IEC TR 62839-1:2014

Overview

IEC TR 62839-1:2014 - Environmental declaration, Part 1: Wires, cables and accessory products – Specific rules - defines product-specific rules (PSR) for preparing Type III environmental declarations (PEP/PCR) for wires and cables used in communication, data, control and command applications. The Technical Report provides methodological clarifications for life cycle assessment (LCA)-based declarations covering use, installation and end-of-life stages. The document addresses three product categories (communication & data cables, control & command cables, and accessories) but focuses primarily on wires and cables; accessories are noted for further study.

Key Topics and Requirements

• Product specific rules (PSR): Prescriptive guidance for writing PEP/PCR for wires and cables to ensure consistent Type III environmental declarations.
• Functional unit & reference flow: Manufacturers must define a functional unit (for example: “Transmit a communication signal on 1 m according to XX protocol, YY category, during X years and a Y% use rate…”). The reference flow is expressed in metres and must include the reference product, packaging and installation items integrated in the study.
• System boundaries (life cycle stages): Required life cycle phases include:
  • Manufacturing (resource extraction → product manufacturing → producer logistics)
  • Distribution (producer logistics → place of implementation)
  • Installation (but for communication & data cables, installation phase is typically excluded from the PCR perimeter and left to PEP users to assess in context)
  • Use phase (service life, maintenance, lifetime and use rates per application)
  • End-of-life (transport to treatment/recycling/disposal)
• Installation & use guidance: Installation impacts are excluded for many communication/data cable cases due to variable contexts; lifetime and use rates are tied to the application categories (see Table A.1 in the report).
• Scope limitations: Accessories are recognized but treated as out of scope for Part 1; future work anticipated.

Practical Applications and Users

• Intended for environment/product managers, LCA experts, and verifiers preparing or assessing PEP/PCR for wires and cables.
• Supports development of consistent, comparable environmental declarations for business-to-business communication and procurement.
• Useful when conducting LCA, defining functional units, setting system boundaries, and documenting end-of-life scenarios for cable products in telecommunications, data centers, control systems and industrial automation.

Related Standards (normative references)

• ISO 14025 (Type III environmental declarations)
• ISO 14040 / ISO 14044 (LCA principles & requirements)
• ISO 14020 (Environmental labels - general principles)
• IEC series relevant to cables and fibres: IEC 60793, IEC 60794, IEC 61156 (including parts 5 and 7)
• ISO/IEC 15018 (generic cabling for homes)

Keywords: IEC TR 62839-1:2014, environmental declaration, PEP/PCR, wires and cables, LCA, functional unit, system boundaries, communication cables, control and command cables.