oSIST prEN IEC 60794-1-118:2026

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: 30-Apr-2026
• ICS: 19.060 - Mechanical testing
• ICS: 33.180.10 - Fibres and cables
• Technical Committee: MOC - Mobile Communications
• Current Stage: 4020 - Public enquire (PE) (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 10-Mar-2026
• Due Date: 28-Jul-2026
• Completion Date: 22-Apr-2026
• Ref Project: prEN IEC 60794-1-118:2026 - 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/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
• 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

Overview

oSIST prEN IEC 60794-1-118:2026 - Optical fibre cables – Part 1-118: Generic specification – Basic optical cable test procedures – Mechanical test methods – Bending under tension, Method E18 – is a harmonized European standard developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and CENELEC (CLC). This document defines standardized mechanical test procedures for assessing the performance of optical fibre cables under bending while subjected to tension.

This standard is essential for manufacturers, quality assurance teams, and users of optical fibre cables, providing uniform test methods for evaluating cable behavior during installation and operational conditions. It focuses particularly on simulating the bending stresses that cables endure around rollers or during cable pulls, ensuring reliability and safety in actual deployment environments.

Key Topics

• Mechanical Testing of Optical Fibre Cables: Establishes procedures to determine a cable’s mechanical integrity when bent under specified tensions.
• Bending Under Tension - Method E18: Details two test setups:
  • Single-bend (Procedure 1): Cable is bent over a roller at a defined angle while tension is applied.
  • S-bend (Procedure 2): Cable is bent in an S-shape over two rollers under tension.
• Test Requirements and Reporting:
  • Visual inspection for sheath or component damage.
  • Measurement of any permanent change in optical attenuation or fibre elongation strain after testing.
  • Required rest period post-unloading to ensure stable attenuation readings.
  • Documentation of specific details including tension values, roller radius, bending angle, sample description, and outcomes.
• Uniform Test Conditions: Requires standardized atmospheric and procedural conditions to achieve repeatable results.
• Cable Types Covered: Addresses optical fibre cables for telecommunications as well as composite cables containing both optical and electrical components.

Applications

The procedures described in oSIST prEN IEC 60794-1-118:2026 are vital for various stakeholders in the fibre optics industry:

• Cable Manufacturers: Use these standardized tests during product development and quality control to verify that cables can withstand mechanical stress during installation without physical or optical degradation.
• Telecommunication Providers & Installers: Ensure installed fibre cables will perform reliably even when subjected to bending and tension, minimizing risks of signal loss or cable damage.
• Testing and Certification Bodies: Apply these uniform methods to assess compliance of fibre cables with international mechanical performance standards.
• Procurement & Project Specifications: Reference this standard to define mechanical property acceptance criteria and ensure that supplied cables meet necessary performance thresholds.

By adhering to oSIST prEN IEC 60794-1-118:2026, organizations help guarantee long-term durability, network uptime, and reduced maintenance costs for fibre optic infrastructures.

Related Standards

Several other international standards complement oSIST prEN IEC 60794-1-118:2026 for optical fibre cable testing and specification:

• IEC 60794-1-1:Optical fibre cables – Part 1-1: Generic specification – General – Defines general requirements and terminology.
• IEC 60794-1-2:Optical fibre cables – Part 1-2: Basic optical cable test procedures – General guidance – Provides general principles for all test methods, including reference conditions.
• IEC 60793-1-22:Optical fibres – Part 1-22: Measurement methods and test procedures – Length measurement – Methods for measuring fibre length.
• IEC 60793-1-46:Optical fibres – Part 1-46: Measurement methods and test procedures – Monitoring of changes in attenuation – Procedures for identifying optical attenuation variations during mechanical testing.
• IEC 60794-1-135 (under preparation):Sheave test, Method E35 – An alternative method simulating cable installation over pulleys.

Using oSIST prEN IEC 60794-1-118:2026 as part of a comprehensive test protocol supports international consistency and high performance in fibre optic cable deployment.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-april-2026
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
Lichtwellenleiterkabel - Teil 1-118: Fachgrundspezifikation - Grundlegende Prüfverfahren
für Lichtwellenleiterkabel - Mechanische Prüfverfahren - Biegen unter Zug, Verfahren
E18
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN IEC 60794-1-118:2026
ICS:
19.060 Mehansko preskušanje Mechanical testing
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/2667/CDV
COMMITTEE DRAFT FOR VOTE (CDV)
PROJECT NUMBER:
IEC 60794-1-118 ED1
DATE OF CIRCULATION: CLOSING DATE FOR VOTING:
2026-03-06 2026-05-01
SUPERSEDES DOCUMENTS:
86A/2560/CDV, 86A/2663/RVC
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: 2029
NOTE FROM TC/SC OFFICERS:
this 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 60794-1-118 © IEC 2026
1 CONTENTS
3 FOREWORD . 2
4 INTRODUCTION . 4
5 1 Scope . 5
6 2 Normative references . 5
7 3 Terms and definitions . 5
8 4 Object. 6
9 5 Sample . 6
10 6 Apparatus . 6
11 6.1 General . 6
12 6.2 Set-up for procedure 1 . 6
13 6.3 Set-up for procedure 2 . 7
14 7 Procedure . 8
15 7.1 General . 8
16 7.2 Procedure 1 . 8
17 7.3 Procedure 2 . 9
18 8 Requirements . 9
19 9 Details to be specified . 9
20 10 Details to be reported . 10
22 Figure 1 – Single-bend . 7
23 Figure 2 – S-bend . 8
IEC CDV 60794-1-118 © IEC 2026
26 INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
27 ____________
29 OPTICAL FIBRE CABLES –
31 Part 1-118: Generic specification –
32 Basic optical cable test procedures –
33 Mechanical test methods –
34 Bending under tension, Method E18
36 FOREWORD
37 1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
38 all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of IEC is to promote international
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65 8) Attention is drawn to the Normative references cited in this publication. Use of the referenced publications is
66 indispensable for the correct application of this publication.
67 9) IEC draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a)
68 patent(s). IEC takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed patent rights in
69 respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, IEC had not received notice of (a) patent(s), which
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71 the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent database available at https://patents.iec.ch. IEC
72 shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
73 IEC 60794-1-118 has been prepared by subcommittee 86A: Fibres and cables, of IEC technical
74 committee 86: Fibre optics. It is an International Standard.
75 This first edition cancels and replaces Method E18A of the second edition of IEC 60794-1-21
76 published in 2020. This edition constitutes a technical revision.
77 This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to IEC 60794-1-21:
78 2015+AMD1:2020:
79 a) addition of methods and standards for optical testing.
80 b) addition of 4.7 Details to be reported”.
IEC CDV 60794-1-118 © IEC 2026
81 The text of this International Standard is based on the following documents:
Draft Report on voting
86A/XX/FDIS 86A/XX/RVD
83 Full information on the voting for its approval can be found in the report on voting indicated in
84 the above table.
85 The language used for the development of this International Standard is English.
86 This document was drafted in accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2, and developed in
87 accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1 and ISO/IEC Directives, IEC Supplement, available
88 at www.
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