IEC 61156-6:2020

Overview - IEC 61156-6:2020 (Work area wiring, up to 1 000 MHz)

IEC 61156-6:2020 is the fourth edition sectional specification for multicore and symmetrical pair/quad cables intended primarily for work area wiring as defined in ISO/IEC 11801. It covers symmetrical pair and quad cable designs (individually screened, common screened and unscreened) with transmission characteristics specified up to 1 000 MHz at 20 °C. This edition updates balance levels for MICE environments and adds references for modern measurement techniques and remote powering (PoE) considerations.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Cable types and construction
  • Individually screened pairs, common screened pairs/quads, and unscreened options for work area use.
  • Conductor, insulation, sheath and identification requirements.
• Electrical and transmission characteristics
  • Attenuation, impedance, return loss, velocity of propagation, phase delay and delay skew.
  • Pair balance parameters and additional balance levels for different MICE (Mechanical, Internal, Climatic, Electromagnetic) conditions.
• Crosstalk and interference
  • Near-end crosstalk (NEXT), power-sum NEXT, attenuation-to-crosstalk ratios (PS ACR-F), and alien (exogenous) crosstalk metrics (ANEXT, AACR-F).
  • Transfer impedance and coupling attenuation limits for screened constructions.
• Mechanical, environmental and safety tests
  • Dimensional, tensile, bending, crush, impact, thermal ageing, cold bend, damp heat, flame propagation, smoke, halogen and toxic gas emissions.
• Measurement and test references
  • Normative references to current measurement techniques and test methods, enabling consistent lab evaluation.

Practical applications and who uses this standard

• Cable manufacturers - design and certify pair/quad cables for work area deployments up to 1 000 MHz.
• System developers and network designers - evaluate cable characteristics required for high-speed digital channels using up to four pairs simultaneously.
• Cabling specifiers and consultants - select appropriate screened/unscreened cables for office and enterprise work areas, considering MICE conditions and remote powering (PoE).
• Test laboratories and installers - verify compliance for electrical, mechanical and environmental performance; use specified test procedures to qualify products on acceptance.
• Standards writers and procurement teams - reference sectional specification to define procurement and acceptance criteria for structured cabling projects.

Related standards

• IEC 61156-1 (general requirements for multicore and symmetrical pair/quad cables)
• ISO/IEC 11801 (generic cabling for customer premises)
• Other parts of the IEC 61156 series for different frequency ranges or cable applications

Keywords: IEC 61156-6:2020, work area wiring, symmetrical pair/quad cables, multicore cables, up to 1000 MHz, transmission characteristics, ISO/IEC 11801, MICE, remote powering, NEXT, transfer impedance, return loss.