New specification helps to ensure robust and reliable fieldbus physical layer performance

AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 27, 2007 — The Fieldbus Foundation today announced the release of a Foundation fieldbus H1 cable test specification. The new specification includes test cases providing greater assurance to automation end users that their wiring systems are suitable for fieldbus system operation.

The H1 Cable Test Specification (Document FF-844) is designed for manufacturers developing cables for Foundation fieldbus H1 (31.25 kbit/s) installations. The specification test cases, based upon the IEC 61158-2:2003 standard, include (but are not limited to) impedance, capacitive unbalance, connector pin-outs, and attenuation.

Cable manufacturers can submit their test reports to the Fieldbus Foundation, which will initiate a cable registration process in the near future.

Fieldbus Foundation Manager-Fieldbus Products, Stephen Mitschke, said, “The Fieldbus Foundation is helping to ensure robust and reliable fieldbus physical layer performance with the release of this new H1 cable specification. End users will be the main beneficiaries of the specification’s rigorous suite of cable test cases.”

Fieldbus Foundation members can download the new specification on Fieldbus Forums. For more information, please e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

About the Fieldbus Foundation

The Fieldbus Foundation is a global not-for-profit corporation consisting of leading process end users and automation companies. Within the Fieldbus Foundation, end users, manufacturers, universities and research organizations work together to develop an automation infrastructure that provides process integrity, business intelligence and open scalable integration in a managed environment. For more information, visit their web site at www.fieldbus.org.