 Report . 8
4.3 Hanger compression test . 8
4.3.1 General . 8
4.3.2 Samples . 8
4.3.3 Test method . 8
4.3.4 Requirements . 9
4.3.5 Report . 9
4.4 Salt mist exposure . 9
4.4.1 Sample . 9
4.4.2 Method . 9
4.4.3 Requirements . 9
4.4.4 Report . 9
4.5 Side loading test . 10
4.5.1 General . 10
4.5.2 Samples . 10
4.5.3 Procedure . 10
4.5.4 Test report . 12

Figure 1 – Example of a test setup for slippage test method with one cable sample . 6
Figure 2 – Example of a test setup for side load test . 10
Figure 3 – Example of a test setup for side load test . 11

Table 1 – Dwell times by temperature method . 7
Table 2 – Dwell times by unknown temperature . 7

INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
COAXIAL COMMUNICATION CABLES –

Part 1-326: Mechanical test methods – Hanger test

FOREWORD
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IEC 61196-1-326 has been prepared by subcommittee 46A: Coaxial cables, of IEC technical
committee 46: Cables, wires, waveguides, RF connectors, RF and microwave passive
components and accessories. It is an International Standard.
The text of this International Standard is based on the following documents:
Draft Report on voting
46A/1589/FDIS 46A/1602/RVD
Full information on the voting for its approval can be found in the report on voting indicated in
the above table.
The language used for the development of this International Standard is English.

– 4 – IEC 61196-1-326:2022 © IEC 2022
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/standardsdev/publications.
A list of all the parts in the IEC 61196 series, published under the general title Coaxial
communication cables, can be found on the IEC website.
The committee has decided that the contents of this
...