General Information

Abstract

This part of IEC 60794 defines the test procedures used to establish uniform requirements for bending stiffness performance. It applies to optical fibre cables for use with telecommunication equipment and devices employing similar techniques, and to cables having a combination of both optical fibres and electrical conductors.
NOTE Throughout the document, the wording "optical cable" can also include optical fibre units, microduct fibre units, etc.

Status
Published
Public Enquiry End Date
29-May-2025
Publication Date
21-Jul-2026
Technical Committee
MOC - Mobile Communications
Current Stage
6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
Start Date
07-Jul-2026
Due Date
11-Sep-2026
Completion Date
22-Jul-2026

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Standard

SIST EN IEC 60794-1-117:2026

English language (16 pages)
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Overview

SIST EN IEC 60794-1-117:2026 defines standardized test procedures for assessing the bending stiffness of optical fibre cables. Developed under the IEC 60794 series, this standard focuses on mechanical test methods, specifically the measurement of bending stiffness using Method E17. The guidance applies to a wide range of optical fibre cables, including those for telecommunications and mixed optical-electrical applications.

Ensuring consistent test methods provides manufacturers and users with reliable data on cable flexibility and mechanical strength, critical in installation, handling, and long-term performance across different network environments.

Key Topics

  • Bending Stiffness Measurement: The central subject is evaluating the resistance of optical fibre cables to bending forces. Stiffness is a key factor affecting installation techniques and in-service reliability.
  • Three Test Methods: The standard specifies three approaches for different cable types and scenarios:
    • Method E17A - Three-point bend: Suitable for large cables, assesses stiffness by placing the cable across two supports and applying force at the midpoint.
    • Method E17B - Cantilever bend: Used for both large and small cables, involves securing one end and applying force at a set distance.
    • Method E17C - Buckling bend: Primarily for smaller cables, measures the force required to induce buckling by bending the cable into a U-shape.
  • Test Reporting: Emphasis is placed on detailed and accurate test reporting, specifying essential aspects such as:
    • Cable type and dimensions
    • Testing apparatus and set-up
    • Loading conditions and sample numbers
    • Deviations from standard methods
    • Recorded stiffness results

Applications

The procedures defined in SIST EN IEC 60794-1-117:2026 serve critical roles in:

  • Product Development: Cable designers use these methodologies to verify that new or modified optical fibre cables meet required flexibility and durability criteria for various installations.
  • Quality Assurance: Manufacturers perform bending stiffness tests to ensure batch consistency and compliance with international cable performance specifications.
  • Vendor Qualification: Communications providers and project engineers rely on standardized test data when selecting optical fibre cables for backbone networks, access systems, data centers, and indoor environments.
  • Installation Practice: Understanding bending stiffness supports network planners and installers in choosing cables with appropriate handling and routing characteristics for ducts, conduits, cable trays, and tight spaces.
  • Regulatory and Tender Documentation: Test results derived from these methods may be required for compliance and bid documentation, ensuring transparency and trust in network infrastructure projects.

Related Standards

SIST EN IEC 60794-1-117:2026 is part of the broader IEC 60794 family of standards for optical cable performance and testing. Key related documents include:

  • IEC 60794-1-1: Generic specification for optical fibres, providing definitions and general cable requirements.
  • IEC 60794-1-2: Guidance on basic optical cable test procedures for overall quality assurance.
  • IEC 60794-1-21 (Withdrawn): Previously contained Method E17; SIST EN IEC 60794-1-117:2026 now supersedes this for bending stiffness testing.
  • IEC 60794 Series: Covers a range of mechanical, environmental, and transmission tests for optical fibre cables.

For fiber optic cable manufacturers, network operators, and test laboratories, this standard offers practical value by promoting test uniformity and supporting robust, flexible network infrastructure deployment. Incorporating IEC 60794-1-117’s procedures helps ensure that optical fibre cables are fit for purpose across diverse and demanding installation environments.

Relations

Effective Date
01-Sep-2026
Effective Date
01-Sep-2026
Effective Date
16-Jun-2026
Effective Date
07-Jul-2026
Effective Date
07-Jul-2026
Effective Date
07-Jul-2026

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Standard

SIST EN IEC 60794-1-117:2026

English language (16 pages)
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Frequently Asked Questions

SIST EN IEC 60794-1-117:2026 is a standard published by the Slovenian Institute for Standardization (SIST). Its full title is "Optical fibre cables - Part 1-117: Generic specification - Basic optical cable test procedures - Mechanical tests methods - Bending stiffness, Method E17 (IEC 60794-1-117:2026)". This standard covers: This part of IEC 60794 defines the test procedures used to establish uniform requirements for bending stiffness performance. It applies to optical fibre cables for use with telecommunication equipment and devices employing similar techniques, and to cables having a combination of both optical fibres and electrical conductors. NOTE Throughout the document, the wording "optical cable" can also include optical fibre units, microduct fibre units, etc.

This part of IEC 60794 defines the test procedures used to establish uniform requirements for bending stiffness performance. It applies to optical fibre cables for use with telecommunication equipment and devices employing similar techniques, and to cables having a combination of both optical fibres and electrical conductors. NOTE Throughout the document, the wording "optical cable" can also include optical fibre units, microduct fibre units, etc.

SIST EN IEC 60794-1-117:2026 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 33.180.10 - Fibres and cables. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.

SIST EN IEC 60794-1-117:2026 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to SIST EN 60794-1-21:2015/A1:2020, SIST EN 60794-1-21:2015, SIST EN IEC 60794-1-1:2023, SIST-TS CLC/TS 50621:2016, SIST EN IEC 62148-1:2018, SIST EN 3745-505:2018. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.

SIST EN IEC 60794-1-117:2026 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
01-september-2026
Nadomešča:
SIST EN 60794-1-21:2015
SIST EN 60794-1-21:2015/A1:2020
Optični kabli - 1-117. del: Splošna specifikacija - Osnovni preskusni postopki za
optične kable - Mehanske preskusne metode - Upogibna togost, metoda E17 (IEC
60794-1-117:2026)
Optical fibre cables - Part 1-117: Generic specification - Basic optical cable test
procedures - Mechanical tests methods - Bending stiffness, Method E17 (IEC 60794-1-
117:2026)
Lichtwellenleiterkabel – Teil 1-117: Fachgrundspezifikation - Grundlegende
Prüfverfahren für Lichtwellenleiterkabel - Mechanische Prüfverfahren - Biegesteifigkeit,
Verfahren E17 (IEC 60794-1-117:2026)
Câbles à fibres optiques - Partie 1-117: Spécification générique - Procédures
fondamentales d’essais des câbles optiques - Méthodes d’essais mécaniques - Raideur,
méthode E17 (IEC 60794-1-117:2026)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN IEC 60794-1-117:2026
ICS:
33.180.10 (Optična) vlakna in kabli Fibres and cables
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD EN IEC 60794-1-117

NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM July 2026
ICS 33.180.10 Supersedes EN 60794-1-21:2015 (partially); EN 60794-1-
21:2015/A1:2020 (partially)
English Version
Optical fibre cables - Part 1-117: Generic specification - Basic
optical cable test procedures - Mechanical test methods -
Bending stiffness, method E17
(IEC 60794-1-117:2026)
Câbles à fibres optiques - Partie 1-117: Spécification Lichtwellenleiterkabel - Teil 1-117: Fachgrundspezifikation -
générique - Procédures fondamentales d'essais des câbles Grundlegende Prüfverfahren für Lichtwellenleiterkabel -
optiques - Méthodes d'essais mécaniques - Raideur, Mechanische Prüfverfahren - Biegesteifigkeit, Verfahren
méthode E17 E17
(IEC 60794-1-117:2026) (IEC 60794-1-117:2026)
This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2026-06-24. CENELEC 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.
Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre or to any CENELEC member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation
under the responsibility of a CENELEC member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the
same status as the official versions.
CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Türkiye and the United Kingdom.

European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2026 CENELEC All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC Members.
Ref. No. EN IEC 60794-1-117:2026 E

European foreword
The text of document 86A/2685/FDIS, future edition 1 of IEC 60794-1-117, prepared by SC 86A
"Fibres and cables" of IEC/TC 86 "Fibre optics" was submitted to the IEC-CENELEC parallel vote and
approved by CENELEC as EN IEC 60794-1-117:2026.
The following dates are fixed:
• latest date by which the document has to be implemented at national (dop) 2027-07-31
level by publication of an identical national standard or by endorsement
• latest date by which the national standards conflicting with the (dow) 2029-07-31
document have to be withdrawn
This document partially supersedes EN 60794-1-21:2015 and all of its amendments and corrigenda (if
any).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CENELEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national committee. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CENELEC website.
Endorsement notice
The text of the International Standard IEC 60794-1-117:2026 was approved by CENELEC as a
European Standard without any modification.
In the official version, for Bibliography, the following note has to be added for the standard indicated:
IEC 60794-1-2 NOTE Approved as EN IEC 60794-1-2
Annex ZA
(normative)
Normative references to international publications
with their corresponding European publications
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.
NOTE 1  Where an International Publication has been modified by common modifications, indicated by (mod),
the relevant EN/HD applies.
NOTE 2  Up-to-date information on the latest versions of the European Standards listed in this annex is available
here: www.cencenelec.eu.
Publication Year Title EN/HD Year
IEC 60794-1-1 - Optical fibre cables - Part 1-1: Generic EN IEC 60794-1-1 -
specification - General
IEC 60794-1-117 ®
Edition 1.0 2026-05
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
Optical fibre cables -
Part 1-117: Generic specification - Basic optical cable test procedures -
Mechanical tests methods - Bending stiffness, method E17
ICS 33.180.10  ISBN 978-2-8327-1249-8

IEC 60794-1-117:2026-05(en)
IEC 60794-1-117:2026 © IEC 2026
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 2
INTRODUCTION . 4
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 5
4 General requirements. 5
5 Object . 5
6 Method E17A: Three-point bend . 6
6.1 Sample . 6
6.2 Apparatus . 6
6.3 Procedure . 6
6.4 Requirement . 7
6.5 Details to be specified . 7
6.6 Details to be reported . 7
7 Method E17B: Cantilever bend . 7
7.1 Sample . 7
7.2 Apparatus . 7
7.3 Procedure . 8
7.4 Requirements . 8
7.5 Details to be specified . 8
7.6 Details to be reported . 8
8 Method E17C: Buckling bend . 8
8.1 Sample . 8
8.2 Apparatus . 8
8.3 Procedure . 9
8.4 Requirements . 9
8.5 Details to be specified . 9
8.6 Details to be reported . 9
Bibliography . 12

Figure 1 – Method E17A – Test set-up . 10
Figure 2 – Example of results of applied force and displacement . 10
Figure 3 – Method E17B – Test set-up . 10
Figure 4 – Method E17C – Test set-up. 11

IEC 60794-1-117:2026 © IEC 2026
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
Optical fibre cables -
Part 1-117: Generic specification - Basic optical cable test procedures -
Mechanical test methods - Bending stiffness, method E17

FOREWORD
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