IEC EN 60811 Electrical and Optical Fibre Cables - Test Methods for Non-Metallic Materials

The standard “IEC EN 60811 Electrical and optical fibre cables - Test methods for non-metallic materials”, which is based on a European standard and subsequently published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), consists of the following subsections published under the same title:

• The standard “IEC 608111-100 Part 100 General requirements” describes general requirements and considerations applicable to all test methods given in specific sections, unless otherwise stated.
• The standard “IEC 60811-201 Part 201: General tests - Measurement of insulation thickness” describes methods for measuring insulation thicknesses applied to the most common types of insulation compounds (cross-linked, PVC, PE, PP, etc.).
• The standard “IEC 60811-202 Part 202: General tests - Measurement of the thickness of non-metallic sheaths” describes methods for measuring the thickness of non-metallic sheaths to which the most common sheath compounds (cross-linked, PVC, PE, PP, etc.) are applied.
• The standard "IEC 60811-203 Part 203: General tests - Measurement of overall dimensions" describes methods for measuring overall dimensions. This standard is applicable to all types of cables, circular and flat.
• The standard “IEC 60811-301 Part 301: Electrical tests - Measurement of permeability at 23 degrees of filling compounds” describes a procedure for determining the permeability at 23 degrees that is typically applied to filling compounds used for optical cables, communication cables and optical fiber cables.
• The standard “IEC 60811-302 Part 302: Electrical tests - Measurement of direct current resistivity of filling compounds at 23 degrees and 100 degrees” describes the procedure for examining the direct current resistivity at 23 degrees and 100 degrees, which is typically applied to filling compounds used for communication cables and optical fiber cables.
• The standard “IEC 60811-401 Part 401: Miscellaneous tests - Thermal ageing methods - Air oven ageing” describes the air oven ageing procedure applied to crosslinked and thermoplastic compounds typically used for insulation and sheathing materials.
• The standard “IEC 60811-402 Part 402: Miscellaneous tests - Water absorption tests” describes methods for water absorption tests applied to crosslinked and thermoplastic compounds typically used for insulation and sheathing materials.
• The standard “IEC 60811-403 Part 403: Miscellaneous tests - Ozone resistance testing on cross-linked compounds” describes the ozone resistance testing method generally applied to cross-linked compounds.
• The standard “IEC 60811-404 Part 404: Miscellaneous tests - Mineral oil immersion tests for sheaths” describes the mineral oil immersion test method, which is generally applied to cross-linked compounds used for sheath materials.
• The standard “IEC 60811-405 Part 405: Miscellaneous tests – Thermal stability test for PVC insulations and PVC sheaths” describes the thermal stability test procedure applied to PVC compounds.
• The standard “IEC 60811-406 Part 406: Miscellaneous tests - Resistance of polyethylene and polypropylene compounds to stress cracking” describes the procedure for evaluating the resistance to stress cracking of polyethylene and polypropylene compounds typically used in communication and optical fiber cables.
• The standard “IEC 60811-407 Part 407: Miscellaneous tests - Measurement of mass increase of polyethylene and polypropylene compounds” describes a procedure for examining the possible interaction between the insulation material of filled cable and the filler compound.
• The standard "IEC 60811-408 Part 408: Miscellaneous tests - Long-term stability test of polyethylene and polypropylene composite" describes a procedure for determining whether the quality of a cable's components will be satisfactory throughout the intended life of a communications cable. This test is considered a material selection test, solely to ensure that the selected materials will be satisfactory throughout the intended life of the cable. The duration of the test makes the test unsuitable for routine quality control testing. A method suitable for raw material monitoring is provided in the standard IEC 60811-410.
• The standard “IEC 60811-409 Part 409: Miscellaneous tests - Mass loss test for thermoplastic insulations and sheaths” describes a procedure for measuring mass loss, which is normally applied to PVC insulation and sheaths.
• The standard "IEC 60811-410 Part 410: Miscellaneous tests - Test method for copper-catalyzed oxidative degradation of polyolefin-insulated conductors" describes a procedure for the copper-catalyzed oxidative degradation of a polyolefin typically used for insulation in communication cables. The exact test conditions, such as temperature and time, and the exact test requirements are not specified in this standard; they are intended to be specified by the standard for the relevant cable type.
• The standard “IEC 60811-411 Part 411: Miscellaneous tests - Low temperature embrittlement of filler compounds” describes the procedure for evaluating low temperature embrittlement, which is generally applied to filler compounds used in communication and optical fiber cables.
• The standard “IEC 60811-412 Part 412: Miscellaneous tests - Thermal ageing methods - Air bomb ageing” describes an air bomb ageing procedure applied to cross-linked and thermoplastic compounds typically used for insulation and sheathing materials.
• The standard “IEC 60811-501 Part 501: Mechanical tests - Tests to determine the mechanical properties of insulating and sheathing compounds” describes a procedure for determining mechanical properties that applies to crosslinked and thermoplastic compounds typically used for insulating and sheathing materials.
• A test method for shrinkage of insulations is described in the standard “IEC 60811-502 Part 502: Mechanical tests - Shrinkage test for insulations”.
• The standard “IEC 60811-503 Part 503: Mechanical tests - Shrinkage test for sheaths” describes the shrinkage test method for sheaths.
• The standard “IEC 60811-504 Part 504: Mechanical tests - Low-temperature bending tests for insulation and sheaths” describes a procedure for performing low-temperature bending tests on extruded insulation and sheaths.
• The standard “IEC 60811-505 Part 505: Mechanical tests - Low temperature elongation for insulations and sheaths” describes a procedure for performing low temperature elongation tests on extruded insulations and sheaths.
• “IEC 60811-506 Part 506: Mechanical tests - Low-temperature impact tests for insulation and sheathing describes a method for carrying out low-temperature impact tests on extruded insulation and sheathing.
• The standard “IEC 60811-507 Part 507: Mechanical tests - Hot setting test for crosslinked materials” describes the hot setting test method applied to crosslinkable compounds typically used for insulation and sheathing materials.
• The standard "IEC 60811-508 Part 508: Mechanical tests - High-temperature pressure tests for insulation and sheaths" applies to thermoplastic compounds typically used for insulation and sheathing materials. This method is primarily designed for thermoplastic materials, but can also be used for cross-linked materials when specifically required by the relevant cable standard. The test method is not recommended for thicknesses below 0,7 mm.
• The standard “IEC 60811-509 Part 509: Mechanical tests - Testing of insulation and sheathing resistance to cracking (heat shock test)” describes a procedure for testing insulation and sheathing resistance to cracking at elevated temperature.
• The standard "IEC 60811-510 Part 510: Mechanical tests - Methods specific to polyethylene and polypropylene compounds - Winding test after thermal aging in air" describes a method for winding test after thermal aging in air. This test method is specifically applied to polyolefin insulation in communication cables. This test is designed for polyolefin insulation of unfilled cables and dry cores for filled cables where the wall thickness of the insulation is less than or equal to 0,8 mm.
• The standard “IEC 60811-511 Part 511: Mechanical tests - Measurement of the melt flow index of polyethylene compounds” describes a procedure for measuring the melt flow index for polyethylene compounds.
• The standard "IEC 60811-512 Part 512: Mechanical tests - Methods specific to polyethylene and polypropylene compounds - Tensile strength and elongation at break after conditioning at elevated temperature" describes the procedure for testing tensile strength and elongation at break after conditioning at elevated temperature. This method is specific to polyethylene and polypropylene compounds. This test is designed for samples taken from solid cables, polyolefin insulation with a wall thickness greater than 0,8 mm, and polyolefin sheaths in direct contact with the filler compound.
• The standard "IEC 60811-513 Part 513: Mechanical tests - Methods specific to polyethylene and polypropylene compounds - Wrap test after conditioning" describes procedures for a wrap test after high-temperature conditioning. This test method applies specifically to polyethylene and polypropylene insulation. This test is designed for samples taken from cables filled with polyolefin insulation having a wall thickness of 0,8 mm or less.
• The standard “IEC 60811-601 Part 601: Physical tests - Measurement of the dropping point of filling compounds” describes a test procedure for measuring the dropping point of filling compounds.
• The standard “IEC 60811-602 Part 602: Physical tests - Separation of oil in filling compounds” describes test methods for the separation of oil in filling compounds.
• The standard “IEC 60811-603 Part 603: Physical tests - Measurement of the total acid number of filling compounds” describes test methods for examining the filling compound for corrosive elements.
• The standard “IEC 60811-604 Part 604: Physical tests - Measurement of the absence of corrosive components in filler compounds” describes a procedure for determining the effect of the filler compound in contact with metal parts of the cable.
• The standard "IEC 60811-605 Part 605: Physical tests - Measurement of carbon black and/or mineral filler in polyethylene compounds" describes test methods for measuring the carbon black content added for UV stabilization of polyethylene and polyolefin compounds. These methods are not suitable for halogenated compounds. Method A is only suitable for polyethylene and polypropylene compounds. Method B is suitable for polyolefin compounds.
• The standard “IEC 60811-606 Part 606: Physical tests - Methods for determining density” describes methods for determining the density of the most common insulation and sheath compounds (cross-linked, PVC, PE, PP, etc.).
• The standard “IEC 60811-607 Part 607: Physical tests - Test for the assessment of carbon black dispersion in polyethylene and polypropylene” describes test methods for carbon black dispersion specifically applicable to PE and PP compounds, including cellular compounds and foam coating for insulation.

Our organization, which has been supporting businesses across all sectors for years with a wide range of testing, measurement, analysis, and evaluation activities, has a strong team of employees who closely follow global developments in science and technology and are constantly improving themselves. In this context, we also provide testing services in accordance with the "IEC EN 60811 Electrical and optical fiber cables - Test methods for non-metallic materials" standard.