IEC 60794-3:2022
(Main)Optical fibre cables - Part 3: Outdoor cables - Sectional specification
Optical fibre cables - Part 3: Outdoor cables - Sectional specification
IEC 60794-3: 2022 specifies the requirements for optical fibre cables and cable elements which are intended to be used externally in communications networks. Other types of applications requiring similar types of cables can be considered. Requirements for cables to be used in ducts, for directly buried applications, aerial cables and cables for lake and river crossings are included in this document. Also included are cables for specialized use in sewers and in water and gas pipes. For aerial application, this document does not cover all functional aspects of cables installed in the vicinity of overhead power lines. For such applications, additional requirements and test methods can be necessary. Moreover, this document excludes optical ground wires and cables attached to the phase or earth conductors of overhead power lines. For cables for lake and river crossings, this document does not cover methods of cable repair, nor repair capability, nor does it cover cables for use with underwater line amplifiers. This fifth edition cancels and replaces the fourth edition published in 2014. This edition constitutes a technical revision. This edition includes the following significant technical change with respect to the previous edition: the ribbon specification has been removed, because it is covered in IEC 60794-1-31.
Câbles à fibres optiques - Partie 3: Câbles extérieurs - Spécification intermédiaire
L'IEC 60794-3: 2022 spécifie les exigences relatives aux câbles et aux éléments de câble à fibres optiques destinés à être utilisés à l'extérieur dans des réseaux de télécommunication. D'autres types d'applications qui nécessitent des câbles d'une catégorie similaire peuvent être pris en considération. Le présent document comporte des exigences qui concernent les câbles destinés à être installés dans des conduites, les câbles directement enterrés, les câbles aériens et les câbles pour traversées de lacs et de rivières. Il comporte également des câbles destinés à des utilisations spécialisées, dans les égouts et dans les conduites d'eau et de gaz. Pour ce qui est des applications aériennes, le présent document ne couvre pas tous les aspects fonctionnels des câbles installés à proximité de lignes aériennes de transport d'énergie. De telles applications peuvent nécessiter l'adjonction d'exigences et de méthodes d'essai. En outre, le présent document exclut les câbles de garde avec fibres optiques et les câbles liés aux conducteurs de phase ou de terre des lignes aériennes de transport d'énergie. Pour les câbles pour traversées de lacs et de rivières, le présent document ne couvre pas les méthodes de réparation du câble ni de capacité de réparation, et ne couvre pas les câbles utilisés dans les amplificateurs de lignes pour traversées de lacs et de rivières. Cette cinquième édition annule et remplace la quatrième édition parue en 2014. Cette édition constitue une révision technique. Cette édition contient la modification technique majeure suivante par rapport à l'édition précédente: la spécification relative aux rubans a été supprimée car elle est couverte par l'IEC 60794-1-31.
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IEC 60794-3 ®
Edition 5.0 2022-02
REDLINE VERSION
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
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Optical fibre cables –
Part 3: Outdoor cables – Sectional specification
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IEC 60794-3 ®
Edition 5.0 2022-02
REDLINE VERSION
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
colour
inside
Optical fibre cables –
Part 3: Outdoor cables – Sectional specification
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
ICS 33.180.10 ISBN 978-2-8322-4667-2
– 2 – IEC 60794-3:2022 RLV © IEC 2022
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 4
INTRODUCTION . 6
1 Scope . 7
2 Normative references . 7
3 Terms, definitions, symbols and abbreviated terms . 8
4 Optical fibre . 9
4.1 General . 9
4.2 Attenuation . 9
4.2.1 Attenuation coefficient . 9
4.2.2 Attenuation uniformity – Attenuation discontinuities . 9
4.3 Cut-off wavelength . 9
4.4 Fibre colouring . 9
4.5 Polarization mode dispersion (PMD) . 9
5 Cable element . 9
5.1 General . 9
5.2 Tight secondary coating or buffer . 10
5.3 Ruggedized fibre . 10
5.4 Slotted core . 10
5.5 Polymeric tube . 10
5.6 Ribbon . 11
5.6.1 General .
5.6.2 Dimensions .
5.6.2 Mechanical requirements .
5.7 Metallic tube . 12
5.7.1 Metallic tube on the optical core . 12
5.7.2 Fibres directly located in a metallic tube . 12
6 Optical fibre cable construction . 13
6.1 General . 13
6.2 Lay-up of the cable elements . 13
6.3 Cable core filling . 13
6.4 Strength member . 14
6.5 Moisture barrier . 14
6.6 Cable sheath and armouring . 14
6.6.1 Inner sheath . 14
6.6.2 Armouring . 14
6.6.3 Outer sheath . 14
6.7 Sheath marking . 15
6.8 Hydrogen gas .
7 Installation and operating conditions . 16
8 Characterization of cable elements . 16
9 Optical fibre cable tests . 17
10 Quality assurance . 18
Bibliography . 19
Table 1 – Maximum dimensions of optical fibre ribbons.
Table 1 – Characteristics of different types of cable elements . 17
Table 2 – Mechanical and environmental applicable tests . 18
– 4 – IEC 60794-3:2022 RLV © IEC 2022
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
OPTICAL FIBRE CABLES –
Part 3: Outdoor cables – Sectional specification
FOREWORD
1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of IEC is to promote international
co-operation on all questions concerning standardization in the electrical and electronic fields. To this end and
in addition to other activities, IEC publishes International Standards, Technical Specifications, Technical Reports,
Publicly Available Specifications (PAS) and Guides (hereafter referred to as “IEC Publication(s)”). Their
preparation is entrusted to technical committees; any IEC National Committee interested in the subject dealt with
may participate in this preparatory work. International, governmental and non-governmental organizations liaising
with the IEC also participate in this preparation. IEC collaborates closely with the International Organization for
Standardization (ISO) in accordance with conditions determined by agreement between the two organizations.
2) The formal decisions or agreements of IEC on technical matters express, as nearly as possible, an international
consensus of opinion on the relevant subjects since each technical committee has representation from all
interested IEC National Committees.
3) IEC Publications have the form of recommendations for international use and are accepted by IEC National
Committees in that sense. While all reasonable efforts are made to ensure that the technical content of IEC
Publications is accurate, IEC cannot be held responsible for the way in which they are used or for any
misinterpretation by any end user.
4) In order to promote international uniformity, IEC National Committees undertake to apply IEC Publications
transparently to the maximum extent possible in their national and regional publications. Any divergence between
any IEC Publication and the corresponding national or regional publication shall be clearly indicated in the latter.
5) IEC itself does not provide any attestation of conformity. Independent certification bodies provide conformity
assessment services and, in some areas, access to IEC marks of conformity. IEC is not responsible for any
services carried out by independent certification bodies.
6) All users should ensure that they have the latest edition of this publication.
7) No liability shall attach to IEC or its directors, employees, servants or agents including individual experts and
members of its technical committees and IEC National Committees for any personal injury, property damage or
other damage of any nature whatsoever, whether direct or indirect, or for costs (including legal fees) and
expenses arising out of the publication, use of, or reliance upon, this IEC Publication or any other IEC
Publications.
8) Attention is drawn to the Normative references cited in this publication. Use of the referenced publications is
indispensable for the correct application of this publication.
9) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this IEC Publication may be the subject of patent
rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This redline version of the official IEC Standard allows the user to identify the changes made to
the previous edition IEC 60794-3:2014. A vertical bar appears in the margin wherever a change
has been made. Additions are in green text, deletions are in strikethrough red text.
IEC 60794-3 has been prepared by subcommittee 86A: Fibres and cables, of IEC technical
committee 86: Fibre optics. It is an International Standard.
This fifth edition cancels and replaces the fourth edition published in 2014. This edition
constitutes a technical revision.
This edition includes the following significant technical change with respect to the previous
edition: the ribbon specification has been removed, because it is covered in IEC 60794-1-31.
The text of this International Standard is based on the following documents:
Draft Report on voting
86A/2155/FDIS 86A/2184/RVD
Full information on the voting for its approval can be found in the report on voting indicated in
the above table.
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.
The language used for the development of this International Standard is English.
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.
The committee has decided that the contents of this document will remain unchanged until the
stability date indicated on the IEC website under 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.
IMPORTANT – The 'colour inside' logo on the cover page of this publication indicates that it
contains colours which are considered to be useful for the correct understanding of its
contents. Users should therefore print this document using a colour printer.
– 6 – IEC 60794-3:2022 RLV © IEC 2022
INTRODUCTION
IEC 60794-1-21, IEC 60794-1-22, IEC 60794-1-23, and IEC 60794-1-24 have been (or will be)
divided into multiple standards which defines one test method each. IEC
...
IEC 60794-3 ®
Edition 5.0 2022-02
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Optical fibre cables –
Part 3: Outdoor cables – Sectional specification
Câbles à fibres optiques –
Partie 3: Câbles extérieurs – Spécification intermédiaire
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, 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
either IEC or IEC's member National Committee in the country of the requester. If you have any questions about IEC
copyright or have an enquiry about obtaining additional rights to this publication, please contact the address below or
your local IEC member National Committee for further information.
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utilisée sous quelque forme que ce soit et par aucun procédé, électronique ou mécanique, y compris la photocopie et
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les coordonnées ci-après ou contactez le Comité national de l'IEC de votre pays de résidence.
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CH-1211 Geneva 20 www.iec.ch
Switzerland
About the IEC
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is the leading global organization that prepares and publishes
International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies.
About IEC publications
The technical content of IEC publications is kept under constant review by the IEC. Please make sure that you have the
latest edition, a corrigendum or an amendment might have been published.
IEC publications search - webstore.iec.ch/advsearchform IEC Products & Services Portal - products.iec.ch
The advanced search enables to find IEC publications by a Discover our powerful search engine and read freely all the
variety of criteria (reference number, text, technical publications previews. With a subscription you will always have
committee, …). It also gives information on projects, replaced access to up to date content tailored to your needs.
and withdrawn publications.
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IEC Just Published - webstore.iec.ch/justpublished
The world's leading online dictionary on electrotechnology,
Stay up to date on all new IEC publications. Just Published
containing more than 22 300 terminological entries in English
details all new publications released. Available online and once
and French, with equivalent terms in 19 additional languages.
a month by email.
Also known as the International Electrotechnical Vocabulary
(IEV) online.
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If you wish to give us your feedback on this publication or need
further assistance, please contact the Customer Service
Centre: sales@iec.ch.
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IEC 60794-3 ®
Edition 5.0 2022-02
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Optical fibre cables –
Part 3: Outdoor cables – Sectional specification
Câbles à fibres optiques –
Partie 3: Câbles extérieurs – Spécification intermédiaire
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
INTERNATIONALE
ICS 33.180.10 ISBN 978-2-8322-1077-4
– 2 – IEC 60794-3:2022 © IEC 2022
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 3
INTRODUCTION . 5
1 Scope . 6
2 Normative references . 6
3 Terms, definitions, symbols and abbreviated terms . 7
4 Optical fibre . 7
4.1 General . 7
4.2 Attenuation . 7
4.2.1 Attenuation coefficient . 7
4.2.2 Attenuation uniformity – Attenuation discontinuities . 8
4.3 Cut-off wavelength . 8
4.4 Fibre colouring . 8
4.5 Polarization mode dispersion (PMD) . 8
5 Cable element . 8
5.1 General . 8
5.2 Tight secondary coating or buffer . 9
5.3 Ruggedized fibre . 9
5.4 Slotted core . 9
5.5 Polymeric tube . 9
5.6 Ribbon . 9
5.7 Metallic tube . 10
5.7.1 Metallic tube on the optical core . 10
5.7.2 Fibres directly located in a metallic tube . 10
6 Optical fibre cable construction . 10
6.1 General . 10
6.2 Lay-up of the cable elements . 10
6.3 Cable core filling . 11
6.4 Strength member . 11
6.5 Moisture barrier . 11
6.6 Cable sheath and armouring . 12
6.6.1 Inner sheath . 12
6.6.2 Armouring . 12
6.6.3 Outer sheath . 12
6.7 Sheath marking . 13
7 Installation and operating conditions . 13
8 Characterization of cable elements . 13
9 Optical fibre cable tests . 14
10 Quality assurance . 15
Bibliography . 16
Table 1 – Characteristics of different types of cable elements . 14
Table 2 – Mechanical and environmental applicable tests . 15
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
OPTICAL FIBRE CABLES –
Part 3: Outdoor cables – Sectional specification
FOREWORD
1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of IEC is to promote international
co-operation on all questions concerning standardization in the electrical and electronic fields. To this end and
in addition to other activities, IEC publishes International Standards, Technical Specifications, Technical Reports,
Publicly Available Specifications (PAS) and Guides (hereafter referred to as “IEC Publication(s)”). Their
preparation is entrusted to technical committees; any IEC National Committee interested in the subject dealt with
may participate in this preparatory work. International, governmental and non-governmental organizations liaising
with the IEC also participate in this preparation. IEC collaborates closely with the International Organization for
Standardization (ISO) in accordance with conditions determined by agreement between the two organizations.
2) The formal decisions or agreements of IEC on technical matters express, as nearly as possible, an international
consensus of opinion on the relevant subjects since each technical committee has representation from all
interested IEC National Committees.
3) IEC Publications have the form of recommendations for international use and are accepted by IEC National
Committees in that sense. While all reasonable efforts are made to ensure that the technical content of IEC
Publications is accurate, IEC cannot be held responsible for the way in which they are used or for any
misinterpretation by any end user.
4) In order to promote international uniformity, IEC National Committees undertake to apply IEC Publications
transparently to the maximum extent possible in their national and regional publications. Any divergence between
any IEC Publication and the corresponding national or regional publication shall be clearly indicated in the latter.
5) IEC itself does not provide any attestation of conformity. Independent certification bodies provide conformity
assessment services and, in some areas, access to IEC marks of conformity. IEC is not responsible for any
services carried out by independent certification bodies.
6) All users should ensure that they have the latest edition of this publication.
7) No liability shall attach to IEC or its directors, employees, servants or agents including individual experts and
members of its technical committees and IEC National Committees for any personal injury, property damage or
other damage of any nature whatsoever, whether direct or indirect, or for costs (including legal fees) and
expenses arising out of the publication, use of, or reliance upon, this IEC Publication or any other IEC
Publications.
8) Attention is drawn to the Normative references cited in this publication. Use of the referenced publications is
indispensable for the correct application of this publication.
9) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this IEC Publication may be the subject of patent
rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
IEC 60794-3 has been prepared by subcommittee 86A: Fibres and cables, of IEC technical
committee 86: Fibre optics. It is an International Standard.
This fifth edition cancels and replaces the fourth edition published in 2014. This edition
constitutes a technical revision.
This edition includes the following significant technical change with respect to the previous
edition: the ribbon specifi
...
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