SIST EN IEC 60794-1-136:2026

• Abstract:

  IEC 60794-1-136:2026 specifies procedures to determine the maximum allowable push force applied on cables during the installation by blowing. Currently this parameter is determined by a separate test on the cable before installation. The methods specified in this document apply primarily to low-diameter cables (microduct cables according to IEC 60794-5) without rigid strength elements (e.g. GRP rods).

• Status: Published
• Public Enquiry End Date: 17-May-2025
• Publication Date: 21-Jul-2026
• ICS: 33.180.10 - Fibres and cables
• Technical Committee: MOC - Mobile Communications
• Current Stage: 6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 07-Jul-2026
• Due Date: 11-Sep-2026
• Completion Date: 22-Jul-2026
• Ref Project: EN IEC 60794-1-136:2026 - Optical fibre cables - Part 1-136: Generic specification - Basic optical cable test procedures - Determination of the maximum applicable push force during cable installation by blowing

• Refers: 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: 19-May-2026
• Referred By: SIST-TS CLC/TS 50621:2016 - Guideline for the repair of damaged installed optical fibre cables and microducts
• Effective Date: 07-Jul-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: 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: 07-Jul-2026

Overview

SIST EN IEC 60794-1-136:2026 is an international standard focused on optical fibre cables, specifically detailing the generic specifications and test procedures for determining the maximum applicable push force during cable installation by blowing. Managed by the Slovenian Institute for Standardization (SIST) and based on IEC 60794-1-136:2026, this standard defines two primary test methods to establish the highest force that can be safely applied to microduct cables without rigid strength elements (such as glass-reinforced plastic rods) during installation processes that use air blowing technology. The standard prioritizes the safety, reliability, and performance of low-diameter optical cables in telecommunication and data networks.

Key Topics

• Test Methods for Push Force:
  The standard describes two validated procedures:
  • Method E36A: A calculation-based method using cable bend stiffness and minimum allowable bend radius, requiring measurement according to IEC 60794-1-21.
  • Method E36B: An experimental approach where the cable is physically pushed inside a microduct sample to empirically determine the buckling point and measure maximum allowable force.
• Sample and Apparatus Guidelines:
  Detailed requirements for sample lengths, microduct dimensions, and apparatus setup ensure test reliability and repeatability.
• Environmental Conditions:
  Recommendations for test temperature, humidity, and pressure, supporting realistic simulation of installation environments.
• Reporting and Specification:
  Stipulates precise reporting of test conditions, cable and duct properties, measured forces, and graphical data.
• Scope and Applicability:
  The methods are especially suitable for microduct cables as specified in IEC 60794-5, without rigid reinforcement, making them widely relevant for modern fibre-optic installation practices.

Applications

SIST EN IEC 60794-1-136:2026 is essential in contexts where optical fibre cables are installed using air blowing methods, such as:

• Telecommunications Infrastructure:
  Helps in ensuring that installed fibre-optic cables in microducts withstand installation stresses without risk of damage or long-term performance degradation.
• Data Networks:
  Useful for installers of enterprise or campus networks using microduct blow-in techniques to optimize fibre deployment speed and minimize installation costs.
• Cable Manufacturing:
  Critical for cable manufacturers in demonstrating product compliance and certifying maximum installation force on datasheets and technical documentation.
• Network Design and Planning:
  Allows engineers to select cables compatible with specific duct systems and installation equipment, minimizing risk of buckling or microbending-induced attenuation.

Related Standards

For comprehensive conformance and integration with broader fibre optic cable systems, consider these related standards:

• IEC 60794-1-21:
  Optical fibre cables - Generic specification - Basic optical cable test procedures – Mechanical test methods.
• IEC 60794-5:
  Optical fibre cables - Sectional specification – Microduct cabling for installation by blowing.
• Terminology References:
  IEC Electropedia and the ISO Online Browsing Platform for standardized vocabulary.

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Keywords: optical fibre cables, cable blowing installation, maximum push force, microduct cables, bend stiffness, buckling test, IEC 60794-1-136, optical cable testing, cable installation standards, telecommunication cables, fibre-optic standards, SIST EN IEC standards.

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-september-2026
Optični kabli - 1-136. del: Splošne specifikacije - Osnovni preskusni postopki za
optične kable - Določitev največje uporabne potisne sile pri vgradnji kabla z
vpihovanjem (IEC 60794-1-136:2026)
Optical fibre cables - Part 1-136: Generic specification - Basic optical cable test
procedures - Determination of the maximum applicable push force during cable
installation by blowing (IEC 60794-1-136:2026)
Lichtwellenleiterkabel - Teil 1-136: Fachgrundspezifikation - Grundlegende Prüfverfahren
für Lichtwellenleiterkabel - Bestimmung der maximal anwendbaren Einschubkraft beim
Einblasen von Kabeln (IEC 60794-1-136:2026)
Câbles à fibres optiques - Partie 1-136: Spécification générique - Procédures
fondamentales d’essais des câbles optiques - Détermination de la force de poussée
maximale applicable lors de l'installation du câble par soufflage (IEC 60794-1-136:2026)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN IEC 60794-1-136:2026
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 60794-1-136

NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM July 2026
ICS 33.180.10
English Version
Optical fibre cables - Part 1-136: Generic specification - Basic
optical cable test procedures - Determination of the maximum
applicable push force during cable installation by blowing
(IEC 60794-1-136:2026)
Câbles à fibres optiques - Partie 1-136: Spécification Lichtwellenleiterkabel - Teil 1-136: Fachgrundspezifikation -
générique - Procédures fondamentales d'essais des câbles Grundlegende Prüfverfahren für Lichtwellenleiterkabel -
optiques - Détermination de la force de poussée maximale Bestimmung der maximal anwendbaren Einschubkraft beim
applicable lors de l'installation du câble par soufflage Einblasen von Kabeln
(IEC 60794-1-136:2026) (IEC 60794-1-136:2026)
This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2026-05-22. 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 60794-1-136:2026 E

European foreword
The text of document 86A/2669/FDIS, future edition 1 of IEC 60794-1-136, 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 60794-1-136:2026.
The following dates are fixed:
• latest date by which the document has to be implemented at national (dop) 2027-07-31
level by publication of an identical national standard or by endorsement
• latest date by which the national standards conflicting with the (dow) 2029-07-31
document have to be withdrawn
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 60794-1-136:2026 was approved by CENELEC as a
European Standard without any modification.
In the official version, for Bibliography, the following note has to be added for the standard indicated:
IEC 60794-5 NOTE Approved as EN 60794-5
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 60794-1-21 - Optical fibre cables - Part 1-21: Generic EN 60794-1-21 -
specification - Basic optical cable test
procedures - Mechanical tests methods

IEC 60794-1-136 ®
Edition 1.0 2026-04
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
Optical fibre cables -
Part 1-136: Generic specification - Basic optical cable test procedures -
Determination of the maximum applicable push force during cable installation by
blowing
ICS 33.180.10  ISBN 978-2-8327-1201-6

IEC 60794-1-136:2026-04(en)
IEC 60794-1-136:2026 © IEC 2026
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 2
INTRODUCTION . 4
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 5
4 General . 5
5 Sample . 5
6 Apparatus . 6
6.1 Apparatus for method E36A . 6
6.2 Apparatus for method E36B . 6
7 Test conditions . 6
8 Procedure . 7
8.1 Method E36A (reference test method) . 7
8.2 Method E36B (alternative test method) . 7
9 Details to be specified . 8
10 Details to be recorded . 9
Annex A (informative) Test set-up to measure the push force . 10
Bibliography . 11

Figure 1 – Schematic test set-up . 6
Figure 2 – Push force and reaction force versus insertion length . 8
Figure A.1 – Practical implementation of the test set-up shown in Figure 1 . 10

IEC 60794-1-136:2026 © IEC 2026
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
Optical fibre cables -
Part 1-136: Generic specification - Basic optical cable test procedures -
Determination of the maximum applicable push force during cable
installation by blowing
FOREWORD
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