IEC 62153-4-4:2006

Metallic communication cable test methods - Part 4-4: Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) - Shielded screening attenuation, test method for measuring of the screening attenuation as up to and above 3 GHz

determines the screening attenuation as of metallic communication cable screens. Due to the concentric outer tube, measurements are independent of irregularities on the circumference and outer electromagnetic field. A wide dynamic and frequency range can be applied to test even super-screened cables with normal instrumentation from low frequencies up to the limit of defined transversal waves in the outer circuit at approximately 4 GHz.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 08-May-2006
• ICS: 33.100.10 - Emission
• ICS: 33.120.10 - Coaxial cables. Waveguides
• Technical Committee: TC 46 - Cables, wires, waveguides, RF connectors, RF and microwave passive components and accessories
• Drafting Committee: WG 5 - TC 46/WG 5
• Current Stage: DELPUB - Deleted Publication
• Start Date: 29-Apr-2015
• Completion Date: 26-Oct-2025

Relations

• Revised: IEC 62153-4-4:2015 - Metallic communication cable test methods - Part 4-4: Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) - Test method for measuring of the screening attenuation as up to and above 3 GHz, triaxial method
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023

Overview

IEC 62153-4-4:2006 specifies a standardized test method for measuring the shielded screening attenuation of metallic communication cable screens (the “as” screening attenuation) up to and above 3 GHz. The procedure uses a concentric outer tube (tube‑in‑tube) measurement environment so results are independent of surface irregularities and external electromagnetic field variations. The method supports a wide dynamic and frequency range-allowing evaluation of conventional and super‑screened cables with normal laboratory instrumentation up to the onset of transversal waves in the outer circuit (approximately 4 GHz).

Keywords: IEC 62153-4-4, screening attenuation, EMC, metallic communication cable, shielded cable testing, tube‑in‑tube, screening measurement.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and purpose: Defines how to determine the logarithmic screening attenuation (as) of cable screens and how to relate measured voltages/powers to radiated power.
• Measurement principle: Uses a concentric outer tube / triaxial-style setup to measure coupling from the primary (matched cable under test) to the secondary (outer circuit), minimizing external-field influence.
• Frequency and dynamic range: Applicable from low frequencies up to around 4 GHz (limit set by transversal waves in the outer circuit); suitable for both ordinary and super‑screened cables.
• Key quantities and relations: Defines symbols (e.g., transfer impedance ZT, capacitive coupling impedance ZF), theoretical relationships between voltages, powers and transfer impedance, and criteria for electrically short vs. long coupling lengths.
• Test hardware and procedures: Specifies required equipment, cable preparation (including symmetric and multi‑conductor sample preparation), impedance matching arrangements, measurement procedure and expression/interpretation of results.
• Result expression and limits: Screening attenuation is expressed as a logarithmic ratio of feeding power to maximum radiated power; normative reference to related measurement limits and methods is provided.

Applications and users

This standard is directly applicable for:

• Cable manufacturers verifying and characterizing shield performance and producing datasheets.
• EMC test laboratories performing repeatable shield attenuation measurements for compliance and verification.
• Design and R&D teams developing high‑performance screened cables and RF interconnects.
• Telecommunications and data‑centre engineers selecting cables where EMC and minimal radiation are critical.

Practical uses include specification verification, quality control, comparison of shielding constructions (braids, tapes, concentric tubes), and troubleshooting EMI problems in signal and communication links.

Related standards

• IEC 62153 series (other parts on EMC screening and transfer impedance testing: Part 4-0, 4-1, 4-2, 4-3, 4-5, 4-6, 4-7, 4-8)
• Normative reference cited: IEC 61917 (introduction to EMC screening measurements) - being revised and related to IEC 62153-4-1.

For implementation, consult the full IEC 62153-4-4:2006 text for detailed procedures, figures (triaxial/tube setups, impedance matching) and result-expression rules.

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL IEC
STANDARD 62153-4-4
First edition
2006-05
Metallic communication cable test methods –
Part 4-4:
Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) –
Shielded screening attenuation, test method
for measuring of the screening attenuation a
s
up to and above 3 GHz
Reference number
Publication numbering
As from 1 January 1997 all IEC publications are issued with a designation in the
60000 series. For example, IEC 34-1 is now referred to as IEC 60034-1.
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INTERNATIONAL IEC
STANDARD 62153-4-4
First edition
2006-05
Metallic communication cable test methods –
Part 4-4:
Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) –
Shielded screening attenuation, test method
for measuring of the screening attenuation a
s
up to and above 3 GHz
 IEC 2006  Copyright - all rights reserved
No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or
mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from the publisher.
International Electrotechnical Commission, 3, rue de Varembé, PO Box 131, CH-1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland
Telephone: [phone] Telefax: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail] Web: www.iec.ch
PRICE CODE
Commission Electrotechnique Internationale P
International Electrotechnical Commission
МеждународнаяЭлектротехническаяКомиссия
For price, see current catalogue

– 2 – 62153-4-4  IEC:2006(E)
CONTENTS
FOREWORD.3

Scope.5
2 Normative references.5
3 Symbols and theoretical background .5
3.1 Electrical symbols.5
3.2 Theoretical background .6
3.3 Screening attenuation .6
3.4 Relationship between length and the surface transfer impedance Z .7
T
4 Principles of the measuring method .10
5 Measurement.11
5.1 Equipment .11
5.2 Cable under test .11
5.3 Procedure.14
5.4 Expression of results .14
6 Requirement.15

Figure 1 – Relationship of U /U on a log (f) scale for a single braided cable .8
2 1
Figure 2 – Relationship of U /U on a linear (f) scale and screening attenuation a on a
2 1 s
linear (f) scale for a single braided cable .9
Figure 3 – Measured screening attenuation a formed by the maximum envelope curve
s
to the measured coupling voltage ratio U /U of a single braided cable .9
2 1
Figure 4 – Triaxial measuring set-up .10
Figure 5 – Triaxial measuring set-up connected to the network analyser .10
Figure 6 – Preparation of test sample (symmetrical and multi-conductor cables) .11
Figure 7 – Impedance matching for Z <50 Ω .13
Figure 8 – Impedance matching for Z >50 Ω .13
62153-4-4  IEC:2006(E) – 3 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
METALLIC COMMUNICATION CABLE TEST METHODS –

Part 4-4: Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) –
Shielded screening attenuation, test method for measuring of
the screening attenuation a up to and above 3 GHz
s
FOREWORD
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patent rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
International Standard IEC 62153-4-4 has been prepared by subcommittee 46A: Coaxial
cables, of IEC technical committee 46: Cables, wires, waveguides, r.f. connectors, r.f. and
microwave passive components and accessories.
The text of this standard is based on the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
46A/799/FDIS 46A/816/RVD
Full information on the voting for the approval of this standard can be found in the report on
voting indicated in the above table.
This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.

– 4 – 62153-4-4  IEC:2006(E)
IEC 62153 consists of the following parts under the general title Metallic communication cable
test methods:
Part 1-1: Electrical – Measurement of the pulse/step return loss in the frequency domain
using the Inverse Discrete Fourier Transformation (IDFT)
Part 1-2: Reflection measurement correction
Part 4-0: Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) – Relationship between Surface transfer
impedance and Screening attenuation, recommended limits
Part 4-1: Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) – Introduction to electromagnetic (EMC)
screening measurements
Part 4-2: Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) – Screening and coupling attenuation –
Injection clamp method
Part 4-3: Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) – Surface transfer impedance – Triaxial
method
Part 4-4: Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) – Shielded screening attenuation, test method
for measuring of the screening attenuation "as " up to and above 3 GHz
Part 4-5: Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) – Coupling or screening attenuation –
absorbing clamp method
Part 4-6: Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) – Surface transfer impedance – line injection
method
Part 4-7: Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) – Shielded screening attenuation, test method
for measuring the Transfer impedance ZT, the screening attenuation as and the
coupling attenuation ac of RF-Connectors up to and above 3 GHz; Tube in Tube
method
Part 4-8: Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) – Capacitive Coupling Admittance
The committee has decided that the contents of this publication will remain unchanged until the
maintenance result date indicated on the IEC web site under "http://webstore.iec.ch" in the data
related to the specific publication. At this date, the publication will be
• reconfirmed;
• withdrawn;
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
A bilingual version of this publication may be issued at a later date.

___________
Under consideration.
62153-4-4  IEC:2006(E) – 5 –
METALLIC COMMUNICATION CABLE TEST METHODS –

Part 4-4: Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) –
Shielded screening attenuation, test method for measuring of
the screening attenuation a up to and above 3 GHz
s
1 Scope
This part of IEC 62153 determines the screening attenuation a of metallic communication
s
cable screens. Due to the concentric outer tube, measurements are independent of
irregularities on the circumference and outer electromagnetic field.
A wide dynamic and frequency range can be applied to test even super-screened cables with
normal instrumentation from low frequencies up to the limit of defined transversal waves in the
outer circuit at approximately 4 GHz.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application 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 61917:1998, Cables, cable assemblies and connectors – Introduction to electromagnetic
(EMC) screening measurements
3 Symbols and theoretical background
3.1 Electrical symbols
Z characteristic impedance of the primary circuit (cable under test)
characteristic impedance of the secondary circuit
Z
Z normalized value of the characteristic impedance of the environment
S
of the cable under test (150 Ω outer circuit impedance Z )
R input impedance of the receiver
Z transfer impedance of the cable under test in Ω/m
T
Z= Z× Z × jω × C capacitive coupling impedance of the cable under test in Ω/m
F 1 2 T
f frequency in Hz
C through capacitance of the outer conductor per unit length in F/m
T
relative dielectric permittivity of the cable under test
ε
r1
relative dielectric permittivity of the secondary circuit
ε
r2
ε normalized value of the relative dielectric permittivity of the
r2,n
environment of the cable
effective coupling length
l
___________
This is under revision and will be replaced by IEC 62153-4-1.

– 6 – 62153-4-4  IEC:2006(E)
vacuum wavelength
λ
o
c vacuum velocity
o
a screening attenuation which is comparable to the results of the

s
absorbing clamp method
a normalized screening attenuation (Z = 150 Ω and |Δv/v | = 10 %)
sn S 1
P feeding power of the primary circuit
P measured power received on the input impedance R of the receiver in
the secondary circuit
P radiated power in the environment of the cable, which is comparable to
r
P + P of the absorbing clamp method
2,n 2,f
P radiated power in the normalized environment of the cable under test
S
(Z = 150 Ω and |Δv/v | = 10 %)
S 1
ϕ = 2π ( ε − ε )l / λ
1 r1 r2 0
ϕ = 2π ( ε + ε )l / λ
2 r1 r2 0
ϕ = ϕ − ϕ = 4π ε l / λ
3 2 1 r2 0
3.2 Theoretical background
For exact calculation, if feedback from the secondary to the primary circuit is negligible, the
ratio of the far-end voltages U and U are given by
1 2
U Z − Z Z + Z
2 T F − jϕ T F − jϕ
1 2
≈ ×[]1− e + ×[]1− e × ×
U ω⋅ Z
ε − ε ε + ε
1 1
r1 r2 r1 r2
(1)
c
− jϕ
2+()Z / R− 1 × (1− e )
...