Overview - IEC 62125:2019
IEC 62125:2019 is an international standard from the IEC that defines methodologies for assessing and communicating the environmental performance of insulated electrical power and control cables in normal use. Published in 2019 (Edition 1.0), it supersedes IEC TR 62125:2007 and formalizes approaches for qualitative and quantitative environmental evaluation, conductor-size optimization, and external environmental communication (including material declaration).
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope: Procedures for environmental evaluation and communication specific to power and control cables in normal use.
- Checklist approach: A qualitative environmental checklist tailored to power cables for screening design, production, use and end-of-life aspects.
- Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): A quantitative LCA methodology covering:
- Goal and scope definition (functional unit, reference flow, system boundary, cut-off criteria)
- Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) data collection, selection and allocation
- Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) and interpretation
- Use of single environmental indicators where appropriate
- ECSO (Environmental and energy cost-based conductor size optimization):
- Methodology to balance initial cost, energy losses and environmental (CO2) impacts to determine optimum conductor size and operating current ranges
- Includes rules, factors, CO2 evaluation, and calculation procedures with worked examples in annexes
- Environment-related communication:
- Principles for external communication of LCA results and other topics (e.g., material declaration, substance compliance, end-of-life information)
- Supporting material: Informative annexes with a checklist, ECSO example calculations, and an example of environmental communication.
Practical applications
- Use the checklist for early-stage design reviews and to identify environmental risk areas without full LCA.
- Apply the LCA methodology when quantitative, comparable environmental performance data is required for product development, procurement, or compliance reporting.
- Use ECSO to optimize conductor sizing based on life-cycle cost and emissions trade-offs-helpful in projects where energy loss over service life is significant.
- Prepare consistent, auditable environmental communications (e.g., product declarations, environmental product information) that stakeholders and customers can rely on.
Who should use IEC 62125:2019
- Cable manufacturers and designers
- Standards writers and technical committees (IEC TC 20 users)
- Transmission/distribution system operators, specifiers, and procurement teams
- Environmental managers and LCA practitioners working in the electrical cable sector
- Installers and contractors involved in cable selection and lifecycle planning
Related standards and notes
- Supersedes IEC TR 62125:2007 (technical report).
- Document prepared in accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
- Annexes and bibliography provide examples and references to support implementation.