oSIST prEN IEC 60794-1-210:2025

Optical fibre cables - Part 1-210: Generic specification - Basic optical cable test procedures - Environmental test methods - Underwater cable resistance to hydrostatic pressure, method f10

Lichtwellenleiter – Teil 1-210: Fachgrundspezifikation - Grundlegende Prüfverfahren für Lichtwellenleiterkabel - Umweltprüfverfahren - Widerstandsfähigkeit von Unterwasserkabeln gegen hydrostatischen Druck, Verfahren F10

Câbles à fibres optiques - Partie 1-210: Spécification générique - Procédures fondamentales d’essais des câbles optiques - Méthodes d’essais d’environnement - Résistance des câbles immergés à la pression hydrostatique, méthode f10

Optični kabli - 1-210. del: Splošna specifikacija - Osnovni preskusni postopki za optične kable - Okoljske preskusne metode - Odpornost podvodnega kabla proti hidrostatičnemu tlaku, metoda f10

General Information

• Status: Not Published
• Public Enquiry End Date: 30-Jun-2025
• ICS: 33.180.10 - Fibres and cables
• Technical Committee: MOC - Mobile Communications
• Current Stage: 4020 - Public enquire (PE) (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 05-May-2025
• Due Date: 22-Sep-2025
• Completion Date: 23-Jun-2025
• Ref Project: prEN IEC 60794-1-210:2025 - Optical fibre cables - Part 1-210: Generic specification - Basic optical cable test procedures - Environmental test methods - Underwater cable resistance to hydrostatic pressure, method f10

Overview

prEN IEC 60794-1-210:2025 defines uniform test procedures to evaluate the resistance of underwater optical fibre cables to hydrostatic pressure. Published as a CLC-adopted IEC document, this part of the IEC 60794 series separates the former multi-test compendium into individual, numbered environmental tests (Method F10). The standard covers three complementary procedures:

• F10A – radial hydrostatic pressure (integrity and attenuation monitoring)
• F10B – longitudinal hydrostatic pressure (water ingress along the cable)
• F10C – longitudinal hydrostatic pressure for through‑vessel installations (leakage quantification)

The primary objective is to provide repeatable, comparable results for cable manufacturers, test laboratories and system designers to validate underwater performance and leakage control.

Key Topics

• Test object and sample: Samples must be of sufficient length as required by the relevant specification. For F10A the sample length shall support accurate optical attenuation measurements.

• Apparatus:

  • Pressure vessel sized to accommodate the minimum sample length and equipped with a pressurization system and safety pressure release valve.
  • Water: potable, deionized or distilled water is used; fluorescent dyes or colouring agents may be added to reveal seepage (with caution because dyes can interact with some water‑blocking materials). Sea‑water simulants may be used when specified.
  • Optical attenuation measuring apparatus (required for F10A) to monitor changes in attenuation per IEC 60793-1-46.
  • Detecting devices: UV light for dyed water, rulers for measuring migration length, electrical water sensors and timers for breakthrough detection, and measuring glass for seepage volume (F10C).

• Procedure:

  • Tests are performed at ambient temperature.
  • Unless otherwise specified, the vessel pressure is maintained at 1.1 times the maximum in-service water pressure for the cable.
  • Typical durations: 24 h for F10A and F10C; 14 days for F10B.1 and F10B.2.
  • Installation and sealing arrangements differ between F10A (sample passes through the vessel) and F10B/F10C (configurations vary to simulate local damage or vessel penetration).

Applications

• Qualification and type testing of submarine and shallow‑water optical fibre cables.
• Verification of water‑blocking performance and cable structural integrity under radial and longitudinal pressure.
• Support for cable design validation, acceptance testing, and failure analysis following damage scenarios.

Related Standards

• IEC 60794-1-1 (General)
• IEC 60794-1-2 (Guidance to test methods)
• IEC 60793-1-46 (Monitoring changes in attenuation)
• ITU-T G.976 (Test methods for optical fibre submarine cable systems)

This standard is intended for manufacturers, test labs and system integrators who require consistent, repeatable methods to assess underwater cable hydrostatic resistance and leakage characteristics. For full procedural details and the latest normative references consult the published prEN IEC 60794-1-210:2025 document.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-junij-2025
Optični kabli - 1-210. del: Splošna specifikacija - Osnovni preskusni postopki za
optične kable - Okoljske preskusne metode - Odpornost podvodnega kabla proti
hidrostatičnemu tlaku, metoda f10
Optical fibre cables - Part 1-210: Generic specification - Basic optical cable test
procedures - Environmental test methods - Underwater cable resistance to hydrostatic
pressure, method f10
Câbles à fibres optiques - Partie 1-210: Spécification générique - Procédures
fondamentales d’essais des câbles optiques - Méthodes d’essais d’environnement -
Résistance des câbles immergés à la pression hydrostatique, méthode f10
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN IEC 60794-1-210:2025
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/2554/CDV
COMMITTEE DRAFT FOR VOTE (CDV)
PROJECT NUMBER:
IEC 60794-1-210 ED1
DATE OF CIRCULATION: CLOSING DATE FOR VOTING:
2025-04-25 2025-07-18
SUPERSEDES DOCUMENTS:
86A/2388/CD, 86A/2549/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
The attention of IEC National Committees, members of
CENELEC, is drawn to the fact that this Committee Draft
for Vote (CDV) is submitted for parallel voting.
The CENELEC members are invited to vote through the
CENELEC online voting system.
This document is still under study and subject to change. It should not be used for reference purposes.
Recipients of this document are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of
which they are aware and to provide supporting documentation.
Recipients of this document are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant “In Some
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 1-210: Generic specification - Basic optical cable test procedures -
Environmental test methods - Underwater cable resistance to hydrostatic pressure, Method
F10
PROPOSED STABILITY DATE: 2028
NOTE FROM TC/SC OFFICERS:
download this 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 permission in writing from IEC.

IEC CDV 60794-1-210 ED1 © IEC 2025 2
1 CONTENTS
3 FOREWORD . 3
4 1 Scope . 5
5 2 Normative references . 5
6 3 Terms and definitions . 5
7 4 Method F10: Underwater cable resistance to hydrostatic pressure . 5
8 4.1 Object . 5
9 4.2 Sample . 6
10 4.3 Apparatus . 6
11 4.3.1 Pressure vessel . 6
12 4.3.2 Water . 6
13 4.3.3 Optical attenuation measuring apparatus . 6
14 4.3.4 Detecting devices . 6
15 4.4 Procedure . 7
16 4.4.1 General . 7
17 4.4.2 Procedure for F10A . 7
18 4.4.3 Procedure for F10B . 7
19 4.4.4 Procedure for F10C . 8
20 4.5 Requirements . 9
21 4.6 Details to be specified . 9
22 4.7 Details to be reported . 9
23 Bibliography . 11
25 Figure 1 – Test set-up of F10A . 7
26 Figure 2 – Test set-up of F10B.1. 8
27 Figure 3 – Test set-up of F10B.2. 8
28 Figure 4 – Test set-up of F10C . 9
IEC CDV 60794-1-210 ED1 © IEC 2025 3
30 INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
31 ____________
33 OPTICAL FIBRE CABLES –
35 Part 1-210: Generic specification – Basic optical cable test procedures –
36 Environmental test methods –Underwater cable resistance to hydrostatic
37 pressure, Method F10
39 FOREWORD
40 1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
41 all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of IEC is to promote international
42 co-operation on all questions concerning standardization in the electrical and electronic fields. To this end and
43 in addition to other activities, IEC publishes International Standards, Technical Specifications, Technical Reports,
44 Publicly Available Specifications (PAS) and Guides (hereafter referred to as “IEC Publication(s)”). Their
45 preparation is entrusted to technical committees; any IEC National Committee interested in the subject dealt with
46 may participate in this preparatory work. International, governmental and non-governmental organizations liaising
47 with the IEC also participate in this preparation. IEC collaborates closely with the International Organization for
48 Standardization (ISO) in accordance with conditions determined by agreement between the two organizations.
49 2) The formal decisions or agreements of IEC on technical matters express, as nearly as possible, an international
50 consensus of opinion on the relevant subjects since each technical committee has representation from all
51 interested IEC National Committees.
52 3) IEC Publications have the form of recommendations for international use and are accepted by IEC National
53 Committees in that sense. While all reasonable efforts are made to ensure that the technical content of IEC
54 Publications is accurate, IEC cannot be held responsible for the way in which they are used or for any
55 misinterpretation by any end user.
56 4) In order to promote international uniformity, IEC National Committees undertake to apply IEC Publications
57 transparently to the maximum extent possible in their national and regional publications. Any divergence between
58 any IEC Publication and the corresponding national or regional publication shall be clearly indicated in the latter.
59 5) IEC itself does not provide any attestation of conformity. Independent certification bodies provide conformity
60 assessment services and, in some areas, access to IEC marks of conformity. IEC is not responsible for any
61 services carried out by independent certification bodies.
62 6) All users should ensure that they have the latest edition of this publication.
63 7) No liability shall attach to IEC or its directors, employees, servants or agents including individual experts and
64 members of its technical committees and IEC National Committees for any personal injury, property damage or
65 other damage of any nature whatsoever, whether direct or indirect, or for costs (including legal fees) and
66 expenses arising out of the publication, use of, or reliance upon, this IEC Publication or any other IEC
67 Publications.
68 8) Attention is drawn to the Normative references cited in this publication. Use of the referenced publications is
69 indispensable for the correct application of this publication.
70 9) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this IEC Publication may be the subject of patent
71 rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
72 IEC 60794-1-210 has been prepared by subcommittee 86A: Fibres and cables, of IEC technical
73 committee 86: Fibre optics. It is an International Standard.
74 This first edition cancels and replaces Method F10 of the second edition of IEC 60794-1-22
75 published in 2017. This edition constitutes a technical revision.
76 This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous
77 edition:
78 a) the environmental test contained in IEC 60794-1-22: 2017 will now be individually numbered
79 in the IEC 60794-1-2xx series. Each test method is now considered to be an individual
80 document rather than part of a multi-test method compendium.
81 b) the original method F10 is reserved as F10A, and two new test methods F10B and F10C
82 are added according to the different test object and procedure.
83 c) for method F10A, detailed content of apparatus, procedure and details to be specified are
84 modified, and set-up is added.

IEC CDV 60794-1-210 ED1 © IEC 2025 4
85 d) detailed content of object, sample, apparatus, procedure, set-up, requirements, details to
86 be specified and reported of method F10B and F10C are added.
87 The text of this International Standard is based on the following documents:
Draft Report on voting
86A/XX/FDIS 86A/XX/RVD
89 Full information on the voting for its approval can be found in the report on voting indicated in
90 the above table.
91 The language used for the development of this International Standard is English.
92 This document was drafted in accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2, and developed in
93 accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1 and ISO/IEC Directives, IEC Supplement, available
94 at www.iec.ch/members_experts/refdocs. The main document types developed by IEC are
95 described in greater detail at www.iec.ch/publications.
96 A list of all parts in the IEC 60794 series, published under the general title Optical fibre cables,
97 can be found on the IEC website.
98 The committee has decided that the contents of this document will remain unchanged until the
99 stability date indicated on the IEC website under webstore.iec.ch in the data related to the
100 specific document. At this date, the document will be
101 • reconfirmed,
102 • withdrawn,
103 • replaced by a revised edition, or
104 • amended.
IEC CDV 60794-1-210 ED1 © IEC 2025 5
106 OPTICAL FIBRE CABLES –
108 Part 1-210: Generic specification – Basic optical cable test procedures –
109 Environmental test methods –Underwater cable resistance to hydrostatic
110 pressure, Method F10
113 1 Scope
114 This part of IEC 60794-1 describes test p
...