scope:

This part of IEC 60794-4, which is a family specification, covers cable construction, test methods and optical, mechanical, environmental and electrical performance requirements for OPGW (optical ground wire) which is used for the protection of electrical power lines against atmospheric discharges or short-circuits and, at the same time, as a high bandwidth transport media for communications-and-control optical signals. The corresponding environmental declaration may be built according to IEC TR 62839-1.

The OPGW is a substitute for a conventional ground-/shield-wire containing optical fibres for control and/or telecommunication purposes. Usually the fibres are embedded loosely in protective buffer tubes. To fulfil mechanical and electrical requirements; an armouring of one or more layers with aluminium, aluminium alloy, and aluminium clad steel, galvanized steel or a mixture of them is helically stranded. If the construction contains an aluminium tube or an aluminium slotted core, this cross section is considered as a conductive part.