In the modern maritime and offshore engineering fields, ship optical cables, as the core medium for information transmission, directly affect the stability and reliability of ship communication systems. To ensure safe and efficient operation in harsh marine environments, a series of strict standards and regulations for ship optical cables is essential. These standards and regulations are the foundation for the design, manufacture, application, and maintenance of ship optical cables and are crucial for the normal operation of ship communication systems.
1. Importance of Standards and Regulation
The marine environment is complex and changeable, with ship communication systems facing harsh conditions such as high humidity, salt spray corrosion, vibration shocks, and extreme temperatures. As a key component of communication systems, ship optical cables must have sufficient mechanical strength, good corrosion resistance, high anti – interference ability, and environmental adaptability to ensure stable signal transmission.
Ship optical cable standards and regulations ensure that optical cables meet general and marine – specific requirements from design, installation, and application perspectives. Compliance with these standards enhances reliability and service life, reduces system failure rates and maintenance costs, and provides a unified framework for international cooperation. All parties, including ship manufacturers, optical cable suppliers, and classification societies, must strictly follow these standards to ensure optical cable quality and performance.
2. Key Ship Optical Cable Standards and Regulations
ISO/IEC 11801:
ISO/IEC 11801, “Information technology – Generic cabling for customer premises,” is a globally recognized standard for structured cabling. Maintained by ISO/IEC JTC1 SC25 WG3, it outlines the design of structured cabling for various network applications, including performance grades and transmission distances for optical cable cabling. It also defines multiple fiber optic grades:
- OM1: 62.5μm multimode fiber, supporting 200MHz*km modal bandwidth at 850nm.
- OM2: 50μm multimode fiber, supporting 500MHz*km modal bandwidth at 850nm.
- OM3: 50μm multimode fiber, supporting 2000MHz*km modal bandwidth at 850nm.
- OM4: 50μm multimode fiber, supporting 4700MHz*km modal bandwidth at 850nm.
- OS1: 9μm single – mode fiber, with attenuation of 1dB/km.
- OS2: 9μm single – mode fiber, with attenuation of 0.4dB/km.
IEC 60794:
The IEC is a leading global organization for electrical and electronic standards. IEC 60794 series standards provide comprehensive guidance on optical cable design, manufacture, and testing, covering general requirements for geometry, transmission, materials, mechanical, environmental, and electrical performance. They also offer guidance on basic testing methods for ship optical cables.
For example, IEC 60794-1-21 specifies mechanical performance testing, including a pressure test with a maximum load of 1000 N applied for 5 minutes at three test points spaced 0.5m apart. After the test, the sheath or cable elements must show no damage or significant additional attenuation. IEC 60794-1-22 outlines environmental performance testing, such as temperature cycling between -40~+70℃ with 4h soaking and two cycles. Post – test, fibers must maintain transmission performance with additional attenuation ≤0.5dB/fiber.
IEC 60811:
IEC 60811 specifies test methods for non – metallic materials in cables and optical cables. It ensures the reliability and durability of materials like sheaths, conduits, and fillers in ship optical cables.
For instance, IEC 60811-1-401 requires that after 168h of thermal aging at 100℃, the sheath’s tensile strength must be ≥7.0N/mm² and elongation at break ≥110%, with changes in both properties limited to ≤30%. IEC 60811-1-404 stipulates that after 24h of immersion in mineral oil (IRM902) at 100℃, the sheath’s tensile strength and elongation at break changes must not exceed 40%.
IEC 60332:
IEC 60332 provides guidance on combustion testing of ship optical cables under fire conditions, emphasizing flame retardancy to prevent fire spread and reduce impact on communication systems.
All ship – installed optical cables must meet the minimum flame retardancy requirements of IEC-60322-1. IEC-60322-1-2 specifies single – vertical – burning tests using a 1kW premixed flame on 600±25mm samples. Post – test, the distance between the lower edge of the upper bracket and the start of charring must be＞50mm, with flame spread downward to the lower edge of the upper bracket ≤540mm. IEC 60332-3-22 covers bundled – vertical – burning tests for ship optical cables. Samples ≥3.5m in length with a total non – metallic material volume of 7L/m are fixed vertically and exposed to 40min of flame. Post – test, the charred height above the burner’s bottom must be ≤2.5m. IEC 60332-3-22 includes Class A testing for scenarios requiring assessment of large amounts of non – metallic materials.
IEC 60331:
IEC 60331 evaluates the circuit integrity of wires and cables during fires, ensuring ship optical cables maintain communication functions for personnel safety and critical equipment operation.
IEC 60331-1 and IEC 60331-2 are mainstream fire resistance test standards for cables with a total diameter＞20mm and＜20mm, respectively. Ship optical cables are often tested to IEC 60331-25. For example, IEC 60331-2 requires a flame temperature≥830℃ for 180min, with impacts applied every 5min. During the test, additional fiber attenuation must be≤1.5 dB/fiber, and post – test, normal transmission performance must be maintained without melting.
IEC 60754 & IEC 61034:
IEC 60754 specifies test methods for gases released by ship optical cable materials during combustion, requiring non – toxic, non – corrosive gas release to ensure personnel and equipment safety.
IEC 60754-1 assesses halogen acid (HCL, HBR) gas content released by materials during combustion (excluding HF). Test materials are heated to 800℃ in dry air, and gases are passed through a sodium hydroxide gas – washing bottle. Halogen acid content is chemically determined. Materials with halogen acid content in the 5mg/g – 15mg/g range are considered low – halogen cables. However, IEC 60754-1 doesn’t apply to samples with halogen acid content＜5mg/g. IEC 60754-2 determines gas acidity by bubbling – combustion produced gases through distilled water and measuring pH and electrical conductivity of the resulting solution.
IEC 61034 specifies test methods for smoke density released by ship optical cables during combustion under specific conditions.
IEC 61034-1 outlines the test apparatus, while IEC 61034-2 details the test method. Optical cables are placed in a sealed test chamber and ignited. Smoke generation is recorded, and smoke density is assessed by measuring smoke filling time and concentration. Less smoke release is better, with post – test light transmittance required to be≥60%. IEC 60754 – 1/2 and IEC 61034 – 1/2 provide detailed regulations on the low – smoke, zero – halogen (LSZH) characteristics of ship optical cables, minimizing personnel and equipment hazards during combustion.
NEK TS 606:
NEK TS 606, from the Norwegian Electrical Committee (NEK), regulates wires and cables on ships and offshore installations, including mobile and fixed offshore facilities. Based on IEC 60092 series standards and incorporating Norwegian/Nordic requirements, it emphasizes oil resistance for ship optical cables in marine environments.
NEK TS 606 C – class mud – resistance testing requires samples to be immersed in IRM 902 mineral oil at 100℃ for 7 days, IRM 903 mineral oil at 100℃ for 7 days, calcium bromide salt solution at 70℃ for 56 days, and EDC 95 – 11 drilling fluid at 70℃ for 56 days. If the cable maintains mechanical and physical properties, it’s deemed suitable for installation and operation in mud – contact environments.
UL1581:
UL 1581, from Underwriters Laboratories (UL), assesses wire and cable product safety and reliability, including UV radiation performance testing. This test evaluates optical cable resistance to UV radiation during outdoor use, crucial for long – term outdoor exposure.
UL 1581 Chapter 1200 outlines UV resistance testing using artificial accelerated aging. Samples are irradiated in a UV aging chamber at specified intensity and time. After 300h of irradiation, the optical cable must retain≥85% of its tensile strength and elongation at break.
The above are common standards and regulations related to ship optical cables. Strict adherence to internationally recognized standards is essential for the design, manufacture, application, and maintenance of ship optical cables to ensure long – term stable operation in harsh marine environments and provide reliable support for ship communication systems. As ship communication technologies advance and offshore projects become more complex, ship optical cable standards will become stricter and more comprehensive.
Post time: May-13-2025