This part of IEC 61196 describes three methods to determine the UV resistance of sheath materials for electric and optical fibre cables. These tests apply for outdoor and indoor cable applications according to the product standard. The samples of sheath are taken from the finished cables.

Although this test method is written principally for communication cables, it can be used for energy cables if called up by the relevant product standard.

Where a sheath is of cross-linked (thermosetting) material, it is recalled that the preparation of moulded plaques is made before crosslinking.

Methods differ by the nature of the UV source.

Due to the excessive time to failure, the methods described are inappropriate to products where UV resistance is conferred by greater than or equal to 2,0 % carbon black content meeting the requirements defined in IEC 60708.