IEC 61156-3:2008

FOREWORD
1 General
  1.1 Scope
  1.2 Normative references
  1.3 Installation considerations
2 Definitions, materials and cable construction
  2.1 Definitions
  2.2 Materials and cable construction
      2.2.1 General remarks
      2.2.2 Cable construction
      2.2.3 Conductor
      2.2.4 Insulation
      2.2.5 Colour code of insulation
      2.2.6 Cable element
      2.2.7 Screening of the cable element
      2.2.8 Cable make-up
      2.2.9 Screening of the cable core
      2.2.10 Sheath
      2.2.11 Colour of sheath
      2.2.12 Identification
      2.2.13 Finished cable
3 Characteristics and requirements
  3.1 General remarks
  3.2 Electrical characteristics
      3.2.1 Conductor resistance
      3.2.2 Resistance unbalance
      3.2.3 Dielectric strength
      3.2.4 Insulation resistance
      3.2.5 Mutual capacitance
      3.2.6 Capacitance unbalance
      3.2.7 Transfer impedance
  3.3 Transmission characteristics
      3.3.1 Velocity of propagation (phase velocity)
      3.3.2 Attenuation
      3.3.3 Unbalance attenuation
      3.3.4 Near-end crosstalk (NEXT)
      3.3.5 Characteristic impedance
      3.3.6 Structural Return Loss (SRL)
  3.4 Mechanical and dimensional characteristics
      and requirements
      3.4.1 Dimensional requirements
      3.4.2 Elongation at break of the conductors
      3.4.3 Elongation at break of the insulation
      3.4.4 Elongation at break of the sheath
      3.4.5 Tensile strength of the sheath
      3.4.6 Crush test of the cable
      3.4.7 Impact test of the cable
      3.4.8 Repeated bending of the cable
      3.4.9 Tensile performance of the cable
  3.5 Environmental characteristics
      3.5.1 Shrinkage of insulation
      3.5.2 Wrapping test of insulation after thermal ageing
      3.5.3 Bending test of insulation at low temperature
      3.5.4 Elongation at break of the sheath after ageing
      3.5.5 Tensile strength of the sheath after ageing
      3.5.6 Sheath pressure test at high temperature
      3.5.7 Cold bend test of the cable
      3.5.8 Heat shock test
      3.5.9 Flame propagation characteristics of a single
             cable
      3.5.10 Flame propagation characteristics of bunched
             cables
      3.5.11 Acid gas evolution
      3.5.12 Smoke generation
      3.5.13 Toxic gas emission
      3.5.14 Combined flame and smoke test for cables
             in environmental air handling space
4 Introduction to the blank detail specification

IEC 61156-3:2008(E) defines individually screened, common overall core screen and unscreened pairs or quads in cables for work area wiring. These cables are suitable for the various communication systems for which the reference is given in the relevant detail specification. The cables covered by this sectional specification are intended to operate with voltages and currents normally adopted for communication systems. These cables should not be connected to low impedance sources, for example, the public mains electricity supply. The cables are specifically intended for work area wiring as defined in ISO/IEC 11801. This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition published in 2003. This edition constitutes a technical revision and includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
a) new requirements for new cables Cat3, and Cat5 applications;
b) a better numbering in order to take into account the generic specification.