IEC 60811

The IEC 60811 series specifies internationally recognised test methods for non-metallic insulating and sheathing materials used in electric and optical fibre cables. These include thermoplastic and thermosetting compounds such as PVC, PE, PP, and cross-linked materials.
The series covers a wide range of mechanical, physical, electrical, thermal, and environmental performance tests. These methods are commonly referenced in cable product standards such as IEC 60502, IEC 60245, and IEC 60332, and are essential for verifying material performance in low, medium, and high voltage cables.
The restructured series follows the principle of “one test – one part”, improving clarity and usability. It also introduces a standardised format for test reporting and groups methods into logical categories: general, electrical, mechanical, miscellaneous, and physical tests.

Below is an overview of each part in the series:

IEC 60811-100 – Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials – Part 100: General
The standard describes general requirements and considerations that are applicable to all the test methods given in the particular parts, unless otherwise specified. This first edition of IEC 60811-100 collects together general matters that apply to the restructured IEC 60811 series. A detailed explanation is provided in the Introduction. Annex A provides full information on the relation between the current and the previous series. This revised series of IEC 60811 is based upon the principle of “one test – one part”. One significant technical change that now applies throughout the series is a defined minimum scheme for the presentation of test reports.

IEC 60811-201 Consolidated version – Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials – Part 201: General tests – Measurement of insulation thickness
IEC 60811-201:2012+AMD1:2017+AMD2:2023 gives the methods for measuring the insulation thicknesses which apply to the most common types of insulating compounds (cross-linked, PVC, PE, PP, etc.).

IEC 60811-202 Consolidated version – Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials – Part 202: General tests – Measurement of thickness of non-metallic sheath
The standard gives the methods for measuring thicknesses of non-metallic sheath which apply to the most common types of sheathing compounds (cross-linked, PVC, PE, PP, etc.).

IEC 60811-203 – Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials – Part 203: General tests – Measurement of overall dimensions
IEC 60811-203 gives the methods for measuring overall dimensions and is applicable to all types of cable, circular and flat.

IEC 60811-301 – Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials – Part 301: Electrical tests – Measurement of the permittivity at 23 °C of filling compounds

This standard gives the procedure to determine the permittivity at 23 °C which typically applies to filling compounds used for optical cables, communication cables and optical fibre cables.

IEC 60811-302 – Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials – Part 302: Electrical tests – Measurement of the d.c. resistivity at 23 °C and 100 °C of filling compounds
The standard gives the procedure to examine the d.c. resistivity at 23 °C and 100 °C which typically applies to filling compounds used for communication cables and optical fibre cables.

IEC 60811-401 – Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials – Part 401: Miscellaneous tests – Thermal ageing methods – Ageing in an air oven
IEC 60811-401 specifies the procedure for ageing in an air oven, which typically applies to crosslinked and thermoplastic compounds used for insulating and sheathing materials.

IEC 60811-402 – Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials – Part 402: Miscellaneous tests – Water absorption tests
IEC 60811-402 describes water absorption tests which typically apply to cross-linked and thermoplastic compounds used for insulating and sheathing materials.

IEC 60811-403 – Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials – Part 403: Miscellaneous tests – Ozone resistance test on cross-linked compounds
This standard specifies the method for the ozone resistance test, which typically applies to cross-linked compounds.

IEC 60811-404 – Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials – Part 404: Miscellaneous tests – Mineral oil immersion tests for sheaths
The standard specifies the method for a mineral oil immersion test, which typically applies to cross-linked compounds used for sheathing materials.

IEC 60811-405 – Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials – Part 405: Miscellaneous tests – Thermal stability test for PVC insulations and PVC sheaths
This standard specifies the procedure for the thermal stability test which applies to PVC compounds.

IEC 60811-406 – Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials – Part 406: Miscellaneous tests – Resistance to stress cracking of polyethylene and polypropylene compounds
IEC 60811-406 gives the procedure for evaluating the resistance to stress cracking of polyethylene and polypropylene compounds which are typically used for communication and optical fibre cables.

IEC 60811-407 – Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials – Part 407: Miscellaneous tests – Measurement of mass increase of polyethylene and polypropylene compounds
This standard gives the procedure to examine possible interaction between insulation material and filling compound of filled cable.

IEC 60811-408 – Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials – Part 408: Miscellaneous tests – Long-term stability test of polyethylene and polypropylene compounds
The standard gives the procedure to establish as to whether or not the quality of a cable’s components will be satisfactory over the proposed life of a communication cable.

IEC 60811-409 – Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials – Part 409: Miscellaneous tests – Loss of mass test for thermoplastic insulations and sheaths
IEC 60811-409 gives the procedure for measuring the loss of mass which normally applies to PVC insulations and sheaths.

IEC 60811-410 – Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials – Part 410: Miscellaneous tests – Test method for copper-catalysed oxidative degradation of polyolefin insulated conductors
The standard gives the procedure for copper-catalysed oxidative degradation of a polyolefin, which is typically used for insulation in communication cables.

IEC 60811-411 – Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials – Part 411: Miscellaneous tests – Low-temperature brittleness of filling compounds
IEC 60811-411 gives the procedure to evaluate lower temperature brittleness which typically applies to filling compounds used for communication and optical fibre cables.

IEC 60811-412 – Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials – Part 412: Miscellaneous tests – Thermal ageing methods – Ageing in an air bomb
The standard gives the procedure for ageing in an air bomb, which typically applies to crosslinked and thermoplastic compounds used for insulating and sheathing materials.

IEC 60811-501 – Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials – Part 501: Mechanical tests – Tests for determining the mechanical properties of insulating and sheathing compounds
This standard 1 gives the procedure for determining the mechanical properties, which typically applies to cross-linked and thermoplastic compounds used for insulating and sheathing materials.

IEC 60811-502 – Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials – Part 502: Mechanical tests – Shrinkage test for insulations
The standard gives the test method for the shrinkage for insulations.

IEC 60811-503 – Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials – Part 503: Mechanical tests – Shrinkage test for sheaths
IEC 60811-503 gives the test method for the shrinkage for sheaths. 

IEC 60811-504 – Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials – Part 504: Mechanical tests – Bending tests at low temperature for insulation and sheaths
This standard gives the procedure for performing bending tests at low temperature on extruded insulations and sheaths.

IEC 60811-505 – Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials – Part 505: Mechanical tests – Elongation at low temperature for insulations and sheaths
The standard gives the procedure for performing elongation tests at low temperature on extruded insulations and sheaths.

IEC 60811-506 – Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials – Part 506: Mechanical tests – Impact test at low temperature for insulations and sheaths
IEC 60811-506 gives the procedure for performing impact tests at low temperature on extruded insulations and sheaths.

IEC 60811-507 – Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials – Part 507: Mechanical tests – Hot set test for cross-linked materials
The standard gives the procedure for the hot set test, which typically applies to cross-linkable compounds used for insulating and sheathing materials.

IEC 60811-508 – Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials – Part 508: Mechanical tests – Pressure test at high temperature for insulation and sheaths
The standard gives the procedure for a pressure test at high temperature, which typically applies to thermoplastic compounds used for insulating and sheathing materials.

IEC 60811-509 – Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials – Part 509: Mechanical tests – Test for resistance of insulations and sheaths to cracking (heat shock test)
The standard gives the procedure for the test for resistance of insulations and sheaths to cracking at an elevated temperature.

IEC 60811-510 – Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials – Part 510: Mechanical tests – Methods specific to polyethylene and polypropylene compounds – Wrapping test after thermal ageing in air
The standard specifies the test method for a wrapping test after thermal ageing in air. This test method applies specifically to polyolefin insulation in communication cables. This test is intended for polyolefin insulations of unfilled cables and of dry cores for filled cables, where the insulation has a wall thickness of less than or equal to 0,8 mm.

IEC 60811-511 – Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials – Part 511: Mechanical tests – Measurement of the melt flow index of polyethylene and polypropylene compounds
The standard describes the procedure for the measurement of the melt flow index for polyethylene compounds.

IEC 60811-512 – Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials – Part 512: Mechanical tests – Methods specific to polyethylene and polypropylene compounds – Tensile strength and elongation at break after conditioning at elevated temperature
This standard describes the procedure for testing tensile strength and elongation at break after conditioning at elevated temperature. It is specific to polyethylene and polypropylene compounds. This test is intended for samples from filled cables, of polyolefin insulations with a wall thickness of more than 0,8 mm and for polyolefin sheaths in direct contact with filling compound.

IEC 60811-513 – Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials – Part 513: Mechanical tests – Methods specific to polyethylene and polypropylene compounds – Wrapping test after conditioning
The standard gives procedures for a wrapping test after conditioning at elevated temperature. This test method applies specifically to polyethylene and polypropylene insulation. This test is intended for samples from filled cables of polyolefin insulation having a wall thickness of less than or equal to 0,8 mm.

IEC 60811-601 – Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials – Part 601: Physical tests – Measurement of the drop point of filling compounds
IEC 60811-601 specifies the test procedure for measuring the drop point of filling compounds.

IEC 60811-602

Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials – Part 602: Physical tests – Separation of oil in filling compounds
IEC 60811-602 gives the test methods for separation of oil in filling compounds.

IEC 60811-603 – Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials – Part 603: Physical tests – Measurement of total acid number of filling compounds
The standard gives the test methods to examine the filling compound for corrosive elements.

IEC 60811-604 – Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials – Part 604: Physical tests – Measurement of absence of corrosive components in filling compounds
IEC 60811-604 indicates the effect of the filling compound when in contact with the metallic parts of the cable.

IEC 60811-605 – Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials – Part 605: Physical tests – Measurement of carbon black and/or mineral filler in polyethylene compounds
EC 60811-605 describes the test methods for measuring the content of carbon black added for UV stabilization of polyethylene and polyolefin compounds. These methods are not suitable for halogenated compounds. Method A is suitable only for polyethylene and polypropylene compounds. Method B is suitable for polyolefin compounds.

IEC 60811-606 – Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials – Part 606: Physical tests – Methods for determining the density
The standard describes the methods for determining the density for the most common types of insulating and sheathing compounds (cross-linked, PVC, PE, PP, etc.).

IEC 60811-607 – Electric and optical fibre cables – Test methods for non-metallic materials – Part 607: Physical tests – Test for the assessment of carbon black dispersion in polyethylene and polypropylene
The standard specifies test methods for carbon black dispersion that are applicable specifically to PE and PP compounds, including cellular compounds and foam skin for insulation.