En 50174
En 50174
En 50174
EN 50174 is the European Standard for the planning, implementation and operation of information
technology cabling using balanced copper cabling and optical fibre cabling. It is designed to be
used in conjunction with EN 50173. EN 50174 is published in three parts.
EN 50174-1
EN 50174-2
EN 50174-3
EN 50174 calls up many other standards and it is easier to pick them up section by section rather
than merely list them. However the following overview is given:Building Design Phase EN 50310
Planning Phase
EN 501741/2/3
EN 50310
EN 50174-1
EN 50174-1
The organisation of EN 50174-1 is:
Safety
Specification considerations
Quality Assurance
Documentation
Cabling administration
Repair and maintenance
Safety
Under the safety heading, the following statements are made:-
External cables with flammable polyethylene sheaths must be jointed to a low flammability
cable or encased within non-flammable conduit or trunking within 5 metres of entering a
building
Consideration shall be given to cables having non-corrosive, fire retardant and low
smoke/toxic emission properties.
Frames and cabinets shall not be installed in toilet facilities, boiler/plant/machine rooms, in
emergency escape routes, in ceiling or sub-floor spaces or within cabinets or closures containing
fire fighting equipment.
The minimum clearance on all faces of the frames and cabinets that require access shall be at least
1.2 metres.
Pathways
Pathway systems are referenced to :
EN 50085
EN 50086
Reinstatement definition
Recommended spares
Support services
Administration
Documentation
Final cabling documentation includes:site plans identifying locations of cables, pathways, termination points etc.
as-built drawings
evidence of conformance to the specification
other information as required
earthing and bonding details
Administration
For simple infrastructures a well-designed paper-based administration system is often adequate.
However it is recommended that the principles of administration outlined in this clause be
implemented using a computer based administration system.
Testing
Annex B refers to a yet un-named standard known as EN 50XXX. A table lists reduced acceptance
tests, standard acceptance tests and compliance tests. Yet all three fall well short of the IEC 61935
tests invoked in EN 50173. It would seem better to specify IEC 61935 as the main testing regime,
as it is more comprehensive and will be called up by later editions of EN 50173 and ISO 11801.
EN 50174-2
The organisation of EN 50174-2 is:Safety requirements
General installation practices for metallic and optical fibre cabling
Additional installation practice for metallic cabling
Additional installation practice for optical fibre cabling
General installation practice
Coaxial cabling for distribution of television and sound signals is covered in EN 50083.
Cable management systems shall comply with:Conduit systems to EN 50086
Trunking and ducting systems to EN 50085
Busbar trunking systems to EN 60439-2
Tray and ladder systems to prEN 61537
Service poles to prEN 50085-2-4
Distance
without divider
or non-metalic
divider
Aluminium
Divider
Steel Divider
200 mm
100 mm
50 mm
50 mm
20 mm
5 mm
30 mm
10 mm
2 mm
0 mm
0 mm
0 mm
Type of Installation
Much space is devoted to the coexistence of IT cabling with other services and utilities, for IT cables
installed above or below ground. For overhead power lines, for example, the clearance must be at
least 0.5 m for less than 1000 volts, with a formula supplied to calculate the distance when the
voltage is above 1000 V.
The minimum separation from the earthed metallic parts of the IT system and power earthing
systems can be anything from 5 to 200 m!! depending upon soil resistivity.
The minimum depth of buried IT cabling is given for various circumstances, such as at least 0.6 m
for pavements and roads.
The clearance between IT cabling and other services such as gas (low pressure, 0.5 m, high
pressure, 1.5 m) and water (0.3 m) is also given.
Many rules and design guidelines are given for when the IT cable runs through hot zones, i.e.
areas that can suffer from ROEP, or Rise Of Earth Potential.