Information technology - Cabling installation - Installation planning and practices inside buildings

This European Standard specifies requirements for the following aspects of information technology cabling:
a) planning;
b) installation practice.

This European Standard is applicable to all types of information technology cabling inside buildings (and may be applied to cabling that is defined as part of the building) including generic cabling systems designed in accordance with the EN 50173 series of standards. The requirements of Clauses 4, 5 and 6 of this standard are premises-independent unless amended by the requirements of premises-specific clauses.

This European Standard (including A1):
1) details the considerations for satisfactory installation and operation of information technology cabling;
2) excludes specific requirements applicable to other cabling systems (e.g. power supply* cabling); however, it takes account of the effects other cabling systems may have on the installation of information technology cabling (and vice versa) and gives general advice;
3) excludes those aspects of installation associated with the transmission of signals in free space between transmitters, receivers or their associated antenna systems (e.g. wireless, radio, microwave or satellite).

This European Standard is intended for application within commercial and residential premises.

This standard is applicable to certain hazardous environments. It does not exclude additional requirements which are applicable in particular circumstances, defined by e.g. electricity supply and electrified railways*.

* A1 text is shown in italics.

It should be noted that many documents produced by CLC TC215 WG2 have the term "information technology" in their titles, while the Technical Committee has the term "telecommunications equipment" in its title. This has caused confusion to readers who perceive that an "information technology" document only applies to "data" cabling while "telecommunications" only applies to "voice".

To be clear, EN 50174 documents apply the same definition to both "information technology" and "telecommunications" as follows: "branch of technology concerned with the transmission, emission and reception of signs, signals, writing, images and sounds; that is, information of any nature by cable, radio, optical or other electromagnetic systems". This definition makes it clear that both terms apply to ANY form of remote communications, independent of the service carried or the application used to deliver the service.

This standard is applicable to all types of information technology/telecommunications cabling - however the application of all EN 50174 standards is automatic from all EN 50173 standards.

This standard automatically requires the application of EN 50310.

Electrotechnical Aspects of Telecommunication Equipment:
Cabling installation - Quality assurance and installation practices

It should be noted that many documents produced by CLC TC 215 WG2 have the term "information technology" in their titles, while the Technical Committee has the term "telecommunications equipment" in its title. This has caused confusion to readers who perceive that an "information technology" document only applies to "data" cabling while "telecommunications" only applies to "voice",

To be clear, EN 50174 documents apply the same definition to both "information technology" and "telecommunications" as follows: "branch of technology concerned with the transmission, emission and reception of signs, signals, writing, images and sounds; that is, information of any nature by cable, radio, optical or other electromagnetic systems". This definition makes it clear that both terms apply to ANY form of remote communications, independent of the service carried or the application used to deliver the service.

EN 50174-2:2009 has been subject to a first amendment (to produce Ed 2 A1) which has been approved and awaits ratification (Janaury 2011)

The structure of EN 50174-2:2009 is detailed below:
Clause 4: Requirements for planning installations of information technology cabling
Clause 5: Requirements for the installation of information technology cabling
Clause 6: Segregation of metallic information technology cabling and mains power cabling
Clause 7: Electricity distribution systems and lightning protection
Clause 8: Office (commercial) premises
Clause 9: Industrial premises

The main sets of requirements are found in clauses 4, 5 and 6. Clauses 8 and 9 identify amended or additional requirements to those of these earlier clauses as they apply to specific types of premises.

Amendment 1 (i.e. Ed 2 A1) comprises some minor editorial changes to the existing text but the main amendment is the inclusion of two new clauses:
Clause 10: Homes
Clause 11: Data centres.

Amendment 1 (i.e. Ed 2 A1) amends "mains power cabling" to read "power supply cabling". This is being done to ensure that other forms of equipment powering are included (without the need for hidden NOTES etc.). However, Power over Ethernet is excluded from the definiton of power supply cabling.