oSIST prEN IEC 60794-1-121:2025

Optical fibre cables - Part 1-121: Generic specification - Basic optical cable test procedures - Mechanical tests methods - Sheath pull-off force for optical fibre cable for use in patch cords, Method E21

Lichtwellenleiterkabel – Teil 1-121: Fachgrundspezifikation - Grundlegende Prüfverfahren für Lichtwellenleiterkabel - Mechanische Prüfverfahren – Mantelabzugskraft von Lichtwelleneiterkabeln zur Verwendung in Patchkabeln, Verfahren E21

Câbles à fibres optiques - Partie 1-121: Spécification générique - Procédures fondamentales d'essais des câbles optiques - Méthodes d'essais mécaniques - Force de retrait de la gaine (dénudage) pour un câble à fibres optiques utilisé dans des cordons de brassage, Méthode E21

Optični kabli - 1-121. del: Splošna specifikacija - Osnovni preskusni postopki za optične kable - Mehanske preskusne metode - Sila za odstranjevanje ovoja optičnega kabla za uporabo v povezovalnih kablih, metoda E21

General Information

• Status: Not Published
• Public Enquiry End Date: 18-Sep-2025
• ICS: 33.180.10 - Fibres and cables
• Technical Committee: MOC - Mobile Communications
• Current Stage: 4020 - Public enquire (PE) (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 01-Jul-2025
• Due Date: 18-Nov-2025
• Completion Date: 11-Sep-2025
• Ref Project: prEN IEC 60794-1-121:2025 - Optical fibre cables - Part 1-121: Generic specification - Basic optical cable test procedures - Mechanical tests methods - Sheath pull-off force for optical fibre cable for use in patch cords, Method E21

Relations

• Splited From: SIST EN 60794-1-21:2015 - Optical fibre cables -- Part 1-21: Generic specification - Basic optical cable test procedures - Mechanical tests methods (IEC 60794-1-21:2015)
• Effective Date: 09-Sep-2025
• Splited From: SIST EN 60794-1-21:2015/A1:2020 - Optical fibre cables - Part 1-21: Generic specification - Basic optical cable test procedures - Mechanical tests methods (IEC 60794-1-21:2015/A1:2020)
• Effective Date: 09-Sep-2025

Overview

prEN IEC 60794-1-121:2025 specifies Method E21 - Sheath pull-off force for optical fibre cables intended for use in patch cords. Part of the IEC 60794 series, this generic specification defines a repeatable mechanical test procedure to measure the force (in newtons) required to remove a length of cable sheath from round simplex/duplex cables, single-fibre elements or sub-elements. The document is a technical revision of the previous Method E21 in IEC 60794-1-21:2015 and includes updated reporting requirements.

Key topics and requirements

• Scope: Applies to optical fibre cables for telecommunication equipment, including cables with combined optical fibres and electrical conductors.
• Objective: Determine peak sheath pull-off force for patch-cord cable qualification and specification.
• Sample preparation:
  • Mark cable at 50 mm and 53 mm from the end, make two circumferential cuts and one longitudinal cut, then remove the 3 mm sheath section (discard samples damaged during prep).
• Apparatus:
  • Controlled tensile test rig able to pull over a specified distance at controlled speed.
  • Recording equipment tied to the rig to capture force vs. time (results in N).
  • Stripping tools capable of cleanly removing 3 mm of outer sheath without damaging the core.
  • Pulling jig that fits the 3 mm gap and allows longitudinal pulling of a 50 mm strip; window at least 25 mm long with a rotational width of 180±5° and rounded edges.
  • Cable anchor (for example, a fixed mandrel) secured against longitudinal and rotational movement.
• Procedure:
  • Mount prepared end in pulling jig and anchor opposite end at zero load.
  • Reset force reading to zero and carry out a controlled pull at the specified speed; record peak force.
• Requirements and reporting:
  • Peak pull-off force shall meet values defined in the relevant product specification.
  • Specifications must state pull rate, strip length (if different), and force requirement.
  • Test report shall include cable description, measured pull-off force, and any deviations.

Applications and users

This standard is essential for:

• Optical fibre cable manufacturers (product development and QC)
• Assembly and patch cord manufacturers (connectorization reliability)
• Independent test laboratories and certification bodies
• Procurement and specification engineers ensuring supplier compliance Use cases include verifying sheath adhesion, ensuring consistent stripping behavior during connector termination, and setting acceptance criteria for patch-cord production.

Related standards

• IEC 60794-1-1 (general requirements)
• IEC 60794-1-2 (basic test procedures - general guidance) These referenced documents provide definitions and broader test-method context for applying Method E21.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-september-2025
Optični kabli - 1-121. del: Splošna specifikacija - Osnovni preskusni postopki za
optične kable - Mehanske preskusne metode - Sila za odstranjevanje ovoja
optičnega kabla za uporabo v povezovalnih kablih, metoda E21
Optical fibre cables - Part 1-121: Generic specification - Basic optical cable test
procedures - Mechanical tests methods - Sheath pull-off force for optical fibre cable for
use in patch cords, Method E21
Câbles à fibres optiques - Partie 1-121: Spécification générique - Procédures
fondamentales d'essais des câbles optiques - Méthodes d'essais mécaniques - Force de
retrait de la gaine (dénudage) pour un câble à fibres optiques utilisé dans des cordons
de brassage, Méthode E21
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN IEC 60794-1-121:2025
ICS:
33.180.10 (Optična) vlakna in kabli Fibres and cables
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

86A/2585/CDV
COMMITTEE DRAFT FOR VOTE (CDV)
PROJECT NUMBER:
IEC 60794-1-121 ED1
DATE OF CIRCULATION: CLOSING DATE FOR VOTING:
2025-06-27 2025-09-19
SUPERSEDES DOCUMENTS:
86A/2503/CD, 86A/2578/CC
IEC SC 86A : FIBRES AND CABLES
SECRETARIAT: SECRETARY:
France Mr Laurent Gasca
OF INTEREST TO THE FOLLOWING COMMITTEES: HORIZONTAL FUNCTION(S):
ASPECTS CONCERNED:
SUBMITTED FOR CENELEC PARALLEL VOTING NOT SUBMITTED FOR CENELEC PARALLEL VOTING
Attention IEC-CENELEC parallel voting
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CENELEC, is drawn to the fact that this Committee Draft
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The CENELEC members are invited to vote through the
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Countries” clauses to be included should this proposal proceed. Recipients are reminded that the CDV stage is
the final stage for submitting ISC clauses. (SEE AC/22/2007 OR NEW GUIDANCE DOC).
TITLE:
Optical fibre cables - Part 1-121: Generic specification - Basic optical cable test procedures -
Mechanical tests methods – Sheath pull-off force for optical fibre cable for use in patch cords,
Method E21
PROPOSED STABILITY DATE: 2029
NOTE FROM TC/SC OFFICERS:
electronic file, to make a copy and to print out the content for the sole purpose of preparing National Committee positions.
You may not copy or "mirror" the file or printed version of the document, or any part of it, for any other purpose without
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2 IEC CD 60794-1-121 ED1 © IEC 2025
1 CONTENTS
2 CONTENTS . 2
3 FOREWORD . 3
4 1 Scope . 5
5 2 Normative references . 5
6 3 Terms and definitions . 5
7 4 Method E21: Sheath pull-off force for optical fibre cable for use in patch cords . 6
8 4.1 Object . 6
9 4.2 General . 6
10 4.3 Sample . 6
11 4.4 Apparatus . 6
12 4.4.1 General . 6
13 4.4.2 Tensile test rig . 6
14 4.4.3 Recording equipment . 6
15 4.4.4 Stripping tools . 6
16 4.4.5 Pulling . 6
17 4.4.6 Cable anchor . 6
18 4.5 Procedure . 7
19 4.6 Requirements . 7
20 4.7 Details to be specified . 7
21 4.8 Details to be reported . 7
23 Figure 1 – Schematic of test arrangement . 8
24 Figure 2 – Example of pulling jig . 8
25 Figure 3 – Cable sample preparation . 9
IEC CD 60794-1-121 ED1 © IEC 2025 3
28 INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
29 ____________
31 OPTICAL FIBRE CABLES –
33 Part 1-121: Generic specification –
34 Basic optical cable test procedures –
35 Mechanical test methods – Sheath pull-off force for optical fibre cable for
36 use in patch cords, method E21
38 FOREWORD
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