EN IEC 60794-1-136:2026
(Main)Optical fibre cables - Part 1-136: Generic specification - Basic optical cable test procedures - Determination of the maximum applicable push force during cable installation by blowing
General Information
- Abstract
IEC 60794-1-136:2026 specifies procedures to determine the maximum allowable push force applied on cables during the installation by blowing. Currently this parameter is determined by a separate test on the cable before installation. The methods specified in this document apply primarily to low-diameter cables (microduct cables according to IEC 60794-5) without rigid strength elements (e.g. GRP rods).
- Status
- Published
- Publication Date
- 02-Jul-2026
- Technical Committee
- CLC/TC 86A - Optical fibres and optical fibre cables
- Current Stage
- 6060 - Document made available - Publishing
- Start Date
- 03-Jul-2026
- Due Date
- 19-Dec-2025
- Completion Date
- 03-Jul-2026
Overview
EN IEC 60794-1-136:2026 is a key international standard developed by CLC and IEC for the optical fibre cable industry. Titled “Optical fibre cables - Part 1-136: Generic specification - Basic optical cable test procedures - Determination of the maximum applicable push force during cable installation by blowing,” this standard specifies procedures to determine the maximum allowable push force applied to optical fibre cables, particularly during installation by blowing into microducts. It focuses on low-diameter microduct cables without rigid strength elements, in line with IEC 60794-5 specifications.
Determining the push force is critical for successful and damage-free installation of optical fibre cables, ensuring both performance and durability in high-speed communications infrastructure.
Key Topics
- Test Methodologies: EN IEC 60794-1-136:2026 details both theoretical (Method E36A) and experimental (Method E36B) procedures for evaluating maximum push force.
- E36A calculates the permissible push force using cable bend stiffness and minimum allowable bend radius.
- E36B uses a physical test setup where a cable is pushed into a microduct until buckling, measuring force responses.
- Applicability: Primarily targets microduct cables without rigid elements, as commonly used in modern fibre-optic networks.
- Sample and Apparatus: Defines the requirements for sample preparation and necessary testing equipment, aligning with existing standards such as IEC 60794-1-21 for mechanical test methods.
- Test Conditions: Describes environmental controls including temperature, humidity, and pressure to ensure reliable and reproducible results.
- Documentation: Specifies the information to report, such as test graphs and calculated maximum push force, for quality management and compliance tracking.
- Impact Factors: Notes that duct and cable lubrication, material types, and environmental conditions can affect test results.
Applications
- Fibre Network Deployment: Used by manufacturers and installers to verify that optical cables can withstand required mechanical forces during blowing installation, minimizing risk of cable buckling and subsequent signal loss or fiber breakage.
- Quality Assurance: Essential for quality control in the production of microduct cables, ensuring compliance with international standards and reliable performance in the field.
- System Design: Supports engineering decisions regarding duct and cable selection for telecommunications infrastructure, promoting longer cable life and optimal deployment efficiency.
- Regulatory Compliance: Assists organizations in meeting requirements for certification, tenders, and network implementation projects, underlining adherence to recognized testing protocols.
Related Standards
- IEC 60794-1-21: Basic optical cable test procedures - Mechanical tests methods, a companion standard referenced for sample preparation and stiffness measurement methodology.
- IEC 60794-5: Sectional specification for microduct cabling intended for installation by blowing, defining relevant cable types and installation techniques.
- Additional References: The standard also references broader terminology databases (IEC Electropedia, ISO OBP) and other foundational documents for optical fibres and cables.
By standardizing the methods to determine the maximum applicable push force during cable installation, EN IEC 60794-1-136:2026 enhances the reliability and safety of fibre-optic deployments, supporting the expansion of high-capacity communication networks worldwide. This standard is essential for manufacturers, network designers, and installation contractors focused on microduct technologies and fibre-optic infrastructure.
Relations
- Effective Date
- 19-May-2026
- Effective Date
- 07-Jul-2026
- Effective Date
- 07-Jul-2026
- Effective Date
- 07-Jul-2026
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Frequently Asked Questions
EN IEC 60794-1-136:2026 is a standard published by CLC. Its full title is "Optical fibre cables - Part 1-136: Generic specification - Basic optical cable test procedures - Determination of the maximum applicable push force during cable installation by blowing". This standard covers: IEC 60794-1-136:2026 specifies procedures to determine the maximum allowable push force applied on cables during the installation by blowing. Currently this parameter is determined by a separate test on the cable before installation. The methods specified in this document apply primarily to low-diameter cables (microduct cables according to IEC 60794-5) without rigid strength elements (e.g. GRP rods).
IEC 60794-1-136:2026 specifies procedures to determine the maximum allowable push force applied on cables during the installation by blowing. Currently this parameter is determined by a separate test on the cable before installation. The methods specified in this document apply primarily to low-diameter cables (microduct cables according to IEC 60794-5) without rigid strength elements (e.g. GRP rods).
EN IEC 60794-1-136:2026 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.
EN IEC 60794-1-136:2026 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to EN 60794-1-21:2015, EN IEC 62148-1:2018, EN 3745-505:2018, CLC/TS 50621:2016. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.
EN IEC 60794-1-136:2026 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
Optični kabli - 1-136. del: Splošne specifikacije - Osnovni preskusni postopki za
optične kable - Določitev največje uporabne potisne sile pri vgradnji kabla z
vpihovanjem (IEC 60794-1-136:2026)
Optical fibre cables - Part 1-136: Generic specification - Basic optical cable test
procedures - Determination of the maximum applicable push force during cable
installation by blowing (IEC 60794-1-136:2026)
Lichtwellenleiterkabel - Teil 1-136: Fachgrundspezifikation - Grundlegende Prüfverfahren
für Lichtwellenleiterkabel - Bestimmung der maximal anwendbaren Einschubkraft beim
Einblasen von Kabeln (IEC 60794-1-136:2026)
Câbles à fibres optiques - Partie 1-136: Spécification générique - Procédures
fondamentales d’essais des câbles optiques - Détermination de la force de poussée
maximale applicable lors de l'installation du câble par soufflage (IEC 60794-1-136:2026)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN IEC 60794-1-136:2026
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 60794-1-136
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM July 2026
ICS 33.180.10
English Version
Optical fibre cables - Part 1-136: Generic specification - Basic
optical cable test procedures - Determination of the maximum
applicable push force during cable installation by blowing
(IEC 60794-1-136:2026)
Câbles à fibres optiques - Partie 1-136: Spécification Lichtwellenleiterkabel - Teil 1-136: Fachgrundspezifikation -
générique - Procédures fondamentales d'essais des câbles Grundlegende Prüfverfahren für Lichtwellenleiterkabel -
optiques - Détermination de la force de poussée maximale Bestimmung der maximal anwendbaren Einschubkraft beim
applicable lors de l'installation du câble par soufflage Einblasen von Kabeln
(IEC 60794-1-136:2026) (IEC 60794-1-136:2026)
This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2026-05-22. 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 60794-1-136:2026 E
European foreword
The text of document 86A/2669/FDIS, future edition 1 of IEC 60794-1-136, 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 60794-1-136:2026.
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
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 60794-1-136:2026 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 60794-5 NOTE Approved as EN 60794-5
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 60794-1-21 - Optical fibre cables - Part 1-21: Generic EN 60794-1-21 -
specification - Basic optical cable test
procedures - Mechanical tests methods
IEC 60794-1-136 ®
Edition 1.0 2026-04
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
Optical fibre cables -
Part 1-136: Generic specification - Basic optical cable test procedures -
Determination of the maximum applicable push force during cable installation by
blowing
ICS 33.180.10 ISBN 978-2-8327-1201-6
IEC 60794-1-136:2026-04(en)
IEC 60794-1-136:2026 © IEC 2026
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 2
INTRODUCTION . 4
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 5
4 General . 5
5 Sample . 5
6 Apparatus . 6
6.1 Apparatus for method E36A . 6
6.2 Apparatus for method E36B . 6
7 Test conditions . 6
8 Procedure . 7
8.1 Method E36A (reference test method) . 7
8.2 Method E36B (alternative test method) . 7
9 Details to be specified . 8
10 Details to be recorded . 9
Annex A (informative) Test set-up to measure the push force . 10
Bibliography . 11
Figure 1 – Schematic test set-up . 6
Figure 2 – Push force and reaction force versus insertion length . 8
Figure A.1 – Practical implementation of the test set-up shown in Figure 1 . 10
IEC 60794-1-136:2026 © IEC 2026
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
Optical fibre cables -
Part 1-136: Generic specification - Basic optical cable test procedures -
Determination of the maximum applicable push force during cable
installation by blowing
FOREWORD
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