IEC 60189-2:2007

Overview

IEC 60189-2:2007 is the International Electrotechnical Commission standard that specifies requirements for low‑frequency cables and wires with PVC insulation and PVC sheath - specifically cables in pairs, triples, quads and quintuples for inside installations. It applies to cables intended for interconnection of transmission equipment, telecommunications equipment and data‑processing equipment in indoor environments. The standard addresses construction, materials, dimensions, mechanical, thermal and electrical requirements and includes normative annexes for colour coding, unit identification and screened variations.

Key topics and technical requirements

The standard defines practical, testable requirements for indoor PVC‑insulated, PVC‑sheathed low‑frequency multi‑element cables. Major technical topics include:

• Conductor

  • Material: annealed copper in accordance with IEC 60028.
  • Type: single‑strand, circular section.
  • Finish: plain or tinned; continuity/joints allowed under strength rules.

• Insulation

  • Material: polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or compatible PVC compounds.
  • Minimum insulation thickness: specified for conductor diameters (e.g., not less than 0.15 mm up to 0.6 mm conductor, 0.25 mm for 0.8 mm - measured per IEC 60189‑1).
  • Colour coding and marking per IEC 60304; single or bicolour options (rings/helices).

• Cable assembly and identification

  • Configurations (pairs, triples, quads, quintuples), cabling element arrangements, wrapping, screening and sheath application are specified.
  • Annexes cover colour codes, unit identification, and screened cable options (including digital exchange pairs).

• Mechanical, thermal and electrical tests

  • Mechanical requirements for conductor, insulation and sheath.
  • Thermal stability: heat shock, cold bend, shrinkage and pressure tests.
  • Electrical requirements: conductor resistance (IEC 60028), dielectric strength, insulation resistance, mutual capacitance and capacitance unbalance.
  • Flame propagation tests referenced (IEC 60332‑3).

• Quality & delivery

  • Manufacturer responsibility for quality assurance and agreement on acceptance tests with the purchaser.

Applications

IEC 60189‑2 is aimed at indoor cabling used for:

• Telecommunication links inside buildings and equipment rooms
• Interconnections between transmission and data‑processing equipment
• Internal cabling for PBX and digital exchanges (see annex on screened pairs)

Keywords: IEC 60189-2, PVC insulated cables, inside installations, low-frequency cables, pairs triples quads quintuples, telecommunication cable standards.

Who should use this standard

• Cable manufacturers and designers specifying PVC‑insulated low‑frequency multi‑element cables
• Procurement and specification engineers for telecom and data centres
• Test laboratories and conformity assessors performing mechanical, thermal and electrical testing
• Installers and integrators ensuring compliance with indoor cable requirements

Related standards

• IEC 60189‑1 (general test and measuring methods)
• IEC 60028 (copper conductor resistance)
• IEC 60304 (standard insulation colours)
• IEC 60332‑3 (vertical flame spread tests)

Use IEC 60189‑2 when specifying or verifying indoor PVC‑insulated multi‑element cables to ensure consistent performance, safety and interoperability in telecom and data installations.