SIST EN IEC 60794-3-12:2021

Optical fibre cables - Part 3-12: Outdoor cables - Detailed specification for duct and directly buried optical telecommunication cables for use in premises cabling (IEC 60794-3-12:2021)

IEC 60794-3-12:2021 is available as IEC 60794-3-12:2021 RLV which contains the International Standard and its Redline version, showing all changes of the technical content compared to the previous edition.

IEC 60794-3-12:2021 is a detailed specification for duct and directly buried optical telecommunication cables for use in premises cabling to ensure compatibility with ISO/IEC 11801-1. This document's requirements ensure that the ISO/IEC 11801-1 models work for generic cabling and system performances. Values in this document support these models. The requirements of the family specification IEC 60794-3-10 are applicable to cables covered by this document. Particular requirements detailed in Clause 5 either define a specific option relative to the requirements of IEC 60794-3-10 or define additional requirements. This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition published in 2012. This edition constitutes a technical revision. This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
- addition of references to ISO/IEC 11801-1;
- removal of references to ISO/IEC 24702;
- incorporation of the OM5 cabled fibre performance category;
- incorporation of the OS1a cabled fibre performance category;
- cabled fibre performance categories OM1, OM2 and OS1 are no longer normative, and are retained for information.

Lichtwellenleiterkabel - Teil 3-12: LWL-Außenkabel - Produktspezifikation für LWL-Fernmelde-Erd- und Röhrenkabel für anwendungsneutrale Standortverkabelung (IEC 60794-3-12:2021)

Câbles à fibres optiques - Partie 3-12: Câbles extérieurs - Spécification particulière pour les câbles optiques de télécommunication destinés à être installés dans des conduites ou à être directement enterrés et utilisés dans le câblage de locaux (IEC 60794-3-12:2021)

IEC 60794-3-12:2021 est disponible sous forme de IEC 60794-3-12:2021 RLV qui contient la Norme internationale et sa version Redline, illustrant les modifications du contenu technique depuis l'�dition pr�c�dente.

IEC 60794-3-12:2021 est une spécification particulière de câbles optiques de télécommunication destinés à être installés dans des conduites ou à être directement enterrés et utilisés dans les câblages de locaux. Le but est d’assurer la compatibilité avec l’ISO/IEC 11801‑1. Le présent document contient des exigences destinées à assurer le fonctionnement des modèles selon ISO/IEC 11801-1 concernant le câblage générique et les performances du système. Les valeurs indiquées du présent document sont compatibles avec ces modèles. Les exigences contenues dans la spécification de famille IEC 60794-3-10 sont applicables aux câbles couverts par le présent document. Les exigences particulières figurant à l’Article 5 définissent soit une option spécifique relative aux exigences de l’IEC 60794‑3‑10, soit des exigences supplémentaires. Cette troisième édition annule et remplace la deuxième édition parue en 2012. Cette édition constitue une révision technique. Cette édition inclut les modifications techniques majeures suivantes par rapport à l'édition précédente:
- ajouts de références à l’ISO/IEC 11801-1;
- suppression des références à l’ISO/IEC 24702;
- intégration de la catégorie de performance de fibres câblées OM5;
- intégration de la catégorie de performance de fibres câblées OS1a;
- les catégories de performances des fibres câblées OM1, OM2 et OS1 ne sont plus normatives; elles sont conservées à titre d’information.

Optični kabli - 3-12. del: Zunanji kabli - Podrobna specifikacija za optične telekomunikacijske kable v kanalih ali neposredno zakopane za okablenje prostorov (IEC 60794-3-12:2021)

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 13-Apr-2021
• ICS: 33.180.10 - Fibres and cables
• Technical Committee: MOC - Mobile Communications
• Current Stage: 6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 19-Mar-2021
• Due Date: 24-May-2021
• Completion Date: 14-Apr-2021
• Ref Project: EN IEC 60794-3-12:2021 - Optical fibre cables - Part 3-12: Outdoor cables - Detailed specification for duct and directly buried optical telecommunication cables for use in premises cabling

Relations

• Replaces: SIST EN 60794-3-12:2013 - Optical fibre cables - Part 3-12: Outdoor optical fibre cables - Detailed specification for duct and directly buried optical telecommunication cables for use in premises cabling
• Effective Date: 09-Mar-2021

Overview

SIST EN IEC 60794-3-12:2021 is an international standard published by CLC that specifies detailed requirements for duct and directly buried outdoor optical fibre telecommunication cables designed for premises cabling. This third edition replaces the 2013 version and introduces significant technical updates to ensure enhanced compatibility with ISO/IEC 11801-1, a key framework governing generic cabling and system performance.

The standard focuses on optical fibre cables used outdoors but intended for integration within building premises networks. It supports the performance classifications integral to modern fibre optic infrastructure, promoting reliable and high-performance telecommunication link deployments. SIST EN IEC 60794-3-12:2021 also aligns closely with the family specification standard IEC 60794-3-10, which provides general requirements for outdoor cables.

Key Topics

• Scope and Application
  Detailed specification for duct and directly buried optical fibre cables intended to be used in premises cabling. Supports cable design for deployment in conduits (ducts) or direct burial.

• Compatibility with ISO/IEC 11801-1
  The standard ensures that cable performance meets the generic cabling requirements of ISO/IEC 11801-1, enabling interoperability and system-level performance guarantees.

• Optical Fibre Performance Categories
  Incorporates updated cabled fibre performance categories, including:

  • OS1a and OS2 for single-mode fibres (B-652.D and B-657 sub-categories)
  • OM3, OM4, and OM5 categories for multimode fibres
    Categories OM1 and OM2, previously normative, are now informational and no longer mandatory.

• Mechanical, Ingress, Climatic, Chemical, and Electromagnetic (MICE) Characteristics
  The standard defines robust MICE requirements that optical cables must meet to withstand harsh outdoor environmental factors while maintaining optical integrity.

• Transmission Performance Criteria
  Specifies maximum attenuation coefficients and bandwidth requirements critical for ensuring low loss and high data transmission quality over optical cables.

• Integration with IEC 60794 Series
  References multiple parts of the IEC 60794 family, including IEC 60794-3-10 for additional family specifications and IEC 60794-1 sections for generic cable tests.

Applications

SIST EN IEC 60794-3-12:2021 is vital for manufacturers, designers, and installers of optical fibre cables destined for outdoor installation with integration inside buildings or premises. Typical use cases include:

• Telecommunication Network Infrastructure
  Providing reliable outdoor fibre cabling that seamlessly integrates into indoor premises cabling systems, thereby supporting campus networks, data centers, and enterprise buildings.

• Duct and Direct Burial Deployments
  Ensures cables deployed in underground ducts or directly buried environments meet stringent performance for mechanical protection and signal integrity.

• High-Speed Data Transmission Systems
  Supports networks using state-of-the-art multimode and single-mode fibres for broadband communication, cloud computing, and 5G backbones.

• Infrastructure Compatibility and Future-Proofing
  By aligning with ISO/IEC 11801-1 standards, deployments based on this standard facilitate scalability and interchangeability in evolving network infrastructures.

Related Standards

• ISO/IEC 11801-1 – Generic cabling system performance specification, providing overarching models for premises cabling.
• IEC 60794-3-10 – Family specification containing common requirements for outdoor optical fibre cables.
• IEC 60794-1-1 and IEC 60794-1-2 – Define generic cable specifications and basic test procedures.
• IEC 60793-2-10 and IEC 60793-2-50 – Product specifications for multimode and single-mode optical fibres.
• IEC 60794-3 – Sectional specification for outdoor cables, providing context for outdoor cable properties and requirements.

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Keywords: optical fibre cables, outdoor cables, duct cables, directly buried cables, premises cabling, ISO/IEC 11801-1, optical performance categories, OS1a fibre, OM5 fibre, telecommunication cables, IEC 60794-3-12, multimode fibre, single-mode fibre, MICE characteristics, optical cable specifications, fibre optic transmission standards.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-maj-2021
Nadomešča:
SIST EN 60794-3-12:2013
Optični kabli - 3-12. del: Zunanji kabli - Podrobna specifikacija za optične
telekomunikacijske kable v kanalih ali neposredno zakopane za okablenje
prostorov (IEC 60794-3-12:2021)
Optical fibre cables - Part 3-12: Outdoor cables - Detailed specification for duct and
directly buried optical telecommunication cables for use in premises cabling (IEC 60794-
3-12:2021)
Lichtwellenleiterkabel - Teil 3-12: LWL-Außenkabel - Produktspezifikation für LWL-
Fernmelde-Erd- und Röhrenkabel für anwendungsneutrale Standortverkabelung (IEC
60794-3-12:2021)
Câbles à fibres optiques - Partie 3-12: Câbles extérieurs - Spécification particulière pour
les câbles optiques de télécommunication destinés à être installés dans des conduites
ou à être directement enterrés et utilisés dans le câblage de locaux (IEC 60794-3-
12:2021)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN IEC 60794-3-12:2021
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 60794-3-12

NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
March 2021
ICS 33.180.10 Supersedes EN 60794-3-12:2013 and all of its
amendments and corrigenda (if any)
English Version
Optical fibre cables - Part 3-12: Outdoor cables - Detailed
specification for duct and directly buried optical
telecommunication cables for use in premises cabling
(IEC 60794-3-12:2021)
Câbles à fibres optiques - Partie 3-12: Câbles extérieurs - Lichtwellenleiterkabel - Teil 3-12: LWL-Außenkabel -
Spécification particulière pour les câbles optiques de Produktspezifikation für LWL-Fernmelde-Erd- und
télécommunication destinés à être installés dans des Röhrenkabel für anwendungsneutrale Standortverkabelung
conduites ou à être directement enterrés et utilisés dans le (IEC 60794-3-12:2021)
câblage de locaux
(IEC 60794-3-12:2021)
This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2021-03-03. 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,
Turkey 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
© 2021 CENELEC All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC Members.
Ref. No. EN IEC 60794-3-12:2021 E

European foreword
The text of document 86A/2027/CDV, future edition 3 of IEC 60794-3-12, 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 60794-3-12:2021.
The following dates are fixed:
• latest date by which the document has to be implemented at national (dop) 2021–12–03
level by publication of an identical national standard or by endorsement
• latest date by which the national standards conflicting with the (dow) 2024–03–03
document have to be withdrawn
This document supersedes EN 60794-3-12:2013 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.
Endorsement notice
The text of the International Standard IEC 60794-3-12:2021 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 standards
indicated:
IEC 60794-1-21 NOTE Harmonized as EN 60794-1-21
IEC 60794-1-22 NOTE Harmonized as EN IEC 60794-1-22
IEC 60794-1-23 NOTE Harmonized as EN IEC 60794-1-23
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.cenelec.eu.
Publication Year Title EN/HD Year
IEC 60793-2-10 2019 Optical fibres - Part 2–10: ProductEN 2019
specifications - Sectional specification forI EC 60793-2-10
category A1 multimode fibres
IEC 60793-2-50 2018 Optical fibres - Part 2–50: ProductEN 2019
specifications - Sectional specification forI EC 60793-2-50
class B single-mode fibres
IEC 60794-1-1 - Optical fibre cables - Part 1–1: GenericEN 60794-1-1 -
specification - General
IEC 60794-1-2 - Optical fibre cables - Part 1–2: Generic- -
specification - Basic optical cable test
procedures - General guidance
IEC 60794-3 - Optical fibre cables - Part 3: OutdoorEN 60794-3 -
cables - Sectional specification
IEC 60794-3-10 - Optical fibre cables - Part 3–10: OutdoorEN 60794-3-10 -
cables - Family specification for duct,
directly buried and lashed aerial optical
telecommunication cables
IEC 60794-3-12 ®
Edition 3.0 2021-01
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
Optical fibre cables –
Part 3-12: Outdoor cables – Detailed specification for duct and directly buried

optical telecommunication cables for use in premises cabling

Câbles à fibres optiques –
Partie 3-12: Câbles extérieurs – Spécification particulière pour les câbles

optiques de télécommunication destinés à être installés dans des conduites ou

à être directement enterrés et utilisés dans le câblage de locaux

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
INTERNATIONALE
ICS 33.180.10 ISBN 978-2-8322-9323-2

– 2 – IEC 60794-3-12:2021 © IEC 2021
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 3
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 5
4 General requirements . 6
5 Particular requirements . 6
5.1 General . 6
5.2 MICE (mechanical, ingress, climatic and chemical and electromagnetic)
characteristics . 6
5.3 Transmission requirements . 6
5.3.1 Attenuation of cabled fibre . 6
5.3.2 Fibre bandwidth requirements . 7
5.3.3 Polarization mode dispersion (PMD) requirements . 7
Bibliography . 8

Table 1 – Multimode cable maximum attenuation coefficient (dB/km) . 7
Table 2 – Single-mode cable maximum attenuation coefficient (dB/km) . 7
Table 3 – Multimode fibre minimum bandwidth (MHz·km) . 7

IEC 60794-3-12:2021 © IEC 2021 – 3 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
OPTICAL FIBRE CABLES –
Part 3-12: Outdoor cables –
Detailed specification for duct and directly buried optical
telecommunication cables for use in premises cabling

FOREWORD
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