| Full title | IEC 60728 series, Cable networks for television signals, sound signals and interactive services |
| Publisher | IEC, technical area 5 of TC 100 (Audio, video and multimedia systems and equipment). European adoption by CENELEC CLC/TC 209 |
| Current edition (safety) | IEC 60728-11:2023, edition 5.0, 15 February 2023. Stability date 2029 |
| European adoption | EN IEC 60728-11:2023, replacing EN 60728-11:2017 and its A11:2018 |
| Status | Multi-part series in active maintenance. A revision of EN IEC 60728-11 is in development |
| Related standards | EN 50117 coaxial cable series, EN 50083-2, ISO/IEC 30129, IEC 60364, EN 50575, ISO/IEC 11801-4 |
What it covers
The IEC 60728 series covers cable networks that distribute television, sound and data signals for interactive services, usually by frequency multiplexing. This includes regional and local broadband cable networks, extended satellite and terrestrial TV distribution systems, and individual satellite and terrestrial receiving systems.
The series runs from the antennas or signal source inputs, through the headend, up to the terminal input of the customer equipment. It covers equipment, systems and methods of measurement.
User terminals are excluded. So are coaxial, balanced and optical cables and their accessories. Coaxial cable for these networks is specified separately, in Europe in the EN 50117 series.
Structure
| Part | Title (short) | IEC edition | European adoption |
|---|---|---|---|
| -1 | System performance of forward paths | 2014 | EN 60728-1:2014 |
| -1-1 | RF cabling for two-way home networks | 2014 | EN 60728-1-1:2014 |
| -1-2 | Performance requirements for signals delivered at the system outlet in operation | 2014 | EN 60728-1-2:2014 |
| -3 | Active wideband equipment for cable networks | 2017 | EN IEC 60728-3:2018 |
| -4 | Passive wideband equipment for coaxial cable networks | 2007 | EN 60728-4:2008 |
| -10 | System performance for return paths | 2014 | EN 60728-10:2014 |
| -11 | Safety | 2023 (ed. 5.0) | EN IEC 60728-11:2023 |
| -101-1 | RF cabling for two-way home networks with all-digital channels load | 2023 | EN IEC 60728-101-1:2023 |
| -101-2 | Performance requirements at the system outlet with all-digital channels load | 2023 | EN IEC 60728-101-2:2023 |
| -113 | Optical systems for broadcast signal transmissions loaded with digital channels only | 2023 | EN IEC 60728-113:2023 |
| -115 | In-building optical systems for broadcast signal transmissions | 2022 | EN IEC 60728-115:2022 |
Other parts cover headend equipment (Part 5), optical equipment (Parts 6 and 106), forward path performance with digital channels only (Part 101) and RF over glass (Part 114). The 100-series parts deal with networks loaded with digital channels only.
Part 11: Safety
IEC 60728-11 sets safety requirements for fixed systems and equipment, and where applicable for mobile and temporary systems such as caravans. It protects the system, people working on it, subscribers and subscriber equipment. It deals only with safety, not with protecting the equipment.
| Clause | Content |
|---|---|
| 4 | Fundamental requirements: mechanical, radiation, electromagnetic radiation, thermal protection, fire |
| 5 | Protection against environmental influences |
| 6 | Equipotential bonding and earthing, including bonding in meshed systems |
| 7 | Mains-supplied equipment |
| 8 | Remote power feeding, with maximum allowed voltages (Table 1) |
| 9 | Segregation distances and protection against indirect contact with power distribution systems |
| 10 | System outlets and transfer points: fully isolated, semi-isolated and non-isolated outlets |
| 11 | Protection against atmospheric overvoltages, antenna earthing and bonding, overvoltage protection |
| 12 | Mechanical stability of antenna masts |
| Annex A | Earth loop impedance (normative) |
| Annex C | Differences in some countries, including a UK note on subclause 10.1 |
Changes in edition 5.0 (2023)
- References to IEC 60065 and IEC 60950-1 replaced by IEC 62368-1
- New subclauses 4.4 to 4.6, and new mechanical, design and construction requirements
- New requirement to provide details of the equipment installed (4.1)
- Stating current-carrying capacity and dielectric strength of components is now mandatory
- Assessment of lightning strike risk is now mandatory
- Remote feeding voltage on subscriber feeders extended
Normative references include IEC 60364 parts, IEC 62305-2 and -3 for lightning protection, ISO/IEC 30129 for telecommunications bonding networks, and EN 50575 for cable reaction to fire. In the UK, the equivalent wiring rules are BS 7671.
Passive equipment and cables
IEC 60728-4 (EN 60728-4:2008) covers passive wideband equipment for coaxial networks: system outlets, splitters, taps, filters, attenuators, equalisers, galvanic isolators, power injectors, cable splices, terminating resistors and transfer points. It covers 5 MHz to 3000 MHz and sets performance requirements, measurement methods and data to be published. It defines three quality grades for passive equipment, except system outlets, which have one.
The coaxial cables themselves are outside IEC 60728. In Europe, EN 50117-1:2019 is the generic specification for coaxial cables. Its predecessor, EN 50117-1:2002, covered 75 ohm coaxial cables used in CATV networks. Electromagnetic compatibility of cable network equipment is covered in Europe by EN 50083-2:2012 and its A1:2016.
How it relates to other standards
- ISO/IEC 11801-4 (homes) points to IEC 60728 for some cabling outside the home, such as campus cabling in a block of flats.
- BS 7671 and IEC 60364 cover the building electrical installation that the cable network must bond to.
- ISO/IEC 30129 and BS EN 50310 cover telecommunications bonding networks in buildings.
- EN 50083 was the earlier European series for cable networks. Many parts have been replaced by EN 60728 or EN IEC 60728 adoptions.
What it means in practice
- When a specification cites IEC 60728 or EN 60728, check which part is meant. Safety, bonding and earthing are in Part 11.
- Work to edition 5.0 (2023) of Part 11. A lightning risk assessment is now mandatory when deciding how to protect an antenna system.
- Follow Part 11, Clause 6 for equipotential bonding and earthing of the network in the building, and Clause 11 for earthing and bonding of antenna systems.
- Check that system outlets are the isolation type the design calls for: fully isolated, semi-isolated or non-isolated.
- Specify coaxial cable to the EN 50117 series and passive equipment to IEC 60728-4. Cable for permanent installation in buildings falls under EN 50575 for CPR reaction to fire classification.