IEC 60794-1-23:2019

Overview

IEC 60794-1-23:2019 - Optical fibre cables - Part 1-23: Generic specification - Basic optical cable test procedures - Cable element test methods - is a technical revision (Edition 2.0, 2019) that defines standardized optical cable test procedures used to establish uniform requirements for the geometrical, material, mechanical and environmental properties of cable elements. The standard applies to optical fibre cables used with telecommunication equipment, including cables that combine optical fibres and electrical conductors, and covers units such as optical fibre units and microduct fibre units.

Key Topics and Requirements

This part of the IEC 60794 series focuses on cable element test methods (not whole-cable system tests). Key technical topics include:

• Geometry and dimensional tests: ribbon dimensions, width/height, fibre alignment (visual methods, aperture gauge).
• Separability and stripping: ribbon tear (separability), torsion, residual twist, and newly added strippability tests:
  • Method G10A - Stripping force stability of cabled optical fibres
  • Method G10B - Strippability of optical fibre ribbons
  • Method G10C - Strippability of buffered optical fibres
• Material and chemical behaviour: Method G9 - Bleeding and evaporation (assesses volatile components and contamination risk).
• Mechanical properties of buffer tubes and microtubes: tensile strength, elongation at break and low-temperature elongation:
  • Method G11 - Tensile strength and elongation of buffer tubes (aligned with IEC 60811-501)
  • Method G12 - Elongation at low temperature (aligned with IEC 60811-505)
• Handling and durability tests: bend tests, tube kinking, ribbon torsion.
• Procedure clarifications: sample preparation guidance (e.g., clarified Method G5 ribbon tear).

The document specifies sample preparation, apparatus, procedures, and details to be specified for consistent laboratory testing. It does not set pass/fail limits; instead it provides reproducible method definitions for use in specifications and contracts.

Practical Applications and Users

IEC 60794-1-23:2019 is intended for:

• Cable manufacturers - design verification, quality control, production consistency.
• Independent test laboratories - accredited testing to supply objective data for compliance and type approval.
• Telecommunications operators and network planners - procurement specs, acceptance testing and vendor comparison.
• R&D teams - material selection, new product validation, failure analysis.
• Standards committees and procurement engineers - creating uniform contract and specification language.

Using these optical cable test procedures helps reduce ambiguity in product requirements, speeds supplier qualification, and improves long-term network reliability.

Related Standards

• IEC 60794 series (general cable tests and specifications)
• IEC 60794-1-2 (reference guide to test methods, general requirements and definitions)
• IEC 60794-1-21 (earlier related methods; some methods were renumbered)
• IEC 60811-501 and IEC 60811-505 (material test methods referenced for buffer tube tests)

Keywords: optical fibre cable, optical cable test procedures, cable element test methods, ribbon strippability, buffer tube tensile strength.