BS EN IEC 60794-1-22-2018 PDF

Full title and description

STB BS EN IEC 60794-1-22:2018 — Optical fibre cables. Part 1-22: Generic specification — Basic optical cable test procedures — Environmental test methods. This document provides generic, harmonized procedures for environmental testing of optical fibre cables (including cables combining optical fibres and electrical conductors, and fibre units or microduct fibre units) to establish uniform environmental performance requirements.

Abstract

This standard specifies environmental test methods and basic optical cable test procedures used to evaluate the behaviour and durability of optical fibre cables under temperature, moisture, UV, ageing and other environmental stresses. It is intended as a generic reference for detail and family specifications and to support uniform acceptance criteria for outdoor and indoor optical cable constructions.

General information

• Status: Superseded / withdrawn as a standalone detail; harmonized EN/IEC edition published 2018 and later superseded by newer Part 1‑21x technical updates (for example BS EN IEC 60794‑1‑211:2021 and subsequent 1‑21x parts published in 2024).
• Publication date: 22 February 2018 (EN IEC/BS adoption of IEC 60794‑1‑22:2017).
• Publisher: British Standards Institution (BSI) — adoption of the EN IEC harmonized text originating from IEC/CENELEC technical committees (TC 86 / SC 86A).
• ICS / categories: 33.180 (Fibre optic communications) — typically referenced under 33.180.01 / 33.180.10 for fibre systems and fibres & cables.
• Edition / version: EN IEC (redesignated) edition 2018 — identical to IEC 60794‑1‑22:2017 RLV as adopted in 2018.
• Number of pages: Approximately 42–44 pages (published BSI/EN edition page counts vary by format).

Scope

This part of IEC 60794 defines environmental test procedures to be used in establishing uniform requirements for the environmental performance of optical fibre cables for use with telecommunication equipment and related devices. The scope includes optical fibre cables and constructions that may combine optical fibres with electrical conductors, and it clarifies that the term "optical cable" can include fibre units, microduct fibre units and similar. The standard provides methods (designated F‑series) for evaluating thermal stability, water ingress, hydrostatic resistance, UV and ageing effects and other environmental influences relevant to cable performance.

Key topics and requirements

• Environmental test methods (F‑series), including temperature cycling (Method F1) and mid‑span temperature cycling (Method F18).
• Water ingress and hydrostatic resistance tests (Method F5 — water penetration; Method F10 — underwater hydrostatic pressure).
• Ageing and outdoor exposure tests (Method F9 — ageing; Method F14 — UV/weathering resistance).
• Sheath shrinkage and related dimensional stability checks (Method F11 and related variants in later revisions).
• Reference and cross‑reference to IEC/ISO test method standards for material exposure, plastics weathering and test arrangements.

Typical use and users

Used by standards committees, cable manufacturers, test laboratories, procurement engineers, network operators and specification writers to define or verify environmental performance requirements for optical fibre cables. It serves as the generic test procedures that detail/family specifications and product acceptance tests reference when qualifying cable designs for outdoor, indoor/outdoor or combined applications.

Related standards

Part of the IEC 60794 family (optical fibre cables). Commonly used with IEC/EN parts that define general requirements and specific mechanical test methods (for example IEC 60794‑1‑1, IEC 60794‑1‑101 and other 1‑1xx and 1‑2xx method parts). The 2018 edition has been followed by newer Part 1‑21x revisions (for example BS EN IEC 60794‑1‑211:2021 and additional 1‑21x parts published in 2024) which rework or renumber some methods. For product or installation specifications also consult the relevant sectional/family specifications in the 60794‑2/3/4 series.

Keywords

optical fibre cables, environmental test methods, temperature cycling, water penetration, hydrostatic pressure, UV resistance, ageing, sheath shrinkage, IEC 60794, cable qualification.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: It is the EN/IEC harmonized generic specification (Part 1‑22) for basic optical cable test procedures that focus on environmental test methods for optical fibre cables; the BSI adopted the EN IEC edition in 2018.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers generic environmental test procedures (designated Methods F1, F5, F9, F10, F14, etc.) used to assess thermal behaviour, water ingress and hydrostatic resistance, UV and ageing, sheath stability and related environmental effects on optical fibre cables.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Cable manufacturers, independent test laboratories, network operators, procurement/specification engineers and standards committees use it to define or verify environmental acceptance criteria and to build detail/family specifications for specific cable types.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The 2018 EN IEC 60794‑1‑22 edition has been superseded by later Part 1‑21x revisions and updates (examples include BS EN IEC 60794‑1‑211:2021 and additional 1‑21x parts published in 2024). Users should check for the most recent Part 1‑21x method documents or the relevant detail specification applicable to their product.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is part of the IEC 60794 series (Optical fibre cables). Part 1 contains generic specifications and method definitions; other Parts (2/3/4, and further 1‑xxx method subparts) cover family and detail specifications, installation and application‑specific requirements.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Optical fibre cables, environmental tests, water penetration, hydrostatic pressure, temperature cycling, UV ageing, sheath shrinkage, IEC 60794.