IEC 62153-4-17:2018

Metallic cables and other passive components - Test methods - Part 4-17: Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) - Reduction Factor

IEC 62153-4-17:2018 applies to the testing of the reduction factor of multi-element metallic cables used in analogue and digital communication and control. The described method is generally applicable to all screened metallic cables.
The reduction factor describes the screening effectiveness of a cable screen at frequencies below 1 kHz with a ratio of voltages describing the screened and unscreened situation. During the measurement, the cable under test is connected to a specific current loop arrangement.

Câbles métalliques et autres composants passifs - Méthodes d'essai - Partie 4-17: Compatibilité électromagnétique (CEM) - Facteur de réduction

L'IEC 62153-4-17:2018 s'applique aux essais sur le facteur de réduction de câbles métalliques à éléments multiples utilisés pour les communications et les commandes analogiques et numériques. La méthode décrite est généralement applicable à tous les câbles métalliques écrantés.
Le facteur de réduction décrit l'efficacité d'un écran de câble à des fréquences inférieures à 1 kHz par un rapport de tensions décrivant la situation écrantée et non écrantée. Pendant la mesure, le câble en essai est raccordé à une boucle de courant spécifique.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 14-Aug-2018
• 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: PPUB - Publication issued
• Start Date: 15-Aug-2018
• Completion Date: 10-Aug-2018

Overview

IEC 62153-4-17:2018 is an international standard published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) that specifies test methods for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) concerning metallic cables and other passive components. This part-Part 4-17-focuses specifically on the reduction factor, a key parameter describing the screening effectiveness of metallic cable screens at frequencies below 1 kHz.

The standard applies primarily to multi-element metallic cables used in both analogue and digital communication and control applications. It outlines a standardized test procedure to quantify how well the metallic shielding of a cable can reduce the influence of electromagnetic interference (EMI), particularly relevant in environments with significant electromagnetic fields such as power and electrified railway lines.

Key Topics

• Reduction Factor Definition
  The reduction factor is defined as the voltage ratio between screened and unscreened conditions in a specific current loop setup, representing the effectiveness of a cable’s metallic screen to suppress electromagnetic interference at low frequencies (below 1 kHz).

• Applicable Cable Types
  The standard targets all types of screened metallic cables, including cables with metallic armouring, electric screens (metal sheaths or tapes), or composite shielding measures.

• Test Setup and Procedure
  The document provides detailed descriptions of:

  • Cable sample preparation, including length (typically 1.5 to 2.5 meters) and demagnetization.
  • Connection methods using ring electrodes that ensure low contact resistance with the cable’s metallic screen and armouring.
  • Feeding loop design and measurement circuit, ensuring a nearly closed loop with defined geometric relationships to reproduce typical operational electromagnetic conditions.
  • Environmental conditions such as temperature (20°C ±10°C) and relative humidity (55% ±25%).

• Equipment Requirements
  Test equipment includes an adjustable AC power source (for frequencies such as 16.7 Hz, 50 Hz, 60 Hz, 400 Hz, or 800 Hz), voltmeters and optional current transformers and amperemeters with RMS measurement capability. The voltage waveform must remain sinusoidal with deviations not exceeding 10% on instantaneous values.

• Measurement Accuracy
  The standard requires that measurements of the reduction factor be reported with tolerances within 5% of the measured value plus 0.01, ensuring reliable and comparable test results.

Applications

IEC 62153-4-17:2018 is critical for manufacturers, testing laboratories, and end-users of metallic communication and control cables where electromagnetic compatibility is essential. Typical applications include:

• Power and Railway Installations
  Multi-element screened cables operating near electrical power lines or electrified railways often face strong electromagnetic disturbances. This standard helps ensure their screening meets required performance thresholds.

• Industrial Control Systems
  In facilities where analogue and digital control signals run through metallic cables, verifying the reduction factor ensures signal integrity against EMI, which is vital for safety and operational reliability.

• Telecommunication Networks
  Screened metallic wiring used in telecommunication lines benefits from standardized reduction factor testing to minimize noise pickup and maintain high-quality data transmission.

• Quality Assurance and Type Testing
  The method provides a standardized type test approach, enabling consistent quality control for new cable designs and conformity verification against EMC requirements.

Related Standards

• IEC 62153 Series
  This document is part of the IEC 62153 series on metallic cables and other passive components test methods, which covers various electrical and mechanical test formats for cables.

• DIN VDE 0472-507 and NF F07-024
  These referenced national standards provide complementary methods regarding sampling length and inductance verification for feeding loops in EMC testing environments.

• IEC Electropedia and Technical Glossaries
  For terminology and definitions related to EMC, metallic screens, and reduction factor, IEC Electropedia (http://www.electropedia.org/) serves as an authoritative resource.

Summary

IEC 62153-4-17:2018 is an essential international standard for assessing the electromagnetic screening effectiveness of metallic cables used in communication and control systems. By defining a precise test method to measure the reduction factor, it enables stakeholders to ensure cables meet stringent EMC requirements in low-frequency electromagnetic environments. This enhances system reliability, protects sensitive electronics from interference, and supports global consistency in cable testing and certification processes.

Standards Content (Sample)

IEC 62153-4-17 ®
Edition 1.0 2018-08
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Metallic cables and other passive components – Test methods –
Part 4-17: Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) – Reduction Factor

Câbles métalliques et autres composants passifs – Méthodes d'essai –
Partie 4-17: Compatibilité électromagnétique (CEM) – Facteur de réduction

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IEC 62153-4-17 ®
Edition 1.0 2018-08
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Metallic cables and other passive components – Test methods –

Part 4-17: Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) – Reduction Factor

Câbles métalliques et autres composants passifs – Méthodes d'essai –

Partie 4-17: Compatibilité électromagnétique (CEM) – Facteur de réduction

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
INTERNATIONALE
ICS 33.120.10 ISBN 978-2-8322-5918-4

– 2 – IEC 62153-4-17:2018 © IEC 2018
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 3
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 5
4 Test procedure . 5
4.1 General . 5
4.2 Test samples . 6
4.3 Test sample preparation . 6
4.4 Test equipment . 6
4.5 Test setup . 7
4.6 Testing . 7
4.7 Expression of test results . 8
5 Requirement . 8
Annex A (normative) Verification of feeding loop inductance . 9
Bibliography . 10

Figure 1 – Test configuration for reduction factor . 6
Figure A.1 – Set-up for inductance measurement of feeding loop . 9

IEC 62153-4-17:2018 © IEC 2018 – 3 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
METALLIC CABLES AND OTHER PASSIVE COMPONENTS –
TEST METHODS –
Part 4-17: Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) – Reduction Factor

FOREWORD
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patent rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
International Standard IEC 62153-4-17 has been prepared by technical committee 46: Cables,
wires, waveguides, RF connectors, RF and microwave passive components and accessories.
The text of this International Standard is based on the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
46/689/FDIS 46/694/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.

– 4 – IEC 62153-4-17:2018 © IEC 2018
A list of all parts in the IEC 62153 series, published under the general title Metallic cables and
other passive components test methods, 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 "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.
IEC 62153-4-17:2018 © IEC 2018 – 5 –
METALLIC CABLES AND OTHER PASSIVE COMPONENTS –
TEST METHODS –
Part 4-17: Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) – Reduction Factor

1 Scope
Multi-element metallic communication and control cables are often designed with metallic
screen against harmful effects of electromagnetic fields e.g. generated in the environment of
electric power and electrified railway lines [1] .
This part of IEC 62153 applies to the testing of the reduction factor of multi-element metallic
cables used in analogue and digital communication and control. The described method is
generally applicable to all screened metallic cables.
The reduction factor describes the screening effectiveness of a cable screen at frequencies
below 1 kHz with a ratio of voltages describing the screened and unscreened situation. During
the measurement, the cable under test is connected to a specific current loop arrangement.
2 Normative references
There are no normative references in this document.
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions 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
reduction factor
voltage ratio describing the effectiveness of a screen by relating the screened and
unscreened situation using a specific current loop
3.2
metallic screen
interconnection of all electric and magnetic screens, where applicable
4 Test procedure
4.1 General
The general test set-up is shown in Figure 1. Test is performed under following conditions:
Temp = 20 °C ± 10 °C, RH = 55 % ± 25 %

Figures in square brackets refer to the Bibliography.

– 6 – IEC 62153-4-17:2018 © IEC 2018
The cable is set up on a non-conductive and non-metallic table and at least 1 m away from
any metallic part. The cable shall be demagnetised. The test method described in this
document is intended, in the first instance, to be used as type test.
It is possible to use a sample length different from 1 m as described in DIN VDE 0472-507 [2],
e.g. 2 m as described in NF F07-024 [3]. In this case, the inductance of the feeding loop shall
be verified according to the method described in Annex A.
Feeding loop
d
Measuring
d
1 conductor
Other conductors
insulated in relation
to the sheath and
L1
one another
L2
IEC
Key
L1 magnetic screen (armouring) of the cable under test of 1,00 m or 2,00 m length
L2 electric screen (screen) of the cable under test of approximately 1,2 m or 2,2 m length
a  distance to the feeding loop to the centre of the cable under test of 0,40 m
d  distance between the test points of the metallic screen and the centre of the ring electrode of 0,02 m
Figure 1 – Test configuration for reduction factor
4.2 Test samples
A cable sample of about 1,5 m or 2,5 m length shall be taken from the cable under test.
4.3 Test sample preparation
The test current is injected into the metallic screen via two ring electrodes at a centre
distance of 1,0 m or 2,0 m. Flexible copper conductor strands of at least 25 mm
cross-sections circular enclosing the metallic screen or equivalent ring electrodes concepts
may be used for that. The ring electrode shall be connected in such a way that the contact
resistance between the ring electrode and the electric screen, as well as to the armouring if
any, is negligible compared to the test result.
Metal sheath applied as electric screen (or aluminium tape in case of aluminium laminated
polyethylene sheath construction) shall protrude approximately 0,10 m over the ring
electrodes resulting in a total length of 1,20 m or 2,20 m. Screening wires or tapes applied as
electric screen or to improve the reduction factor of a metal sheath shall be also well
conducting connected to the ring electrodes in such a way that the contact resistance is
negligible compared to the test result.
All other parts protruding over the ring electrodes shall be kept as short as possible.
4.4 Test equipment
The test equipment consists of:
a
IEC 62153-4-17:2018 © IEC 2018 – 7 –
• adjustable AC power source for the specified frequency (e.g. 16,7 Hz, 50 Hz, 60 Hz,
400 Hz or 800 Hz),
• current transformer (optional),
• voltmeter with RMS display,
• amperemeter with RMS display (optional).
It is important to ensure that a sinusoidal voltage is effective in the feeding loop under all
current load conditions, whereas a voltage curve is considered sufficient sinusoidal if no
instantaneous value deviates more than 10 % from the instantaneous value of the same
phase of the fundamental wave (1st harmonic).
The test equipment shall be such that the reduction factor can be determined with a tolerance
of 5 % of the measured value + 0,01.
4.5 Test setup
The test setup consists of the feeding loop and the prepared cable sample, where they shall
be laid together with the measuring conductor as close as possible such that they form a
nearly closed rectangle as shown in Figure 1.
An appropriate feeding loop conductor for currents up to 250 A may be a 19 strand, 50 mm²
copper conductor, with one wire of the outer layer replaced by an insulated measuring
conductor.
For currents up and above 250 A, the feeding loop conductor may consist of two parallel flat
copper bars whose mutual distance equals the thickness of the bars and with a measuring
conductor (2) lying centrally in-between.
With a centre distance of 0,40 m between the cable sample and the long side of the feeding
loop the test setup emulates the mean value of the inductivity of the external earth return
current of the cable, which is assumed to be 2 mH/km.
In case of other conductor designs for the feeding loop, the centre distance 0,40 m may be
adjusted accordingly to obtain the same value for the external inductance of the metallic
sheath to earth loop of 2 mH/km. In case of doubt and for initial calibration purposes, it is
recommended to perform an inductance measurement of the feeding loop as per test method
described in Annex A.
The distance between the test points of the metallic screen and the centre of the ring
electrode shall be 0,02 m on both sides of the test sample to enable the measurement of the
metallic sheath voltage U representing the unscreened situation.
(2)
An arbitrary core of the cable may be selected as measuring conductor (1) to measure the
voltage U representing the screened situation. One end of the conductor shall be connected
(1)
with low contact resistance to the nearest test point of the metallic screen and the other end
shall be connected to the voltmeter on the shortest possible path. All other conductors of the
cable shall be isolated against each other and the metallic screen.
4.6 Testing
The test sample shall be measured at ambient temperature, which shall be kept largely stable
throughout the test. A speedy measurement progression is recommended to limit heating of
the circuit.
With measuring conductor (2) connected to the voltmeter, the AC power generator shall be
adjusted to the required test voltages U . Afterwards the measuring conductor (1) shall be
(2)
– 8 – IEC 62153-4-17:2018 © IEC 2018
connected to the voltmeter to measure the corresponding voltage U of the screened
(1)
conductor.
This procedure shall be repeated for all test voltages U defined by the cable specification.
(2)
NOTE 1 To eliminate remanent magnetism, an initial ramp-up to the maximum current followed by a decrease to
the lowest needed for measurement can be considered.
4.7 Expression of test results
of the cable is given by the ratio of the associated voltage values U
The reduction factor r
k (1)
and U measured at the specified frequency
(2)
U
U
()1
I
r (1)
k
UU
()2E
where U refers to the internal (screened) voltage and U to the external EMF in the external
I E
(unscreened) circuit of the cable.
Depending on the requirements of the cable specification, it might be expedient to plot a
Reduction factor-Field strength-diagram where the field strength is calculated from U
(2)
normalized to V/km and a logarithmic scale is used.
5 Requirement
The value of the reduction factor shall comply with the value indicated in the relevant cable
specification.
==
...