FprEN 4641-001
(Main)Aerospace series - Cables, optical, 125 µm diameter cladding - Part 001: Technical specification
Aerospace series - Cables, optical, 125 µm diameter cladding - Part 001: Technical specification
This document specifies the general characteristics, conditions for qualification, acceptance and quality assurance, as well as the test methods and groups for fibre optic cables with a cladding of 125 µm outside diameter.
Luft- und Raumfahrt - Kabel, optisch - Teil 001: Technische Spezifikation
No Scope available
Série aérospatiale - Câbles, optiques, diamètre extérieur de la gaine optique 125 µm - Partie 001 : Spécification technique
Le présent document spécifie les caractéristiques générales, les conditions de qualification, de réception et d’assurance qualité, ainsi que les méthodes et groupes d’essais pour les câbles à fibre optique dotés d'une gaine optique d'un diamètre extérieur de 125 μm.
Aeronavtika - Kabli, optični - 001. del: Tehnična specifikacija
General Information
- Status
- Not Published
- Publication Date
- 30-Nov-2025
- Technical Committee
- ASD-STAN - Aerospace
- Drafting Committee
- ASD-STAN/D 2/S 10 - Optical
- Current Stage
- 6055 - CEN Ratification completed (DOR) - Publishing
- Start Date
- 29-Sep-2025
- Completion Date
- 29-Sep-2025
Relations
- Effective Date
- 19-Jan-2023
Overview
The FprEN 4641-001 standard, titled Aerospace series - Cables, optical, 125 µm diameter cladding - Part 001: Technical specification, is published by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) and developed under the Aerospace and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD-STAN). It establishes the technical requirements, qualification conditions, acceptance criteria, quality assurance procedures, and test methods for fibre optic cables designed with a cladding diameter of 125 micrometers, specifically for aerospace applications.
This document supersedes EN 4641-001:2018 and offers harmonized guidance for manufacturers, suppliers, and quality engineers who develop or utilize optical fibre cables in aerospace and defence sectors. The standard ensures uniformity, safety, reliability, and performance of optical cables used in aviation and space environments.
Key Topics
Cable Construction and Characteristics
- The standard defines cable configuration including fibre construction, buffers, strength members, and outer jackets.
- Fibre consists of a single all-silica core with a silica cladding and a primary protective coating.
- Cable classifications involve tight, semi-loose, or loose cable constructions based on the movement between fibres, buffers, and outer layers.
- Material requirements specify construction dimensions, mass, materials used, and color codes ensuring compatibility with aerospace standards.
Testing and Qualification Methods
- Extensive test methods are detailed, including optical fibre and cable tests aligned with EN 3745-100 and IEC standards.
- Optical fibre tests cover dimensions, attenuation, proof testing, numerical aperture, bandwidth, chromatic dispersion, and index of refraction.
- Fibre optic cable tests address visual examination, dimensional stability, temperature cycling, flammability, abrasion resistance, tensile strength, impact, torsion, bending, smoke density, toxicity, and more.
- Qualification testing requires submission of cable samples on drums or coils with proper labeling and involves repeated testing every three years to maintain certification.
Quality Assurance Processes
- The standard refers to EN 9133 for general quality management principles.
- It outlines specific qualification conditions, sampling procedures, and maintenance of qualification status.
- Quality control includes inspection of markings, outer jacket continuity, and physical attributes as per product specifications.
Designation, Marking, and Delivery
- Clear provisions govern cable designations, coding systems, marking durability, color specifications, and labeling requirements.
- Packaging and delivery conditions emphasize protection against environmental damage and traceability throughout logistics.
- Storage guidelines ensure cable integrity prior to installation or use.
Applications
- Aerospace Electrical Systems: Used in aircraft wiring harnesses, data transmission lines, and control systems where reliability under extreme conditions is critical.
- Spacecraft and Satellites: Optical cables compliant with this standard provide stable, low-loss data connections essential for communication and telemetry.
- Military and Defense: Optical cables produced according to FprEN 4641-001 meet stringent criteria for secure, low-interference signal transmission in defense applications.
- Avionics Systems: Integration in avionics enhances lightweight wiring, improves immunity to electromagnetic interference, and supports high-speed data throughput.
Adopting this standard improves safety, performance, and regulatory compliance across aerospace manufacturing and operational processes that rely on advanced fibre optic cabling.
Related Standards
- EN 3745-100: Aerospace series - Optical fibres and cables test methods.
- EN 3838: Requirements and tests for user-applied markings on aircraft electrical cables.
- EN 60793 series: Optical fibres - Measurement methods and test procedures.
- ISO 2574: Aircraft electrical cables - Identification marking.
- EN 9133: Quality management principles for aerospace products.
These standards complement FprEN 4641-001 by providing additional testing protocols, identification guidelines, and quality assurance frameworks essential to aerospace cable manufacturing and certification.
Keywords: aerospace optical cables, fibre optic cable standard, 125 µm cladding, aerospace electrical equipment, fibre optic cable testing, optical cable qualification, EN 4641-001, aerospace cable quality assurance, fibre optic cable construction, aerospace defence standard.
Frequently Asked Questions
FprEN 4641-001 is a draft published by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). Its full title is "Aerospace series - Cables, optical, 125 µm diameter cladding - Part 001: Technical specification". This standard covers: This document specifies the general characteristics, conditions for qualification, acceptance and quality assurance, as well as the test methods and groups for fibre optic cables with a cladding of 125 µm outside diameter.
This document specifies the general characteristics, conditions for qualification, acceptance and quality assurance, as well as the test methods and groups for fibre optic cables with a cladding of 125 µm outside diameter.
FprEN 4641-001 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 49.060 - Aerospace electric equipment and systems. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
FprEN 4641-001 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to EN 4641-001:2018. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.
FprEN 4641-001 is available in PDF format for immediate download after purchase. The document can be added to your cart and obtained through the secure checkout process. Digital delivery ensures instant access to the complete standard document.
Standards Content (Sample)
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
oSIST prEN 4641-001:2023
01-maj-2023
Aeronavtika - Kabli, optični - 001. del: Tehnična specifikacija
Aerospace series - Cables, optical - Part 001: Technical specification
Luft- und Raumfahrt - Kabel, optisch - Teil 001: Technische Spezifikation
Série aérospatiale - Câbles, optiques - Partie 001 : Spécification technique
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 4641-001
ICS:
33.180.10 (Optična) vlakna in kabli Fibres and cables
49.060 Letalska in vesoljska Aerospace electric
električna oprema in sistemi equipment and systems
oSIST prEN 4641-001:2023 en,fr,de
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
oSIST prEN 4641-001:2023
oSIST prEN 4641-001:2023
DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
prEN 4641-001
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
March 2023
ICS 49.060 Will supersede EN 4641-001:2018
English Version
Aerospace series - Cables, optical - Part 001: Technical
specification
Série aérospatiale - Câbles, optiques - Partie 001 : Luft- und Raumfahrt - Kabel, optisch - Teil 001:
Spécification technique Technische Spezifikation
This draft European Standard is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee ASD-
STAN.
If this draft becomes a European Standard, CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations
which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.
This draft European Standard was established by CEN in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other
language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are
aware and to provide supporting documentation.
Warning : This document is not a European Standard. It is distributed for review and comments. It is subject to change without
notice and shall not be referred to as a European Standard.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2023 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. prEN 4641-001:2023 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
oSIST prEN 4641-001:2023
prEN 4641-001:2023 (E)
Contents Page
European foreword . 3
1 Scope . 4
2 Normative references . 4
3 Terms and definitions . 4
4 Required characteristics . 5
4.1 Description . 5
4.2 Materials and construction of cables . 5
4.3 Fibre construction . 5
4.4 Cable construction . 6
5 Test methods . 8
5.1 Tests in accordance with EN 3745-100 . 8
5.1.1 Optical fibre . 8
5.1.2 Fibre optic cable . 9
5.2 Special tests . 10
6 Quality assurance . 10
6.1 General. 10
6.2 Qualification . 10
6.2.1 Qualification conditions . 10
6.2.2 Qualification tests . 10
6.3 Sampling and definition of specimens . 16
6.3.1 Introduction . 16
6.3.2 Preparation of specimens . 16
6.4 Qualification group and maintenance of qualification . 16
6.5 Quality control . 16
7 Designation and marking . 16
7.1 General principle of designation . 16
7.2 General principle of codification . 16
7.3 Dynamic product standard cross table . 16
7.4 Marking . 17
7.5 Colours . 17
8 Delivery conditions . 17
8.1 Packaging . 17
8.2 Labelling . 18
8.3 Delivery lengths. 18
9 Storage . 18
Bibliography . 19
oSIST prEN 4641-001:2023
prEN 4641-001:2023 (E)
European foreword
This document (prEN 4641-001:2023) has been prepared by the Aerospace and Defence Industries
Association of Europe — Standardization (ASD-STAN).
After enquiries and votes carried out in accordance with the rules of this Association, this document has
received the approval of the National Associations and the Official Services of the member countries of
ASD-STAN, prior to its presentation to CEN.
This document is currently submitted to the CEN Enquiry.
This document will supersede EN 4641-001:2018.
oSIST prEN 4641-001:2023
prEN 4641-001:2023 (E)
1 Scope
This document specifies the general characteristics, conditions for qualification, acceptance and quality
assurance, as well as the test methods and groups for fibre optic cables with a cladding of 125 µm
outside diameter.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 3745-100, Aerospace series — Fibres and cables, optical, aircraft use — Test methods — Part 100:
General
EN 3838, Aerospace series - Requirements and tests on user-applied markings on aircraft electrical cables
EN 60793-1-30, Optical fibres - Part 1-30: Measurement methods and test procedures - Fibre proof test
(IEC 60793-1-30)
EN 60793-1-41, Optical fibres - Part 1-41: Measurement methods and test procedures – Bandwidth (IEC
60793-1-41)
EN 60793-1-42, Optical fibres - Part 1-42: Measurement methods and test procedures - Chromatic
dispersion (IEC 60793-1-42)
ISO 2574, Aircraft — Electrical cables — Identification marking
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in EN 3745-100 and the following
apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
3.1
tight simplex cable
structure that allows no movement between the secondary buffer (or buffer) and the outer layers
3.2
semi-loose simplex cable
structure that allows a limited movement of the secondary buffer (or buffer) compared to the outer
layers
3.3
loose simplex cable
structure that allows an unlimited movement of the secondary buffer compared to the outer layers
And all parts quoted in this document.
oSIST prEN 4641-001:2023
prEN 4641-001:2023 (E)
3.4
tight multifibre cable
structure that allows no movement between the fibres and the outer layers
3.5
semi loose multifibre cable
structure that allows a limited movement of the secondary buffers (or buffers or inner sheaths)
compared to the outer layers
3.6
loose multifibre cable
structure that allows an unlimited movement of the fibres compared to the outer layers
3.7
tight buffer
structure that allows no movement between fibre and secondary buffer (or buffer)
3.8
loose buffer
structure that allows an unlimited movement of the fibre compared to the secondary buffer (or buffer)
4 Required characteristics
4.1 Description
The characteristics of the cables, tested according to the methods described hereafter shall comply with
the values defined in the product standard.
4.2 Materials and construction of cables
The configuration, dimensions and mass of the cable shall meet the values specified in the product
standard as well as the requirements hereafter.
Materials and colour shall meet the product standard:
— configuration (see Clause 3, no. of fibre, brais, jackets);
— dimensions;
— mass;
— colours;
— materials.
4.3 Fibre construction
The fibre shall consist of a single all silica core and a silica cladding protected by a primary coating in
accordance with the product standards.
See Figure 1.
oSIST prEN 4641-001:2023
prEN 4641-001:2023 (E)
Key
1 Core
2 Cladding
3 Primary coating
4 Buffer (optional)
Figure 1 — Fibre construction (axial view)
4.4 Cable construction
The typical requirements of the cable shall be an outer jacket, strength member, buffer and fibre, which
is protected by a primary coating. See example at Figure 2.
Details of the materials used for the outer sheath, strength member, inner sheath and buffer shall be
defined in the product standard.
oSIST prEN 4641-001:2023
prEN 4641-001:2023 (E)
Key
1 Fibre (core + primary 3 Strength members 5 External strength members
buffer) (only for ruggedised
cable)
2 Secondary
...




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