IEC 60794-6:2020

Optical fibre cables - Part 6: Indoor-outdoor cables - Sectional specification for indoor-outdoor cables

IEC 60794-6:2020 is a sectional specification covering general features of optical fibre cables applicable to outdoor as well as indoor environments, called "indoor-outdoor cables". Indoor-outdoor cables are deployed in outside plant environments as well as in premises thus fulfilling outdoor as well as indoor requirements. Typical application spaces are, for example, extension of a duct cable into a building or using this design for centralized cabling in the central office, the premises or local area network where the same cable is used for the entire length of the cabling link including both the indoor as well as the outdoor portions. Cables which generally possess the characteristics associated with outdoor cable designs having the thermal and mechanical robustness that makes them suitable for use in the outside plant, while simultaneously being relatively flexible, compact and lightweight and exhibiting the fire performance required in indoor premises are specified in IEC 60794-6-10. Flame retardant outdoor cables as specified in IEC 60794-6-20 are used when most of the cable length is deployed as an outdoor cable with a part of its length deployed indoors. The cable design can be derived from a typical outdoor cable design according to the product specifications described in IEC 60794-3. The specific performance related to bend radii according to the installation situation and fire performance according to the regional legislation mainly requires the appropriate selection of the jacket material in combination with other material and/or design considerations. Because of the use in buildings with tighter space restrictions, higher flexibility of the cable is often required for the installation. Often, smaller diameter cables are preferred. Indoor cables which are weatherised as specified in (IEC 60794-6-30) are used when an indoor cable is used outdoors over a short distance (few meters), for example when the network access point (NAP) is very close to the building. The indoor-outdoor fibre optical cable design can be derived from an indoor design (see IEC 60794-2 and IEC TR 62901 for typical applications) with specific outdoor performance features added. Critical parameters are UV stability, and resistance against exposure to humidity.

Câbles à fibres optiques - Partie 6: Câbles intérieurs/extérieurs - Spécification intermédiaire pour les câbles intérieurs/extérieurs

IEC 60794-6:2020 est une spécification intermédiaire qui couvre les fonctionnalités générales des câbles à fibres optiques destinés aussi bien aux environnements extérieurs qu'aux environnements intérieurs, ci-après désignés "câbles intérieurs/extérieurs". Les câbles intérieurs/extérieurs sont déployés dans les environnements d'usine extérieurs ainsi que dans les locaux, satisfaisant donc aux exigences d'utilisation en extérieur ainsi qu'aux exigences d'utilisation en intérieur. Les applications types sont par exemple: prolongation dans un bâtiment d'un câble installé dans un conduit, ou utilisation de cette conception pour réaliser un câblage centralisé dans le bureau central, les locaux ou le réseau local exploitant le même câble sur toute la longueur des liaisons de câblage, englobant les portions en intérieur ainsi que les portions en extérieur. Les câbles qui possèdent généralement les caractéristiques associées à des conceptions de câbles extérieurs, présentant la robustesse thermique et mécanique qui les rend appropriés pour une utilisation dans les environnements d'usine extérieurs, tout en restant relativement souples, compacts et légers et en présentant le comportement au feu exigé à l'intérieur des locaux, sont spécifiés dans l'IEC 60794-6-10. Les câbles extérieurs retardateurs de flamme spécifiés dans l'IEC 60794-6-20 sont utilisés lorsque la majeure partie de la longueur de câble est déployée dans un environnement extérieur, et que la portion restante est déployée dans un environnement intérieur. La conception de câble peut être déterminée à partir d'une conception de câble extérieur type, conformément aux spécifications de produit décrites dans l'IEC 60794-3. Les performances spécifiques relatives aux rayons de courbure, conformément à la situation d'installation et au comportement au feu, et conformément à la législation régionale en vigueur, exigent principalement de choisir de manière appropriée le matériau de la gaine, ainsi que son association à d'autres matériaux et/ou à d'autres considérations relatives à la conception. En raison d'une utilisation dans des bâtiments qui présentent des restrictions liées à des espaces plus confinés, une plus grande souplesse du câble est souvent exigée pour l'installation. Souvent, des câbles de diamètre réduit sont privilégiés.
Des câbles intérieurs qui sont conçus pour être résistants aux intempéries, spécifiés dans l'IEC 60794-6-30, sont utilisés lorsqu'un câble intérieur est utilisé en extérieur sur une courte distance (quelques mètres), par exemple lorsque le point d'accès au réseau (NAP, network access point) est très proche du bâtiment. La conception de câble à fibres optiques intérieur/extérieur peut être déterminée à partir d'une conception de câble intérieur (voir l'IEC 60794-2 et l'IEC TR 62901 pour des applications types), en y ajoutant des fonctionnalités spécifiques de comportement en extérieur. Les paramètres critiques sont la stabilité au rayonnement ultraviolet (UV) et la résistance à l'exposition à l'humidité.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 24-Sep-2020
• ICS: 33.180.10 - Fibres and cables
• Technical Committee: SC 86A - Fibres and cables
• Current Stage: PPUB - Publication issued
• Start Date: 25-Sep-2020
• Completion Date: 30-Oct-2020

Standards Content (Sample)

IEC 60794-6 ®
Edition 1.0 2020-09
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Optical fibre cables –
Part 6: Indoor-outdoor cables – Sectional specification for indoor-outdoor
cables
Câbles à fibres optiques –
Partie 6: Câbles intérieurs/extérieurs – Spécification intermédiaire pour
les câbles intérieurs/extérieurs

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IEC 60794-6 ®
Edition 1.0 2020-09
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Optical fibre cables –
Part 6: Indoor-outdoor cables – Sectional specification for indoor-outdoor

cables
Câbles à fibres optiques –
Partie 6: Câbles intérieurs/extérieurs – Spécification intermédiaire pour

les câbles intérieurs/extérieurs

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
INTERNATIONALE
ICS 33.180.10 ISBN 978-2-8322-8902-0

– 2 – IEC 60794-6:2020 © IEC 2020
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 3
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms, definitions and abbreviated terms . 6
3.1 Terms and definitions . 6
3.2 Abbreviated terms . 6
4 Optical fibres . 6
5 Cable elements . 6
5.1 General . 6
5.2 Materials compatibility . 7
5.3 Optical elements . 7
5.4 Testing of cable elements . 7
5.5 Cable elements to be used for indoor-outdoor cable . 7
6 Common specifications for indoor-outdoor cables . 7
7 Installation and operating conditions . 8
8 Characterization of cable elements . 8
9 Test conditions for indoor-outdoor cables . 8
9.1 Test methods applicable for indoor-outdoor cables . 8
9.2 Fire performance . 9
10 Quality assurance . 9
11 Packaging . 9
Bibliography . 10

Table 1 – Key cable performance parameters for indoor-outdoor cables compared to
indoor and outdoor cables . 8

INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
OPTICAL FIBRE CABLES –
Part 6: Indoor-outdoor cables –
Sectional specification for indoor-outdoor cables

FOREWORD
1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
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rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
International Standard IEC 60794-6 has been prepared by subcommittee SC 86A: Fibres and
cables, of IEC technical committee 86: Fibre optics.
The text of this International Standard is based on the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
86A/2042/FDIS 86A/2052/RVD
Full information on the voting for the approval of this International Standard can be found in the
report on voting indicated in the above table.
This document has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
A list of all parts in the IEC 60794 series, published under the general title Optical fibre cables,
can be found on the IEC website.

– 4 – IEC 60794-6:2020 © IEC 2020
The committee has decided that the contents of this document will remain unchanged until the
stability date indicated on the IEC website under "http://webstore.iec.ch" in the data related to
the specific document. At this date, the document will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
OPTICAL FIBRE CABLES –
Part 6: Indoor-outdoor cables –
Sectional specification for indoor-outdoor cables

1 Scope
This part of IEC 60794 is a sectional specification covering general features of optical fibre
cables applicable to outdoor as well as indoor environments, called "indoor-outdoor cables".
Indoor-outdoor cables are deployed in outside plant environments as well as in premises thus
fulfilling outdoor as well as indoor requirements. Typical application spaces are, for example,
extension of a duct cable into a building or using this design for centralized cabling in the central
office, the premises or local area network where the same cable is used for the entire length of
the cabling link including both the indoor as well as the outdoor portions.
Cables which generally possess the characteristics associated with outdoor cable designs
having the thermal and mechanical robustness that makes them suitable for use in the outside
plant, while simultaneously being relatively flexible, compact and lightweight and exhibiting the
fire performance required in indoor premises are specified in IEC 60794-6-10.
Flame retardant outdoor cables as specified in IEC 60794-6-20 are used when most of the cable
length is deployed as an outdoor cable with a part of its length deployed indoors. The cable
design can be derived from a typical outdoor cable design according to the product
specifications described in IEC 60794-3. The specific performance related to bend radii
according to the installation situation and fire performance according to the regional legislation
mainly requires the appropriate selection of the jacket material in combination with other
material and/or design considerations. Because of the use in buildings with tighter space
restrictions, higher flexibility of the cable is often required for the installation. Often, smaller
diameter cables are preferred.
Indoor cables which are weatherised as specified in (IEC 60794-6-30) are used when an indoor
cable is used outdoors over a short distance (few meters), for example when the network access
point (NAP) is very close to the building. The indoor-outdoor fibre optical cable design can be
derived from an indoor design (see IEC 60794-2 and IEC TR 62901 for typical applications)
with specific outdoor performance features added. Critical parameters are UV stability, and
resistance against exposure to humidity.
2 Normative references
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.
IEC 60793-1-40, Optical fibres – Part 1-40: Attenuation measurement methods
IEC 60793-2, Optical fibres – Part 2: Product specifications – General
IEC 60794-1-1, Optical fibre cables – Part 1-1: Generic specification – General
IEC 60794-1-21, Optical fibre cables – Part 1-21: Generic specification – Basic optical cable
test procedures – Mechanical test methods

– 6 – IEC 60794-6:2020 © IEC 2020
IEC 60794-2:2017, Optical fibre cables – Part 2: Indoor cables – Sectional specification
IEC 60794-3:2014, Optical fibre cables – Part 3: Outdoor cables – Sectional specification
IEC 60794-6-10, Optical fibre cables – Part 6-10: Indoor-outdoor cables – Family specification
for universal indoor-outdoor cables
IEC 60794-6-20, Optical fibre cables – Part 6-20: Indoor-outdoor cables – Family specification
for flame retardant outdoor cables
IEC 60794-6-30, Optical fibre cables – Part 6-30: Indoor-outdoor cables – Family specification
for weatherised indoor cables
3 Terms, definitions and abbreviated terms
For the purposes of this document, the terms, definitions and abbreviated terms given in
IEC 60794-1-1 and the following apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following
addresses:
• IEC Electropedia: available at http://www.electropedia.org/
• ISO Online browsing platform: available at http://www.iso.org/obp
3.1 Terms and definitions
3.1.1
indoor-outdoor cable
cable used indoors as well as outdoors
3.2 Abbreviated terms
CB carbon black
FR  flame retardant
NAP network access point
4 Optical fibres
Optical fibre shall be used which meets the requirements of IEC 60793-2. The fibre type shall
be agreed between the customer and supplier.
The attenuation, attenuation continuity, cut-off wavelength and PMD should conform with the
appropriate sectional, family, detailed or product specification of IEC 60794 (all parts).
The attenuation coefficient shall be measured in accordance with IEC 60793-1-40 and
IEC 60794-1-1.
5 Cable elements
5.1 General
Generally, optical cables comprise several elements (see IEC 60794-1-3) or individual
constituents, depending on the cable design which takes into account the cable application,
operating environment and manufacturing processes, as well as the need to protect the fibre
during handling and cabling.
5.2 Materials compatibility
The material(s) used for a cable element shall be selected to be compatible with the other
elements in contact with it. Compatibility testing should be in accordance with IEC 60794-1-219.
Alternative ageing conditions and tests may be agreed between the customer and supplier.
5.3 Optical elements
Optical elements are cable elements containing optical fibres and are designed to be a primary
functional unit of the cable core. Optical elements and each fibre within a cable element shall
be uniquely identified as described in IEC 60794-2 and IEC 60794-3.
5.4 Testing of cable elements
Tests may be performed on cable elements either in non-cabled form or in finished cables.
Unless otherwise specified, testing shall be performed on cable elements in a finished cable.
This means that testing shall be performed only on a finished cable if the cable element
manufacturing operation is done by the same manufacturer as the cabling operation. Testing
shall be performed on cable elements only if the cable element is supplied by a third party; this
does not exclude testing of the finished cable. Testing of elements as defined in
IEC 60794-1-23 can, of course, be used as a guide for internal verification by a manufacturer.
5.5 Cable elements to be used for indoor-outdoor cable
All relevant cable elements to be used for indoor-outdoor cables are described in IEC 60794-2
and IEC 60794-3.
6 Common specifications for indoor-outdoor cables
Indoor-outdoor cables are defined as cables which fulfill the following common specifications:
– resistance against humidity;
– UV resistance according to IEC 60794-3:2014, 6.6.3, IEC 60794-1-22, method F14, and the
following Table 1;
– flame retardance according to IEC 60794-2:2017, 7.4, and the following Table 1.

– 8 – IEC 60794-6:2020 © IEC 2020
Table 1 – Key cable performance parameters for indoor-outdoor
cables compared to indoor and outdoor cables
Reference Water UV Resistance Other Temperature Small bend Flame
c
blocking against environm- of operation performance retardancy
resistance
humidity ental
a
exposure
IEC 60794-6-10 X X X X X X X
universal
IEC 60794-6-20 X X X X X Not required X
outdoor FR
IEC 60794-6-30 Optional X X Not required X X X
b
weatherised
indoor
IEC 60794-2-xx Not required Not required Not required Not required X X X
b
indoor
IEC 60794-3-xx X X X X X Not required Not required
outdoor
Key
X: required
NOTE Cables which consist of a typical indoor cable surrounded by a removable humidity/UV resistant jacket are
considered as outdoor FR (and thus compliant to IEC 60794-6-20); however, only the part of the cable design which
is installed indoors need to fulfil FR requirements.
a
Examples are exposure to various fluids (e.g. long term storage in water, acids, basis, strong solvents), exposure
to mould growth, exposure to rodents, birds or insects, exposure to freezing water (ice), etc.
b
Short-term storage in water, as well as use of cleaning agents, is required.
c
However, other methods of UV stabilization might be needed as a consequence of the use of FR jacket which

might consist of a different polymer than PE and have a colour other than black so CB cannot be used;

7 Installation and operating conditions
Installation and operating conditions shall be as required by the indoor-outdoor family
specifications:
– IEC 60794-6-10 for universal cables;
– IEC 60794-6-20 for flame retardant outdoor cables;
– IEC 60794-6-30 for weatherised indoor cables.
8 Characterization of cable elements
Cable elements as described in 5.5 can be tested as described in IEC 60794-2:2017, 7.2, and
IEC 60794-3:2014, Clause 8.
9 Test conditions for indoor-outdoor cables
9.1 Test methods applicable for indoor-outdoor cables
Compliance with the specification requirements shall be verified by carrying out tests detailed
in the relevant family specification. It is not intended that all tests be carried out in all cases.
The tests to be applied and the frequency of testing shall be agreed between the customer and
supplier.
9.2 Fire performance
All cables according to this document shall pass fire performance specifications. The
requirements may differ in different regions (e.g. North America, EU ). But they also can differ
from country to country.
NOTE 1 IEC TR 62222 provides guidance and recommendations for the requirements and test methods for the fire
performance of communication cables when installed in buildings. The recommendations relate to typical applications
and installation practices, and an assessment of the fire hazards presented. Account is also taken of applicable
legislation and regulation.
IEC TR 62222 references several IEC fire performance test methods and also other test methods that can be required
by local or national legislation and regulation. It is important that the tests to be applied fulfil the national legislation
and regulation and the specific requirements by its intended use.
NOTE 2 Flame retardant cables, including flame retardant indoor-outdoor cables for European applications, require
CE marking according to the so-called CPR (construction product regulation – see CLCEN 50575 and subordinate
standards) when permanently installed in buildings. Without the appropriate marking of the product and the supply
of a declaration of performance, the use is not allowed in the European Union.
10 Quality assurance
It is the responsibility of the manufacturer to establish quality assurance by quality control
procedures which ensure that the product meets the requirements of this specification. When
the customer wishes to specify acceptance tests to other quality procedures, it is essential that
an agreement is reached between the customer and supplier at the time of ordering.
11 Packaging
Cable shall be supplied on reels or in coils suitably protected for transport and the cable ends
shall be sealed, if necessary, to prevent the ingress of moisture.

– 10 – IEC 60794-6:2020 © IEC 2020
Bibliography
IEC 60794 (all parts), Optical fibre cables
IEC 60794-1-2, Optical fibre cables – Part 1-2: Generic specification – Basic optical cable test
procedures – General guidance
IEC 60794-1-3, Optical fibre cables – Part 1-3: Generic specification – Optical cable elements
IEC 60794-1-22, Optical fibre cables – Part 1-22: Generic specification – Basic optical cable
test procedures – Environmental test methods
IEC 60794-1-23, Optical fibre cables – Part 1-23: Generic specification – Basic optical cable
test procedures – Cable element test methods
IEC 60794-1-24, Optical fibre cables – Part 1-24: Generic specification – Basic optical cable
test procedures – Electrical test methods
IEC 60794-1-219, Optical fibre cables – Part 1-219: Generic specification – Basic optical cable
test procedures – Material compatibility test, Method F19
IEC 60794-3-10, Optical fibre cables – Part 3-10: Outdoor cables – Family s
...