IEC 61196-3-3:1997

Overview

IEC 61196-3-3:1997 is an international standard published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) that specifies requirements for coaxial cables designed for digital communication in horizontal floor wiring systems. Specifically, it provides detailed specifications for coaxial cables with foamed dielectric, optimized for local area networks (LANs) with a maximum reach of 185 meters and data transmission speeds up to 10 Mb/s. This standard is part of the IEC 61196 series, complementing IEC 61196-1 and IEC 61196-3, and focuses on the subfamily of cables suited for digital communication applications in commercial and residential building infrastructures.

Key Topics

• Cable Construction

  • Inner Conductor: Tinned copper, 19 strands, 1.00 mm ± 0.07 mm diameter
  • Dielectric: Foamed polyethylene with maximum 8% eccentricity and 5% ovality, diameter 2.65 mm ± 0.15 mm
  • Outer Conductor: Two layers including aluminum-polymer tape and tinned copper braid
  • Sheath: PVC, 0.5 mm minimum thickness, with eccentricity and ovality each limited to 5%, overall diameter 4.7 mm ± 0.3 mm

• Electrical Characteristics

  • Characteristic Impedance: 50 Ω ± 2 Ω at 10 MHz
  • Attenuation: Maximum 3.24 dB/100m at 5 MHz and 4.59 dB/100m at 10 MHz
  • Velocity Ratio: Minimum 0.80
  • Dielectric Withstand Voltage: 1.0 kV RMS
  • Sheath Spark Test Voltage: 3.0 kV RMS
  • Insulation resistance: Minimum 5,000 MΩ·km at 100–500 V over 1 minute

• Mechanical and Environmental Performance

  • Minimum elongation after break for inner conductor: 15%
  • Sheath elongation at break: 100% minimum
  • Sheath tensile strength at break: 12.5 MPa minimum
  • Aging resistance: At least 50% retention of sheath elongation and 70% retention of tensile strength after 7 days at 100°C
  • Bending radius: Minimum 50 mm at room temperature with no damage
  • Low temperature bending test at –20°C with no deterioration
  • Fire performance: Compliance with IEC 60332-1 vertical flame test

• Connector Compatibility

  • Compatible with IEC 60169-8 BNC connectors, commonly used in 10BASE2 Ethernet networks

• Quality and Compliance

  • Compatible with ISO/IEC 8802-3 (1996) 10BASE2 applications
  • Marked with "Fabrication de câble / cable manufacturing CEI/IEC 61196-3-3" for traceability
  • Technical content subject to ongoing review by IEC to reflect current technology

Applications

IEC 61196-3-3:1997 standardizes the construction and performance of coaxial cables used primarily for:

• Local Area Networks (LANs): Horizontal floor wiring for digital communication networks with reach up to 185 meters and speeds up to 10 Mb/s, especially those following 10BASE2 specifications.
• Commercial and Residential Building Cabling: Suitable for structured cabling within offices, apartments, and similar buildings requiring reliable analog and digital radio frequency cable infrastructure.
• Network Installations: Ensures compatibility with common connector standards and electrical parameters to deliver stable signal transmission, minimal interference, and compliance with safety and mechanical durability requirements.

Related Standards

• IEC 61196-1: Generic specification for radio frequency cables, providing foundational cable performance and testing methods.
• IEC 61196-3: Sectional specification for coaxial cables, establishing broader family requirements for coaxial cable types.
• ISO/IEC 8802-3: An overarching standard specifying the 10BASE2 Ethernet standard, with which IEC 61196-3-3 cable specifications are fully compatible.
• IEC 60169-8: Standard governing the BNC connector type used in conjunction with these coaxial cables.
• IEC 60332-1: Standard for fire resistance and vertical flame propagation tests applicable to cables used in buildings.
• IEC 60050 / IEC 60027 / IEC 60417 / IEC 60617: International electrotechnical vocabulary and graphical/letter symbol standards supporting consistent terminology and markings.

Keywords: IEC 61196-3-3, coaxial cable standard, digital communication cable, foamed dielectric cable, local area network cabling, horizontal floor wiring, 10BASE2, 10 Mb/s coaxial cable, IEC cable specifications, BNC connectors, radio frequency cable standards, cable attenuation, cable impedance, network infrastructure cable, IEC 61196 series.