BS EN 50290-4-1:2014 BSI Standards Publication Communication cables Part 4-1: General considerations for the use of cables — Environmental conditions and safety aspects BS EN 50290-4-1:2014 BRITISH STANDARD National foreword This British Standard is the UK implementation of EN 50290-4-1:2014 It supersedes BS EN 50290-4-1:2002 which is withdrawn The UK participation in its preparation was entrusted to Technical Committee EPL/46, Cables, wires and waveguides, radio frequency connectors and accessories for communication and signalling A list of organizations represented on this committee can be obtained on request to its secretary This publication does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a contract Users are responsible for its correct application © The British Standards Institution 2015 Published by BSI Standards Limited 2015 ISBN 978 580 80200 ICS 29.060.20; 33.120.10 Compliance with a British Standard cannot confer immunity from legal obligations This British Standard was published under the authority of the Standards Policy and Strategy Committee on 31 January 2015 Amendments/corrigenda issued since publication Date Text affected BS EN 50290-4-1:2014 EUROPEAN STANDARD EN 50290-4-1 NORME EUROPÉENNE EUROPÄISCHE NORM December 2014 ICS 33.120.10 Supersedes EN 50290-4-1:2001 English Version Communication cables - Part 4-1: General considerations for the use of cables - Environmental conditions and safety aspects Kommunikationskabel - Teil 4-1: Allgemeine Betrachtungen für die Anwendung der Kabel - Bedingung der Umgebung und Sicherheitsaspekte This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2013-09-16 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, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels © 2014 CENELEC All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC Members Ref No EN 50290-4-1:2014 E BS EN 50290-4-1:2014 EN 50290-4-1:2014 -2- Contents Foreword Scope Normative references Terms and definitions 4 Environmental conditions and installation aspects 4.1 4.2 4.2.1 4.2.2 4.2.3 4.3 4.3.1 4.3.2 4.3.3 4.3.4 4.3.5 4.3.6 General Relationship with EC directives EMC Directive Low voltage directive Construction product directive/ Construction Product regulation Environmental conditions Relationship between environmental conditions and severities of testing Climatic environment and severities for environmental tests Mechanical environment and severities for environmental tests Chemical environment 10 Moisture, water and humidity 10 Nuclear radiation 10 Bibliography 11 BS EN 50290-4-1:2014 -3- EN 50290-4-1:2014 Foreword This document (EN 50290-4-1:2014) has been prepared by CLC/TC 46X "Communication cables" The following dates are fixed: • • latest date by which this document has to be implemented at national level by publication of an identical national standard or by endorsement latest date by which the national standards conflicting with this document have to be withdrawn (dop) 2015-06-05 (dow) 2016-09-16 This document supersedes EN 50290-4-1:2001 EN 50290-4-1:2014 includes EN 50290-4-1:2001: − the following significant technical changes with respect to Clauses related to fire reaction and fire resistance have been updated to take into account the recent development of supporting standards for the CPR This standard should be read in conjunction with EN 50290-1-1 and is completed by generic, sectional, family and detail specifications, as appropriate, to describe in a detailed manner each type of cable with its specific characteristics Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent rights CENELEC [and/or CEN] shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights This document has been prepared under a mandate given to CENELEC by the European Commission and the European Free Trade Association This standard covers the Principle Elements of the Safety Objectives for Electrical Equipment Designed for Use within Certain Voltage Limits (LVD - 2006/95/EC) EN 50290-4, Communication cables — General considerations for the use of cables, is divided into the following sub-parts: − Part 4-1: Environmental conditions and safety aspects [the present document]; − Part 4-2: Guide to use BS EN 50290-4-1:2014 EN 50290-4-1:2014 -4- Scope This European Standard gives the environmental conditions and safety aspects of symmetrical, coaxial and optical cables used for the infrastructure of communication and control networks Normative references The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are indispensable for its application For dated references, only the edition cited applies For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies EN 13501-3, Fire classification of construction products and building elements Part 3: Classification using data from fire resistance tests on products and elements used in building service installations: fire resisting ducts and fire dampers EN 13501-6, Fire classification of construction products and building elements Part 6: Classification using data from reaction to fire tests on electric cables EN 50289-3 (all parts), Communication cables Specifications for test methods EN 50289-4 (all parts), Communication cables Specifications for test methods EN 50290-1-2, Communication cables Part 1-2: Definitions EN 50290-2-2X (all parts), Communication cables EN 50575:2014, Power, control and communication cables Cables for general applications in construction works subject to reaction to fire requirements EN 60068-2-11, Environmental testing Part 2: Tests Test Ka: Salt mist (IEC 60068-2-11) EN 60068-2-14, Environmental testing Part 2-14: Tests Test N: Change of temperature (IEC 600682-14) EN 60068-2-27, Environmental testing Part 2-27: Tests Test Ea and guidance: Shock (IEC 600682-27) EN 60068-2-42, Environmental testing Part 2-42: Tests Test Kc: Sulphur dioxide test for contacts and connections (IEC 60068-2-42) EN 60068-2-53, Environmental testing Part 2-53: Tests and guidance: Combined climatic (temperature/humidity) and dynamic (vibration/shock) tests (IEC 60068-2-53) FprEN 60794-1-21 1) , Optical fibre cables Part 1-21: Generic specification Basic optical cable test procedures - Mechanical tests methods (IEC 60794-1-21) EN 61169-1:2013, Radio-frequency connectors Part 1: Generic specification General requirements and measuring methods (IEC 61169-1:2013) IEC 62012-1:2002, Multicore and symmetrical pair/quad cables for digital communications to be used in harsh environments Part 1: Generic specification Terms and definitions For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in EN 50290-1-2 apply Environmental conditions and installation aspects 4.1 General The reliability of the cables and their expected lifetime depend upon how the environmental conditions (during storage, installation and operation) are taken into account in their design 1) By the time of publication of the present document, this reference is at Committee Draft stage in the IEC under the reference "6A/1582/CDV" BS EN 50290-4-1:2014 -5- EN 50290-4-1:2014 The following subclauses address environmental aspects that can impact the reliability of the communication cables 4.2 Relationship with EC directives 4.2.1 EMC Directive Though cables as products are not under the scope of the EMC directive, they are used to interconnect apparatus as described in the directive The equipment supplier, system designer and operators shall be aware that the interconnection of cables may affect the overall system EMC performance Mitigation practices as developed in some installation guides can decrease the level of electromagnetic influence To help the systems users and the designers to fulfil the EMC directive requirements by an adequate choice of cables, the electromagnetic behaviour of each cable shall be given in the relevant specification and described by screening performance and balanced properties 4.2.2 Low voltage directive Depending upon the actual application for which they are used, communication and control cables may have to carry signals, the voltage of which can exceed DC 100 V or AC 75 V These cables fall under the low voltage directive and have to be designed, tested and marked accordingly The relevant cable specification shall take into account the requirements of the low voltage directive Demonstration of compliance with the essential requirements of the LVD is done either through a technical file or when the cable fulfils the following diagram Figure BS EN 50290-4-1:2014 EN 50290-4-1:2014 -6- 4.2.3 Construction product directive/ Construction Product regulation 4.2.3.1 General Communication and control cables fall under the scope of the construction product regulation, when installed in construction works In case where CPD applies consideration shall be taken to the following: – resistance to fire where applicable (e.g for fire alarm systems, fire fighting support systems,…); – reaction to fire; – durability; – release of dangerous substances under normal circumstances 4.2.3.2 Resistance to fire Communication cables packaging and/or labelling shall be tested according to EN 50289-4-16 for the claimed Euroclass as defined in EN 13501-3 When applicable, the communication cables packaging and/or labelling will be CE marked according to EN 50XXX:201X 2) , Annex ZZ 4.2.3.3 Reaction to fire EN 50575 specifies reaction to fire performance requirements, test and assessment methods for communication cables, which are intended for use in construction works After having been tested according to EN 50575 for the claimed Euroclass as defined in EN 13501-6, communication cables packaging and/or labelling shall be CE marked according to EN 50575:2014, Annex ZZ 4.2.3.4 Durability The relevant cable specification shall include mechanical and environmental requirements to be tested in accordance with EN 50289-3 (all parts) and EN 50289-4 (all parts) (see 4.3) Durability is presumed to be demonstrated when the cables pass the mechanical and environmental tests as given in the sectional specification 4.2.3.5 Release of dangerous substances During the normal operating life of the cable no dangerous substances given in the updated list of the Council Directive 76/769/EEC will be released Cables using materials according to the EN 50290-2-2X series comply with this requirement Other materials shall be subjected to the appropriate tests 4.3 Environmental conditions 4.3.1 Relationship between environmental conditions and severities of testing 4.3.1.1 General The purpose of environmental engineering is to render the product and the environment compatible It should take all economic and technical aspects into consideration and thereby choose the best test methods and correct severities for the evaluation of the product's ability to comply with the environmental conditions A test program for the product is defined whereby the test sequence together with the test methods and limits are specified 4.3.1.2 Environmental conditions The environmental conditions shall be evaluated by measurements or by other information available so that statistically probable characteristic values can be established corresponding to the highest possible 2) At the date of publication of the present document, EN 50XXX:201X, which is currently bound to be entitled, Power, control and communication cables — Cables for general applications in construction works subject to fire resistance requirements, is not published yet BS EN 50290-4-1:2014 -7- EN 50290-4-1:2014 constraints Each situation has an environment of its own but it is not reasonable to prescribe individual products having slightly different withstand properties for each individual situation It is necessary to combine these environments into a class forming an envelope of related environments It is only necessary to take into account those parameters that influence the performance of the product The environment shall cover all the conditions that occur during the life of the product, i.e storage, transportation, handling and use 4.3.1.3 Environmental testing The purpose of an environmental test is to demonstrate that a product under defined environmental conditions can survive without permanent failure and function according to specification The severity of the test to be selected will depend on the characteristic values obtained for the parameters, the failure mechanism, the ageing factor, if known, and the consequences of failure The latter will have been studied by the utilisation of the particular product and depends on its application This means that the severity of the test can be raised or lowered according to the criticality of the product If the sampling of the product suggests wide variations in its ability to withstand the environment the level of testing should be increased If the distribution of environmental constraints and the resistance to the environment of a lot tested are suspected to partially overlap, the test levels can be raised to clarify this weakness 4.3.2 Climatic environment and severities for environmental tests 4.3.2.1 General An environmental test can be performed for many purposes In most cases the environmental tests are one part of the qualification approval tests In this case a test of resistance to the environment demonstrates the ability of the product to function under constraints or withstand stated constraints There are, however, inherent limitations due to the fact that the test is usually carried out on a few samples The results give protection to a particular design but not to an individual product The successful test will ensure that the product as a type is capable of withstanding the expected environments Different kinds of tests and severity levels are necessary for product reliability and endurance An outline of the action needed for the preparation of an environmental test specification is given in Figure 4.3.2.2 Climatic sequence The test shall be performed according to EN 50289-4-5 Unless otherwise required in the sectional or detail specification one of the following recommended severities shall be selected: − low temperature: - 10 °C - 15 °C - 25 °C - 40 °C - 45 °C; − high temperature: + 60 °C + 70 °C + 85 °C + 125 °C + 155 °C + 200 °C; − duration: 10 d, 21 d 4.3.2.3 Damp heat steady state This test shall be carried out in accordance with Test Ca of EN 60068-2-53 with the specific conditions as described in EN 50289-4-7 Unless otherwise required in the sectional or detail specification, the following recommended severity shall be selected: − duration: 10 d BS EN 50290-4-1:2014 EN 50290-4-1:2014 -8- Figure Outline of action needed for the preparation of the environmental test specification 4.3.2.4 Rapid change of temperature This test shall be carried out in accordance with Chapter of Test Nc of EN 60068-2-14 with the specific conditions as described in EN 50289-4-6 Unless otherwise required in the sectional or detail specification, the range of temperature shall be selected in accordance with the test of climatic sequence − Velocity of change: °C ± 0,2 °C/min; − Number of cycles: 2, unless otherwise specified 4.3.2.5 Salt mist When required, this test shall be carried out in accordance with Test Ka of EN 60068-2-11 Unless otherwise required in the sectional or detail specification, the duration of the test shall be four days BS EN 50290-4-1:2014 -9- EN 50290-4-1:2014 4.3.2.6 Sulphur dioxide test When required, this test shall be carried out in accordance with Test Kc of EN 60068-2-42 Unless otherwise required in the sectional or detail specification, the duration of the test shall be four days 4.3.2.7 Dust test Under consideration 4.3.3 Mechanical environment and severities for environmental tests 4.3.3.1 Vibration When the cable is intended for aerial application, it shall be tested for aeolian vibration according to FprEN 60794-1-21 3) , method E19 Cables for other applications may be requested to be tested in accordance with Test Fc of EN 60068-2-6 as specified in 9.3.3 of EN 61169-1:2013 which includes details on continuity monitoring and on the information which should be given in the relevant sectional and detail specifications The vibration severity shall be defined by a combination of the following three parameters: – range of frequency, – vibration amplitude, and – duration in terms of the number of cycles The relevant specification shall select the appropriate requirement for each parameter from the following recommended values: – swept frequency range: 10 Hz - 150 Hz; 10 Hz - 500 Hz; 10 Hz - 000 Hz; – vibration amplitude: Vibration amplitude shall be specified below 60 Hz and at higher frequencies acceleration amplitude shall be specified; Table Vibration amplitude – duration: Acceleration amplitude mm m/s G 0,75 98 10 1,0 147 15 1,5 196 20 Number of swept cycles in each axis: 2, 5, 10 or 20 4.3.3.2 Bump When required, this test shall be carried out in accordance with Test Eb of EN 60068-2-53 Unless otherwise required in the sectional or detail specification one of the following recommended severities shall be selected: – number of bumps: 000 ± 10 4.3.3.3 Shock When required, this test shall be carried out in accordance with Test Ea of EN 60068-2-27 3) By the time of publication of the present document, this reference is at Committee Draft stage in the IEC under the reference "6A/1582/CDV" BS EN 50290-4-1:2014 EN 50290-4-1:2014 - 10 - Unless otherwise required in the sectional or detail specification one of the recommended pulse shapes given in the table below shall be selected The shock severity is given by a combination of the peak acceleration and the duration of the nominal pulse Table Peak acceleration m/s² Corresponding duration of pulse g Corresponding velocity of change Final peak saw tooth Half sine Trapezoidal ms m/s m/s m/s 147 15 11 0,81 1,03 1,46 294 30 18 2,65 3,37 4,77 490 50 11 2,69 3,43 4,86 981 100 2,94 3,74 5,30 900 500 2,45 3,12 4,42 14 700 500 0,5 3,68 4,68 6,62 4.3.4 Chemical environment When cables are installed in an aggressive chemical environment, special care shall be taken when choosing materials Relevant tests according to EN 50289-4-4 shall be conducted accordingly 4.3.5 Moisture, water and humidity Cables even if they are not installed underwater may be subjected to moisture, water or humidity effects The relevant tests i.e EN 50289-4-2 are intended to check the behaviour of cables when subjected to moisture or humidity EN 50289-3-15 will be used for testing the ability of cables to be laid under water 4.3.6 Nuclear radiation Cables, when installed in nuclear plant, may be affected by nuclear radiation The effects may have impact on transmission characteristics and or on mechanical behaviour depending upon the materials used When required the test of IEC 62012-1:2002, 3.7 shall be performed BS EN 50290-4-1:2014 - 11 - EN 50290-4-1:2014 Bibliography [1] EN 50289-1-3, Communication cables Specifications for test methods Part 1-3: Electrical test methods Dielectric strength [2] EN 50290-1-1, Communication cables Part 1-1: General [3] EN 50290-2 (all parts), Communication cables [4] EN 50XXX:201X, 4) Power, control and communication cables — Cables for general applications in construction works subject to fire resistance requirements [5] EN 60068-2-6, Environmental testing Part 2-6: Tests Test Fc: Vibration (sinusoidal) (IEC 60068-2-6) [6] Council Directive 76/769/EEC, Restrictions on the marketing and use of certain dangerous substances and preparations 4) At the date of publication of the present document, EN 50XXX:201X, which is currently bound to be entitled, Power, control and communication cables — Cables for general applications in construction works subject to fire resistance requirements, is not published yet This page deliberately left blank This page deliberately left blank NO COPYING WITHOUT BSI PERMISSION EXCEPT AS PERMITTED BY COPYRIGHT LAW British Standards Institution (BSI) BSI is the national body responsible for preparing British Standards and other standards-related publications, information and services BSI is incorporated by Royal Charter British Standards and other standardization products are published by BSI Standards Limited About us Revisions We bring together business, industry, government, consumers, innovators and others to shape their combined experience and expertise into standards -based solutions Our British Standards and other publications are updated by amendment or revision The knowledge embodied in our standards has been carefully assembled in a dependable 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