IEC 62255-4:2005

INTERNATIONAL IEC
STANDARD 62255-4
First edition
2005-06
Multicore and symmetrical pair/quad cables
for broadband digital communications
(high bit rate digital access telecommunication
networks) – Outside plant cables –
Part 4:
Aerial drop cables – Sectional specification

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INTERNATIONAL IEC
STANDARD 62255-4
First edition
2005-06
Multicore and symmetrical pair/quad cables
for broadband digital communications
(high bit rate digital access telecommunication
networks) – Outside plant cables –
Part 4:
Aerial drop cables – Sectional specification

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– 2 – 62255-4  IEC:2005(E)
CONTENTS
FOREWORD.3

Scope.5
2 Normative references.5

3 Terms and definitions .5

4 Installation considerations.5

5 Materials and cable construction .5

5.1 General remarks.5
5.2 Cable construction.6
5.3 Conductor.6
5.4 Insulation.6
5.5 Colour Code .6
5.6 Cable element .6
5.7 Cable make-up .6
5.8 Filling compound .6
5.9 Flooding compound .7
5.10 Screening of the cable core .7
5.11 Sheath.7
5.12 Rip-cord .7
5.13 Colour of the sheath .7
5.14 Strength members .7
5.15 Identification.7
5.16 Packaging of the finished cable.8
6 Characteristics and requirements.8
6.1 Electrical requirements .8
6.2 Transmission requirements.10
6.3 Mechanical and dimensional characteristics and requirements of the cable .12
6.4 Environmental requirements .13
7 Introduction to the blank detail specification .15

Table 1 – Conductor resistance .8
Table 2 – Test voltages .9

Table 3 – Test voltages .9
Table 4 – Attenuation coefficients.10
Table 5 – Values of PSNEXT(1) .11
Table 6 – Values of PSELFEXT(1).11
Table 7 – Return loss .12

62255-4  IEC:2005(E) – 3 –
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION

____________
MULTICORE AND SYMMETRICAL PAIR/QUAD CABLES

FOR BROADBAND DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS

(HIGH BIT RATE DIGITAL ACCESS TELECOMMUNICATION

NETWORKS) – OUTSIDE PLANT CABLES –

Part 4: Aerial drop cables – Sectional specification

FOREWORD
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International Standard IEC 62255-4 has been prepared by subcommittee 46C: Wires and
symmetric cables, of IEC technical committee 46: Cables, wires, waveguides, r.f. connectors, r.f.
and microwave passive components and accessories.
The text of this standard is based on the following documents:
FDIS Report on voting
46C/718/FDIS 46C/733/RVD
Full information on the voting for the approval of this standard can be found in the report on voting
indicated in the above table.
This standard is to be read in conjunction with IEC 62255-1.
This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.

– 4 – 62255-4  IEC:2005(E)
IEC 62255 consists of the following parts, under the general title Multicore and symmetrical

pair/quad cables for broadband digital communications (high bit rate digital access

telecommunications networks) – Outside plant cables:

Part 1: Generic specification

Part 2: Unfilled cables – Sectional specification

Part 2-1: Unfilled cables – Blank detail specification

Part 3: Filled cables – Sectional specification

Part 3-1: Filled cables – Blank detail specification

Part 4: Aerial drop cables – Sectional specification

Part 4-1: Aerial drop cables – Blank detail specification
Part 5: Filled drop cables – Sectional specification
Part 5-1: Filled drop cables – Blank detail specification

The committee has decided that the contents of this publication will remain unchanged until the
maintenance result date indicated on the IEC web site under "http://webstore.iec.ch" in the data
related to the specific publication. At this date, the publication will be
• reconfirmed;
• withdrawn;
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.
A bilingual version of this publication may be issued at a later date.

62255-4  IEC:2005(E) – 5 –
MULTICORE AND SYMMETRICAL PAIR/QUAD CABLES

FOR BROADBAND DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS

(HIGH BIT RATE DIGITAL ACCESS TELECOMMUNICATION

NETWORKS) – OUTSIDE PLANT CABLES –

Part 4: Aerial drop cables – Sectional specification

1 Scope
This sectional specification relates to IEC 62255-1.
This standard is applicable to aerial drop cables with or without a metallic screen over the cable
core, a thermoplastic jacket, copper conductors, and solid or cellular insulation. These cables are
typically available in 2 to 6 pair.
These cables are intended for aerial applications and are self-supporting.
The cables covered by this specification are differentiated by bandwidth and are classified by
having a maximum reference frequency of 30 MHz, 60 MHz, or 100 MHz.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application 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.
IEC 60304, Standard colours for insulation for low-frequency cables and wires
IEC 62255-1, Multicore and symmetrical pair/quad cables for broadband digital communications
(high bit rate digital access telecommunication networks) – Outside plant cables – Part 1: Generic
specification
IEC 62255-4-1, Multicore and symmetrical pair/quad cables for broadband digital communications
(high bit rate digital access telecommunication networks) – Outside plant cables – Part 4-1: Aerial
drop cables – Blank detail specification
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the defin
...