ETSI ES 203 408 V1.1.1 (2016-12)

Final draft ETSI ES 203 408 V1.0.2 (2016-10)






ETSI STANDARD
Environmental Engineering (EE);
Colour and marking of DC cable and connecting devices

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2 Final draft ETSI ES 203 408 V1.0.2 (2016-10)



Reference
DES/EE-0253
Keywords
cable, identification, power

ETSI
650 Route des Lucioles
F-06921 Sophia Antipolis Cedex - FRANCE

Tel.: +33 4 92 94 42 00  Fax: +33 4 93 65 47 16

Siret N° 348 623 562 00017 - NAF 742 C
Association à but non lucratif enregistrée à la
Sous-Préfecture de Grasse (06) N° 7803/88

Important notice
The present document can be downloaded from:
http://www.etsi.org/standards-search
The present document may be made available in electronic versions and/or in print. The content of any electronic and/or
print versions of the present document shall not be modified without the prior written authorization of ETSI. In case of any
existing or perceived difference in contents between such versions and/or in print, the only prevailing document is the
print of the Portable Document Format (PDF) version kept on a specific network drive within ETSI Secretariat.
Users of the present document should be aware that the document may be subject to revision or change of status.
Information on the current status of this and other ETSI documents is available at
https://portal.etsi.org/TB/ETSIDeliverableStatus.aspx
If you find errors in the present document, please send your comment to one of the following services:
https://portal.etsi.org/People/CommiteeSupportStaff.aspx
Copyright Notification
No part may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying
and microfilm except as authorized by written permission of ETSI.
The content of the PDF version shall not be modified without the written authorization of ETSI.
The copyright and the foregoing restriction extend to reproduction in all media.

© European Telecommunications Standards Institute 2016.
All rights reserved.

TM TM TM
DECT , PLUGTESTS , UMTS and the ETSI logo are Trade Marks of ETSI registered for the benefit of its Members.
TM
3GPP and LTE™ are Trade Marks of ETSI registered for the benefit of its Members and
of the 3GPP Organizational Partners.
GSM® and the GSM logo are Trade Marks registered and owned by the GSM Association.
ETSI

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3 Final draft ETSI ES 203 408 V1.0.2 (2016-10)
Contents
Intellectual Property Rights . 5
Foreword . 5
Modal verbs terminology . 5
Introduction . 5
1 Scope . 7
2 References . 7
2.1 Normative references . 7
2.2 Informative references . 8
3 Definitions, symbols and abbreviations . 9
3.1 Definitions . 9
3.2 Symbols . 10
3.3 Abbreviations . 10
4 Electrical Distribution identification coverage . 10
5 Identification principle . 13
5.1 General rules . 13
5.2 Colour and marking of up to 400VDC conductor wires and cables for A3 or P interface . 14
5.3 Additional recommendation for other DC voltage distribution cabling than up to 400VDC voltage of A3
interface . 15
6 DC distribution devices additional colour and marking . 16
6.0 Colour and marking of up to 400VDC other distribution device than wires and cables . 16
6.1 General requirements . 16
6.2 DC outputs from DC power systems with protective devices . 17
6.3 DC sub-distribution boards (with protective devices) . 17
6.4 DC power plugs strips inside ICT equipment rooms and cabinets . 17
7 Durability of Marking and reading errors limitation . 17
Annex A (informative): Review of Standards or common use of colour and marking of
distribution cabling in AC and DC in buildings and equipment . 18
A.1 Recommended colours for wires in IEC 60757 and IEC 60445 . 18
A.2 Other Norms or specifications . 18
A.2.0 Introduction . 18
A.2.1 Single and bicolours cables used in transportation sector . 18
A.2.2 Cables used in flying aircrafts, ground works machines and boats . 19
A.2.3 Colour of personal computer power cables . 19
A.2.4 Machine Cabling . 19
A.2.5 Family of cables coding . 19
A.3 Building distribution cable colour and marking standards . 20
A.3.1 Introduction . 20
A.3.2 Low frequency cable and wire reference insulation colour in IEC 60304 . 21
A.3.3 New (IEC 60445) . 21
A.3.3.0 General information om IEC 60445 . 21
A.3.3.1 Old Cable Colour Code reminder . 21
A.3.3.2 Harmonized Cable bcolours . 21
A.3.3.3 Marking and alteration for cohabitation of harmonized and old Cable colours . 21
A.3.4 DC coding evolution . 22
A.3.4.1 BS 7671 case. 22
A.3.4.2 Wire colours in China industry and standards . 22
A.3.4.3 Wire Colours in up to 400VDC DC Solutions . 23
A.3.4.4 Colours and marking of DC cables in Republic of Korea . 23
ETSI

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4 Final draft ETSI ES 203 408 V1.0.2 (2016-10)
Annex B (informative): Justification of the identification wire colour choices. 24
Annex C (informative): Wire colour choice in colour range industrial specification . 25
Annex D (informative): Bibliography . 27
History . 28

ETSI

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5 Final draft ETSI ES 203 408 V1.0.2 (2016-10)
Intellectual Property Rights
IPRs essential or potentially essential to the present document may have been declared to ETSI. The information
pertaining to these essential IPRs, if any, is publicly available for ETSI members and non-members, and can be found
in ETSI SR 000 314: "Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs); Essential, or potentially Essential, IPRs notified to ETSI in
respect of ETSI standards", which is available from the ETSI Secretariat. Latest updates are available on the ETSI Web
server (https://ipr.etsi.org/).
Pursuant to the ETSI IPR Policy, no investigation, including IPR searches, has been carried out by ETSI. No guarantee
can be given as to the existence of other IPRs not referenced in ETSI SR 000 314 (or the updates on the ETSI Web
server) which are, or may be, or may become, essential to the present document.
Foreword
This final draft ETSI Standard (ES) has been produced by ETSI Technical Committee Environmental Engineering (EE),
and is now submitted for the ETSI standards Membership Approval Procedure.
Modal verbs terminology
In the present document "shall", "shall not", "should", "should not", "may", "need not", "will", "will not", "can" and
"cannot" are to be interpreted as described in clause 3.2 of the ETSI Drafting Rules (Verbal forms for the expression of
provisions).
"must" and "must not" are NOT allowed in ETSI deliverables except when used in direct citation.
Introduction
The present document has been developed to assist the ICT industry in their development and wider use of DC
powering solutions above the DC voltage range mainly used until now for Telecommunication networks equipment
(-48 V ETSI EN 300 132-2 [7]).
The present document has been jointly developed by ETSI TC EE and ITU-T Study Group 5 in order to ensure an
equivalent technical content. It is published respectively by ITU as Recommendation ITU-T L.1203 [1] and ETSI
Standard ETSI ES 203 408.
DC has been the main source of power of Telecommunication industry since the very beginning as it is efficient,
reliable and easily scalable.
This solution is a well proven arrangement that has been used for a century in almost all of the sites in cohabitation with
AC for servers and other buildings services (lighting, facility plugs, lifts, etc.).
It is recognized that DC has many potential applications further to those for ICT and that such applications could benefit
from the standards defined in ITU/ETSI. It is also recognized that further standardization activities on LVDC is now
starting in other standardization organizations such as IEC. Thus ITU-T/ETSI will pursue cooperation with such
organizations to reach maximum international alignment.
ETSI and ITU-T have standardized the widespread DC power interface at inputs of Telecom/ICT equipment used in
Telecom networks, Data centers, and customer sites. The legacy interface for billions of equipment is the SELV voltage
range so called -48V, where the plus pole is grounded as defined for example for interface "A" in ETSI
EN 300 132-2 [7]. Other complementary ETSI standards define a whole DC distribution including earthing and bonding
such as ETSI EN 300 253 [9].
Higher voltages than 48 V are already widely used in Telecom networks for remote powering of signal repeaters on
copper or optical Telecom transmission lines, with a usual operation in symmetrical voltage up to +/- 200 V in RFT-C
or RFT-V telecom remote power feeding standardized in ETSI EN 302 099 [i.1].
ETSI

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6 Final draft ETSI ES 203 408 V1.0.2 (2016-10)
Higher power density of ICT equipment and overall site power in MW for Data centers, have led to the use of higher
voltage firstly in AC single or 3 phases up to 400VAC at the input of servers. The need for resilience, energy efficiency
and cost optimization has pushed the introduction of the up to 400VDC power feeding interface standardized in ETSI
EN 300 132-3-1 [8] and in Recommendation ITU-T L.1200 [2]. This is now available on many servers and network
equipment.
As there is a progressive introduction of the new DC power interface in cohabitation with existing -48 V and AC
distribution, a new standard ETSI EN 301 605 [10] has been introduced to ensure safety and proper operation especially
in mass bonding of EMC sensitive equipment and correct earthing connection to the building structure earthing
network.
It appears that there is also a strong need for Telecom/Data centers operators, equipment manufacturers or installers and
end customers to clarify the colour and marking of cables in their installations. This would avoid confusion and errors
between the different AC and DC power interfaces and distributions used in the building and inside ICT systems.
Considering the user side, and very long background experience in use of DC of the Telecom sector, the present
document makes Recommendations directly contributing to safety principles laid down in IEC Guide 104 [i.9] and
ISO/IEC Guide 51 [i.10]. It accelerates and encourages the preparation of international standards of cable identification
intended for use by manufacturers, users or certification bodies. The present document makes reference to existing IEC
standards such as IEC 60445 [3] and IEC 60050-195 [i.2].
For useful information, colours of cables inside equipment are considered in annex A as DC is already widely used, e.g.
all the electronic being working only in DC, car and trucks electric circuit being in DC, solar PV power plants, etc.
ETSI

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7 Final draft ETSI ES 203 408 V1.0.2 (2016-10)
1 Scope
The scope of the present document is to define common practice for identification of cabling or parts of the DC electric
distribution for the Telecom sites (buildings/rooms) feeding ICT and facilities equipment (power plant, cooling,
building access systems, monitoring, etc.).
This applies to 400VDC cabling for Telecom, ICT equipment and environment equipment using interface defined in
ETSI EN 300 132-3-1 [8] or Recommendation ITU-T L.1200 [2] and avoids confusion between the DC colour and
marking of up to 400VDC distribution and the other power interfaces identification: -48VDC distribution for A
interface, AC and uninterrupted AC given by inverters or UPS used in the building.
The Recommendation defines:
• requirements for the colour and identification of separate wires used in DC distribution systems and
installations, and as much as possible inside equipment between A or P interface and end use;
• marking and identification of DC multiwire cables, connectors and any associated equipment for DC power
distribution;
• marking identification for sui-distribution boards and interconnection boxes.
For DC wires in multiwire cables Recommendations are given for harmonization with separate wire requirements.
Recommendations are given on other distribution items (wires, cables and interconnection items) including the
functional earthing and bonding arrangement for distribution outside and inside equipment to avoid any confusion with
DC distribution identification of the present document.
2 References
2.1 Normative references
References are either specific (identified by date of publication and/or edition number or version number) or
non-specific. For specific references, only the cited version applies. For non-specific references, the latest version of the
referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
Referenced documents which are not found to be publicly available in the expected location might be found at
https://docbox.etsi.org/Reference/.
NOTE: While any hyperlinks included in this clause were valid at the time of publication, ETSI cannot guarantee
their long term validity.
The following referenced documents are necessary for the application of the present document.
[1] Recommendation ITU-T L.1203: "Colour and marking identification of up to 400VDC power
distribution for ICT systems".
[2] Recommendation ITU-T L.1200 (2012): "Direct current power feeding interface up to 400 V at the
input to telecommunication and ICT equipment".
[3] IEC 60445 Ed 5.0 2010-08: "Basic and safety principles for man-machine interface, marking and
identification - Identification of equipment terminals, conductor terminations and conductors".
[4] IEC 60757 (1983): "Code for designation of colours".
[5] IEC 60417DB (2002): "Graphical symbols for use on equipment".
[6] IEC 60617DB (2012): "Graphical symbols for diagrams".
NOTE: IEC DB documents refer to Database of Graphical Symbol. Some are joint with ISO e.g. IEC 60417 and
ISO 7000.
ETSI

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8 Final draft ETSI ES 203 408 V1.0.2 (2016-10)
[7] ETSI EN 300 132-2 (2016): "Environmental Engineering (EE); Power supply interface at the input
to telecommunications and datacom (ICT) equipment; Part 2: Operated by -48 V direct current
(dc)".
[8] ETSI EN 300 132-3-1 (2012): "Environmental Engineering (EE); Power supply interface at the
input to telecommunications and datacom (ICT) equipment; Part 3: Operated by rectified current
source, alternating current source or direct current source up to 400 V; Sub-part 1: Direct current
source up to 400 V".
[9] ETSI EN 300 253 (2015): "Environmental Engineering (EE);Earthing and bonding of ICT
equipment powered by -48 VDC in telecom and data centres".
[10] ETSI EN 301 605 (2013): "Environmental Engineering (EE); Earthing and bonding of 400 VDC
data and telecom (ICT) equipment".
2.2 Informative references
References are either specific (identified by date of publication and/or edition number or version number) or
non-specific. For specific references, only the cited version applies. For non-specific references, the latest version of the
referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
NOTE: While any hyperlinks included in this clause were valid at the time of publication, ETSI cannot guarantee
their long term validity.
The following referenced documents are not necessary for the application of the present document but they assist the
user with regard to a particular subject area.
[i.1] ETSI EN 302 099: "Environmental Engineering (EE); Powering of equipment in access network".
[i.2] IEC 60050-195 (1998): "IEC Terminology International Electrotechnical Vocabulary - Part 195:
Earthing and protection against electric shock".
[i.3] IEC 60050-826 (2004): "International Electrotechnical Vocabulary - Part 826: Electrical
installations".
[i.4] British Standard BS 7671 (2008): "Requirements for Electrical Installations. IET Wiring
Regulations".
[i.5] HD 308 S2:2001: "Identification of cores in cables and flexible cords".
[i.6] HD 324 S1 (1977): "Colored insulation and bare wire identification package".
[i.7] HD 384.5.514: "Identification, including 514.3: Identification of conductors, now withdrawn".
[i.8] IEC 60364-1 (2005): "Low-voltage electrical installations - Part 1: Fundamental principles,
assessment of general characteristics, definitions".
[i.9] IEC Guide 104: "The preparation of safety publications and the use of basic safety publications
and group safety publications".
[i.10] ISO/IEC Guide 51: "Safety aspects - Guidelines for their inclusion in standards".
[i.11] IS0 6722 (2006): 2Road vehicles - 60 V and 600 V single-core cables - Dimensions, test methods
and requirements".
[i.12] ISO 2574 (1994): "Flying machine electric cable - Identification marking".
NOTE: Available at
http://www.iso.org/iso/fr/home/store/catalogue_ics/catalogue_detail_ics.htm?ics1=1&ics2=70&ics3=&cs
number=7536.
[i.13] ISO 9247 (1990): "Ground work machine - electric wire and cables -- identification and marking
principles".
NOTE: Available at http://www.iso.org/iso/home/store/catalogue_tc/catalogue_detail.htm?csnumber=16897.
ETSI

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9 Final draft ETSI ES 203 408 V1.0.2 (2016-10)
[i.14] IEC EN 60204-1 (2000): "Safety of machinery -Electrical equipment of machines -Part 1:General
requirements".
NOTE: IEC/EN 60204-1 is now "Appliance of reference designations on machinery" in accordance with
ISO/IEC/EN 81346 (September 2010) EU Directive 2006/42/EC on machinery (www.81346.com).
[i.15] IEC 60304 (1982): "Standard colours for insulation for low-frequency cables and wires".
®
[i.16] RAL colour system.
NOTE 1: Refered to as "RAL" in the present document, available at http://www.ralcolours.com/.
®
NOTE 2: RAL is the trade name of a colour matching system supplied by by the RAL gGmbH (RAL non-profit
LLC), which is a subsidiary of the German RAL Institute. This information is given for the convenience
of users of the present document and does not constitute an endorsement by ETSI of the product named.
Equivalent products may be used if they can be shown to lead to the same results.
[i.17] United States Federal Standard Colour system.
NOTE: Available at http://www.federalstandardcolour.com/.
®
[i.18] Pantone colour system.
NOTE 1: Available at http://www.pantone-colours.com/.
®
NOTE 2: Pantone is the trade name of a colour matching system supplied Pantone Inc. This information is given
for the convenience of users of the present document and does not constitute an endorsement by ETSI of
the product named. Equivalent products may be used if they can be shown to lead to the same results.
[i.19] IEC 60446 (withdrawn) (2007): "Basic and safety principles for man-machine interface, marking
and identification - identification of conductors by colours or alphanumerics".
[i.20] CCSA YD/T 2378 (2011): "240V Direct Current Power supply system for Telecommunications".
3 Definitions, symbols and abbreviations
3.1 Definitions
For the purposes of the present document, the following terms and definitions apply:
48VDC: -48 Volt Direct Current voltage as defined in ETSI EN 300 132-2 [7]
400VDC: up to 400 Volt Direct Current voltage as defined in Recommendation ITU-T L.1200 [2]
electrical equipment: item used for purposes like generation, conversion, distribution or utilization of electric energy
(e.g. electrical machines, transformers, switch gear and control gear, measuring instruments, wiring systems,
current-using equipment, etc.) (IEC 60050-826 [i.3])
line conductor: AC phase conductor or DC pole conductor (deprecated) conductor which is energized in normal
operation and capable of contributing to the transmission or distribution of electric energy but which is not a neutral
conductor (IEC 60050-195 [i.2])
identification: colour, graphical symbol, text in alphanumeric notation located on or adjacent to wire or cable terminals
or junction boxes
IT (Isolation Terra): Isolation Terra earthing as defined in IEC 60364-1 [i.8]
NOTE: The two letters IT are coding one of the 3 families of electrical distribution where connection to earth is
made through high resistance or impedance device i.e. HRMG in ETSI EN 301 605 [10].
RAL: colour coding for industry use [i.16]
ETSI

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10 Final draft ETSI ES 203 408 V1.0.2 (2016-10)
TNS: AC distribution earthing arrangements as defined in IEC 60364-1 [i.8] where earthing and neutral wires are
separated
3.2 Symbols
For the purposes of the present document, the following symbols apply:
A (interface) ICT/Telecom equipment -48VDC power interface in ETSI EN 300 132-2 [7]
A3 (interface) ICT/Telecom equipment up to 400VDC power interface in ETSI EN 300 132-3-1 [8]
P ICT equipment up to 400VDC power feeding interface in Recommendation ITU-T L1200 [2]
3.3 Abbreviations
For the purposes of the present document, the following abbreviations apply:
3-D 3 Dimension
AC Alternative Current
CMYK Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key black
CT Information and communication Technologies
DC Direct Current
EMC Electro Magnetic Compatibility
HRMG High Resistance Middle point Grounding
HTML Hypertext Mark-up Language
IT Information Technology
LVDC Low Voltage Direct Current
MW MegaWatt (unit)
OFC Oxygen Free Cable
PE Protected Earthing conductor
PEL Protective Earthing conductor and Line conductor IEC 60050-195 [i.2]
PEN Protective Earthing conductor and Neutral conductor IEC 60050-195 [i.2]
PV Photovoltaic
RA Remote Access
RFT-C Remote Feeding Telecom-Current
RFT-V Remote Feeding Telecom-Voltage
RGB Red Green Blue
RYB Red Yellow Blue
SELV Safe Extra Low Voltage
UPS Uninterrupted Power Supply
VAC Voltage Alternating Current
VDC Voltage Direct Current
4 Electrical Distribution identification coverage
The DC Electrical Distribution needs marking at the following different points:
• DC distribution lines (wires and cables)
• DC cabling inside DC power sources
• DC outputs from DC power systems with protective devices
• DC sub-distribution boards (with protective devices)
• DC interconnection boxes
• DC power plugs strips inside ICT equipment rooms and cabinets
ETSI

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11 Final draft ETSI ES 203 408 V1.0.2 (2016-10)
Typical building and room distribution are provided in the following drawings:
• Building distribution with A interface (-48V), AC grid and inverter outputs power and A3 or P interface (up to
400VDC). The interface shall comply with :
- for A interface ETSI EN 300 132-2 [7];
- for A3 interface ETSI EN 300 132-3-1 [8];
- for interface P Recommendation ITU-T L.1200 [2].
Figure 1 shows such building where distribution DC and protective earthing-[PE] bonding shall comply with
ETSI EN 301 605 [10] and ETSI EN 300 253 [9].
• Example of power feeding distribution of DC from centralized or decentralized permanent power supply at
building or technical room level (figure 2).
ETSI

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12 Final draft ETSI ES 203 408 V1.0.2 (2016-10)

Figure 1: DC distribution at building level from DC source to ICT/telecom systems
ETSI

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13 Final draft ETSI ES 203 408 V1.0.2 (2016-10)

Figure 2: Example of different DC architectures and distributions at building or technical room level
from DC source to ICT/telecom equipment
5 Identification principle
5.1 General rules
The Recommendation ITU-T L.1203 [1] shall be applied.
The identifying colour, graphical symbol or alphanumeric notation shall be located on, or adjacent to the corresponding
terminal.
There shall be no confusion between the different identification modes i.e. wire insulation colour or coloured sleeve,
interconnection device colour and graphical symbol or text.
For identification of conductors, only colours and code among those permitted in IEC 60757 [4] shall be used (see
annex A).
ETSI

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14 Final draft ETSI ES 203 408 V1.0.2 (2016-10)
The identification of colour is required end to end in the installation for DC from DC source to interface A3 or P and
inside equipment till internal end use inside ICT or facilities equipment (Cooling, Power conversion, Sub distribution,
etc.).
DC cabling inside power source equipment is recommended to use the same marking and colour as defined in the power
feeding distribution.
It is accepted to have different identification marking solution along an end to end distribution (insulation colour,
markers, sleeves, symbol and text, etc.) provided they are compliant to the present document. In th
...

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
SIST ES 203 408 V1.1.1:2017
01-marec-2017
2NROMVNLLQåHQLULQJ((%DUYDLQR]QDþHYDQMH'&NDEORYLQSRYH]RYDOQLKQDSUDY
Environmental Engineering (EE) - Colour and marking of DC cable and connecting
devices
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: ETSI ES 203 408 V1.1.1 (2016-12)
ICS:
01.070 Barvno kodiranje Colour coding
19.040 Preskušanje v zvezi z Environmental testing
okoljem
29.060.20 Kabli Cables
SIST ES 203 408 V1.1.1:2017 en
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

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SIST ES 203 408 V1.1.1:2017

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SIST ES 203 408 V1.1.1:2017
ETSI ES 203 408 V1.1.1 (2016-12)






ETSI STANDARD
Environmental Engineering (EE);
Colour and marking of DC cable and connecting devices

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SIST ES 203 408 V1.1.1:2017
 2 ETSI ES 203 408 V1.1.1 (2016-12)



Reference
DES/EE-0253
Keywords
cable, identification, power

ETSI
650 Route des Lucioles
F-06921 Sophia Antipolis Cedex - FRANCE

Tel.: +33 4 92 94 42 00  Fax: +33 4 93 65 47 16

Siret N° 348 623 562 00017 - NAF 742 C
Association à but non lucratif enregistrée à la
Sous-Préfecture de Grasse (06) N° 7803/88

Important notice
The present document can be downloaded from:
http://www.etsi.org/standards-search
The present document may be made available in electronic versions and/or in print. The content of any electronic and/or
print versions of the present document shall not be modified without the prior written authorization of ETSI. In case of any
existing or perceived difference in contents between such versions and/or in print, the only prevailing document is the
print of the Portable Document Format (PDF) version kept on a specific network drive within ETSI Secretariat.
Users of the present document should be aware that the document may be subject to revision or change of status.
Information on the current status of this and other ETSI documents is available at
https://portal.etsi.org/TB/ETSIDeliverableStatus.aspx
If you find errors in the present document, please send your comment to one of the following services:
https://portal.etsi.org/People/CommiteeSupportStaff.aspx
Copyright Notification
No part may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying
and microfilm except as authorized by written permission of ETSI.
The content of the PDF version shall not be modified without the written authorization of ETSI.
The copyright and the foregoing restriction extend to reproduction in all media.

© European Telecommunications Standards Institute 2016.
All rights reserved.

TM TM TM
DECT , PLUGTESTS , UMTS and the ETSI logo are Trade Marks of ETSI registered for the benefit of its Members.
TM
3GPP and LTE™ are Trade Marks of ETSI registered for the benefit of its Members and
of the 3GPP Organizational Partners.
GSM® and the GSM logo are Trade Marks registered and owned by the GSM Association.
ETSI

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SIST ES 203 408 V1.1.1:2017
 3 ETSI ES 203 408 V1.1.1 (2016-12)
Contents
Intellectual Property Rights . 5
Foreword . 5
Modal verbs terminology . 5
Introduction . 5
1 Scope . 7
2 References . 7
2.1 Normative references . 7
2.2 Informative references . 8
3 Definitions, symbols and abbreviations . 9
3.1 Definitions . 9
3.2 Symbols . 10
3.3 Abbreviations . 10
4 Electrical Distribution identification coverage . 10
5 Identification principle . 13
5.1 General rules . 13
5.2 Colour and marking of up to 400VDC conductor wires and cables for A3 or P interface . 14
5.3 Additional recommendation for other DC voltage distribution cabling than up to 400VDC voltage of A3
interface . 15
6 DC distribution devices additional colour and marking . 16
6.0 Colour and marking of up to 400VDC other distribution device than wires and cables . 16
6.1 General requirements . 16
6.2 DC outputs from DC power systems with protective devices . 17
6.3 DC sub-distribution boards (with protective devices) . 17
6.4 DC power plugs strips inside ICT equipment rooms and cabinets . 17
7 Durability of Marking and reading errors limitation . 17
Annex A (informative): Review of Standards or common use of colour and marking of
distribution cabling in AC and DC in buildings and equipment . 18
A.1 Recommended colours for wires in IEC 60757 and IEC 60445 . 18
A.2 Other Norms or specifications . 18
A.2.0 Introduction . 18
A.2.1 Single and bicolours cables used in transportation sector . 18
A.2.2 Cables used in flying aircrafts, ground works machines and boats . 19
A.2.3 Colour of personal computer power cables . 19
A.2.4 Machine Cabling . 19
A.2.5 Family of cables coding . 19
A.3 Building distribution cable colour and marking standards . 20
A.3.1 Introduction . 20
A.3.2 Low frequency cable and wire reference insulation colour in IEC 60304 . 21
A.3.3 New (IEC 60445) . 21
A.3.3.0 General information om IEC 60445 . 21
A.3.3.1 Old Cable Colour Code reminder . 21
A.3.3.2 Harmonized Cable colours . 21
A.3.3.3 Marking and alteration for cohabitation of harmonized and old Cable colours . 21
A.3.4 DC coding evolution . 22
A.3.4.1 BS 7671 case. 22
A.3.4.2 Wire colours in China industry and standards . 22
A.3.4.3 Wire Colours in up to 400VDC DC Solutions . 23
A.3.4.4 Colours and marking of DC cables in Republic of Korea . 23
ETSI

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SIST ES 203 408 V1.1.1:2017
 4 ETSI ES 203 408 V1.1.1 (2016-12)
Annex B (informative): Justification of the identification wire colour choices. 24
Annex C (informative): Wire colour choice in colour range industrial specification . 25
Annex D (informative): Bibliography . 27
History . 28

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Intellectual Property Rights
IPRs essential or potentially essential to the present document may have been declared to ETSI. The information
pertaining to these essential IPRs, if any, is publicly available for ETSI members and non-members, and can be found
in ETSI SR 000 314: "Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs); Essential, or potentially Essential, IPRs notified to ETSI in
respect of ETSI standards", which is available from the ETSI Secretariat. Latest updates are available on the ETSI Web
server (https://ipr.etsi.org/).
Pursuant to the ETSI IPR Policy, no investigation, including IPR searches, has been carried out by ETSI. No guarantee
can be given as to the existence of other IPRs not referenced in ETSI SR 000 314 (or the updates on the ETSI Web
server) which are, or may be, or may become, essential to the present document.
Foreword
This ETSI Standard (ES) has been produced by ETSI Technical Committee Environmental Engineering (EE).
Modal verbs terminology
In the present document "shall", "shall not", "should", "should not", "may", "need not", "will", "will not", "can" and
"cannot" are to be interpreted as described in clause 3.2 of the ETSI Drafting Rules (Verbal forms for the expression of
provisions).
"must" and "must not" are NOT allowed in ETSI deliverables except when used in direct citation.
Introduction
The present document has been developed to assist the ICT industry in their development and wider use of DC
powering solutions above the DC voltage range mainly used until now for Telecommunication networks equipment
(-48 V ETSI EN 300 132-2 [7]).
The present document has been jointly developed by ETSI TC EE and ITU-T Study Group 5 in order to ensure an
equivalent technical content. It is published respectively by ITU as Recommendation ITU-T L.1203 [1] and ETSI
Standard ETSI ES 203 408.
DC has been the main source of power of Telecommunication industry since the very beginning as it is efficient,
reliable and easily scalable.
This solution is a well proven arrangement that has been used for a century in almost all of the sites in cohabitation with
AC for servers and other buildings services (lighting, facility plugs, lifts, etc.).
It is recognized that DC has many potential applications further to those for ICT and that such applications could benefit
from the standards defined in ITU/ETSI. It is also recognized that further standardization activities on LVDC is now
starting in other standardization organizations such as IEC. Thus ITU-T/ETSI will pursue cooperation with such
organizations to reach maximum international alignment.
ETSI and ITU-T have standardized the widespread DC power interface at inputs of Telecom/ICT equipment used in
Telecom networks, Data centers, and customer sites. The legacy interface for billions of equipment is the SELV voltage
range so called -48V, where the plus pole is grounded as defined for example for interface "A" in ETSI
EN 300 132-2 [7]. Other complementary ETSI standards define a whole DC distribution including earthing and bonding
such as ETSI EN 300 253 [9].
Higher voltages than 48 V are already widely used in Telecom networks for remote powering of signal repeaters on
copper or optical Telecom transmission lines, with a usual operation in symmetrical voltage up to +/- 200 V in RFT-C
or RFT-V telecom remote power feeding standardized in ETSI EN 302 099 [i.1].
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Higher power density of ICT equipment and overall site power in MW for Data centers, have led to the use of higher
voltage firstly in AC single or 3 phases up to 400VAC at the input of servers. The need for resilience, energy efficiency
and cost optimization has pushed the introduction of the up to 400VDC power feeding interface standardized in ETSI
EN 300 132-3-1 [8] and in Recommendation ITU-T L.1200 [2]. This is now available on many servers and network
equipment.
As there is a progressive introduction of the new DC power interface in cohabitation with existing -48 V and AC
distribution, a new standard ETSI EN 301 605 [10] has been introduced to ensure safety and proper operation especially
in mass bonding of EMC sensitive equipment and correct earthing connection to the building structure earthing
network.
It appears that there is also a strong need for Telecom/Data centers operators, equipment manufacturers or installers and
end customers to clarify the colour and marking of cables in their installations. This would avoid confusion and errors
between the different AC and DC power interfaces and distributions used in the building and inside ICT systems.
Considering the user side, and very long background experience in use of DC of the Telecom sector, the present
document makes Recommendations directly contributing to safety principles laid down in IEC Guide 104 [i.9] and
ISO/IEC Guide 51 [i.10]. It accelerates and encourages the preparation of international standards of cable identification
intended for use by manufacturers, users or certification bodies. The present document makes reference to existing IEC
standards such as IEC 60445 [3] and IEC 60050-195 [i.2].
For useful information, colours of cables inside equipment are considered in annex A as DC is already widely used, e.g.
all the electronic being working only in DC, car and trucks electric circuit being in DC, solar PV power plants, etc.
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1 Scope
The scope of the present document is to define common practice for identification of cabling or parts of the DC electric
distribution for the Telecom sites (buildings/rooms) feeding ICT and facilities equipment (power plant, cooling,
building access systems, monitoring, etc.).
This applies to 400VDC cabling for Telecom, ICT equipment and environment equipment using interface defined in
ETSI EN 300 132-3-1 [8] or Recommendation ITU-T L.1200 [2] and avoids confusion between the DC colour and
marking of up to 400VDC distribution and the other power interfaces identification: -48VDC distribution for A
interface, AC and uninterrupted AC given by inverters or UPS used in the building.
The Recommendation defines:
• requirements for the colour and identification of separate wires used in DC distribution systems and
installations, and as much as possible inside equipment between A or P interface and end use;
• marking and identification of DC multiwire cables, connectors and any associated equipment for DC power
distribution;
• marking identification for sui-distribution boards and interconnection boxes.
For DC wires in multiwire cables Recommendations are given for harmonization with separate wire requirements.
Recommendations are given on other distribution items (wires, cables and interconnection items) including the
functional earthing and bonding arrangement for distribution outside and inside equipment to avoid any confusion with
DC distribution identification of the present document.
2 References
2.1 Normative references
References are either specific (identified by date of publication and/or edition number or version number) or
non-specific. For specific references, only the cited version applies. For non-specific references, the latest version of the
referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
Referenced documents which are not found to be publicly available in the expected location might be found at
https://docbox.etsi.org/Reference/.
NOTE: While any hyperlinks included in this clause were valid at the time of publication, ETSI cannot guarantee
their long term validity.
The following referenced documents are necessary for the application of the present document.
[1] Recommendation ITU-T L.1203: "Colour and marking identification of up to 400VDC power
distribution for ICT systems".
[2] Recommendation ITU-T L.1200 (2012): "Direct current power feeding interface up to 400 V at the
input to telecommunication and ICT equipment".
[3] IEC 60445 Ed 5.0 2010-08: "Basic and safety principles for man-machine interface, marking and
identification - Identification of equipment terminals, conductor terminations and conductors".
[4] IEC 60757 (1983): "Code for designation of colours".
[5] IEC 60417DB (2002): "Graphical symbols for use on equipment".
[6] IEC 60617DB (2012): "Graphical symbols for diagrams".
NOTE: IEC DB documents refer to Database of Graphical Symbol. Some are joint with ISO e.g. IEC 60417 and
ISO 7000.
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[7] ETSI EN 300 132-2 (2016): "Environmental Engineering (EE); Power supply interface at the input
to telecommunications and datacom (ICT) equipment; Part 2: Operated by -48 V direct current
(dc)".
[8] ETSI EN 300 132-3-1 (2012): "Environmental Engineering (EE); Power supply interface at the
input to telecommunications and datacom (ICT) equipment; Part 3: Operated by rectified current
source, alternating current source or direct current source up to 400 V; Sub-part 1: Direct current
source up to 400 V".
[9] ETSI EN 300 253 (2015): "Environmental Engineering (EE);Earthing and bonding of ICT
equipment powered by -48 VDC in telecom and data centres".
[10] ETSI EN 301 605 (2013): "Environmental Engineering (EE); Earthing and bonding of 400 VDC
data and telecom (ICT) equipment".
2.2 Informative references
References are either specific (identified by date of publication and/or edition number or version number) or
non-specific. For specific references, only the cited version applies. For non-specific references, the latest version of the
referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
NOTE: While any hyperlinks included in this clause were valid at the time of publication, ETSI cannot guarantee
their long term validity.
The following referenced documents are not necessary for the application of the present document but they assist the
user with regard to a particular subject area.
[i.1] ETSI EN 302 099: "Environmental Engineering (EE); Powering of equipment in access network".
[i.2] IEC 60050-195 (1998): "IEC Terminology International Electrotechnical Vocabulary - Part 195:
Earthing and protection against electric shock".
[i.3] IEC 60050-826 (2004): "International Electrotechnical Vocabulary - Part 826: Electrical
installations".
[i.4] British Standard BS 7671 (2008): "Requirements for Electrical Installations. IET Wiring
Regulations".
[i.5] HD 308 S2:2001: "Identification of cores in cables and flexible cords".
[i.6] HD 324 S1 (1977): "Colored insulation and bare wire identification package".
[i.7] HD 384.5.514: "Identification, including 514.3: Identification of conductors, now withdrawn".
[i.8] IEC 60364-1 (2005): "Low-voltage electrical installations - Part 1: Fundamental principles,
assessment of general characteristics, definitions".
[i.9] IEC Guide 104: "The preparation of safety publications and the use of basic safety publications
and group safety publications".
[i.10] ISO/IEC Guide 51: "Safety aspects - Guidelines for their inclusion in standards".
[i.11] IS0 6722 (2006): "Road vehicles - 60 V and 600 V single-core cables - Dimensions, test methods
and requirements".
[i.12] ISO 2574 (1994): "Flying machine electric cable - Identification marking".
NOTE: Available at
http://www.iso.org/iso/fr/home/store/catalogue_ics/catalogue_detail_ics.htm?ics1=1&ics2=70&ics3=&cs
number=7536.
[i.13] ISO 9247 (1990): "Ground work machine - electric wire and cables -- identification and marking
principles".
NOTE: Available at http://www.iso.org/iso/home/store/catalogue_tc/catalogue_detail.htm?csnumber=16897.
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[i.14] IEC EN 60204-1 (2000): "Safety of machinery -Electrical equipment of machines -Part 1:General
requirements".
NOTE: IEC/EN 60204-1 is now "Appliance of reference designations on machinery" in accordance with
ISO/IEC/EN 81346 (September 2010) EU Directive 2006/42/EC on machinery (www.81346.com).
[i.15] IEC 60304 (1982): "Standard colours for insulation for low-frequency cables and wires".
®
[i.16] RAL colour system.
NOTE 1: Refered to as "RAL" in the present document, available at http://www.ralcolours.com/.
®
NOTE 2: RAL is the trade name of a colour matching system supplied by by the RAL gGmbH (RAL non-profit
LLC), which is a subsidiary of the German RAL Institute. This information is given for the convenience
of users of the present document and does not constitute an endorsement by ETSI of the product named.
Equivalent products may be used if they can be shown to lead to the same results.
[i.17] United States Federal Standard Colour system.
NOTE: Available at http://www.federalstandardcolour.com/.
®
[i.18] Pantone colour system.
NOTE 1: Available at http://www.pantone-colours.com/.
®
NOTE 2: Pantone is the trade name of a colour matching system supplied Pantone Inc. This information is given
for the convenience of users of the present document and does not constitute an endorsement by ETSI of
the product named. Equivalent products may be used if they can be shown to lead to the same results.
[i.19] IEC 60446 (withdrawn) (2007): "Basic and safety principles for man-machine interface, marking
and identification - identification of conductors by colours or alphanumerics".
[i.20] CCSA YD/T 2378 (2011): "240V Direct Current Power supply system for Telecommunications".
3 Definitions, symbols and abbreviations
3.1 Definitions
For the purposes of the present document, the following terms and definitions apply:
48VDC: -48 Volt Direct Current voltage as defined in ETSI EN 300 132-2 [7]
400VDC: up to 400 Volt Direct Current voltage as defined in Recommendation ITU-T L.1200 [2]
electrical equipment: item used for purposes like generation, conversion, distribution or utilization of electric energy
(e.g. electrical machines, transformers, switch gear and control gear, measuring instruments, wiring systems,
current-using equipment, etc.) (IEC 60050-826 [i.3])
identification: colour, graphical symbol, text in alphanumeric notation located on or adjacent to wire or cable terminals
or junction boxes
IT (Isolation Terra): Isolation Terra earthing as defined in IEC 60364-1 [i.8]
NOTE: The two letters IT are coding one of the 3 families of electrical distribution where connection to earth is
made through high resistance or impedance device i.e. HRMG in ETSI EN 301 605 [10].
line conductor: AC phase conductor or DC pole conductor (deprecated) conductor which is energized in normal
operation and capable of contributing to the transmission or distribution of electric energy but which is not a neutral
conductor (IEC 60050-195 [i.2])
RAL: colour coding for industry use [i.16]
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TNS: AC distribution earthing arrangements as defined in IEC 60364-1 [i.8] where earthing and neutral wires are
separated
3.2 Symbols
For the purposes of the present document, the following symbols apply:
A (interface) ICT/Telecom equipment -48VDC power interface in ETSI EN 300 132-2 [7]
A3 (interface) ICT/Telecom equipment up to 400VDC power interface in ETSI EN 300 132-3-1 [8]
P ICT equipment up to 400VDC power feeding interface in Recommendation ITU-T L.1200 [2]
3.3 Abbreviations
For the purposes of the present document, the following abbreviations apply:
3-D 3 Dimension
AC Alternative Current
CMYK Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Key black
DC Direct Current
EMC Electro Magnetic Compatibility
HRMG High Resistance Middle point Grounding
HTML HyperText Mark-up Language
ICT Information and Communication Technologies
IT Information Technology
LVDC Low Voltage Direct Current
MW MegaWatt (unit)
OFC Oxygen Free Cable
PE Protected Earthing conductor
PEL Protective Earthing conductor and Line conductor IEC 60050-195 [i.2]
PEN Protective Earthing conductor and Neutral conductor IEC 60050-195 [i.2]
PV Photovoltaic
RA Remote Access
RFT-C Remote Feeding Telecom-Current
RFT-V Remote Feeding Telecom-Voltage
RGB Red Green Blue
RYB Red Yellow Blue
SELV Safe Extra Low Voltage
UPS Uninterrupted Power Supply
VAC Voltage Alternating Current
VDC Voltage Direct Current
4 Electrical Distribution identification coverage
The DC Electrical Distribution needs marking at the following different points:
• DC distribution lines (wires and cables)
• DC cabling inside DC power sources
• DC outputs from DC power systems with protective devices
• DC sub-distribution boards (with protective devices)
• DC interconnection boxes
• DC power plugs strips inside ICT equipment rooms and cabinets
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Typical building and room distribution are provided in the following drawings:
• Building distribution with A interface (-48V), AC grid and inverter outputs power and A3 or P interface (up to
400VDC). The interface shall comply with:
- for A interface ETSI EN 300 132-2 [7];
- for A3 interface ETSI EN 300 132-3-1 [8];
- for interface P Recommendation ITU-T L.1200 [2].
Figure 1 shows such building where distribution DC and protective earthing-[PE] bonding shall comply with
ETSI EN 301 605 [10] and ETSI EN 300 253 [9].
• Example of power feeding distribution of DC from centralized or decentralized permanent power supply at
building or technical room level (figure 2).
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Figure 1: DC distribution at building level from DC source to ICT/telecom systems
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Figure 2: Example of different DC architectures and distributions at building or
technical room level from DC source to ICT/telecom equipment
5 Identification principle
5.1 General rules
The Recommendation ITU-T L.1203 [1] shall be applied.
The identifying colour, graphical symbol or alphanumeric notation shall be located on, or adjacent to the corresponding
terminal.
There shall be no confusion between the different identification modes i.e. wire insulation colour or coloured sleeve,
interconnection d
...