IEC TR 62691:2016 PDF

Overview

IEC TR 62691:2016 is a Technical Report that provides practical guidelines for handling and installing optical fibre cables in metropolitan communication networks. The second edition (2016) updates and expands the 2011 edition and offers recommendations for multiple installation methods including underground ducts, trenchless technique, blowing in microducts, aerial installation on poles, lashed aerial in metropolitan networks, direct buried and use of trenches. It also comments on special installation situations such as tunnelling, lead-ins, on-bridges, underwater works, sanitary sewers, high‑pressure gas pipes and drinking‑water pipes.

Key Topics

• Installation planning and route considerations: specification, route selection and training requirements.
• Cable tension and mechanical limits: methods for predicting cable tension for pulling, pushing, blowing and duct installations (figures and tables support force calculations).
• Underground and trenchless techniques: guidance on duct installations, cable friction, lubrication, winching, cable overload protection and methods to maximise installed lengths.
• Blown microducts and blown systems: recommendations for blowing techniques and tube installations for FTTX rollouts.
• Aerial installations: pole‑mounted and lashed aerial installation practices, jointing allowances, in‑service considerations and protection methods.
• Direct burial and trenching: recommended depths, ploughing methods and trench best practices.
• Special situations: specific guidance for tunnels, bridge crossings, underwater laying, sanitary sewers, fibre‑in‑gas (high pressure gas pipe) and drinking‑water pipe installations.
• Safety and operational topics: confined space safety, cable routing in buildings, lightning protection and cable location procedures.
• Document updates: expanded technical content transferred from IEC 60794 parts (lashed applications, sewers, gas and drinking water applications) and a reference to IEC TR 62263 for optical cables on high‑voltage power lines.

Applications and Who Uses It

This TR is aimed at professionals involved in planning, specifying and executing fibre deployments in urban and metro environments:

• Network designers and planners for metropolitan communication networks
• Installation contractors and site engineers (underground, aerial and blown systems)
• Utility and municipal teams managing civil works and infrastructure sharing
• Procurement/specification authors and standards compliance officers
• FTTX project managers and operations teams seeking installation best practice

Related Standards

• IEC TR 62263 - for installations and maintenance of optical cables on overhead high‑voltage power lines (OPGW, OPPC, OPAC, ADSS) - referenced instead of coverage in this report.
• IEC 60794 series - source of several detailed cable application clauses now incorporated into this TR.

IEC TR 62691:2016 is a practical, centralized reference for safe, effective and standard‑aligned fibre cable installation methods across common urban deployment scenarios.