oSIST prEN IEC 60794-1-120:2025

Optical fibre cables - Part 1-120: Generic specification - Basic optical cable test procedures - Mechanical tests methods - Cable storage performance before installation, method E20

Lichtwellenleiterkabel – Teil 1-120: Fachgrundspezifikation - Grundlegende Prüfverfahren für Lichtwellenleiterkabel - Mechanische Prüfverfahren – Betriebsverhalten der Kabelablage vor der Installation, Verfahren E20

Câbles à fibres optiques - Partie 1-120: Spécification générique - Procédures fondamentales d’essais des câbles optiques - Méthodes d'essai mécaniques - Performance de stockage du câble avant installation, méthode e20

Optični kabli - 1-120. del: Splošna specifikacija - Osnovni preskusni postopki za optične kable - Mehanske preskusne metode - Zmogljivost shranjevanja kablov pred namestitvijo, metoda E20

General Information

• Status: Not Published
• Public Enquiry End Date: 30-Sep-2025
• ICS: 33.180.10 - Fibres and cables
• Technical Committee: MOC - Mobile Communications
• Current Stage: 4020 - Public enquire (PE) (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 06-Aug-2025
• Due Date: 24-Dec-2025
• Completion Date: 29-Sep-2025
• Ref Project: prEN IEC 60794-1-120:2025 - Optical fibre cables - Part 1-120: Generic specification - Basic optical cable test procedures - Mechanical tests methods - Cable storage performance before installation, method E20

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 60794-1-120:2025 specifies mechanical test methods for cable storage performance before installation (Method E20) for armoured optical fibre cables. Intended primarily for cables used in underwater or other special-protection installations, the document defines uniform procedures to verify that cables can be stored, coiled or piled on board ships or delivered on drums without sustaining mechanical damage or performance degradation.

This draft (CDV) updates and replaces the previous Method E20 from IEC 60794-1-21 and adds a new piling method. It is published as a committee draft for vote and may be subject to change.

Key topics and requirements

• Two complementary test procedures:

  • Method E20A - Circular coiling
    • Sample: sufficient length to make a specified number of coils (e.g., 10) taken from the production inner end.
    • Procedure: coil flat on a large surface at ambient loading/laying temperature; start at manufacturer‑specified diameter and direction; coils maintained for >5 min.
    • Requirement: cable must form a smooth circle and remain flat around the circumference.
    • Details to specify/report: coiling diameter, number of coils, temperature; report visual condition, cable description and any deviations.
  • Method E20B - “Figure-8” piling
    • Sample: sufficient length to form a specified number of figure‑8 loops (e.g., 10) without cutting; minor dimension v must be at least the larger of 1.5 m and the minimum specified installation bending diameter; major dimension w ≥ 2·v.
    • Procedure: pile flat, secure starting end, maintain for >5 min; measure attenuation before and after per IEC 60793-1-46.
    • Requirement: pile must stay flat and form a smooth figure‑8; for single‑mode fibres, no change in attenuation at 1 550 nm after test unless otherwise specified.
    • Details to specify/report: pile dimensions, minimum bending diameter, number of loops, temperature, and maximum allowable attenuation change; report measured attenuation change, cable description and visual condition.

• Test environmental condition: ambient temperature representative of ship‑loading/laying conditions unless otherwise agreed.

• Sample handling: generally taken from the production inner end; starting end secured during tests.

Applications and who should use it

• Manufacturers and vendors of armoured optical fibre cables (especially submarine and protected routing cables) for validating storage and handling practices.
• Network planners, installation contractors and purchasers who need assurance that cable coils or figure‑8 piles will not introduce torsion, bending damage or increased attenuation during storage and deployment.
• Test laboratories performing acceptance and quality control tests prior to shipment and installation.

Related standards

• IEC 60794-1-2 - generic guide to test methods and definitions
• IEC 60793-1-46 - measurement of changes in attenuation (used for pre/post test optical loss)
• Replaces: parts of IEC 60794-1-21:2015+AMD1:2020 (Method E20)

Keywords: IEC 60794-1-120, optical fibre cables, cable storage performance, Method E20, circular coiling, figure‑8 piling, armoured optical cables, attenuation 1550 nm, cable mechanical tests.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-september-2025
Optični kabli - 1-120. del: Splošna specifikacija - Osnovni preskusni postopki za
optične kable - Mehanske preskusne metode - Zmogljivost shranjevanja kablov
pred namestitvijo, metoda E20
Optical fibre cables - Part 1-120: Generic specification - Basic optical cable test
procedures - Mechanical tests methods - Cable storage performance before installation,
method E20
Câbles à fibres optiques - Partie 1-120: Spécification générique - Procédures
fondamentales d’essais des câbles optiques - Méthodes d'essai mécaniques -
Performance de stockage du câble avant installation, méthode e20
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN IEC 60794-1-120:2025
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/2595/CDV
COMMITTEE DRAFT FOR VOTE (CDV)
PROJECT NUMBER:
IEC 60794-1-120 ED1
DATE OF CIRCULATION: CLOSING DATE FOR VOTING:
2025-08-01 2025-10-24
SUPERSEDES DOCUMENTS:
86A/2500/CD, 86A/2593/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 1-120: Generic specification - Basic optical cable test procedures -
Mechanical tests methods - Cable storage performance before installation, Method E20

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
permission in writing from IEC.

IEC CDV 60794-1-120 © IEC 2025
1 CONTENTS
3 FOREWORD . 2
4 1 Scope . 4
5 2 Normative references . 4
6 3 Terms and definitions . 4
7 4 Method E20 – Cable storage performance before installation . 4
8 4.1 Object . 4
9 4.2 General . 4
10 4.3 Method E20A: Circular coiling method . 5
11 4.3.1 Sample . 5
12 4.3.2 Apparatus . 5
13 4.3.3 Procedure . 5
14 4.3.4 Requirements . 5
15 4.3.5 Details to be specified . 5
16 4.3.6 Details to be reported . 6
17 4.4 Method E20B: “figure-8” piling method . 6
18 4.4.1 Sample . 6
19 4.4.2 Apparatus . 6
20 4.4.3 Procedure . 6
21 4.4.4 Requirements . 7
22 4.4.5 Details to be specified . 7
23 4.4.6 Details to be reported . 7
24 Bibliography . 8
26 Figure 1 – Test set-up of the circular coiling method . 6
IEC CDV 60794-1-120 © IEC 2025
29 INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
30 ____________
32 OPTICAL FIBRE CABLES –
34 Part 1-120: Generic specification –
35 Basic optical cable test procedures –
36 Mechanical test methods – Cable storage performance before installation,
37 Method E20
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 Publications.
67 8) Attention is drawn to the Normative references cited in this publication. Use of the referenced publications is
68 indispensable for the correct application of this publication.
69 9) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this IEC Publication may be the subject of patent
70 rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
71 IEC 60794-1-120 has been prepared by subcommittee 86A: Fibres and cables, of IEC te
...