| Full title | Optical fibre cables (all parts). Part 1-1: Generic specification. General |
| Publisher | IEC, TC 86/SC 86A (Fibres and cables) |
| Current edition | IEC 60794-1-1:2023 edition 5.0, published 22 May 2023. Other parts have their own editions, listed below |
| Status | Published. The Part 1 test method documents are being split into single-method parts |
| Related standards | IEC 60793 series (optical fibres); ITU-T G.652 and G.657; ISO/IEC 11801-1; IEC 62807 series (hybrid cables) |
What it covers
IEC 60794 is the IEC series for optical fibre cables used with communication equipment, including cables that also contain electrical conductors. The fibres themselves are specified in the IEC 60793 series. Hybrid communication cables are specified in the IEC 62807 series.
IEC 60794-1-1 sets uniform generic requirements for the geometrical, transmission, material, mechanical, ageing, climatic and electrical properties of cables and cable elements. Electrical properties are specified for optical ground wire (OPGW) and optical phase conductor (OPPC) cables. The 2023 edition was reorganised so that it acts as the reference document for the rest of the series, with tables naming every document in it.
How the series is built
Part titles use four levels of specification. Each lower level applies the requirements of the level above it.
- Generic specification: IEC 60794-1-1, plus the test method parts of IEC 60794-1.
- Sectional specifications: one per application area, such as IEC 60794-2 for indoor cables.
- Family specifications: a cable family within a section, such as IEC 60794-2-10 for indoor simplex and duplex cables.
- Detail specifications: requirements for a specific use, such as IEC 60794-2-11 for simplex and duplex cables in premises cabling.
| Sectional part | Application | Current edition |
|---|---|---|
| IEC 60794-2 | Indoor cables | Ed. 4.0, 2017 |
| IEC 60794-3 | Outdoor cables | Ed. 5.0, 2022 |
| IEC 60794-4 | Aerial optical cables along electrical power lines | Ed. 2.0, 2018 |
| IEC 60794-5 | Microduct cabling for installation by blowing | Ed. 2.0, 2014 |
| IEC 60794-6 | Indoor-outdoor cables | See family part 6-20 |
IEC 60794-1-1:2023 also lists an IEC 60794-7 series.
Sectional scopes
- IEC 60794-2 gives the requirements for optical fibre cables for indoor use in communications networks.
- IEC 60794-3 covers cables used externally: in ducts, directly buried, aerial, and lake and river crossings, plus specialised use in sewers and water and gas pipes. It excludes optical ground wires and cables attached to the phase or earth conductors of overhead power lines. The 2022 edition removed the ribbon specification, which is now in IEC 60794-1-31.
- IEC 60794-4 covers aerial cables along power lines, including OPGW, OPPC, metallic aerial self-supported (MASS), all-dielectric self-supporting (ADSS) and optical attached (OPAC) cables. It excludes figure-8 cables on telephone poles.
- IEC 60794-5 covers microduct optical fibre cables, microduct fibre units, microducts and protected microducts for installation by blowing, for outdoor and indoor use.
Family and detail specifications
| Part | Content | Current edition |
|---|---|---|
| IEC 60794-2-10 | Indoor simplex and duplex cables, family specification | Ed. 3.0, 2023 |
| IEC 60794-2-11 | Simplex and duplex cables for premises cabling, detail specification | Ed. 3.1, 2019 + A1:2020 |
| IEC 60794-2-20 | Indoor multi-fibre cables, family specification | Ed. 4.0, 2024 |
| IEC 60794-2-21 | Multi-fibre distribution cables for premises cabling, detail specification | Ed. 3.1, 2019 + A1:2020 |
| IEC 60794-3-10 | Duct, directly buried and lashed aerial cables | Ed. 3.0, 2015 |
| IEC 60794-3-20 | Self-supporting aerial telecommunication cables | Ed. 3.0, 2016 |
| IEC 60794-4-10 | Optical ground wires (OPGW) | Ed. 2.0, 2014 |
| IEC 60794-4-20 | ADSS cables along power lines | Ed. 2.0, 2018 |
| IEC 60794-5-10 | Outdoor microduct cables, microducts and protected microducts | Ed. 1.0, 2014 |
| IEC 60794-5-20 | Outdoor microduct fibre units, microducts and protected microducts | Ed. 1.0, 2014 |
| IEC 60794-6-20 | Flame retardant outdoor cables (indoor-outdoor) | Ed. 1.0, 2020 |
IEC 60794-2-11 and -2-21 are written to ensure compatibility with ISO/IEC 11801 Parts 1 to 6. For cables in industrial premises, IEC 60794-2-10 and -2-20 note that MICE requirements from ISO/IEC 11801-1 may also apply.
Test methods
| Part | Content | Current edition |
|---|---|---|
| IEC 60794-1-2 | Test procedures: general guidance and overview of all methods | Ed. 5.0, 2021 |
| IEC 60794-1-21 | Mechanical test methods | Ed. 1.1, 2015 + A1:2020 |
| IEC 60794-1-22 | Environmental test methods | Ed. 2.0, 2017 |
| IEC 60794-1-23 | Cable element test methods | Ed. 2.0, 2019 |
IEC 60794-1-21 and IEC 60794-1-22 are being replaced one method at a time by single-method parts. This began in 2023 with IEC 60794-1-111. Mechanical methods move to IEC 60794-1-1xx parts and environmental methods to IEC 60794-1-2xx parts. Examples published in 2026 are IEC 60794-1-102 (abrasion, method E2), IEC 60794-1-131 (microduct inner clearance, method E31) and IEC 60794-1-210 (hydrostatic pressure, method F10).
Key definitions in IEC 60794-1-1
| Term | Single-mode (class B) | Multimode (category A1) |
|---|---|---|
| No change in attenuation | ≤ ±0.05 dB or ≤ ±0.05 dB/km | ≤ ±0.2 dB or ≤ ±0.2 dB/km |
| Maximum deviation, mechanical tests | 0.15 dB | 0.5 dB |
| Maximum deviation, environmental tests | 0.10 dB/km | 0.5 dB/km |
Long-term load (TL) is the load a cable can carry in operation. For 1 % proof-tested fibre, fibre strain at TL must not exceed 20 % of proof strain (0.2 % absolute), with no change in attenuation. Short-term load (TS), often called rated installation load, must not cause fibre strain above 60 % of proof strain (0.6 % absolute).
What it means in practice
- A cable datasheet should name the sectional, family or detail specification it meets, for example IEC 60794-2-21 for an indoor distribution cable.
- Check that tensile ratings are stated as long-term and short-term loads, as defined in IEC 60794-1-1.
- Check that test results quote the IEC 60794-1 method, such as E2 for abrasion.
- Fibre performance comes from the IEC 60793 fibre specification. Fire performance for the installation is chosen separately, for example a CPR class to EN 50575.
Related reading: Tight-buffered vs loose tube fibre cable · Armoured vs unarmoured fibre cable.