An update of cabling standard, focused on European and International ones.

1. Cabling Standards Update 2014
Dimitris Filippou
Technical Director, Ltd.
IEEE Member, BICSI Country Chair,
ELOT Technical Committee TC93 Member,
CENELEC TC215 Delegate of Greek National Committee,
CENELEC TC215 WG1, WG2 & WG3 Member
dimitrisfilippou@bicsi.org, dfilipp@ieee.org

2. Dimitris Filippou
Dimitris Filippou
Technical Director
I2QS Ltd.
Tel.: 0030 210 6781087
Mob.: 0030 6945 876240
BICSI E-mail:
dimitrisfilippou@bicsi.org
IEEE E-mail:
dfilipp@ieee.org
E-mail:
dfilippou@i2qs.com
Standards Activity
Member
TC215 WG1: Cabling Design
TC215 WG2: Cabling Installation – QA and Installation Practices
TC215 WG3: Facilities and Infrastructures for Data Centres
Delegate
TC215: Electrotechnical Aspects of Telecommunications Equipment
Member
TC93: Internal Networks of Electronic Communications for
Houses and Buildings
Country Chair
Member
Standard Committee for Cabling Design & Installation

3. Standards
What are Standards?
• Standards represent the minimum required to maintain
compliance.
• Principally about achieving minimum performance from
products / standards driven by applications – not end users.
• Standards are considered to be living documents.
• It is important that the region specific standards are quoted
in the design and implementation.

4. Regional Standard Bodies
Who are the national or regional standard bodies?
• The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) produces worldwide standards
generated by country members.
• European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization CENELEC produces European
standards generated by EU country members.
• American National Standards Institute (ANSI) produces North American standards.
INTERNATIONAL EUROPEUSA
ISO/IEC CENELECANSI/TIA

5. Who Else Is Out There?
Standards and guidance is generated to support Design,
Implementation, Methods and Products interoperability.
There are many ways of doing the job:
 Trade Bodies and Standards publication.
 ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute).
 ITU (International Telecommunications Union).
 IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc).
 Manufacturers recommendations.
 Methods Manuals.
 Design Guidelines.

6. Cabling Design Standards
CLC ISO/IEC ANSI/TIA
General Requirements EN 50173-1 11801-1 (11801) 568-0.D, 2.D, 3.D, 4.D
Office Premises EN 50173-2 11801-2 (11801) 568-1.D
Industrial Premises EN 50173-3 11801-3 (24702) 1005-B
Homes EN 50173-4 11801-4 (15018) 570-D
Data Centres EN 50173-5 11801-5 (24764) 942-B
Distributed Building Services EN 50173-6 11801-6 862-B

7. Cabling Link/Channel Configuration
EQP TE
CP TOCC
Link
Channel = 100m
EQP TE
CP TOC
Link
Channel = 100m
EQP
Cord
EQP
Cord
Patch
Cord
WA
Cord
WA
Cord
CP
Cable
Horizontal Cable
Horizontal Cable
CP
Cable
Interconnect Model
Cross-connect Model

8. Fundamental Principles
Components Links/Channels
Class A
Class B
Class C
Category 5 Class D
Category 6 Class E
Category 6A Class EA
Category 7 Class F
Category 7A Class FA
Category 8.1 Class I
Category 8.2 Class II
ISO/IEC
CLC
Frequency
Performance
Components Links/Channels
Category 3 Category 3
Category 5 Category 5
Category 6 Category 6
Category 6A Category 6A
ANSI/TIA
Frequency

9. Fundamental Principles (cont.)
ISO/IEC
CLC
ANSI/TIA
Modular
Plug/cord
Modular Connector Category
5 6 6A 7 7A 8.1 8.2
Category 5
Category 6
Category 6A
Category 7
Category 7A
Category 8.1
Category 8.2
Connection Category
8.2
8.1
7A
7
6A
6
5
Modular
Plug/cord
Modular Connector Category
3 5 6A 6A
Category 3
Category 5
Category 6
Category 6A
Connection Category
6A
6
5
3
Cables and connections of different
Categories may be mixed within a
channel, however the resultant cabling
performance will be determined by the
Category of the lowest performing
component.

10. Cabling Installation Standards
CLC ISO/IEC ANSI/TIA
Specification and QA EN 50174-1
14763-2
Partial Coverage in
569-D
758-C
Inside Buildings EN 50174-2
Outside Buildings EN 50174-3
Administration TR 14763-2-1 606-C
Explicit requirements
of EN 50173 series but
covering all
telecommunications
cabling
Explicit requirements
of ISO/IEC 11801
series
Implicit requirements of
ANSI/TIA-568 series
Remote Powering CLC TR 50174-99-1

11. Telecommunications Bonding
Standards
CLC ISO/IEC ANSI/TIA
EN 50310:2010 30129:2015 607-C
Application of equipotential
bonding and earthing in
buildings with information
technology equipment
Information technology –
Telecommunications bonding
networks for buildings and other
structures
Generic telecommunications
bonding and grounding
(earthing) for customer
premises

12. CENELEC

13. CENELEC EN 50173 Series
There are 9 documents comprising EN 50173; the series includes:
• EN 50173-1, Information Technology – Generic Cabling Systems – Part 1: General
requirements.
• EN 50173-2, Information Technology – Generic Cabling Systems – Part 2: Office premises.
• EN 50173-3, Information Technology – Generic Cabling Systems – Part 3: Industrial premises.
• EN 50173-4, Information Technology – Generic Cabling Systems – Part 4: Homes.
• EN 50173-5, Information Technology – Generic Cabling Systems – Part 5: Data centres.
• EN 50173-6, Information Technology – Generic Cabling Systems – Part 6: Distributed building
systems.
• TR 50173-99-1, Cabling guidelines in support of 10GBaseT.
• TR 50173-99-2, Information Technology – Implementation of BCT applications using cabling in
accordance with EN 50173-4.
• TR 50173-99-3, Information Technology – Generic cabling systems – Part 99-3: Home cabling
infrastructures up to 50m in length to support simultaneous and non simultaneous provision
of applications.

14. Highlights from EN 50173-1
Introduces the concept of environmental classification M.I.C.E. (Mechanical, Ingress, Climatic and
Chemical, Electromagnetic).
Environmental Class
1 2 3
Mechanical rating M1 M2 M3
Ingress rating I1 I2 I3
Climatic and chemical rating C1 C2 C3
Electromagnetic rating E1 E2 E3
• The requirements of a given classification cover the requirements of a lower classification, i.e.
channels designed to operate under environmental conditions defined by M2 shall continue to
operate under environmental conditions by M1.
• Specifies Channels for balanced and optical fibre cabling media.
• Specifies the minimum component requirements in support of these cabling elements.
• Provides a list of applications supported by generic cabling systems.

15. Highlights from EN 50173-1 (cont.)
Classes for balanced cabling:
 Class A: specified up to 0.1MHz;
 Class B: specified up to 1MHz;
 Class C: specified up to 16MHz;
 Class D: specified up to 100MHz;
 Class E: specified up to 250MHz;
 Class EA: specified up to 500MHz;
 Class F: specified up to 600MHz;
 Class FA: specified up to 1000MHz;
 Class I: specified between 1600MHz and 2000MHz (TBD) ;
 Class II: specified between 1600MHz and 2000MHz (TBD).
Channels of a given Class will support all applications of a lower Class.

16. Highlights from EN 50173-6
Supports two architectures:
Type A: Generic cabling extends from the Service Distributor (SD) to the
Service Outlet (SO).
The generic cabling shall be able to support the broadest set of existing and
emerging application within the environmental conditions:
• Considerations for Cat.6A (Class EA) and Cat.7A (Class FA).
• Consideration for PoE applications and remote powered devices.
EQP TE
SCP SOSD
Link
Channel = 100m
EQP
Cord
SA
Cord
SCP
Cable
Horizontal Cable

17. Highlights from EN 50173-6 (cont.)
Type B: Generic cabling extends from an SD to the Service
Concentration Point (SCP) provide the opportunity for:
• Application specific cabling to be installed between the SCP and
terminal equipment.
• Application specific cabling to be connected at the SCP.
EQP TE
SCPSD
EQP
Cord
SA
Cord
SCP
CableHorizontal Cable
TE
SO
SA
Cord
TE
SCP
Cable
SCP
Cable
TE connection
configured as
Plug Socket
TE connections
directly attached
to cabling

18. Highlights from EN 50173-6 (cont.)
SCP advantages:
• An SCP allows coverage area connections to
be easily reconfigured.
• Consolidation Points (CP) for voice and data
and SCPs for BAS applications can coexist
within the same zone box.
• We need to think only for the number of IP
applications/services needed.

19. CENELEC Installation Standards
There are 4 documents comprising EN 50174; the series
includes:
• EN 50174-1, Information Technology – Cabling installation –
Part 1: Installation specification and quality assurance.
• EN 50174-2, Information Technology – Cabling installation –
Part 2: Installation planning and practices inside buildings.
• EN 50174-3, Information Technology – Cabling installation –
Part 3: Installation planning and practices outside buildings.
• TR 50174-99-1, Information Technology – Cabling
installation – Remote Powering (TBD).

20. Highlights from TR 50174-99-1
Thermal
measurements
to date on
ventilated
bundles
Partially
ventilated
Unventilated Insulated
Reflects real installation practices

21. Highlights from TR 50174-99-1
T1, T2a and T3
T2b
T2c
T2d
Thermocouples
Ambient
”perfect” bundle
T3 Ta
0,6
 0,05 m
 1,2 m 1,2 m
0,6
 0,05 m
T2xT1
Current feed using 37 cable bundle
Cable 1 Cable 2
……...
Cable 37
ic
ic

22. CENELEC Installation Standards
CENELEC EN 50310, Application of equipotential
bonding and earthing in buildings with information
technology equipment.
This European standard specifies minimum
requirements for earthing networks and connections
(bonds) in buildings in which information technology
equipment is intended to be installed to protect that
equipment and interconnecting cabling from electrical
hazards.

23. New EN 50600 Data Center Design
Standard
CLC TC215 WG3 has started a new project EN 50600 Data Centre facilities
and infrastructures:
 EN 50600 – Part 1: General concepts (Published).
 EN 50600 – Part 2-1: Building construction.
 EN 50600 – Part 2-2: Power distribution.
 EN 50600 – Part 2-3: Environmental control.
 EN 50600 – Part 2-4: Telecommunications cabling infrastructure.
 EN 50600 – Part 2-5: Physical security.
 EN 50600 – Part 2-6: Management and operational information.
 EN 50600 – Part 3-1: General design principles.
 EN 50600 – Part 3-2: Measurements methodologies, test methods and report
formats.
This series of European Standards does not address the selection of
information technology and network telecommunications equipment,
software and associated configuration issues.

24. ISO/IEC

25. ISO/IEC 11801 Series
ISO/IEC 11801 3rd Edition series:
• ISO/IEC 11801-1, Generic Cabling;
• ISO/IEC 11801-2, Enterprise;
• ISO/IEC 11801-3, Industrial;
• ISO/IEC 11801-4, Homes ;
• ISO/IEC 11801-5, Data Centre.
• ISO/IEC TR 11801-99-1,
Technical Report for the next generation Twisted-pair cabling, for supporting
40Gb/s applications (in support of the IEEE 802.3bq project for 40GBASE-T, next
generation 40G Ethernet over-twisted-pair).
• ISO/IEC 14763-2, 2nd Edition
This document is similar to EN 50174-1 and EN 50174-2.
• ISO/IEC 14763-3, 2nd Edition
Test method improvements to support component and channel performance for
OM4 optical fiber media classes.

26. ISO/IEC Standards
• Automated Infrastructure Management (AIM)
systems
Automated cabling administration systems: intelligent patch-
panels, management program interface. Two open projects:
– ISO/IEC 14763-2 Amd. 1, adds informative text covering
AIM functional guidelines.
– ISO/IEC 18598, requirements of AIM elements supporting
cabling systems within buildings.
• ISO/IEC 30129 Telecommunications Bonding
Requirements of bonding-to-earth systems supporting
cabling within buildings.

27. Highlights from ISO/IEC 11801-1
Copper Cabling Items
Defines the component, Link and Channel performance for
balanced twisted pair copper.
Class C up to 16MHz;
Class D up to 100MHz;
Class E up to 250MHz;
Class EA up to 500MHz;
Class F up to 600MHz;
Class FA up to 1000MHz;
Class I between 1600MHz and 2000MHz;
Class II between 1600MHz and 2000MHz.

28. Highlights from ISO/IEC 11801-1
(cont.)
Copper Cabling Items
New IEC definitions of cable construction/design with
corresponding IEC definitions for performance.

29. Highlights from ISO/IEC 11801-1
(cont.)

30. Highlights from ISO/IEC 11801-1
(cont.)
Copper Testing Issues
If the coupling attenuation of Class EA or FA permanent links or CP links is at
least 10dB better than the corresponding channel coupling attenuation
requirements, and Class FA permanent links or CP Links are at least 25dB
better than the corresponding channel coupling attenuation requirements,
then the ANEXT requirements are met by design. Effectively this means that
testing and validation for ANEXT is not required on site.

31. Highlights from ISO/IEC 11801-1
(cont.)
Optical Fibre Cabling Items
Optical fibre adapters and connectors should be protected from dust and
other contaminants, specifically while they are in an unmated state.
End faces of connectors shall be inspected according to ISO/IEC 14763-3 and
subsequently cleaned when necessary, prior to connection.
Maximum mated connector insertion loss:
• 100% ≤0.75dB;
• 95% ≤0.50dB;
• 50% ≤0.35dB.
• The TO shall present a duplex LC connector that complies with IEC 61754-
20.

32. Questions
Dimitris Filippou
Technical Director, Ltd.
IEEE Member, BICSI Country Chair,
ELOT Technical Committee TC93 Member,
CENELEC TC215 Delegate of Greek National Committee,
CENELEC TC215 WG1, WG2 & WG3 Member
dimitrisfilippou@bicsi.org, dfilipp@ieee.org