IEC 61918:2018 specifies basic requirements for the installation of media for communication networks in industrial premises and within and between the automation islands, of industrial sites. This standard covers balanced and optical fibre cabling. It also covers the cabling infrastructure for wireless media, but not the wireless media itself. Additional media are covered in the IEC 61784-5 series.

This fourth edition cancels and replaces the third edition published in 2013. This edition constitutes a technical revision. This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition: a) the reference to ISO/IEC 24702 has been replaced with reference to the new ISO/IEC 11801-3; this affects Table 2; b) some terms and abbreviated terms have been modified in Clause 3; c) Subclauses 4.1.2, 4.4.2.5, 4.4.3.4.1 and 5.7 have been updated; d) Figure 2 and Figure 3 have been updated; Figure 13, Figure 16, Figure 30 and Figure 49 have been added; e) Table 7 has been updated; f) Annex D and Annex M have been extended to cover additional communication profile families; Annex H has been extended to cover the M12-8 X-coding connector use; g) Annex O has been modified by including references to the new edition of the ISO/IEC 11801 series, ISO/IEC TR 11801-9902 and ISO/IEC 14763-4; h) Annex P has been added. This standard is to be used in conjunction with the IEC 61784-5 series with regard to the installation of communication profiles (CPs).