ISO/IEC 18010:2002

INTERNATIONAL ISO/IEC
STANDARD
18010
First edition
2002-05
Information technology –
Pathways and spaces for customer premises
cabling
Reference number
ISO/IEC 18010:2002(E)

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
INTERNATIONAL ISO/IEC
STANDARD
18010
First edition
2002-05
Information technology –
Pathways and spaces for customer premises
cabling
 ISO/IEC 2002
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any
means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from the publisher.
ISO/IEC Copyright Office Case postale 56 CH-1211 Genève 20 Switzerland
• • •
PRICE CODE
M
For price, see current catalogue

---------------------- Page: 2 ----------------------
– 2 – 18010 © ISO/IEC:2002(E)
CONTENTS
FOREWORD.4
INTRODUCTION.5
1 Scope.6
2 Normative references .6
3 Definitions and abbreviations.7
3.1 Definitions .7
3.2 Abbreviations .9
4 Conformance.9
5 Structure of a pathways and spaces infrastructure.10
6 Building telecommunications spaces .11
6.1 General .11
6.2 Work area .11
6.3 Telecommunications room.11
6.4 Equipment room .11
6.5 Main terminal space .12
6.6 Entrance room or space .12
6.7 Consolidation points .13
6.8 Multi-user telecommunications outlet assemblies .13
6.9 Pull boxes and splice boxes .13
7 Building pathways .13
7.1 General .13
7.2 Access floor .14
7.3 Cable trunking systems .15
7.4 Cable tray and ladder systems .15
7.5 Conduit systems and cable ducting systems.15
7.6 Furniture pathways.16
7.7 In-wall cabling .17
7.8 Pathways with non-continuous fasteners and fixings .17
7.9 Service poles .17
7.10 Trunking/ducting systems for floor installation .17
8 Campus pathways and related spaces.18
8.1 General .18
8.2 Directly buried pathways .19
8.3 Underground pathways.19
8.4 Tunnels .19
8.5 Aerial .19
8.6 Building entrance facility.19
8.7 Maintenance holes .20
8.8 Handholes .20

---------------------- Page: 3 ----------------------
18010 © ISO/IEC:2002(E) – 3 –
Annex A (informative) Pathway and cable stresses .21
Annex B (informative) Building entrance facility .23
Bibliography.24
Figure 1 – Basic elements of a pathways' and spaces' infrastructure .10
Figure B.1 – Sample of a campus entrance facility.23
Table A.1 – Pathways and cable stresses .21

---------------------- Page: 4 ----------------------
– 4 – 18010 © ISO/IEC:2002(E)
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY –
PATHWAYS AND SPACES FOR CUSTOMER PREMISES CABLING
FOREWORD
1) ISO (International Organization for Standardization) and IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) form the
specialized system for worldwide standardization. National bodies that are members of ISO or IEC participate in
the development of International Standards through technical committees established by the respective
organization to deal with particular fields of technical activity. ISO and IEC technical committees collaborate in
fields of mutual interest. Other international organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with
ISO and IEC, also take part in the work.
2) In the field of information technology, ISO and IEC have established a joint technical committee, ISO/IEC JTC 1.
Draft International Standards adopted by the joint technical committee are circulated to national bodies for voting.
Publication as an International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the national bodies casting a vote.
3) Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this International Standard may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO and IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
International Standard ISO/IEC 18010 was prepared by subcommittee 25: Interconnection of
information technology equipment, of ISO/IEC joint technical committee 1: Information
technology.
This publication has been drafted in accordance with the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
Annexes A and B are for information only.
The committee has decided that this publication remains valid until 2007. At this date, in
accordance with the committee’s decision, the publication will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn,
• replaced by a revised edition, or
• amended.

---------------------- Page: 5 ----------------------
18010 © ISO/IEC:2002(E) – 5 –
INTRODUCTION
The telecommunications infrastructure is an integral part of building design. It may include
voice, data, environmental control, security, audio, television, sensing, alarms, paging and
other low voltage and power limited signal systems. These systems are subject to frequent
changes. Design of the pathways and spaces should accommodate this dynamic behaviour.
This Standard significantly influences the design of other building services, such as electrical
power and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC).
ISO/IEC 18010 generally makes no specific recommendations among the design options
available for telecommunications pathways and spaces. For example, the choice between a
conduit system versus a tray system is not delineated. It is up to the telecommunications
designer to properly select among the options based upon the applications at hand and the
constraints imposed.
This standard generally imposes no specific requirements for the dimensions of pathways and
spaces. The reader should refer to
•
local regulations and standards,
• telecommunications service providers’ rules,
• manufacturers’ guidelines.

---------------------- Page: 6 ----------------------
– 6 – 18010 © ISO/IEC:2002(E)
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY –
PATHWAYS AND SPACES FOR CUSTOMER PREMISES CABLING
1 Scope
This International Standard specifies the structure and requirements for pathways and spaces
within or between buildings for information exchange and telecommunications cabling
according to ISO/IEC 11801 and ISO/IEC 15018.
This International Standard also influences space allocation within the building. Both single-
and multi-tenant buildings are considered by this Standard.
This standard does not cover safety aspects of the building design, fire stopping measures or
telecommunications systems that require any special types of security measures.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document.
For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition
of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
IEC 60050(826), International Electrotechnical Vocabulary – Chapter 826: Electrical
installations of buildings
IEC 60364-4-41, Electrical installations of buildings – Part 4-41: Protection for safety – Pro-
tection against electric shock
IEC 60364-4-44, Electrical installations of buildings – Part 4-44: Protection for safety – Pro-
tection against voltage disturbances and electromagnetic disturbances
IEC 60364-5-52, Electrical installations of buildings – Part 5-52: Selection and erection of
electrical equipment – Wiring systems
IEC 61084 (all parts), Cable trunking and ducting systems for electrical installations
IEC 61386 (all parts), Conduit systems for electrical installations – Part 1: General require-
ments
ISO/IEC 11801, Information technology – Generic cabling for customer premises
ISO/IEC 14763-1, Information technology – Implementation and operation of Customer
Premises Cabling – Part 1: Administration
ISO/IEC 15018,– Information technology – Integrated cabling for all services other than mains
1
power in homes, SOHO (Small Office, Home Office), and buildings

1)
Under consideration.

---------------------- Page: 7 ----------------------
18010 © ISO/IEC:2002(E) – 7 –
3 Definitions and abbreviations
3.1 Definitions
For the purposes of this International Standard, the following definitions apply in addition to
those of ISO/IEC 11801 and the IEC 60050(826).
3.1.1
access floor
system consisting of completely removable and interchangeable floor panels that are
supported on pedestals or stringers (or both) to allow access to the area beneath
3.1.2
aerial facility
component of the building entrance facility consisting of poles, cable-support strand and
support system
3.1.3
alternate entrance
supplementary building entrance facility into a building using a different routing to provide
diversity of building entrance facilities for assurance of service continuity
3.1.4
antenna entrance
pathway facility from the antenna to the associated equipment
3.1.5
building pathway
pathway facility for interconnecting telecommunications entrance rooms, equipment rooms,
and telecommunications rooms within a building
3.1.6
cable ducting system
a system of closed enclosures of non-circular section, for insulated conductors, cables and
cords in electrical installations, allowing them to be drawn in and replaced
3.1.7
cable management system
assembly comprising cable trunking, cable ducting or conduit system to provide an enclosure
for the accommodation of insulated conductors and (or) cables
3.1.8
cable trunking system
a system of closed enclosures comprising a base with a removable cover, intended for the
complete surrounding of insulated conductors, cables, cords and/or for the accommodation of
other electrical accessories
3.1.9
campus pathway
pathway facility for interconnecting telecommunications entrance rooms or spaces of different
buildings, as in a campus environment, as well as to the property line for connection off the
premises
3.1.10
customer premises
building(s), grounds and appurtenances (belongings) under the control of the customer

---------------------- Page: 8 ----------------------
– 8 – 18010 © ISO/IEC:2002(E)
3.1.11
device (as related to a work area)
item such as a telephone, personal computer, graphic or video terminal, sensor
3.1.12
directly buried cable
cable installed under the surface of the ground in direct contact with the soil
3.1.13
entrance point (telecommunications)
point of emergence for telecommunications cabling through an exterior wall, a floor, or from a
conduit
3.1.14
entrance room or space
space, preferably a room, in which the joining of campus and building backbone facilities
takes place
NOTE  The entrance room may also house electronic equipment serving any telecommunications (IT) function.
3.1.15
handhole
structure similar to a small maintenance hole in which it is expected that a person cannot
enter to perform work
3.1.16
header ducting
cable ducting placed within the floor to consolidate cables from the distribution ducting to the
telecommunications (IT) room
3.1.17
infrastructure (telecommunications)
collection of those telecommunications components, excluding active equipment, that together
provide the basic support for the distribution of all information within a building or campus
3.1.18
inner duct
duct placed within a duct
NOTE  Also known as subduct.
3.1.19
main terminal space
location of the cross-connect point of incoming cables from the telecommunications external
network and the premises cable system
3.1.20
maintenance hole (telecommunications)
vault located in the ground or earth as part of an underground distribution system and used to
facilitate placing, connectorization and maintenance of cables as well as the placing of
associated equipment, in which it is expected that a person will enter to perform work
3.1.21
open office furniture system
contiguous group(s) of work areas, typically including space divisions, work surfaces, storage
and seating within an open office environment
NOTE  The space divisions, also known as partitions often contain pathways for telecommunications cabling and
power wiring.

---------------------- Page: 9 ----------------------
18010 © ISO/IEC:2002(E) – 9 –
3.1.22
pathway
facility for the placement of telecommunications cable
3.1.23
plenum
compartment or chamber to which one or more air ducts are connected and that forms part of
the air distribution system
3.1.24
service pole
enclosed pathway extending from the ceiling to furniture or to the floor, that forms a pathway
for electrical wiring or telecommunications cable, or both
NOTE  It may also be used to mount or contain connecting hardware.
3.1.25
space (telecommunications)
area used for housing the installation and termination of telecommunications equipment (IT)
and cabling
NOTE  Examples of spaces are equipment rooms, telecommunications rooms, work areas and maintenance holes/
handholes.
3.1.26
suspended ceiling
ceiling that creates an area or space between ceiling material and the structure above
3.2 Abbreviations
EMI Electromagnetic Interference
HVAC Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning
IT Information Technology
4 Conformance
For a pathways and spaces infrastructure to conform to this International Standard the
following shall apply:
a) the telecommunications infrastructure within a building is designed and installed around
and including the spaces described in clause 6 and utilises one or more pathway systems
outlined in clause 7;
b) the telecommunications infrastructure between buildings on a customer’s premises
(campus) is designed and installed with one or more pathway systems around and
including related spaces as outlined in clause 8.

---------------------- Page: 10 ----------------------
– 10 – 18010 © ISO/IEC:2002(E)
5 Structure of a pathways’ and spaces’ infrastructure
Figure 1 illustrates the relationships between the major telecommunications pathway and
space elements within a building.
9
5
5
10
6
5
5
6
7
5
1
3
8
4
10
2
Key
1 Source entrance 6 Telecommunications room
2 Alternate entrance 7 Equipment room
3 Entrance room/Main terminal space 8 Telecommunications outlet
4 Campus pathways 9 Antenna entrance
5 Building pathways 10 Work area
Figure 1 – Basic elements of a pathways’ and spaces’ infrastructure

---------------------- Page: 11 ----------------------
18010 © ISO/IEC:2002(E) – 11 –
6 Building telecommunications spaces
6.1 General
The spaces shall be adequately lit and protected from dust.
6.2 Work area
For building areas where it is difficult to add telecommunications outlets at a later date (for
example, private offices), a minimum of two separate outlet locations should be provided in
the initial design for that area. They shall be located to offer maximum flexibility for change
within the work area, for example on opposing walls in private office space.
Telecommunications outlet locations should be co-ordinated with the furniture layout. A
minimum of one power outlet should be installed near each telecommunications outlet.
Independent and direct pathways shall be provided from areas with heavy demands for
telecommunications equipment, for example control centres, to the serving telecommuni-
cations room or equipment room.
6.3 Telecommunications room
The telecommunications room shall be able to contain telecommunications equipment, cable
terminations and associated cross-connect cables.
The telecommunications room should be located as close as practicable to the centre of the
area served and preferably in the core area. Horizontal pathways should terminate in the
telecommunications room located on the same floor as the area being served.
The telecommunications room space shall be dedicated to the telecommunications function
and related support facilities. The telecommunications room space should not be shared with
electrical installations other than those for telecommunications.
A minimum of two dedicated electrical outlets shall be provided for equipment power each on
a separate circuit. Additional outlets shall be placed around the room at regular intervals.
NOTE  Local regulations shall be followed for electrical power distribution.
Equipment not related to the support of the telecommunications room (for example, piping,
ductwork, etc.) shall not be installed in, pass through, or enter the telecommunications room.
The following environmental requirements apply only to cabling based on ISO/IEC 11801.
HVAC should be included in the design considerations of the telecommunications room to
maintain a temperature the same as the adjacent office area. Planning for eventual
provisioning, as required, of continuous HVAC (24 hours per day and 365 days per year) shall
be included in the initial design. A positive pressure shall be maintained with a minimum of
one air change per hour, or as required by local regulations. When active devices (heat
producing equipment) are present, a sufficient number of air changes should be provided to
dissipate the heat. If a standby power source is available in the building, the HVAC system
serving the telecommunications room should also be connected to the standby supply.
6.4 Equipment room
Any or all of the functions of a telecommunications room or building entrance facility may
alternatively be provided by an equipment room.
The room shall house only equipment directly related to the telecommunications system and
its environmental support systems.

---------------------- Page: 12 ----------------------
– 12 – 18010 © ISO/IEC:2002(E)
Equipment room locations that are restricted by building components limiting expansion, such
as elevators or fixed building walls shall be avoided. Accessibility for the delivery of large
equipment to the equipment room should be provided. Access to shared-use space shall be
controlled by the building owner or agent. It is desirable to locate the equipment room close to
the backbone pathway.
Floor loading capacity in the equipment room shall be sufficient to bear both the distributed
and concentrated load of the installed equipment.
The equipment room shall not be located below water level unless preventive measures
against water infiltration are employed. The room shall be free of water or drain pipes not
directly required in support of the equipment within the room. A floor drain shall be provided
within the room if risk of water ingress exists.
The equipment room shall undergo the same design considerations concerning the main
HVAC delivery system as the telecommunications room (see 6.3).
The room shall be located away from sources of electromagnetic interference. Special
attention shall be given to electrical power supply transformers, motors and generators, x-ray
equipment, radio or radar transmitters and induction sealing devices.
The equipment room shall be sized to meet the known requirements of specific equipment.
Sizing shall include projected future as well as present requirements.
Where a room or space is intended to be used for more than equipment (for example, the
main terminal and/or entrance facility), it shall be increased in size accordingly and meet the
requirements specified in the respective clauses for these facilities.
6.5 Main terminal space
The main terminal space may combine features of a building entrance facility and equipment
room. It is commonly used as a separate space in multi-tenant buildings to serve all tenants.
The space shall house only facilities directly related to the telecommunications system and its
environmental support systems.
6.6 Entrance room or space
If network interface devices and telecommunications equipment are required in the entrance
room, additional space will be needed.
The entrance room or space shall be located in a dry area not subject to flooding and should
be as close as practicable to the building entrance point and next to the electrical service
room in order to reduce the length of equipotential bonding conductors to the electrical
earthing system. See applicable standards and local regulations.
The decision whether a room or open area is provided shall be based on security, quantity,
type of protectors, size of building and physical location within the building.
The entrance room shall be sized to meet the known requirements of the specific protectors.
Sizing shall include projected future as well as present requirements.
Access shall be made available to the telecommunications earthing system specified by
applicable standards and local regulations.
Antenna field entrance rooms shall be designed per applicable standards and local
regulations, if any. The antenna entrance room shall be located as close as practicable to the
antenna field.

---------------------- Page: 13 ----------------------
18010 © ISO/IEC:2002(E) – 13 –
6.7 Consolidation points
Consolidation points shall be located in accessible, permanent locations. Consolidation points
shall not be installed in open office furniture systems unless that unit of furniture is
permanently secured to the building structure. The use of suspended ceiling space or access
floor space for consolidation points may be acceptable, provided that the space is accessible
without moving building fixtures, equipment, or heavy furniture, and without disturbing building
occupants. In all cases, the use of consolidation points in plenum spaces used for
environmental air shall conform to local regulations.
Consolidation points shall be administered in the same manner as telecommunications
cabling, hardware, pathways and spaces as described in ISO/IEC 14763-1.
6.8 Multi-user telecommunications outlet assemblies
Multi-user telecommunications outlet assemblies shall be located in accessible, permanent
locations. These assemblies shall not be installed in open office furniture systems unless that
unit of furniture is secured to the building structure.
Multi-user telecommunications outlet assemblies shall be administered in the same manner as
telecommunications cabling, hardware, pathways and spaces as described in ISO/IEC 14763-1.
6.9 Pull boxes and splice boxes
Pull boxes and splice boxes may be associated with pathways. For the purposes of this
Standard, both pull boxes and splice boxes are considered as spaces.
Pull boxes for cable management systems shall be used for the following purposes.
• Installing a draw rope or cable.
• Pulling the cable to the box and then looping the cable to be pulled into the next length of
the cable management system. This is usually done only with smaller cables.
• Pull boxes shall not be used for splicing cable.
Splice boxes are intended to be used for splicing in addition to pulling cable.
Pull and splice boxes shall be readily accessible.
Pull and splice boxes should be placed in a straight section of the cable management system
and not used in lieu of a bend. The corresponding ends of the cable management system
should be aligned with each other. Conduit fittings shall not be used in place of pull or splice
boxes.
7 Building pathways
7.1 General
Building pathways are created through pathway systems for horizontal and backbone cabling.
Some systems can be used for zone cabling. Several systems may be subdivided by inner
duct (also called subduct).
For safety rules for equipotential bonding and earthing of metal pathways, see local regul-
2) 3)
ations and consider referring to IEC 61000-5-1 and IEC 61000-5-2 .
The pathway facility, as a minimum, shall be designed to handle all telecommunications
media recognised in ISO/IEC 11801 and ISO/IEC 15018. When determining the size of the

2)
IEC 61000-5-1, Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) – Part 5: Installation and mitigation guidelines – Section 1:
General considerations
3)
IEC 61000-5-2, Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) – Part 5: Installation and mitigation guidelines – Section 2:
Earthing and cabling

---------------------- Page: 14 ----------------------
– 14 – 18010 © ISO/IEC:2002(E)
pathway, the quantity and size of cables, bend radius requirements and allowance for future
expansion shall be considered. Unless local regulations permit, pathways shall not be located
in elevator shafts.
Building pathways shall be installed in dry locations that protect cables from moisture levels
that are beyond the intended operating range of inside premises. All pathway systems shall
comply with local regulations.
Co-installation of telecommunication cable and power cable is governed by IEC 60364-4-41,
IEC 60364-4-44 as well as IEC 60364-5-52 for safety. The separation for EMI aspects should
consider the following:
• separation from power cores;
• separation and barriers within trunking; and
• separation within outlet boxes or compartments.
The separation shall be maintained when the support direction changes (within the horizontal
or vertical plane) and/or when going through walls.
The following pathway systems are sorted in alphabetical order.
7.2 Access floor
Access flooring is used in computer and equipment rooms, telecommunications rooms and in
general office areas. It is available in combustible, non-combustible and composite panels.
There are two types of access flooring: standard height floors and low profile floors. Where
access floor is used, give consideration to the impact of also using the space under the
access flooring for air handling. Low profile access floors are not recommended for use where
the under floor area is a plenum space.
In new construction, the area to receive access flooring should be depressed. The depth of
depression should equal the height of the finished access floor.
Where the slab is not depressed, or where the depth of the depression is not equal to the
height of the finished access floor, provision shall be made for ramps or steps to the access
floor. Building codes shall be followed for both ramp and step assemblies.
Service outlet placements shall be co-ordinated with work area location to provide adequate
access. Service outlets shall not be placed in traffic areas or where they create a hazard to
the occupants.
Care should be taken to ensure there is sufficient clearance below the access floor surface.
Consideration should be given to the following:
• quantity of cables, especially in areas with restricted access;
• secondary pathway system, if any;
• crossings of cable runs;
• bend radius limitations of the cable to enable cable exit;
• s
...