SIST EN IEC 60794-1-210:2026

• Abstract:

  This part of IEC 60794-1 describes test procedures used to establish uniform requirements for optical fibre cables for the environmental property - underwater cable resistance to hydrostatic pressure.; This document applies to optical fibre cables for use with telecommunication equipment and devices employing similar techniques, and to cables having a combination of both optical fibres and electrical conductors.; See IEC 60794-1-2 for a reference guide to test methods of all types and for general requirements.

• Status: Published
• Public Enquiry End Date: 30-Jun-2025
• Publication Date: 07-Sep-2026
• ICS: 33.180.10 - Fibres and cables
• Technical Committee: MOC - Mobile Communications
• Current Stage: 6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 01-Sep-2026
• Due Date: 06-Nov-2026
• Completion Date: 08-Sep-2026
• Ref Project: EN IEC 60794-1-210:2026 - Optical fibre cables - Part 1-210: Generic specification - Basic optical cable test procedures - Environmental test methods - Underwater cable resistance to hydrostatic pressure, Method F10

• Replaces: SIST EN IEC 60794-1-22:2018 - Optical fibre cables - Part 1-22: Generic specification - Basic optical cable test procedures - Environmental test methods (IEC 60794-1-22:2017)
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2026
• Refers: SIST EN IEC 60793-1-46:2024 - Optical fibres - Part 1-46: Measurement methods and test procedures - Monitoring of changes in attenuation (IEC 60793-1-46:2024)
• Effective Date: 07-Jul-2026
• Refers: SIST EN IEC 60794-1-1:2023 - Optical fibre cables - Part 1-1: Generic specification - General (IEC 60794-1-1:2023)
• Effective Date: 07-Jul-2026
• Referred By: SIST EN 3745-505:2018 - Aerospace series - Fibres and cables, optical, aircraft use - Test methods - Part 505: Cable tensile strength
• Effective Date: 01-Sep-2026
• Referred By: SIST EN IEC 62148-1:2018 - Fibre optic active components and devices - Package and interface standards - Part 1: General and guidance (IEC 62148-1:2017)
• Effective Date: 01-Sep-2026
• Referred By: SIST-TS CLC/TS 50621:2016 - Guideline for the repair of damaged installed optical fibre cables and microducts
• Effective Date: 01-Sep-2026

SIST EN IEC 60794-1-210:2026 is a CENELEC European Standard for optical fibre cables. It specifies Method F10 for testing underwater cable resistance to hydrostatic pressure, including radial and longitudinal variants, for cables used with telecommunication equipment and similar systems.

What does SIST EN IEC 60794-1-210:2026 specify?

SIST EN IEC 60794-1-210:2026 specifies test procedures for the environmental property “underwater cable resistance to hydrostatic pressure” for optical fibre cables, including cables that combine optical fibres and electrical conductors. In practice, it gives a common way to check how a cable behaves under pressure before it is selected, qualified, or compared against a product specification.

The document is organized into scope, normative references, terms and definitions, the test object, sample, apparatus, procedure, requirements, details to be specified, and details to be reported. Annex ZA links the referenced international publications to their European publications.

Annex	What it covers
Annex ZA	Normative references to international publications with their corresponding European publications

What are the key requirements of SIST EN IEC 60794-1-210:2026?

SIST EN IEC 60794-1-210:2026 defines three related test paths under Method F10, and the relevant cable specification must choose the one to be used. The choice matters because the test setup and the acceptance check are different for radial pressure, longitudinal pressure, and through-vessel leakage.

Clause 4 - the test objects and what they prove

Clause 4 sets out F10A, F10B and F10C. F10A checks resistance to radial hydrostatic pressure and looks for structural integrity and any optical attenuation change. F10B checks longitudinal hydrostatic pressure and is aimed at water ingress limitation after cable damage. F10C also checks longitudinal pressure, but in a through-vessel arrangement used to simulate leakage from a watertight compartment such as on a ship.

Clause 5 - sampling

Clause 5 says the sample length comes from the relevant specification. For F10A, the sample must be long enough to support the required attenuation measurement accuracy. For the reader, this means the cable-specific specification has to match the test sample to the measurement method.

Clause 6 - test equipment and media

Clause 6 requires a pressure vessel, water, optical attenuation measuring apparatus, and detecting devices. The vessel has to fit the sample and keep the target pressure stable. The water may be potable water, and a fluorescent dye or other colouring agent may be used to help detect leakage, with care taken that it does not affect water-blocking materials. This matters because the test result can be biased if the detection aid changes the cable behavior.

Clause 7 - procedure

Clause 7 requires the test to be run at ambient temperature, with pressure maintained for the stated test period. Unless the relevant specification says otherwise, the applied pressure is higher than the maximum water pressure expected in service. F10A uses attenuation monitoring during the pressure exposure, while F10B and F10C focus on the movement or quantity of water after pressure exposure.

Clauses 8 to 10 - acceptance, specification, and reporting

Clause 8 sets the pass/fail logic: F10A requires no attenuation change and no structural change unless the relevant specification allows otherwise; F10B.1 limits the length of water penetration; F10B.2 requires no water detection during the specified time; and F10C limits the quantity of leaked water. Clauses 9 and 10 list what the cable specification must state and what the test report should record, so users can compare results consistently.

What terms does SIST EN IEC 60794-1-210:2026 define?

SIST EN IEC 60794-1-210:2026 uses the terms and definitions from IEC 60794-1-1. The most important method terms are:

• F10A - the radial hydrostatic pressure method used to check structural integrity and change in attenuation.
• F10B.1 - the longitudinal pressure method with one sealed end and one free end, used to measure water penetration length.
• F10B.2 - the longitudinal pressure method with one end inside and one outside the vessel, used to detect when water reaches the outside end.
• F10C - the through-vessel longitudinal pressure method used to measure leaked water after simulated damage.
• Pressure vessel - the chamber that holds the sample, water, and test pressure.
• Relevant specification - the cable-specific document that sets the sample length, pressure, duration, wavelength, and acceptance limits.
• Water ingress limitation - the limit on how far, how fast, or how much water may enter the cable.

Who uses SIST EN IEC 60794-1-210:2026?

SIST EN IEC 60794-1-210:2026 is used by cable manufacturers, test laboratories, and specifiers of optical fibre cables. It is also relevant to quality and procurement teams that need a defined hydrostatic pressure test when comparing product designs, writing purchase specifications, or checking conformance of underwater cables and hybrid optical-electrical cables.

What changed in SIST EN IEC 60794-1-210:2026 from the previous edition?

SIST EN IEC 60794-1-210:2026 replaces Method F10 of IEC 60794-1-22:2017 and partially supersedes EN IEC 60794-1-22:2018. The text states that this edition is a technical revision with an editorial revision based on the new structure and numbering system for optical fibre cable test methods. It also states that the original F10 method has become F10A with updated apparatus, procedure, and specification details, and that F10B and F10C were added for different test objects and procedures.

Which standards are used with SIST EN IEC 60794-1-210:2026?

SIST EN IEC 60794-1-210:2026 cites IEC 60794-1-1 for general cable terms and definitions, and IEC 60793-1-46 for measuring changes in attenuation. It also points readers to IEC 60794-1-2 as the general guidance and cross-reference document for the IEC 60794-1 test-method series.

What does the SIST EN IEC 60794-1-210:2026 document contain?

SIST EN IEC 60794-1-210:2026 contains the method descriptions, apparatus requirements, step-by-step procedures, acceptance requirements, and the information that must be specified and reported. The figures show the test set-ups for F10A, F10B.1, F10B.2 and F10C, which helps labs build the correct pressure-vessel arrangement. It also includes Annex ZA for the European references and a bibliography with related IEC and ITU-T publications.

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-oktober-2026
Nadomešča:
SIST EN IEC 60794-1-22:2018
Optični kabli - 1-210. del: Splošna specifikacija - Osnovni preskusni postopki za
optične kable - Okoljske preskusne metode - Odpornost podvodnega kabla proti
hidrostatičnemu tlaku, metoda F10 (IEC 60794-1-210:2026)
Optical fibre cables - Part 1-210: Generic specification - Basic optical cable test
procedures - Environmental test methods - Underwater cable resistance to hydrostatic
pressure, Method F10 (IEC 60794-1-210:2026)
Lichtwellenleiter - Teil 1-210: Fachgrundspezifikation - Grundlegende Prüfverfahren für
Lichtwellenleiterkabel - Umweltprüfverfahren - Widerstandsfähigkeit von
Unterwasserkabeln gegen hydrostatischen Druck, Verfahren F10 (IEC 60794-1-
210:2026)
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 (IEC 60794-
1-210:2026)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN IEC 60794-1-210:2026
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.

EUROPEAN STANDARD EN IEC 60794-1-210

NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM August 2026
ICS 33.180.10 Supersedes EN IEC 60794-1-22:2018 (partially)
English Version
Optical fibre cables - Part 1-210: Generic specification - Basic
optical cable test procedures - Environmental test methods -
Underwater cable resistance to hydrostatic pressure, Method
F10
(IEC 60794-1-210:2026)
Câbles à fibres optiques - Partie 1-210: Spécification Lichtwellenleiter - Teil 1-210: Fachgrundspezifikation -
générique - Procédures fondamentales d'essais des câbles Grundlegende Prüfverfahren für Lichtwellenleiterkabel -
optiques - Méthodes d'essais d'environnement - Résistance Umweltprüfverfahren - Widerstandsfähigkeit von
des câbles immergés à la pression hydrostatique, Méthode Unterwasserkabeln gegen hydrostatischen Druck,
F10 Verfahren F10
(IEC 60794-1-210:2026) (IEC 60794-1-210:2026)
This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2026-07-16. CENELEC members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC
Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.
Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre or to any CENELEC member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation
under the responsibility of a CENELEC member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the
same status as the official versions.
CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Türkiye and the United Kingdom.

European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2026 CENELEC All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC Members.
Ref. No. EN IEC 60794-1-210:2026 E

European foreword
The text of document 86A/2688/FDIS, future edition 1 of IEC 60794-1-210, prepared by SC 86A
"Fibres and cables" of IEC/TC 86 "Fibre optics" was submitted to the IEC-CENELEC parallel vote and
approved by CENELEC as EN IEC 60794-1-210:2026.
The following dates are fixed:
• latest date by which the document has to be implemented at national (dop) 2027-08-31
level by publication of an identical national standard or by endorsement
• latest date by which the national standards conflicting with the (dow) 2029-08-31
document have to be withdrawn
This document partially supersedes EN IEC 60794-1-22:2018 and all of its amendments and
corrigenda (if any).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CENELEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national committee. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CENELEC website.
Endorsement notice
The text of the International Standard IEC 60794-1-210:2026 was approved by CENELEC as a
European Standard without any modification.
In the official version, for Bibliography, the following notes have to be added for the standard indicated:
IEC 60794-1-2 NOTE Approved as EN IEC 60794-1-2
IEC 60794-1-22:2017 NOTE Approved as EN IEC 60794-1-22:2018 (not modified)
Annex ZA
(normative)
Normative references to international publications
with their corresponding European publications
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements 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.
NOTE 1  Where an International Publication has been modified by common modifications, indicated by (mod),
the relevant EN/HD applies.
NOTE 2  Up-to-date information on the latest versions of the European Standards listed in this annex is available
here: www.cencenelec.eu.
Publication Year Title EN/HD Year
IEC 60793-1-46 - Optical fibres - Part 1-46: Measurement EN IEC 60793-1-46 -
methods and test procedures - Monitoring
of changes in attenuation
IEC 60794-1-1 - Optical fibre cables - Part 1-1: Generic EN IEC 60794-1-1 -
specification - General
IEC 60794-1-210 ®
Edition 1.0 2026-06
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
Optical fibre cables -
Part 1-210: Generic specification - Basic optical cable test procedures -
Environmental test methods - Underwater cable resistance to hydrostatic
pressure, Method F10
ICS 33.180.10  ISBN 978-2-8327-1289-4

IEC 60794-1-210:2026-06(en)
IEC 60794-1-210:2026 © IEC 2026
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 2
INTRODUCTION . 4
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 5
4 Object . 5
4.1 General . 5
4.2 F10A: radial hydrostatic pressure . 5
4.3 F10B: longitudinal hydrostatic pressure . 5
4.3.1 General. 5
4.3.2 F10B.1 . 6
4.3.3 F10B.2 . 6
4.4 F10C: longitudinal hydrostatic pressure for cables through vessel . 6
5 Sample . 6
6 Apparatus . 6
6.1 General . 6
6.2 Pressure vessel . 6
6.3 Water . 6
6.4 Optical attenuation measuring apparatus . 7
6.5 Detecting devices . 7
7 Procedure . 7
7.1 General . 7
7.2 Procedure for F10A. 7
7.3 Procedure for F10B. 8
7.3.1 Procedure for F10B.1 . 8
7.3.2 Procedure for F10B.2 . 9
7.4 Procedure for F10C . 10
8 Requirements . 11
9 Details to be specified . 11
10 Details to be reported . 12
Bibliography . 13

Figure 1 – Test set-up of F10A. 8
Figure 2 – Test set-up of F10B.1 . 9
Figure 3 – Test set-up of F10B.2 . 10
Figure 4 – Test set-up of F10C . 11

IEC 60794-1-210:2026 © IEC 2026
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
Optical fibre cables -
Part 1-210: Generic specification - Basic optical cable test procedures -
Environmental test methods - Underwater cable resistance
to hydrostatic pressure, Method F10

FOREWORD
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IEC 60794-1-210 has been prepared by subcommittee 86A: Fibres and cables, of IEC technical
committee 86: Fibre optics. It is an International Standard.
This first edition cancels and replaces Method F10 of the second edition of IEC 60794-1-22
published in 2017. This edition constitutes
...