ISO/IEC TR 29106:2007

Information technology - Generic cabling - Introduction to the MICE environmental classification

This Technical Report acts as an introduction to the concepts used to develop the MICE environmental classification system used in cabling standards developed by ISO/IEC. It also gives the sources used to define the boundaries of MICE classifications.

Technologies de l'information — Câblage générique — Introduction à la classification environnementale MICE

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 12-Nov-2007
• ICS: 35.200 - Interface and interconnection equipment
• ICS: 35.240.99 - IT applications in other fields
• Technical Committee: ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 25 - Interconnection of information technology equipment
• Drafting Committee: ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 25 - Interconnection of information technology equipment
• Current Stage: 9093 - International Standard confirmed
• Start Date: 13-Jul-2018
• Completion Date: 30-Oct-2025

Relations

• Amended By: ISO/IEC TR 29106:2007/Amd 1:2012 - Information technology - Generic cabling - Introduction to the MICE environmental classification - Amendment 1
• Effective Date: 17-Jul-2021
• Amended By: ISO/IEC TR 29106:2007/Amd 2:2019 - Information technology - Generic cabling - Introduction to the MICE environmental classification - Amendment 2
• Effective Date: 13-Oct-2020

Overview - ISO/IEC TR 29106:2007 and the MICE environmental classification

ISO/IEC TR 29106:2007 is a Technical Report that introduces the MICE environmental classification system used in ISO/IEC generic cabling standards. It explains the concepts and source references used to define the boundaries of environmental classes that affect cabling channels and components. The report is intended as an explanatory companion to cabling standards and helps engineers, specifiers and installers interpret environmental requirements for cabling systems.

Key topics and technical requirements

• MICE acronym - four primary environmental criteria:
  • M (Mechanical): shock, vibration, tensile forces, impact energy, bending/flexing. (Examples in the report include impact levels of ~1 J, 10 J and 30 J for increasing severity.)
  • I (Ingress protection): particulate and liquid ingress characteristics (e.g., particulate sizes and intermittent liquid jets vs immersion).
  • C (Climatic and Chemical): ambient temperature ranges, humidity, solar radiation and chemical pollutants. (Representative ambient ranges include −10 °C to +60 °C for least severe up to −40 °C to +70 °C for most severe categories.)
  • E (Electromagnetic): electromagnetic environment and immunity requirements.
• Classification levels - each M, I, C and E element is assigned a level (1, 2 or 3). A location is described as MxIyCzEw, where each sub-level reflects local severity (e.g., M1I1C1E1 benign, M3I3C3E3 harsh).
• Local vs overall environment - MICE may vary along a cabling channel; the report clarifies how to classify the local environment where components are installed.
• Component selection - components must be chosen to meet the MICE classification at their installation point. The most demanding parameter within each M/I/C/E group determines the classification for that group.
• Mitigation and isolation - where using components rated for the overall environment is impractical, the report explains pathway and pathway-system techniques to reduce local environmental severity.

Practical applications and users

• Who uses it: cabling designers, systems integrators, telecommunications planners, facility managers, installers, component manufacturers and standards writers.
• Use cases:
  • Specifying cabling and connectors for industrial premises, telecommunications rooms, automation islands and outdoor runs.
  • Interpreting ISO/IEC 11801, ISO/IEC 24702 and related standards when selecting components and designing pathways.
  • Determining when pathway protection or isolation is needed to meet performance and longevity goals.
• Value: helps ensure reliable cabling performance, minimizes downtime from environmental stress, and supports compliant procurement and installation.

Related standards

• ISO/IEC 11801 - Generic cabling for customer premises
• ISO/IEC 24702 - Generic cabling for industrial premises
• ISO/IEC 15018 - Generic cabling for homes
• IEC 60721, IEC 61000 series and other referenced environmental and EMC standards

Keywords: ISO/IEC TR 29106:2007, MICE environmental classification, generic cabling, ingress protection, mechanical environment, climatic classification, electromagnetic environment, cabling standards.

Standards Content (Sample)

ISO/IEC TR 29106
Edition 1.0 2007-11
TECHNICAL
REPORT
Information technology – Generic cabling –
Introduction to the MICE environmental classification

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ISO/IEC TR 29106
Edition 1.0 2007-11
TECHNICAL
REPORT –TYPE 3
Information technology – Generic cabling –
Introduction to the MICE environmental classification

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
PRICE CODE
F
ICS 35.200 ISBN 2-8318-9386-0
– 2 – TR 29106 © ISO/IEC:2007(E)
CONTENTS
FOREWORD.3

1 Scope.5
2 Reference documents.5
3 Terms, definitions and abbreviations .6
3.1 Terms and definitions .6
3.2 Abbreviations .6
4 Application of environmental classification.6
4.1 MICE.6
4.2 Channel environment .6
4.3 Component selection.7
5 MICE system .10
5.1 General .10
5.2 Mechanical environment.10
5.3 Ingress protection and climatic environment .11
5.4 Chemical environment.13
5.5 Electromagnetic environment .15
Bibliography.16

Figure 1 – Example of variation of the environment along an industrial premises
cabling channel.7
Figure 2 – The local environment.7

Table 1 – Details of environmental classification.8
Table 2 – Derivation of boundaries for mechanical criteria in Table 1.10
Table 3 – Derivation of boundaries for ingress protection criteria in Table 1.11
Table 4 – Derivation of boundaries for climatic criteria in Table 1.11
Table 5 – Derivation of boundaries for chemical criteria in Table 1.13
Table 6 – Derivation of boundaries for electromagnetic criteria in Table 1.15

TR 29106 © ISO/IEC:2007(E) – 3 –
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY –
GENERIC CABLING –
INTRODUCTION TO THE MICE
ENVIRONMENTAL CLASSIFICATION
FOREWORD
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– 4 – TR 29106 © ISO/IEC:2007(E)
ISO/IEC 29106, which is a Technical Report of type 3, has been prepared by
subcommittee 25: Interconnection of information technology equipment, of ISO/IEC joint
technical committee 1: Information technology.
Technical reports of types 1 and 2 are subject to review within three years of publication to
decide whether they can be transformed into International Standards. Technical reports of
type 3 do not necessarily have to be reviewed until the data they provide are considered to be
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This Technical Report of type 3 has been approved by vote of the member bodies, and the
voting results may be obtained from the address given on the second title page.
This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.

TR 29106 © ISO/IEC:2007(E) – 5 –
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY –
GENERIC CABLING –
INTRODUCTION TO THE MICE
ENVIRONMENTAL CLASSIFICATION
1 Scope
This Technical Report acts as an introduction to the concepts used to develop the MICE
environmental classification system used in cabling standards developed by ISO/IEC. It also
provides detailed explanation of the sources used to define the boundaries of MICE
classifications.
2 Reference documents
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.
ISO/IEC 11801, Information technology – Generic cabling for customer premises
ISO/IEC 15018, Information technology – Generic cabling for homes
ISO/IEC 24702, Information technology – Generic cabling – Industrial premises
IEC 60068-2-5:1975, Environmental testing – Part 2: Tests. Test Sa: Simulated solar radiation at
ground level
IEC 60654-4:1987 Operating conditions for industrial-process measurement and control equipment.
Part 4: Corrosive and erosive influences
IEC 60721-1, Classification of environmental conditions – Part 1: Environmental parameters and
their severities
IEC 60721-3-3, Classification of environmental conditions – Part 3-3: Classification of groups of
environmental parameters and their severities - Stationary use at weatherprotected locations
IEC 61000-2-5, Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) – Part 2: Environment – Section 5:
Classification of electromagnetic environments. Basic EMC publication
IEC 61000-6-1, Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) – Part 6-1: Generic standards – Immunity for
residential, commercial and light-industrial environments
IEC 61000-6-2, Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) – Part 6-2: Generic standards – Immunity for
industrial environments
IEC 61131-2, Programmable controllers – Part 2: Equipment requirements and tests
IEC 61326:2001, Electrical equipment for measurement, control and laboratory use – EMC
requirements
IEC 61918, Industrial communication networks – Installation of communication networks in industrial
premises
– 6 – TR 29106 © ISO/IEC:2007(E)
3 Terms, definitions and abbreviations
3.1 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this Technical Report the definitions of the applicable generic cabling
standards ISO/IEC 11801, ISO/IEC 15018 and ISO/IEC 24702 apply.
3.2 Abbreviations
For the purposes of this Technical Report the abbreviations of the applicable generic cabling
standards ISO/IEC 11801, ISO/IEC 15018 and ISO/IEC 24702 apply.
4 Application of environmental classification
4.1 MICE
The term MICE referenced in generic cabling standards produced by ISO/IEC relates to the
classification of the environment of the cabling channel.
There are four primary environmental criteria used to classify an environment:
• the M element, defining the mechanical characteristics of the environment;
• the I element, defining the ingress protection characteristics of the environment;
• the C element, defining the climatic and chemical characteristics of the environment;
• the E element, defining the electromagnetic characteristics of the environment.
Each of the four primary environmental criteria are further divided into specific parameters
and levels for those parameters. The MICE classification for a given location is therefore
defined as M I C E where a, b, c and d are the individual sub-classifications (levels) for the
a b c d
M, I, C and E criteria respectively.
The suffixes for the four primary environmental criteria are either 1, 2 or 3. For example, the
most benign environment is described as M I C E whereas the most harsh environment
1 1 1 1
within the scope of this standard would be defined as M I C E .
3 3 3 3
4.2 Channel environment
The applicable MICE classification may vary along the length of the cabling channel. As
shown in the industrial premises cabling example of Figure 1, the ingress protection
characteristics of the environment in the automation area and at the automation island are
different from, and more severe than, those characteristics on the factory floor or in the
telecommunications room.
———————
The documents prepared by subcommittee 25 of ISO/IEC joint technical committee 1: Information technology.

TR 29106 © ISO/IEC:2007(E) – 7 –
Telecommunications room Factory floor Automation area Automation island
M I C E M I C E M I C E M I C E
1 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 1 2 3 2 3 3 3 3
NI
Distributor Cabling channel
Figure 1 – Example of variation of the environment along
an industrial premises cabling channel
The environment to be classified is that local to the cabling. Where no environmental
protection is provided to the cabling, the classification of the local environment is also that of
the overall environment at that location.
However, where technical or economic restrictions preclude the use of components
compatible with the overall environment, mitigation or isolation techniques may be applied to
modify one or more of the M, I, C or E environments local to the cabling in order to allow
appropriate components to be installed.
The mitigation or isolation techniques typically involve the use of alternative pathways and/or
pathway systems as shown in Figure 2.
Overall environment
Local environment
Cable Pathway system providing environmental protection

Figure 2 – The local environment
4.3 Component selection
The components used within a channel should be selected to be compatible with the MICE
classification of the channel at the point where the components are to be installed.
Table 1, taken from ISO/IEC 24702:2006, shows the parameters used to classify the local
environment under the M, I, C and E criteria. While the classification of an environment is
determined by the most demanding parameter within each criteria group, the selection of
components may reflect the specific demands of all the parameters within the group, including
those that may be less demanding than the overall classification of the environment.
The MICE classification system is intended to address approximately 80 % of the
environments to which cabling may be subjected. There are some environments beyond the
boundaries of M I C E . Such environments are beyond the scope of this Technical Report
3 3 3 3
and require special handling.
– 8 – TR 29106 © ISO/IEC:2007(E)
Table 1 – Details of environmental classification
Mechanical M M M
1 2 3
Shock/bump (see a))
-2 -2 -2
Peak acceleration 40 ms 100 ms 250 ms
Vibration
Displacement amplitude
1,5 mm 7,0 mm 15,0 mm
(2 Hz to 9 Hz)
Acceleration amplitude
-2 -2 -2
5 ms 20 ms 50 ms
(9 Hz to 500 Hz)
Tensile force See b) See b) See b)
45 N 1 100 N 2 200 N
Crush
over 25 mm (linear) min. over 150 mm (linear) min. over 150 mm (linear) min.
Impact 1 J 10 J 30 J
Bending, flexing and torsion See b) See b) See b)
Ingress I I I
1 2 3
Particulate ingress (dia. max.) 12,5 mm 50 μm 50 μm
Intermittent liquid jet
Intermittent liquid jet ≤12,5 l/min
≤ 12,5 l/min ≥6,3 mm jet
Immersion None
>2,5 m distance
≥ 6,3 mm jet
> 2,5 m distance and immersion
(≤1 m for <=30 minutes)
Climatic and chemical C C C
1 2 3
Ambient temperature -10 °C to +60 °C -25 °C to +70 °C -40 °C to +70 °C
Rate of change of temperature 0,1 °C per minute 1,0 °C per minute 3,0 °C per minute
5 % to 85 % 5 % to 95 % 5 % to 95 %
Humidity
(non-condensing) (condensing) (condensing)
-2 -2 -2
Solar radiation 700 Wm 1 120 Wm 1 120 Wm
Liquid pollution (see c))
-6 -6 -6
Concentration × 10 Concentration × 1
...