EN 50173-4:2018/A1:2023
(Amendment)Information technology - Generic cabling systems - Part 4: Homes
Information technology - Generic cabling systems - Part 4: Homes
This standard specifies generic cabling for homes. A home can contain one or more buildings or can be within a building that contains more than one home. It covers balanced cabling, optical fibre cabling, and coaxial cabling. This standard specifies generic cabling for two groups of applications: - Information and Communications Technologies (ICT); - Broadcast and Communications Technologies (BCT). This standard specifies directly or via reference to EN 50173 1 the: - structure and minimum configuration for generic cabling within homes; - interfaces at the telecommunications outlet (TO) and broadcast outlet (BO); - performance requirements for cabling links and channels; - implementation requirements and options; - performance requirements for cabling components; - conformance requirements and verification procedures. This standard has taken into account requirements specified in application standards listed in EN 50173 1. Safety and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) requirements are outside the scope of this standard and are covered by other standards and regulations. However, information given in this standard can be of assistance in meeting these standards and regulations.
Informationstechnik - Anwendungsneutrale Kommunikationskabelanlagen - Teil 4: Wohnungen
Technologies de l'information - Systèmes de câblage générique - Partie 4: Locaux d'habitation
Informacijska tehnologija - Generični kabelski sistemi - 4. del: Bivalni prostori - Dopolnilo A1
General Information
- Status
- Published
- Publication Date
- 21-Dec-2023
- Technical Committee
- CLC/TC 215 - Electrotechnical aspects of telecommunication equipment
- Current Stage
- 6060 - Document made available - Publishing
- Start Date
- 22-Dec-2023
- Due Date
- 07-Mar-2026
- Completion Date
- 22-Dec-2023
Relations
- Effective Date
- 03-Feb-2026
- Referred By
CLC/TR 50174-99-1:2015 - Information technology - Cabling installation - Part 99-1: Remote powering - Effective Date
- 03-Feb-2026
- Effective Date
- 31-Oct-2023
Overview
EN 50173-4:2018/A1:2023 (published by CLC/CENELEC) defines generic cabling systems for homes and residential premises. It covers balanced (twisted‑pair) cabling, optical fibre cabling and coaxial cabling to support two groups of services: Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) and Broadcast and Communications Technologies (BCT). The standard specifies the structure, minimum configuration, interfaces, performance requirements, implementation options and verification procedures for residential cabling. Note: safety and EMC requirements are outside its scope but the guidance can help meet them.
Key topics and requirements
- Scope and structure
- Generic cabling applicable to a single home (may span multiple buildings or be within multi‑dwelling buildings).
- Defines functional elements (distributors, application outlets) and hierarchical topology for home cabling.
- Cabling media and categories
- Balanced cabling (Category 5 → Category 8 families and BCT‑B variants).
- Optical fibre (OM3, OM4, OM5, OS1a, OS2).
- Coaxial cabling (BCT‑C).
- Interfaces and outlets
- Telecommunications outlet (TO) for ICT.
- Broadcast outlet (BO) for BCT.
- Performance and conformance
- Performance limits for links and channels; channel construction rules for balanced, coaxial and fibre channels.
- Component and cord performance requirements; installation and verification procedures to demonstrate conformance.
- Design and implementation
- Reference implementations, dimensioning rules, cable sharing and accommodation of functional elements.
- Guidance on primary/secondary home cabling and connection to network access cabling.
- Lifecycle expectations
- With appropriate components, expected life expectancy is at least ten years.
Practical applications and users
Who uses EN 50173-4:
- Network designers and cabling consultants planning residential installations.
- Installers and system integrators implementing structured cabling in new or refurbished homes.
- Manufacturers and suppliers of cable, connecting hardware, outlets and baluns for residential use.
- Building owners, property managers and telecom operators specifying in‑home cabling for broadband, IPTV, smart‑home and multimedia services.
- Test and certification professionals verifying channel and link performance.
Typical applications:
- Whole‑home wired networks for Ethernet, IPTV, VoIP and multimedia distribution.
- Hybrid ICT/BCT installations combining balanced cabling, coaxial TV distribution and fibre entry.
- Multi‑dwelling unit (MDU) residential cabling layouts and handover to network access.
Related standards
- EN 50173‑1 (general requirements for generic cabling)
- Other parts of the EN 50173 series (office, industrial, data‑centre, distributed services)
- EN 50174 series (installation practices) and EN 50310 (bonding/earthing)
- Relevant IEC/ISO/ITU‑T application standards for specific services
Keywords: EN 50173-4, home cabling standard, generic cabling systems, residential structured cabling, balanced cabling, optical fibre OM5, coaxial BCT-C, telecommunications outlet (TO), broadcast outlet (BO).
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Frequently Asked Questions
EN 50173-4:2018/A1:2023 is a amendment published by CLC. Its full title is "Information technology - Generic cabling systems - Part 4: Homes". This standard covers: This standard specifies generic cabling for homes. A home can contain one or more buildings or can be within a building that contains more than one home. It covers balanced cabling, optical fibre cabling, and coaxial cabling. This standard specifies generic cabling for two groups of applications: - Information and Communications Technologies (ICT); - Broadcast and Communications Technologies (BCT). This standard specifies directly or via reference to EN 50173 1 the: - structure and minimum configuration for generic cabling within homes; - interfaces at the telecommunications outlet (TO) and broadcast outlet (BO); - performance requirements for cabling links and channels; - implementation requirements and options; - performance requirements for cabling components; - conformance requirements and verification procedures. This standard has taken into account requirements specified in application standards listed in EN 50173 1. Safety and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) requirements are outside the scope of this standard and are covered by other standards and regulations. However, information given in this standard can be of assistance in meeting these standards and regulations.
This standard specifies generic cabling for homes. A home can contain one or more buildings or can be within a building that contains more than one home. It covers balanced cabling, optical fibre cabling, and coaxial cabling. This standard specifies generic cabling for two groups of applications: - Information and Communications Technologies (ICT); - Broadcast and Communications Technologies (BCT). This standard specifies directly or via reference to EN 50173 1 the: - structure and minimum configuration for generic cabling within homes; - interfaces at the telecommunications outlet (TO) and broadcast outlet (BO); - performance requirements for cabling links and channels; - implementation requirements and options; - performance requirements for cabling components; - conformance requirements and verification procedures. This standard has taken into account requirements specified in application standards listed in EN 50173 1. Safety and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) requirements are outside the scope of this standard and are covered by other standards and regulations. However, information given in this standard can be of assistance in meeting these standards and regulations.
EN 50173-4:2018/A1:2023 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 33.040.50 - Lines, connections and circuits. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
EN 50173-4:2018/A1:2023 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to CLC/TR 50174-99-2:2020, CLC/TR 50174-99-1:2015, EN 50173-4:2018. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.
EN 50173-4:2018/A1:2023 is available in PDF format for immediate download after purchase. The document can be added to your cart and obtained through the secure checkout process. Digital delivery ensures instant access to the complete standard document.
Standards Content (Sample)
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-maj-2024
Informacijska tehnologija - Generični kabelski sistemi - 4. del: Bivalni prostori -
Dopolnilo A1
Information technology - Generic cabling systems - Part 4: Homes
Informationstechnik - Anwendungsneutrale Kommunikationskabelanlagen - Teil 4:
Wohnungen
Technologies de l'information - Systèmes de câblage générique - Partie 4: Locaux
d'habitation
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 50173-4:2018/A1:2023
ICS:
33.040.50 Vodi, zveze in tokokrogi Lines, connections and
circuits
35.110 Omreževanje Networking
91.140.50 Sistemi za oskrbo z elektriko Electricity supply systems
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
EUROPEAN STANDARD EN 50173-4:2018/A1
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM December 2023
ICS 33.040.50
English Version
Information technology - Generic cabling systems - Part 4:
Homes
Technologies de l'information - Systèmes de câblage Informationstechnik - Anwendungsneutrale
générique - Partie 4: Locaux d'habitation Kommunikationskabelanlagen - Teil 4: Wohnungen
This amendment A1 modifies the European Standard EN 50173-4:2018; it was approved by CENELEC on 2023-10-25. CENELEC
members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this amendment 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 CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre or to any CENELEC member.
This amendment 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 CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the same status as
the official versions.
CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Türkiye and the United Kingdom.
European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2023 CENELEC All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC Members.
Ref. No. EN 50173-4:2018/A1:2023 E
European foreword
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