IEC 62153: “Metallic communication cables test methods”
I’ve been thinking a lot about shielding lately, both in the run-up to a couple of focused seminars and also as a member of the IEEE P2855 working group (our modest goal is to become the “Recommended Practices for the Electromagnetic Screening Effectiveness Characterization of Cable/Connector Assemblies (CCAs) in Frequency Range of DC to 40 GHz” by 2026). One of the standards that comes up a lot when you’re discussing test methods for evaluating cable shielding is IEC 62153 “Metallic communication cables test methods” and its sub-parts. You can purchase any sub-part individually. I’m including a list of all the sub-parts here, since it’s annoyingly hard to find in one place:
Part 1-1: Metallic communication cables test methods – Electrical – Measurement of the pulse/step return loss in the frequency domain using the Inverse Discrete Fourier Transformation (IDFT)
Part 1-2: Metallic communication cables test methods – Electrical – Reflection Measurement
Part 4-0: Metallic communication cable test methods – Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) – Relationship between surface transfer impedance and screening attenuation, recommended limits
Part 4-1: Metallic communication cable test methods – Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) – Introduction to electromagnetic (EMC) screening measurements
Part 4-2: Metallic communication cable test methods – Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) – Screening and coupling attenuation – Injection clamp method
Part 4-3: Metallic communication cable test methods – Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) – Surface transfer impedance – Triaxial method
Part 4-4: Metallic communication cable test methods – Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) – Shielded screening attenuation, test method for measuring of the screening attenuation as up to and above 3 GHz
Part 4-5: Metallic communication cables test methods – Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) – Coupling or screening attenuation – Absorbing clamp method
Part 4-6: Metallic communication cable test methods – Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) – Surface transfer impedance – Line injection method
Part 4-7: Metallic communication cable test methods – Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) – Test method for measuring the transfer impedance and the screening – or the coupling attenuation – Tube in tube method
Part 4-8: Metallic communication cable test methods – Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) – Capacitive coupling admittance
Part 4-9: Metallic communication cable test methods – Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) – Coupling attenuation of screened balanced cables, triaxial method
Part 4-10: Metallic communication cable test methods – Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) – Shielded screening attenuation test method for measuring the screening effectiveness of feed-throughs and electromagnetic gaskets double coaxial method
Part 4-11: Metallic communication cable test methods – Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) – Coupling attenuation or screening attenuation of patch cords, coaxial cable assemblies, pre-connectorized cables – Absorbing clamp method
Part 4-12: Metallic communication cable test methods – Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) – Coupling attenuation or screening attenuation of connecting hardware – Absorbing clamp method
Part 4-13: Metallic communication cable test methods – Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) – Coupling attenuation of links and channels (laboratory conditions) – Absorbing clamp method
Part 4-14: Metallic communication cable test methods – Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) – Coupling attenuation of cable assemblies (Field conditions) absorbing clamp method
Part 4-15: Metallic cables and other passive components test methods - Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) - Test method for measuring transfer impedance and screening attenuation - or coupling attenuation with triaxial cell
Part 4-16: Metallic cables and other passive components test methods - Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) - Extension of the frequency range to higher frequencies for transfer impedance and to lower frequencies for screening attenuation measurements using the triaxial set-up
Part 4-17: Metallic cables and other passive components - Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) - Reduction Factor
Probably the most often cited sub-part is 4-3 on the triaxial method for measuring surface transfer impedance. Although it is less rigorous, my favorite method due to its flexibility and intuitive nature is 4-6, the line injection method.
TIP:
Keep a close eye on exactly what value is being measured in each test setup. While they are all closely related, transfer impedance, transfer admittance, screening attenuation, coupling attenuation, etc. are different in important ways. Likewise, when comparing shield characterizations between different vendors, understand what values they’re displaying and how those were measured. It may not be straightforward to compare values between vendors if they’re different measurands or derived using different test methods.
Although it’s less commonly used, give some consideration to the methods using absorbing clamps. My favorite, GSFC-STD-7000B, Section 2.5.3.3.2.1 has arguments in favor of using absorbing clamps for the frequency range 30 - 200 MHz that I found quite convincing.
IEC 62153 is not the only place to go looking for cable shielding test methods–IEC 61000-4-21 describes a method using reverb chambers, which I hope to write about soon, and eventually we hope IEEE P2855 will become a go-to document. However, if you’re looking to understand the details of some of the most common test methods, 62153 is a very good starting point.