EN 50173-1:2002

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-februar-2003
1DGRPHãþD
SIST EN 50173:1997
SIST EN 50173:1997/A1:2000
Information technology - Generic cabling systems - Part 1: General requirements
and office areas
Information technology - Generic cabling systems -- Part 1: General requirements and
office areas
Informationstechnik - Anwendungsneutrale Kommunikationskabelanlagen -- Teil 1:
Allgemeine Anforderungen und Bürobereiche
Technologies de l'information - Systèmes génériques de câblage -- Partie 1:
Spécification générale et environnement de bureaux
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 50173-1:2002
ICS:
33.040.50 Vodi, zveze in tokokrogi Lines, connections and
circuits
35.110 Omreževanje Networking
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD EN 50173-1
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM November 2002

ICS 33.040.50
English version
Information technology -
Generic cabling systems
Part 1: General requirements and office areas

Technologies de l'information -  Informationstechnik -
Systèmes génériques de câblage Anwendungsneutrale
Partie 1: Spécification générale Kommunikationskabelanlagen
et environnement de bureaux Teil 1: Allgemeine Anforderungen
und Bürobereiche
This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2002-11-01. CENELEC members are bound to
comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European
Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.

Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on
application to the Central Secretariat or to any CENELEC member.

This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other
language made by translation under the responsibility of a CENELEC member into its own language and
notified to the Central Secretariat has the same status as the official versions.

CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta,
Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.

CENELEC
European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung

Central Secretariat: rue de Stassart 35, B - 1050 Brussels

© 2002 CENELEC - All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC members.

Ref. No. EN 50173-1:2002 E
Foreword
This European Standard has been prepared by Technical Committee CENELEC/TC 215 „Electrotechnical
aspects of telecommunication equipment" under the framework of the Mandates M/212 on
„Telecommunication cables and cabling systems" and M/239 on „Air traffic management equipment and
systems".
The text of the draft was submitted to the formal vote and was approved by CENELEC as EN 50173-1 on
2002-11-01.
The following dates were fixed:
- latest date by which the EN has to be implemented
at national level by publication of an identical
national standard or by endorsement (dop) 2003-11-01
- latest date by which the national standards
conflicting with the EN have to be withdrawn (dow) 2003-11-01
The first edition of this European Standard had been developed to enable the application-independent pre-
cabling of office premises. Its basic principles, however, are applicable also in various other situations
including industrial premises and residential buildings, and TC 215 has started to establish relevant European
Standards which address the specific requirements of these environments. In order to point out the
commonalities of these cabling design standards, TC 215 has decided to publish them as individual parts of
the series EN 50173, thus also acknowledging that nowadays standards users recognize the designation
“EN 50173” as a synonym for generic cabling design.
This European Standard, EN 50173-1, supersedes both EN 50173:1995 and EN 50173:1995/A1:2000 and
constitutes a complete revision thereof (it is related to, but not identical with, ISO/IEC 11801:2002). Essential
changes include the following:
- centralized generic cabling in addition to hierarchical three-level topology,
- new modelling of the horizontal cabling subsystem with an optional consolidation point,
- new channel Classes E and F for balanced cabling and associated component Categories 6 and 7,
- classification of optical fibre cabling channels and associated component requirements,
- limits for all channel parameters based on formulae instead of discrete values at key frequencies,
- maximum channel lengths (horizontal and backbone subsystem) depend upon implementation model,
- requirements for cords and jumpers revised,
- requirements on installation aspects and administration replaced by reference to relevant EN,
- new Annexes with link performance/permanent link performance limits and on electromagnetic
characteristics of cabling; Annex with supported applications updated.
Annexes designated “normative” are a part of this standard. Annexes designated “informative” are for
information only. In this standard, Annexes A and D are normative, Annexes B, C, E, F and G are informative.

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Contents
Introduction.10
1 Scope and conformance.12
1.1 Scope.12
1.2 Conformance.12
2 Normative references.13
3 Definitions and abbreviations.16
3.1 Definitions.16
3.2 Abbreviations.21
4 Structure of the generic cabling system.22
4.1 General.22
4.2 Functional elements.23
4.3 General structure and hierarchy .23
4.4 Cabling subsystems.25
4.5 Accommodation of functional elements.26
4.6 Interfaces.26
4.7 Dimensioning and configuring .28
4.8 Electromagnetic compatibility .32
4.9 Earthing and equipotential bonding .32
5 Channel performance .32
5.1 General.32
5.2 Layout of channels.33
5.3 Classification of balanced cabling channels .34
5.4 Balanced cabling channel performance.34
5.5 Classification of optical fibre cabling channels .44
6 Reference implementations.45
6.1 General.45
6.2 Balanced cabling.45
6.3 Optical fibre cabling .49
7 Cable requirements.51
7.1 General.51
7.2 Balanced cables.51

7.3 Hybrid and multi-unit cables, and cables connected to more than
one telecommunications outlet .52
7.4 Optical fibre cables .52
8 Connecting hardware requirements.54
8.1 General requirements .54
8.2 Connecting hardware for balanced cabling .55
8.3 Optical fibre connecting hardware .65
9 Requirements for cords and jumpers .68
9.1 General.68
9.2 Balanced cords.68
9.3 Optical fibre cords.71
Annex A (normative) Link performance limits.72
A.1 General.72
A.2 Balanced cabling.72
A.3 Optical fibre cabling .79
Annex B (informative) Permanent link performance limits for maximum implementation .80
B.1 General.80
B.2 Performance limits .80
Annex C (informative) Class F channel and permanent link with two connections .84
Annex D (normative) Mechanical and environmental performance testing of balanced cabling
connecting hardware of types other than those used at the TO.85
D.1 Introduction.85
D.2 Test requirements.85
Annex E (informative) Supported Applications .90
E.1 Supported applications for balanced cabling.90
E.2 Supported applications for optical fibre cabling .90
Annex F (informative) Electromagnetic characteristics.95
Annex G (informative) Changes from earlier editions of this European Standard .96
G.1 General.96
G.2 Cabling structure.96
G.3 Installed balanced cabling requirements .97
Bibliography.101

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Figures
Figure 1 – Relationship between EN 50173-1 and other standards relevant for
information technology cabling systems .11
Figure 2 - Structure of generic cabling .23
Figure 3 – Hierarchical structure of generic cabling.24
Figure 4 – Structures for centralized generic cabling.24
Figure 5 - Accommodation of functional elements .26
Figure 6 - Interconnect and cross-connect models .27
Figure 7 - Test and equipment interfaces.27
Figure 8 - Example of a generic cabling system with combined BD and FD .29
Figure 9 - Connection of functional elements providing redundancy.30
Figure 10 - Example of a system showing the location of cabling interfaces.33
Figure 11 - Horizontal cabling models.46
Figure 12 - Backbone cabling model.48
Figure 13 - Combined optical fibre backbone/horizontal channels .50
Figure 14 - Eight position jack pin and pair grouping assignments (front view of connector).64
Figure A.1 - Link options.72
Figure C.1 – Two connection channel and permanent link.84
Figure G.1 - Horizontal cabling model.97
Figure G.2 - Backbone cabling model .97

Tables
Table 1 - Maximum channel lengths for reference implementations .29
Table 2 - Formulae for return loss limits for a channel.35
Table 3 - Return loss limits for a channel at key frequencies.35
Table 4 - Formulae for attenuation limits for a channel.36
Table 5 - Attenuation limits for a channel at key frequencies.36
Table 6 - Formulae for NEXT limits for a channel .37
Table 7 - NEXT limits for a channel at key frequencies .37
Table 8 - Formulae for PSNEXT limits for a channel .38
Table 9 - PSNEXT limits for a channel at key frequencies .38
Table 10 - ACR limits for a channel at key frequencies .39
Table 11 - PSACR limits for a channel at key frequencies .39
Table 12 - Formulae for ELFEXT limits for a channel .40
Table 13 - ELFEXT limits for a channel at key frequencies .40
Table 14 - Formulae for PSELFEXT limits for a channel .41
Table 15 - PSELFEXT limits for a channel at key frequencies .41
Table 16 - Maximum d.c. loop resistance values for a channel .42
Table 17 - Formulae for propagation delay limits for a channel.42
Table 18 - Propagation delay limits for a channel at key frequencies.43
Table 19 - Delay skew limits for a channel.43
Table 20 - Maximum unbalance attenuation, near end.43
Table 21 - Optical fibre channel attenuation limits .44
Table 22 - Horizontal channel equations.47
Table 23 - Backbone channel equations.49
Table 24 - Optical fibre channel parameters .51
Table 25 - Balanced cable standards.52
Table 26 - Multimode optical fibre cable performance requirements .53

- 7 - EN 50173-1:2002
Table 27 - Singlemode optical fibre cable (Category OS1) performance requirements .53
Table 28 - Mechanical characteristics of connecting hardware intended for use with balanced cabling.56
Table 29 - Backwards compatibility matrix.57
Table 30 - Formulae for return loss limits for connecting hardware.57
Table 31 - Minimum return loss.57
Table 32 - Formulae for attenuation limits for connecting hardware.58
Table 33 - Maximum attenuation (insertion loss) .58
Table 34 – Formulae for NEXT limits for connecting hardware .58
Table 35 - Minimum NEXT .59
Table 36 - Formulae for PS NEXT limits for connecting hardware .59
Table 37 - Minimum PSNEXT .59
Table 38- Formulae for FEXT limits for connecting hardware.60
Table 39 - Minimum FEXT.60
Table 40 - Formulae for PSFEXT limits for connecting hardware.60
Table 41 - Minimum PSFEXT.60
Table 42 - Formulae for propagation delay for connecting hardware .61
Table 43 - Formulae for delay skew for connecting hardware .61
Table 44 – Maximum input to output resistance.61
Table 45 – Maximum input to output resistance unbalance.62
Table 46 - Minimum current carrying capacity .62
Table 47 - Formulae for transfer impedance for connecting hardware .62
Table 48 - Maximum transfer impedance.63
Table 49 - Formulae for Transverse Conversion Loss (TCL) limits for connecting hardware .63
Table 50 - Minimum TCL.63
Table 51 – Minimum insulation resistance .64
Table 52 – Minimum d.c. voltage proof .64
Table 53 – Connecting hardware requirements at the telecommunications outlet .65

Table 54 - Mechanical and optical characteristics of optical fibre connecting hardware .67
Table 55 – Return loss requirements for cords .69
Table 56 - Informative values of NEXT at key frequencies for Category 5, 6 and 7 cords .70
Table A.1 - Formulae for return loss limits for a link.73
Table A.2 - Formulae for attenuation limits for a link.74
Table A.3 - Formulae for NEXT limits for a link.75
Table A.4 - Formulae for PSNEXT limits for a link .75
Table A.5 - Formulae for ELFEXT limits for a link.76
Table A.6 - Formulae for PSELFEXT limits for a link .77
Table A.7 – Direct current (d.c.) loop resistance limits for a link.77
Table A.8 - Propagation delay formulae for a link .78
Table A.9 - Delay skew formulae for a link.79
Table B.1 - Return loss limits for a permanent link at key frequencies .80
Table B.2 - Attenuation limits for a permanent link at key frequencies .80
Table B.3 - NEXT limits for a permanent link at key frequencies.81
Table B.4 - PSNEXT limits for a permanent link at key frequencies.81
Table B.5 - ACR limits for a permanent link at key frequencies.81
Table B.6 - PSACR limits for a permanent link at key frequencies.82
Table B.7 - ELFEXT limits for a permanent link at key frequencies.82
Table B.8 - PSELFEXT limits for a permanent link at key frequencies.82
Table B.9 – Direct current (d.c.) loop resistance limits for a permanent link at key frequencies .83
Table B.10 - Propagation delay limits for a permanent link at key frequencies .83
Table B.11 - Delay skew limits for a permanent link at key frequencies.83
Table C.1 - ACR and PSACR values for 2 connection class F channels and
permanent links at key frequencies.84
Table D.1 - Test group P .86
Table D.2 - Test group AP.87

- 9 - EN 50173-1:2002
Table D.3 - Test group BP.88
Table D.4 - Test group CP.88
Table D.5 - Test group DP.89
Table E.1 - Supported applications using balanced cabling .91
Table E.2 - Modular connector pin assignment for applications .92
Table E.3 - Supported applications using optical fibre cabling.93
Table E.4 - Maximum channel lengths supported by optical fibre applications with multimode fibres .94
Table E.5 - Maximum channel lengths supported by optical fibre applications with singlemode fibres.95
Table G.1 - Maximum attenuation .98
Table G.2 - Minimum NEXT .98
Table G.3 - Minimum ACR .99
Table G.4 - Minimum Return loss.99
Table G.5 - Minimum LCL/LCTL .99
Table G.6 - Maximum Delay.100
Table G.7 - Maximum d.c. loop resistance.100
Table G.8 – Class D Power sum values.100
Table G.9 - Delay skew .100

Introduction
Within premises, the importance of the information technology cabling infrastructure is similar to that of other
fundamental building utilities such as heating, lighting and mains power. As with other utilities, interruptions to
service can have serious impact. Poor quality of service due to lack of design foresight, use of inappropriate
components, incorrect installation, poor administration or inadequate support can threaten an organisation's
effectiveness.
Historically, the cabling within a premises comprised both application-specific and multipurpose networks.
The previous edition of this standard enabled a controlled migration to generic cabling and the reduction in
the use of application-specific cabling. The subsequent growth of generic cabling designed in accordance
with EN 50173 has supported the development of high data rate applications based upon a defined cabling
model. This edition, EN 50173-1, has been revised to reflect these increasing demands.
This European Standard provides:
a) users with an application independent generic cabling system and an open market for cabling
components;
b) users with a flexible cabling scheme such that modifications are both easy and economical;
c) building professionals (for example, architects) with guidance allowing the accommodation of cabling
before specific requirements are known; i.e., in the initial planning either for construction or refurbishment;
d) industry and standardisation bodies with a cabling system which supports current products and provides a
basis for future product development and applications standardisation.
This European Standard specifies multi-vendor cabling, and is related to:
- standards for cabling components developed by Technical Committees of CENELEC and/or IEC;
- standards for the quality assurance and installation of information technology cabling (series EN 50174)
and testing of installed cabling (EN 50346);
- applications developed by the subcommittees of ISO/IEC JTC 1 and study groups of ITU-T.
The applications listed in Annex E have been analysed to determine the requirements for a generic cabling
system. These requirements, together with statistics concerning premises geography from different countries
and the models described in Clause 6, have been used to develop the requirements for cabling components
and to stipulate their arrangement into cabling systems. As a result, generic cabling defined within this
European Standard is targeted at, but not limited to, the general office environment.
It is anticipated that the generic cabling system meeting the minimum requirements of this European
Standard will have a life expectancy in excess of ten years.
Figure 1 shows the relationships between the standards produced by TC 215 for information technology
cabling, namely this generic cabling design standard, cabling installation standards (EN 50174 series), testing
of installed cabling (EN 50346) and equipotential bonding requirements (EN 50310).

- 11 - EN 50173-1:2002
Building design Generic cabling Planning phase Implementation Operation phase
phase design phase phase
EN 50310 EN 50173-1 EN 50174-1 EN 50174-1 EN 50174-1
5.2: Common bonding 4: Topology 4: Specification 6: Documentation 5: Quality assurance
network (CBN) within a considerations
5: Channel 7: Cabling
building
performance 5: Quality assurance 7: Cabling administration
6.3: AC distribution administration
7: Cable requirements 8: Repair and
system and bonding of
7: Cabling maintenance
the protective conductor
8: Connecting hardware
administration
(TN-S)
requirements
and and
9: Requirements for
cords
EN 50174-2 EN 50174-2
A.1: Link performance
4: Safety requirements 4: Safety requirements
limits
5: General installation 5: General installation

practices for metallic practices for metallic
and optical fibre cabling and optical fibre cabling
6: Additional installation 6: Additional installation
practice for metallic practice for metallic
cabling cabling
7: Additional installation 7: Additional installation
practice for optical fibre practice for optical fibre
cabling cabling
and and
EN 50174-3 EN 50174-3
and and
(for equipotential (for equipotential
bonding) bonding)
EN 50310 EN 50310
5.2: Common bonding 5.2: Common bonding
network (CBN) within a network (CBN) within a
building building
6.3: AC distribution 6.3: AC distribution
system and bonding of system and bonding of
the protective conductor the protective conductor
(TN-S) (TN-S)
and
EN 50346
4: General
requirements
5: Test parameters for
balanced cabling
6: Test parameters for
optical fibre cabling
Figure 1 – Relationship between EN 50173-1 and other standards relevant
for information technology cabling systems

1 Scope and conformance
1.1 Scope
This European Standard specifies generic cabling for use within premises which may comprise single or
multiple buildings on a campus. It covers balanced cabling and optical fibre cabling.
The standard is optimised for premises in which the maximum distance over which telecommunications
services have to be distributed is 2 000 m. The principles of this European Standard may also be applied to
larger installations.
Cabling defined by this standard supports a wide range of services including voice, data, text, image and
video.
This European Standard specifies:
a) the structure and configuration for generic cabling;
b) cabling performance requirements;
c) implementation options.
Safety (electrical safety and protection, fire, etc.) and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) requirements are
outside the scope of this European Standard and are covered by other standards and regulations. However,
information given in this European Standard may be of assistance in meeting these standards and
regulations.
1.2 Conformance
For a cabling system to conform to this European Standard:
a) the structure and configuration shall conform to the requirements of Clause 4;
b) the interfaces to the cabling at the telecommunications outlet shall conform to the requirements of
Clause 8 with respect to mating interfaces and performance;
c) connecting hardware at other places in the cabling structure shall meet the performance requirements
specified in Clause 8;
d) the performance of channels shall conform to the requirements of Clause 5. This shall be achieved by
one of the following:
– a channel design and implementation ensuring that the prescribed channel performance class of
Clause 5 is met;
– attachment of appropriate components to a link design meeting the prescribed performance class of
Annex A. Channel performance shall be assured where a channel is created by adding more than
one cord to either end of a link meeting the requirements of Annex A;
– using the reference implementations of Clause 6 and compatible cabling components conforming to
the requirements of Clauses 7, 8 and 9, based upon a statistical approach of performance modelling.
e) local regulations concerning safety shall be met.

- 13 - EN 50173-1:2002
Test methods to ensure conformance with the channel and link requirements of Clause 5 and Annex A
respectively are specified in EN 50346. The treatment of measured results that fail to meet the requirements of
this clause, or lie within the relevant measurement accuracy, shall be clearly documented within a quality plan as
described in EN 50174-1.
Installation and administration of cabling in accordance with this European standard should be undertaken in
accordance with the EN 50174 series of standards.
This standard does not specify which tests and sampling levels should be adopted. The test parameters to be
measured and the sampling levels to be applied for a particular installation should be defined in the
installation specification and quality plans for that installation prepared in accordance with EN 50174-1.
Specifications marked "ffs" (for further study) are preliminary and are not required for conformance to this
European Standard.
2 Normative references
This European Standard incorporates by dated or undated reference, provisions from other publications.
These normative references are cited at the appropriate places in the text and the publications are listed
hereafter. For dated references, subsequent amendments to or revisions of any of these publications apply to
this European Standard only when incorporated in it by amendment or revision. For undated references the
latest edition of the publication referred to applies (including amendments).
EN 50174-1, Information technology – Cabling installation – Part 1: Specification and quality assurance
EN 50174-2, Information technology – Cabling installation – Part 2: Installation planning and practices inside
buildings
1)
EN 50174-3 , Information technology – Cabling system installation – Part 3: Installation planning and
practices outside buildings
EN 50288-1, Multi-element metallic cables used in analogue and digital communication and control – Part 1:
Generic specification
2)
EN 50288-2-1 , Multi-element metallic cables used in analogue and digital communication and control –
Part 2-1: Sectional specification for screened cables characterized up to 100 MHz – Horizontal and building
backbone cables
2)
EN 50288-2-2 , Multi-element metallic cables used in analogue and digital communication and control –
Part 2-2: Sectional specification for screened cables characterized up to 100 MHz – Work area and patch
cord cables
2)
EN 50288-3-1 , Multi-element metallic cables used in analogue and digital communication and control –
Part 3-1: Sectional specification for unscreened cables characterized up to 100 MHz - Horizontal and building
backbone cables
2)
EN 50288-3-2 , Multi-element metallic cables used in analogue and digital communication and control –
Part 3-2: Sectional specification for unscreened cables characterized up to 100 MHz – Work area and patch
cord cables
2)
EN 50288-4-1 , Multi-element metallic cables used in analogue and digital communication and control –
Part 4-1: Sectional specification for screened cables characterized up to 600 MHz – Horizontal and building
backbone cables
2)
EN 50288-4-2 , Multi-element metallic cables used in analogue and digital communication and control –
Part 4-2: Sectional specification for screened cables characterized up to 600 MHz – Work area and patch
cord cables
———————
1)
Approved for formal vote.
2)
At approval stage (Unique Acceptance Procedure).

2)
EN 50288-5-1 , Multi-element metallic cables used in analogue and digital communication and control –
Part 5-1: Sectional specification for screened cables characterized up to 250 MHz – Horizontal and building
backbone cables
2)
EN 50288-5-2 , Multi-element metallic cables used in analogue and digital communication and control –
Part 5-2: Sectional specification for screened cables characterized up to 250 MHz – Work area and patch
cord cables
2)
EN 50288-6-1 , Multi-element metallic cables used in analogue and digital communication and control –
Part 6-1: Sectional specification for unscreened cables characterized up to 250 MHz – Horizontal and building
backbone cables
2)
EN 50288-6-2 , Multi-element metallic cables used in analogue and digital communication and control –
Part 6-2: Sectional specification for unscreened cables characterized up to 250 MHz – Work area and patch
cord cables
EN 50289-1-6, Communication cables - Specifications for test methods – Part 1-6: Electrical test methods –
Electromagnetic performance
EN 50310, Application of equipotential bonding and earthing in buildings with information technology
equipment
EN 50346:2002, Information technology – Cabling installation – Testing of installed cabling
EN 60068-2-14, Environmental testing - Part 2: Tests - Test N: Change of temperature (IEC 60068-2-14:1984
+ A1:1986)
EN 60068-2-38, Environmental testing - Part 2: Tests - Test Z/AD: Composite temperature/humidity cyclic
test (IEC 60068-2-38:1999)
EN 60352-3, Solderless connections – Part 3: Solderless accessible insulation displacement connections -
General requirements, test methods and practical guidance (IEC 60352-3:1993)
EN 60352-4, Solderless connections - Part 4: Solderless non-accessible insulation displacement connections
- General requirements, test methods and practical guidance (IEC 60352-4:1994)
EN 60352-6, Solderless connections - Part 6: Solderless insulation piercing connections - General
requirements, test methods and practical guidance (IEC 60352-6:1997)
EN 60512-2-1, Connectors for electronic equipment - Tests and measurements – Part 2-1: Electrical
continuity and contact resistance tests – Test 2a: Contact resistance – Millivolt level method
(IEC 60512-2-1:2002)
EN 60512-3-1, Connectors for electronic equipment - Tests and measurements – Part 3-1: Insulation tests –
Te
...