IEC/IEEE 61886-1:2021

Subsea equipment - Part 1: Power connectors, penetrators and jumper assemblies with rated voltage from 3 kV (U_max = 3,6 kV) to 30 kV (U_max = 36 kV)

IEC/IEEE 61886-1:2021 is applicable to single and three-phase wet-mateable and dry-mateable AC connectors, penetrators and jumper assemblies with rated voltages from 3 kV (Umax = 3,6 kV) to 30 kV (Umax = 36 kV). This document relates to the requirements and tests for products in the "as manufactured and supplied" condition. This document is not applicable to requirements and tests for products that have been subsequently installed, deployed or retrieved.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 19-Apr-2021
• ICS: 47.020.60 - Electrical equipment of ships and of marine structures
• Technical Committee: TC 18 - Electrical installations of ships and of mobile and fixed offshore units
• Drafting Committee: JWG 31 - TC 18/JWG 31
• Current Stage: PPUB - Publication issued
• Start Date: 20-Apr-2021
• Completion Date: 26-Oct-2025

Overview

IEC/IEEE 61886-1:2021 - "Subsea equipment – Part 1: Power connectors, penetrators and jumper assemblies" defines requirements and tests for high-voltage subsea power components with rated voltages from 3 kV (Umax = 3.6 kV) to 30 kV (Umax = 36 kV). Published jointly by IEC and IEEE (Edition 1.0, 2021), the standard applies to single- and three‑phase wet‑mateable and dry‑mateable AC connectors, penetrators and jumper assemblies in their “as manufactured and supplied” condition. It does not cover post‑installation, deployed or retrieved equipment conditions.

Keywords: IEC/IEEE 61886-1, subsea power connectors, penetrators, jumper assemblies, wet‑mateable connectors, dry‑mateable connectors, high‑voltage subsea.

Key Topics and Technical Requirements

• Scope and ratings: Voltage classes and electrical ratings for subsea power connectors and jumper assemblies (3–30 kV range).
• Design requirements: Mechanical, electrical and thermal design considerations including temperature class, earthing, dummy/test connector provisions and electric field control.
• Material and certification: Material selection, certification and traceability requirements for subsea service.
• Seals and pressure integrity: Water seals, primary/secondary pressure integrity seals, pressure classes and rapid gas decompression (RGD) considerations for deepwater conditions.
• Mechanical/environmental requirements: External force handling, pressure cycling, combined pressure/temperature cycling and endurance testing.
• Testing program: Structured testing: routine, type, special and prototype manufacturing acceptance tests. Includes hyperbaric tests, electrical and thermal tests, short‑circuit tests, endurance, and seal integrity tests.
• Documentation and marking: Design, type and routine test documentation, as‑built records, data sheet requirements and equipment marking instructions.
• Storage & transportation: Requirements for handling, transport and storage of supplied equipment.

Practical Applications

IEC/IEEE 61886-1 is intended for the design, manufacture, testing, procurement and verification of subsea power interconnection systems used in:

• Offshore oil & gas high‑voltage distribution
• Offshore wind and marine renewable energy inter‑array power systems
• Subsea pump and compressor power supplies
• Subsea distribution panels, umbilicals and tie‑in systems
• Subsea vehicle and tool power interfaces

The standard ensures reliable, safe and tested high‑voltage connections for deepwater and harsh marine environments.

Who should use this standard

• Subsea equipment manufacturers and OEMs
• System integrators and marine engineering firms
• Test laboratories and certification bodies
• Procurement teams and project engineers specifying subsea HV connectors and penetrators
• R&D teams developing wet‑mateable and dry‑mateable power interfaces

Related standards (if applicable)

Users should consider complementary IEC/IEEE and IEC subsea, electrical insulation and marine testing standards when specifying complete systems and installation procedures. For procurement and certification, reference the edition year: IEC/IEEE 61886-1:2021.

Standards Content (Sample)

IEC/IEEE 61886-1 ®
Edition 1.0 2021-04
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
colour
inside
Subsea equipment –
Part 1: Power connectors, penetrators and jumper assemblies with rated voltage
from 3 kV (U = 3,6 kV) to 30 kV (U = 36 kV)
max max
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or
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secured. Requests for permission to reproduce should be addressed to either IEC at the address below or IEC’s
member National Committee in the country of the requester or from IEEE.

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IEC/IEEE 61886-1 ®
Edition 1.0 2021-04
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
colour
inside
Subsea equipment –
Part 1: Power connectors, penetrators and jumper assemblies with rated

voltage from 3 kV (Umax = 3,6 kV) to 30 kV (Umax = 36 kV)

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
ICS 47.020.60 ISBN 978-2-8322-9623-3

– 2 – IEC/IEEE 61886-1:2021 © IEC/IEEE 2021
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 10
INTRODUCTION . 12
1 Scope . 13
2 Normative references . 13
3 Terms, definitions and abbreviated terms . 14
3.1 Terms and definitions . 15
3.2 Abbreviated terms . 19
4 Documentation and marking . 20
4.1 Design documentation . 20
4.2 Type test documentation . 20
4.3 Routine test documentation . 20
4.4 As built documentation . 21
4.5 Design analysis. 21
4.6 Data sheet . 21
4.7 Equipment marking . 22
4.7.1 Connectors and penetrators . 22
4.7.2 Jumper assemblies . 22
5 Design . 22
5.1 General design requirements . 22
5.2 Temperature class . 23
5.3 Electrical design requirements . 23
5.3.1 Ratings . 23
5.3.2 Earthing . 24
5.3.3 Dummy connectors . 24
5.4 Mechanical design requirements . 25
5.4.1 Pressure classes . 25
5.4.2 Rapid gas decompression . 25
5.4.3 External forces . 25
5.5 Material requirements . 25
5.5.1 General material requirements . 25
5.5.2 Material certification requirements . 26
5.6 Connector specific requirements . 26
5.6.1 General requirements . 26
5.6.2 Wet mateable connectors . 26
5.6.3 Dry mateable connectors . 27
5.7 Penetrator specific requirements . 27
5.7.1 Penetrators for pressure compensated equipment . 27
5.7.2 Penetrators for pressure retaining equipment . 27
5.8 Seals . 28
5.8.1 General seal requirements . 28
5.8.2 Water seals . 28
5.8.3 Additional requirements for pressure integrity seals . 28
5.9 Electric field control . 28
5.10 Jumper assemblies . 29
5.11 Storage and transportation . 29
6 Tests . 29

6.1 Structure of test clauses . 29
6.2 General test requirements . 29
6.3 Artificial sea water . 30
6.4 Test media . 30
7 Routine tests – Connectors and penetrators . 33
8 Routine tests – Dummy and test connectors . 34
9 Routine tests – Jumper assemblies . 34
10 Sample tests – Hoses . 35
11 Type and special tests – Connectors and penetrators . 35
11.1 Order of tests and type test requirements . 35
11.2 Type tests – Dummy and test connectors . 38
11.3 Type tests – New interface cable . 38
11.4 Prototype manufacturing acceptance test . 39
11.4.1 Objective . 39
11.4.2 Sequence . 39
11.4.3 Acceptance criteria . 39
11.5 Electrical and thermal tests . 40
11.5.1 Objective . 40
11.5.2 Sequence . 40
11.5.3 Acceptance criteria . 41
11.6 Electrical short circuit test . 42
11.6.1 Objective . 42
11.6.2 Sequence . 42
11.6.3 Acceptance criteria . 42
11.7 Hyperbaric test . 42
11.7.1 Objective . 42
11.7.2 Sequence . 42
11.7.3 Acceptance criteria . 44
11.8 Pressure cycling test – Penetrators . 44
11.8.1 Objective . 44
11.8.2 Sequence . 44
11.8.3 Acceptance criteria . 45
11.9 Combined pressure and temperature cycling test – Penetrators . 45
11.9.1 Objective . 45
11.9.2 Sequence . 45
11.9.3 Acceptance criteria . 46
11.10 Rapid gas decompression test . 46
11.10.1 Objective . 46
11.10.2 Sequence . 46
11.10.3 Acceptance criteria . 47
11.11 Mechanical and environmental stress test . 47
11.11.1 Objective . 47
11.11.2 Sequence . 47
11.11.3 Acceptance criteria . 48
11.12 Endurance test – Connectors . 48
11.12.1 Objective . 48
11.12.2 Sequence . 48
11.12.3 Acceptance criteria . 49

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11.13 Endurance test – Penetrators . 49
11.13.1 Objective . 49
11.13.2 Sequence . 49
11.13.3 Acceptance criteria . 50
11.14 Inner water seal hyperbaric test – Connectors . 51
11.14.1 Objective . 51
11.14.2 Sequence . 51
11.14.3 Acceptance criteria . 51
11.15 Inner water seal pressure cycling test – Penetrators . 51
11.15.1 Objective . 51
11.15.2 Sequence . 51
11.15.3 Acceptance criteria . 51
11.16 Outer water seal hyperbaric test – Connectors . 51
11.16.1 Objective . 51
11.16.2 Sequence . 51
11.16.3 Acceptance criteria . 51
11.17 Outer water seal pressure cycling test – Penetrators. 52
11.17.1 Objective . 52
11.17.2 Sequence . 52
11.17.3 Acceptance criteria . 52
11.18 Secondary pressure integrity seal test – Penetrators . 52
11.18.1 Objective . 52
11.18.2 Sequence . 52
11.18.3 Acceptance criteria . 52
11.19 Primary pressure integrity seal test – Penetrators . 52
11.19.1 Objective . 52
11.19.2 Sequence . 52
11.19.3 Acceptance criteria . 52
11.20 Secondary pressure integrity seal combined pressure and temperature

cycling test – Penetrators . 53
11.20.1 Objective . 53
11.20.2 Sequence . 53
11.20.3 Acceptance criteria . 53
11.21 Primary pressure integrity seal combined pressure and temperature cycling
test – Penetrators . 53
11.21.1 Objective . 53
11.21.2 Sequence . 53
11.21.3 Acceptance criteria . 53
11.22 Extended hyperbaric wet mate test . 53
11.22.1 Objective . 53
11.22.2 Sequence . 53
11.22.3 Acceptance criteria . 55
12 Type tests – Hose and hose terminations . 55
12.1 General . 55
12.2 Absorption/compensation test . 56
12.2.1 Objective . 56
12.2.2 Method . 56
12.2.3 Acceptance criteria . 56
12.3 Ozone resistance . 57

12.3.1 Objective . 57
12.3.2 Method . 57
12.3.3 Acceptance criteria . 57
12.4 Ultraviolet resistance . 57
12.4.1 Objective . 57
12.4.2 Method . 57
12.4.3 Acceptance criteria . 57
12.5 Thermal shock test. 58
12.5.1 Objective . 58
12.5.2 Method . 58
12.5.3 Acceptance criteria . 58
12.6 Destructive testing . 58
12.6.1 Tensile failure . 58
12.6.2 Burst pressure . 59
12.6.3 Crush resistance. 59
12.6.4 Outer sheath abrasion resistance . 60
12.6.5 Hose kink test . 60
13 Type tests – Jumper assemblies . 61
13.1 General . 61
13.2 Electrical and thermal type test – Jumper assemblies . 61
13.2.1 Objective . 61
13.2.2 Sequence . 61
13.2.3 Acceptance criteria . 62
13.3 Oscillating jumper test . 62
13.3.1 Objective . 62
13.3.2 Sequence . 62
13.3.3 Acceptance criteria . 63
13.4 Jumper pull test . 63
13.4.1 Objective . 63
13.4.2 Sequence . 63
13.4.3 Acceptance criteria . 64
13.5 Drop test . 64
13.5.1 Objective . 64
13.5.2 Sequence . 64
13.5.3 Acceptance criteria . 64
13.6 Jumper handling simulation test . 64
13.6.1 Objective . 64
13.6.2 Sequence . 64
13.6.3 Acceptance criteria . 66
13.7 Jumper simulated deployment test . 66
13.7.1 Objective . 66
13.7.2 Sequence . 66
13.7.3 Acceptance criteria . 67
14 Test procedures . 67
14.1 Helium leak test . 67
14.1.1 Objective . 67
14.1.2 Method . 68
14.1.3 Acceptance criteria . 68
14.2 Contact resistance test . 68

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14.2.1 Objective . 68
14.2.2 Method . 68
14.2.3 Acceptance criteria . 68
14.3 Shell continuity test . 69
14.3.1 Objective . 69
14.3.2 Method . 69
14.3.3 Acceptance criteria . 69
14.4 Screen continuity test . 69
14.4.1 Objective . 69
14.4.2 Method . 69
14.4.3 Acceptance criteria . 69
14.5 Partial discharge test . 69
14.5.1 Objective . 69
14.5.2 Method . 69
14.5.3 Acceptance criteria . 70
14.6 High voltage AC test . 70
14.6.1 Objective . 70
14.6.2 Method . 70
14.6.3 Acceptance criteria . 70
14.7 Impulse withstand voltage test . 70
14.7.1 Objective . 70
14.7.2 Method . 70
14.7.3 Acceptance criteria . 70
14.8 Insulation resistance test . 71
14.8.1 Objective . 71
14.8.2 Method . 71
14.8.3 Acceptance criteria . 71
14.9 Thermal shock test. 71
14.9.1 Objective . 71
14.9.2 Method . 71
14.9.3 Acceptance criteria . 72
14.10 Thermal short circuit test . 72
14.10.1 Objective . 72
14.10.2 Method . 72
14.10.3 Acceptance criteria . 72
14.11 Dynamic short circuit test . 72
14.11.1 Objective . 72
14.11.2 Method . 72
14.11.3 Acceptance criteria . 72
14.12 Temperature rise test . 73
14.12.1 Objective . 73
14.12.2 Method . 73
14.12.3 Acceptance criteria . 73
14.13 Extended temperature rise test . 74
14.13.1 Objective . 74
14.13.2 Method . 74
14.13.3 Acceptance criteria . 75
14.14 Thermal cycling. 75
14.14.1 Objective . 75

14.14.2 Method . 75
14.14.3 Acceptance criteria . 76
14.15 Bending moment and free fall tests . 76
14.15.1 Objective . 76
14.15.2 Method . 76
14.15.3 Acceptance criteria . 76
14.16 Static pressure test – Penetrators . 77
14.16.1 Objective . 77
14.16.2 Method . 77
14.16.3 Acceptance criteria . 77
14.17 Extended static pressure test – Penetrators . 78
14.17.1 Objective . 78
14.17.2 Method . 78
14.17.3 Acceptance criteria . 78
14.18 Combined pressure and temperature cycling test – Pressure retaining
penetrators . 78
14.18.1 Objective . 78
14.18.2 Method . 78
14.18.3 Acceptance criteria . 78
14.19 Shock and vibration test . 78
14.19.1 Objective . 78
14.19.2 Method . 78
14.19.3 Acceptance criteria . 79
14.20 Cleaning and spillage test . 79
14.20.1 Objective . 79
14.20.2 Method . 79
14.20.3 Acceptance criteria . 79
14.21 Conductor pull test . 79
14.21.1 Objective . 79
14.21.2 Method . 80
14.21.3 Acceptance criteria . 80
14.22 Cable pull test . 80
14.22.1 Objective . 80
14.22.2 Method . 80
14.22.3 Acceptance criteria . 80
14.23 Cable termination bending test . 80
14.23.1 Objective . 80
14.23.2 Method . 80
14.23.3 Acceptance criteria . 80
14.24 Mate/de-mate operation test . 81
14.24.1 Objective . 81
14.24.2 Method . 81
14.24.3 Acceptance criteria . 81
14.25 Dismantling and examination . 81
14.25.1 Objective . 81
14.25.2 Method . 81
14.25.3 Acceptance criteria . 81
14.26 High voltage breakdown test . 82
14.26.1 Objective . 82

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14.26.2 Method . 82
14.26.3 Acceptance criteria . 82
14.27 Rapid gas decompression (RGD) test – General . 82
14.27.1 Objective . 82
14.27.2 Method . 82
14.27.3 Acceptance criteria . 82
14.28 Material testing . 83
14.28.1 Objective . 83
14.28.2 General test requirements . 83
14.28.3 Polymeric materials test requirements . 83
14.28.4 Acceptance criteria . 84
Annex A (informative) Connector assembly data sheet . 85
Annex B (informative) Penetrator figures . 88
Bibliography . 96

Figure 1 – Jumper handling simulation test . 66
Figure 2 – Typical extended temperature test results, method 1 . 74
Figure 3 – Typical extended temperature test results, method 2 . 75
Figure 4 – Bending moment test . 76
Figure B.1 – Penetrator flange view . 88
Figure B.2 – Pressure retaining penetrator – Definitions . 89
Figure B.3 – Test set-up, pressure retaining penetrator – Direction 1 . 90
Figure B.4 – Test set-up, pressure retaining penetrator – Direction 2 . 91
Figure B.5 – Penetrator for pressure balanced conditions – Definitions . 92
Figure B.6 – Test set-up, penetrator for pressure balanced conditions – Test of
absolute pressure . 93
Figure B.7 – Test set-up, penetrator for pressure balanced conditions – Direction 1 . 94
Figure B.8 – Test set-up, penetrator for pressure balanced conditions – Direction 2 . 95

Table 1 – Design documentation . 20
Table 2 – Routine test documentation . 20
Table 3 – As built documentation . 21
Table 4 – Temperature classes . 23
Table 5 – Voltage ratings . 23
Table 6 – Current ratings . 24
Table 7 – Pressure classes . 25
Table 8 – Test media . 31
Table 9 – Electrical routine tests . 33
Table 10 – Routine test sequence – Connectors and penetrators . 33
Table 11 – Routine test sequence – Complete jumper assemblies . 34
Table 12 – Type test sequence . 36
Table 13 – Intermediate electrical tests . 37
Table 14 – Type test sequence – New interface cable . 38
Table 15 – Prototype manufacturing acceptance test sequence . 39
Table 16 – Electrical and thermal test sequence – Connectors . 40

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