IEC 61156-6:2010

Multicore and symmetrical pair/quad cables for digital communications - Part 6: Symmetrical pair/quad cables with transmission characteristics up to 1 000 MHz - Work area wiring - Sectional specification

IEC 61156-6:2010(E) referes to IEC 61156-1. The cables described herein are intended primarily for work area wiring as defined in ISO/IEC 11801 and ISO/IEC 24702. It covers individually screened, common screened and unscreened pairs or quads. The transmission characteristics and the frequency range of the cables are specified at 20 °C. These cables can be used for various communication channels which use as many as four pairs simultaneously. In this sense, this sectional specification provides the cable characteristics required by system developers to evaluate new systems. It cancels and replaces the second edition published in 2007 and constitutes a technical revision. It includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
- new requirements for new cables Cat6A, Cat7A;
- revised requirements and tests for the cables.
This publication shall be read in conjunction with IEC 61156-1:2009.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 20-Jan-2010
• ICS: 33.120.20 - Wires and symmetrical cables
• Technical Committee: SC 46C - Wires and symmetric cables
• Drafting Committee: WG 7 - TC 46/SC 46C/WG 7
• Current Stage: DELPUB - Deleted Publication
• Completion Date: 03-Apr-2020

Relations

• Replaces: IEC TS 61873:2001 - State of the art for symmetrical pair/quad cables with transmission characteristics beyond category 5
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023
• Amended By: IEC 61156-6:2010/AMD1:2012 - Amendment 1 - Multicore and symmetrical pair/quad cables for digital communications - Part 6: Symmetrical pair/quad cables with transmission characteristics up to 1 000 MHz - Work area wiring - Sectional specification
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023
• Revised: IEC 61156-6:2020 - Multicore and symmetrical pair/quad cables for digital communications - Part 6: Symmetrical pair/quad cables with transmission characteristics up to 1 000 MHz - Work area wiring - Sectional specification
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023
• Revises: IEC 61156-6:2007 - Multicore and symmetrical pair/quad cables for digital communications - Part 6: Symmetrical pair/quad cables with transmission characteristics up to 1 000 MHz - Work area wiring - Sectional specification
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023

Standards Content (Sample)

IEC 61156-6 ®
Edition 3.0 2010-01
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
Multicore and symmetrical pair/quad cables for digital communications –
Part 6: Symmetrical pair/quad cables with transmission characteristics up to
1 000 MHz – Work area wiring – Sectional specification

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.

IEC Central Office
3, rue de Varembé
CH-1211 Geneva 20
Switzerland
Email: [e-mail]
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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.

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IEC 61156-6 ®
Edition 3.0 2010-01
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
Multicore and symmetrical pair/quad cables for digital communications –
Part 6: Symmetrical pair/quad cables with transmission characteristics up to
1 000 MHz – Work area wiring – Sectional specification

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
PRICE CODE
R
ICS 33.120.20 ISBN 978-2-88910-426-0
– 2 – 61156-6 © IEC:2010(E)
CONTENTS
FOREWORD.4

1 Scope.6

2 Normative references .6

3 Terms and definitions .7

4 Installation considerations .7

4.1 Climatic conditions .7

5 Materials and cable construction .7

5.1 General remarks.7
5.2 Cable construction .7
5.2.1 Conductor.7
5.2.2 Insulation.7
5.2.3 Cable element .7
5.2.4 Cable make-up .8
5.2.5 Screening of the cable core .8
5.2.6 Sheath.8
5.2.7 Identification.8
6 Characteristics and requirements .8
6.1 General remarks.8
6.2 Electrical characteristics and tests .9
6.2.1 Conductor resistance.9
6.2.2 Resistance unbalance .9
6.2.3 Dielectric strength .9
6.2.4 Insulation resistance.9
6.2.5 Mutual capacitance.9
6.2.6 Capacitance unbalance .9
6.2.7 Transfer impedance.9
6.2.8 Coupling attenuation.10
6.2.9 Current-carrying capacity.10
6.3 Transmission characteristics .10
6.3.1 Velocity of propagation (phase velocity) .10
6.3.2 Phase delay and differential delay (delay skew) .10
6.3.3 Attenuation .11

6.3.4 Unbalance attenuation.11
6.3.5 Near-end crosstalk (NEXT).12
6.3.6 Attenuation to crosstalk ratio far end (PS ACR-F) .12
6.3.7 Alien (exogenous) near end crosstalk .13
6.3.8 Alien (exogenous) far-end crosstalk (AACR-F) .13
6.3.9 Alien (exogenous) crosstalk of bundled cables .14
6.3.10 Impedance.14
6.3.11 Return loss (RL) .15
6.4 Mechanical and dimensional characteristics and requirements .15
6.4.1 Dimensional requirements .15
6.4.2 Elongation at break of the conductors.15
6.4.3 Tensile strength of the insulation .16
6.4.4 Elongation at break of the insulation.16
6.4.5 Adhesion of the insulation to the conductor .16

61156-6 © IEC:2010(E) – 3 –
6.4.6 Elongation at break of the sheath .16

6.4.7 Tensile strength of the sheath .16

6.4.8 Crush test of the cable .16

6.4.9 Impact test of the cable .16

6.4.10 Bending under tension.16

6.4.11 Repeated bending of the cable .16

6.4.12 Tensile performance of the cable.16

6.4.13 Shock-test requirements of the cable.16

6.4.14 Bump-test requirements of the cable .16

6.4.15 Vibration-test requirements of a cable .16

6.5 Environmental characteristics.17
6.5.1 Shrinkage of the insulation .17
6.5.2 Wrapping test of the insulation after thermal ageing .17
6.5.3 Bending test of the insulation at low temperature.17
6.5.4 Elongation at break of the sheath after ageing.17
6.5.5 Tensile strength of the sheath after ageing .17
6.5.6 Sheath pressure test at high temperature .17
6.5.7 Cold bend test of the cable .17
6.5.8 Heat shock test.17
6.5.9 Damp heat steady state.17
6.5.10 Solar radiation .17
6.5.11 Solvents and contaminating fluids.17
6.5.12 Salt mist and sulphur dioxide.17
6.5.13 Water immersion .18
6.5.14 Hygroscopicity.18
6.5.15 Wicking .18
6.5.16 Flame propagation characteristics of a single cable.18
6.5.17 Flame propagation characteristics of bunched cables .18
6.5.18 Halogen gas evolution .18
6.5.19 Smoke generation .18
6.5.20 Toxic gas emission .18
6.5.21 Integrated fire test .18
7 Introduction to the blank detail specification .19
Bibliography.20

Figure 1 – Impedance template.15

Table 1 – Cable categories .6
Table 2 – Transfer impedance .10
Table 3 – Coupling attenuation .10
Table 4 – Attenuation, constant values .11
Table 5 – Near-end unbalance attenuation.12
Table 6 – Worst pair PS NEXT values .12
Table 7 – Worst pair PS ACR-F .13
Table 8 – PS ANEXT .13
Table 9 – PS AACR-F (PS AELFEXT) .14
Table 10 – Return loss.15

– 4 – 61156-6 © IEC:2010(E)
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION

____________
MULTICORE AND SYMMETRICAL PAIR/QUAD CABLES

FOR DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS –
Part 6: Symmetrical pair/quad cables with transmission

characteristics up to 1 000 MHz –

Work area wiring – 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 p
...

IEC 61156-6 ®
Edition 3.1 2012-12
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
colour
inside
Multicore and symmetrical pair/quad cables for digital communications –
Part 6: Symmetrical pair/quad cables with transmission characteristics up to
1 000 MHz – Work area wiring – Sectional specification

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.

IEC Central Office Tel.: [phone]
3, rue de Varembé Fax: [phone]

CH-1211 Geneva 20 [e-mail]
Switzerland www.iec.ch
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 corrigenda or an amendment might have been published.

Useful links:
IEC publications search - www.iec.ch/searchpub Electropedia - www.electropedia.org
The advanced search enables you to find IEC publications The world's leading online dictionary of electronic and
by a variety of criteria (reference number, text, technical electrical terms containing more than 30 000 terms and
committee,…). definitions in English and French, with equivalent terms in
It also gives information on projects, replaced and additional languages. Also known as the International
withdrawn publications. Electrotechnical Vocabulary (IEV) on-line.

IEC Just Published - webstore.iec.ch/justpublished Customer Service Centre - webstore.iec.ch/csc
Stay up to date on all new IEC publications. Just Published If you wish to give us your feedback on this publication
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also once a month by email. Customer Service Centre: [e-mail].

IEC 61156-6 ®
Edition 3.1 2012-12
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
colour
inside
Multicore and symmetrical pair/quad cables for digital communications –

Part 6: Symmetrical pair/quad cables with transmission characteristics up to

1 000 MHz – Work area wiring – Sectional specification

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
ICS 33.120.20 ISBN 978-2-8322-0562-4

– 2 – 61156-6  IEC:2010+A1:2012(E)

CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 4

1 Scope . 6

2 Normative references . 6

3 Terms and definitions . 7

4 Installation considerations . 7

4.1 Climatic conditions . 7

5 Materials and cable construction . 7

5.1 General remarks. 7
5.2 Cable construction . 7
5.2.1 Conductor . 7
5.2.2 Insulation. 7
5.2.3 Cable element . 7
5.2.4 Cable make-up . 8
5.2.5 Screening of the cable core . 8
5.2.6 Sheath . 8
5.2.7 Identification . 8
6 Characteristics and requirements . 8
6.1 General remarks. 8
6.2 Electrical characteristics and tests . 9
6.2.1 Conductor resistance . 9
6.2.2 Resistance unbalance . 9
6.2.3 Dielectric strength . 9
6.2.4 Insulation resistance . 9
6.2.5 Mutual capacitance . 9
6.2.6 Capacitance unbalance . 9
6.2.7 Transfer impedance . 9
6.2.8 Coupling attenuation . 10
6.2.9 Current-carrying capacity. 11
6.3 Transmission characteristics . 11
6.3.1 Velocity of propagation (phase velocity) . 11
6.3.2 Phase delay and differential delay (delay skew) . 11
6.3.3 Attenuation . 11

6.3.4 Unbalance attenuation . 12
6.3.5 Near-end crosstalk (NEXT) . 13
6.3.6 Attenuation to crosstalk ratio far end (PS ACR-F) . 13
6.3.7 Alien (exogenous) near end crosstalk . 14
6.3.8 Alien (exogenous) far-end crosstalk (AACR-F) . 14
6.3.9 Alien (exogenous) crosstalk of bundled cables . 14
6.3.10 Impedance. 14
6.3.11 Return loss (RL) . 15
6.4 Mechanical and dimensional characteristics and requirements . 16
6.4.1 Dimensional requirements . 16
6.4.2 Elongation at break of the conductors . 16
6.4.3 Tensile strength of the insulation . 16
6.4.4 Elongation at break of the insulation . 16
6.4.5 Adhesion of the insulation to the conductor . 16

61156-6  IEC:2010+A1:2012(E) – 3 –

6.4.6 Elongation at break of the sheath . 16

6.4.7 Tensile strength of the sheath . 16

6.4.8 Crush test of the cable . 16

6.4.9 Impact test of the cable . 17

6.4.10 Bending under tension . 17

6.4.11 Repeated bending of the cable . 17

6.4.12 Tensile performance of the cable . 17

6.4.13 Shock-test requirements of the cable . 17

6.4.14 Bump-test requirements of the cable . 17

6.4.15 Vibration-test requirements of a cable . 17

6.5 Environmental characteristics . 17
6.5.1 Shrinkage of the insulation . 17
6.5.2 Wrapping test of the insulation after thermal ageing . 17
6.5.3 Bending test of the insulation at low temperature . 17
6.5.4 Elongation at break of the sheath after ageing . 17
6.5.5 Tensile strength of the sheath after ageing . 17
6.5.6 Sheath pressure test at high temperature . 18
6.5.7 Cold bend test of the cable . 18
6.5.8 Heat shock test. 18
6.5.9 Damp heat steady state . 18
6.5.10 Solar radiation . 18
6.5.11 Solvents and contaminating fluids . 18
6.5.12 Salt mist and sulphur dioxide . 18
6.5.13 Water immersion . 18
6.5.14 Hygroscopicity . 18
6.5.15 Wicking . 18
6.5.16 Flame propagation characteristics of a single cable . 18
6.5.17 Flame propagation characteristics of bunched cables . 18
6.5.18 Halogen gas evolution . 18
6.5.19 Smoke generation . 19
6.5.20 Toxic gas emission . 19
6.5.21 Integrated fire test . 19
7 Introduction to the blank detail specification . 19
Bibliography . 20

Figure 1 – Impedance template . 15

Table 1 – Cable categories . 6
Table 2 – Transfer impedance . 10
Table 3 – Coupling attenuation . 10
Table 4 – Attenuation, constant values . 12
Table 5 – Near-end unbalance attenuation . 12
Table 6 – Worst pair PS NEXT values . 13
Table 7 – Worst pair PS ACR-F . 13
Table 8 – PS ANEXT . 14
Table 9 – PS AACR-F (PS AELFEXT) . 14
Table 10 – Return loss . 16

– 4 – 61156-6  IEC:2010+A1:2012(E)

INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION

____________
MULTICORE AND SYMMETRICAL PAIR/QUAD CABLES

FOR DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS –
Part 6: Symmetrical pair/quad cables with transmission

characteristics up to 1 000 MHz –

Work area wiring – 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 Avai
...