IEC 61918:2018

Overview

IEC 61918:2018 - Industrial communication networks - Installation of communication networks in industrial premises - is an international standard that specifies basic requirements for installing media for communication networks across industrial sites. It covers balanced cabling, optical fibre cabling, and the cabling infrastructure used to support wireless systems (but not the wireless radio media itself). The standard addresses cabling within and between automation islands and is intended to be used with the IEC 61784-5 series for installation of Communication Profiles (CPs). This is the fourth edition (technical revision) and includes updated references to ISO/IEC 11801-3 and expanded annex material.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Installation planning: project workflows, cabling planning documentation, topology selection and network capability assessment.
• Cable and component selection: guidance on choosing balanced, fibre and other media, plus connectors (shielded/unshielded), terminators and mechanical protection.
• Earthing and bonding: detailed requirements for equipment and shielded cabling earthing methods and verification.
• Routing and separation: routing, mechanical protection, and separation from power or hazardous circuits to reduce EMI and improve reliability.
• Verification and acceptance testing: procedures for installation verification, Ethernet-based and non-Ethernet-based acceptance tests, and reporting.
• Installation implementation: practical routing, connector and terminator installation, device connections, labelling and storage/transportation of cables.
• Administration, maintenance and troubleshooting: as‑implemented documentation, scheduled and condition-based maintenance, fault diagnosis and simplified troubleshooting procedures.
• Supplementary guidance: informative annexes including the MICE (Mechanical, Ingress, Climatic, Electromagnetic) methodology, network topologies, and additional communication profile families.

Practical applications

IEC 61918 is applied where robust, deterministic and EMC-aware communication cabling is required in industrial environments:

• Factory automation networks (Ethernet/IP, PROFINET, EtherCAT, etc.)
• Process plants, machine cells and automation islands
• Industrial control system retrofits and new installations
• Plant-wide fiber optic backbone and zone cabling design

Who should use this standard

• System integrators and industrial network installers
• Plant and electrical engineers specifying cabling systems
• Maintenance teams and network administrators performing verification and troubleshooting
• Consultants, specifiers and project managers responsible for industrial network infrastructure

Related standards

• IEC 61784‑5 (communication profiles - installation guidance)
• ISO/IEC 11801‑3 (generic cabling for industrial premises) - referenced in the latest edition
• Other IEC/ISO standards on cabling verification and site testing

Keywords: IEC 61918:2018, industrial communication networks, cabling installation, fibre optic cabling, balanced cabling, earthing and bonding, MICE, network acceptance testing.