oSIST prEN IEC 60794-1-118:2025

Optical fibre cables - Part 1-118: Generic specification - Basic optical cable test procedures - Mechanical tests methods - Bending under tension, Method E18

Lichtwellenleiterkabel - Teil 1-118: Fachgrundspezifikation - Grundlegende Prüfverfahren für Lichtwellenleiterkabel - Mechanische Prüfverfahren - Biegen unter Zug, Verfahren E18

Optični kabli - 1-118. del: Splošna specifikacija - Osnovni preskusni postopki za optične kable - Mehanske preskusne metode - Upogibanje pod napetostjo, metoda E18

General Information

• Status: Not Published
• Public Enquiry End Date: 31-Jul-2025
• ICS: 33.180.10 - Fibres and cables
• Technical Committee: MOC - Mobile Communications
• Current Stage: 4020 - Public enquire (PE) (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 28-May-2025
• Due Date: 15-Oct-2025
• Completion Date: 18-Jul-2025
• Ref Project: prEN IEC 60794-1-118:2025 - Optical fibre cables - Part 1-118: Generic specification - Basic optical cable test procedures - Mechanical tests methods - Bending under tension, Method E18

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

The oSIST prEN IEC 60794-1-118:2025 standard specifies basic mechanical test procedures for optical fibre cables, focusing on the bending under tension test, known as Method E18. Published by the CLC under the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), this standard defines how to evaluate the mechanical durability of optical fibre cables to withstand bending stresses under applied tension - simulating real-world installation conditions.

This standard applies to optical fibre cables used in telecommunications and similar systems, including those containing both optical fibres and electrical conductors. It provides uniform test methods to ensure cables meet mechanical performance requirements, thereby supporting reliable cable deployment and operational integrity.

Key Topics

Test Objective and Scope

• Determine the cable’s ability to withstand bending around rollers or bows while tension is applied.
• Simulates mechanical stresses during installation and handling.
• Covers single-bend and S-bend test configurations.

Test Methods (Method E18)

• Procedure 1: Cable bent over a single roller of specified radius and bending angle, under tension.
• Procedure 2: Cable bent in an S-shape over two rollers with specified radius, distance, and bending angle, under tension.
• Tension is gradually applied to the cable during bending cycles, mimicking actual installation loads.

Sample Requirements

• Samples taken from finished cables, terminated to apply the specified load.
• Marking of test points ensures correct bending section length.
• Minimum sample length to cover at least three times the cable’s lay length for helical constructions.

Apparatus and Measurements

• Tensile loading device with precision ±3%.
• Optional optical measurement equipment to assess attenuation changes and fibre elongation strain.
• Testing under standard atmospheric conditions per IEC 60794-1-2.

Test Execution and Evaluation

• Cable moved cyclically between specified points while tension increases and decreases.
• Post-test examination for physical damage without magnification.
• Measurement of permanent changes in attenuation or fibre strain after relaxation.
• Minimum 10-minute rest period post-load to ensure stable attenuation readings.

Specifications and Reporting

• Parameters to specify include tension load, roller radius, bending angle, cycle count, speed, and allowable attenuation or strain limits.
• Test reports must detail cable sample description, applied tension, attenuation changes, fibre strain, and any observed damage or deviations.

Applications

This standard is essential for manufacturers, testing laboratories, and network operators to:

• Validate the mechanical robustness of optical fibre cables before deployment.
• Ensure cables can endure stress from bending under tension during installation including pulling around corners or drums.
• Prevent premature cable failures that can lead to signal degradation or network outages.
• Harmonize testing methods internationally to facilitate compliance, procurement, and quality assurance.
• Support research and development for new cable designs with improved mechanical resilience.

Related Standards

• IEC 60794-1-2: Generic specifications and general guidance on basic optical cable test procedures, including environmental and mechanical tests.
• IEC 60793-1-22: Measurement methods for optical fibre length and strain assessment.
• IEC 60793-1-46: Procedures for monitoring changes in attenuation of optical fibres.
• IEC 60794-1-21: Previous edition containing bundled multiple mechanical test methods, now superseded for method E18.
• Test alternatives such as Method E35 (Sheave Test) offer complementary bending tests relevant to similar conditions.

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Keywords: optical fibre cable testing, bending under tension test, Method E18, mechanical test procedures, IEC 60794-1-118, optical cable mechanical durability, fibre optic cable standards, cable bending tests, optical attenuation measurement, optical fibre strain testing, telecommunication cables, IEC optical cable standards.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-julij-2025
Optični kabli - 1-118. del: Splošna specifikacija - Osnovni preskusni postopki za
optične kable - Mehanske preskusne metode - Upogibanje pod napetostjo, metoda
E18
Optical fibre cables - Part 1-118: Generic specification - Basic optical cable test
procedures - Mechanical tests methods - Bending under tension, Method E18
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN IEC 60794-1-118:2025
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/2560/CDV
COMMITTEE DRAFT FOR VOTE (CDV)
PROJECT NUMBER:
IEC 60794-1-118 ED1
DATE OF CIRCULATION: CLOSING DATE FOR VOTING:
2025-05-23 2025-08-15
SUPERSEDES DOCUMENTS:
86A/2451/CD, 86A/2557/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 1-118: Generic specification - Basic optical cable test procedures -
Mechanical tests methods - Bending under tension, Method E18
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
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IEC CDV 60794-1-118 ED1 © IEC 2025 1
1 CONTENTS
3 FOREWORD . 2
4 1 Scope . 4
5 2 Normative references . 4
6 3 Terms and definitions . 4
7 4 Method E18: Bending under tension . 4
8 4.1 Object . 4
9 4.2 Sample . 4
10 4.3 Apparatus . 5
11 4.4 Procedure . 6
12 4.5 Requirements . 7
13 4.6 Details to be specified . 7
14 4.7 Details to be reported . 8
15 Bibliography . 9
2 IEC CDV 60794-1-118 ED1 © IEC 2025
18 INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
19 ____________
21 OPTICAL FIBRE CABLES –
23 Part 1-106: Generic specification – Basic optical cable test procedures –
24 Mechanical test methods – Bending under tension, Method E18
26 FOREWORD
27 1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
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55 8) Attention is drawn to the Normative references cited in this publication. Use of the referenced publications is
56 indispensable for the correct application of this publication.
57 9) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this IEC Publication may be the subject of patent
58 rights. IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
59 IEC 60794-1-118 has been prepared by subcommittee 86A: Fibres and cables, of IEC technical
60 committee 86: Fibre optics. It is an International Standard.
61 This first edition cancels and replaces Method E18A of the second edition of IEC 60794-1-21
62 published in 2020. This edition constitutes a technical revision.
63 This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous
64 edition:
65 a) the mechanical test contained in IEC 60794-1-21: 2015+AMD1:2020 will now be individually
66 numbered in the IEC 60794-1-1xx series. Each test method is now considered to be an
67 individual document rather than part of a multi-test method compendium.
68 b) add the methods and standards of optical testing.
69 c) add chapter “4.7 Details to be reported”.

IEC CDV 60794-1-118 ED1 © IEC 2025 3
70 The text of this International Standard is based on the following documents:
Draft Report on voting
86A/XX/FDIS 86A/XX/RVD
72 Full information on the voting for its approval can be found in the report on voting indicated in
73 the above table.
74 The language used for the development of this International Standard is English.
75 This document was drafted in accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2, and developed in
76 accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1 and ISO/IEC Directives, IEC Supplement, available
77 at www.iec.ch/members_experts/refdocs. The main document types developed by IEC are
78 described in great
...