IEC 61935-1:2019

Overview

IEC 61935-1:2019 is an international standard published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) that specifies reference measurement procedures and accuracy requirements for testing installed balanced cabling systems. It focuses on balanced information technology cabling as defined in ISO/IEC 11801-1 and associated standards. The standard applies primarily to cable assemblies constructed from cables compliant with the IEC 61156 series and connecting hardware specified in the IEC 60603-7 and IEC 61076 families of standards. This 2019 edition expands the upper frequency testing range to 2000 MHz and introduces advanced field testers (level VI), providing updated error models and improved testing accuracy.

Key Topics

• Measurement Procedures: Defines detailed reference methods for assessing electrical properties of installed balanced cabling, including DC resistance, insertion loss, propagation delay, crosstalk, return loss, and alien crosstalk.
• Field Tester Accuracy Levels: Specifies requirements for field testing equipment, introducing level VI testers capable of measuring frequencies up to 2000 MHz with improved precision.
• Test Setup and Calibration: Covers guidelines for test equipment setup, calibration with reference loads, and correct termination of conductor pairs to ensure reliable test data.
• Test Parameters and Reporting: Details standardized procedures for measuring parameters such as near-end crosstalk (NEXT), far-end crosstalk (FEXT), attenuation-to-crosstalk ratios (ACR-N, ACR-F), and unbalance attenuation, including uncertainty calculations and test report formats.
• Application Scope: Applies to installed balanced cabling systems compliant with ISO/IEC 11801 or equivalent standards, supporting IT infrastructure testing across enterprise environments.
• Coaxial Cabling Considerations: While focused on balanced cabling, it includes relevant provisions for coaxial cables where applicable, particularly for network analyzer use.

Applications

IEC 61935-1:2019 is essential for professionals involved in the installation, certification, and maintenance of data communication cabling systems, ensuring the quality and performance of network infrastructure. Practical uses include:

• Certification of installed balanced cabling systems in commercial buildings, data centers, and telecommunication facilities.
• Verification of cabling performance to meet or exceed ISO/IEC 11801 compliance requirements, ensuring reliable high-speed data transmission.
• Supporting quality control for cable manufacturers and installers by providing standardized field testing methods.
• Enabling advanced field testing with higher frequency capabilities and precise error modeling to support emerging high-bandwidth applications such as 5G, IoT, and advanced Ethernet technologies.
• Diagnosis and troubleshooting of cabling faults by providing quantified electrical parameter measurements.

Related Standards

• ISO/IEC 11801-1 – International standard defining generic cabling for customer premises, serving as the basis for cabling specifications referenced in IEC 61935-1.
• IEC 61156 Series – Standards specifying requirements for balanced communication cables used in information technology.
• IEC 60603-7 Series – Defines performance and testing requirements for modular connectors used in balanced cabling systems.
• IEC 61076 Series – Specifies connecting hardware such as circular and rectangular connectors relevant to balanced cabling.
• ISO/IEC 11801 – The umbrella standard covering generic cabling for various environments, closely aligned with IEC 61935-1 testing principles.

By adhering to IEC 61935-1:2019, stakeholders in IT infrastructure deployment can ensure installed balanced cabling systems perform optimally and comply with internationally recognized quality and performance benchmarks. This standard enhances testing precision, supports high-frequency application requirements, and facilitates uniformity across global IT cabling testing practices.