IEC 61784-5-6:2024

Overview

IEC 61784-5-6:2024 defines installation profiles for CPF 6 (INTERBUS™) within the IEC 61784 series “Industrial networks – Profiles”. This edition (5.0, redline) specifies the installation rules and requirements that implementers must follow for CPF 6 networks. The standard’s annexes provide the network-specific installation profiles and are to be read together with IEC 61918:2018 and its amendments (AMD1:2022, AMD2:2024). The document covers both non‑Ethernet (Type 8) and Ethernet-based CPF 6 network installations.

Key topics and technical requirements

The standard organizes requirements into planning, implementation, verification and maintenance. Major technical topics include:

• Installation planning
  • Network topology and capabilities
  • Cabling selection and planning documentation
  • Maximum link lengths and network characteristics (balanced copper and optical fibre)
• Cabling components and selection
  • Parameters for balanced cables, silica and plastic optical fibre (POF), hard-clad silica
  • Guidance on fixed cabling vs. cords and remote bus fibre lengths
• Connector and device installation
  • Connector types and pin assignments (examples: Sub‑D, M23, M12, terminal connectors)
  • Connector installation, terminator placement and device mounting
• Earthing, bonding and shielding
  • Shield cabling practices, equipment earthing and bonding guidance
• Documentation, labelling and administration
  • As‑implemented cabling documentation, coding and labelling conventions
• Verification and acceptance testing
  • Installation verification procedures and acceptance test criteria
• Maintenance and troubleshooting
  • Procedures for ongoing administration and fault resolution

The annex structure (Annex A for Type 8, Annex B for Ethernet CPF 6/2) contains normative tables, figures and pinouts to assist implementers.

Applications and who uses it

IEC 61784-5-6 is used by professionals responsible for the physical deployment of industrial fieldbus networks where CPF 6 profiles apply, including:

• Industrial network designers and system integrators
• Automation and control engineers
• Panel builders, installers and commissioning teams
• OEMs producing INTERBUS-compatible devices
• Maintenance and reliability engineers responsible for cabling and network troubleshooting
• Certification bodies assessing conformance to CPF 6 installation profiles

Typical applications include factory automation, process control and machine-level communication systems using INTERBUS-based fieldbus topologies or CPF 6 Ethernet implementations.

Related standards

• IEC 61918:2018, with AMD1:2022 and AMD2:2024 - normative references for CPF 6 installation profiles
• Other parts of IEC 61784 (Profiles) - for protocol and profile definitions relevant to industrial networks

Keywords: IEC 61784-5-6, CPF 6, INTERBUS, industrial networks, installation profiles, fieldbus installation, cabling, Ethernet, fibre optic, installation verification.