EN 50174EN 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 Information technology – cabling installation – part 1: Specification and quality assurance EN 50174-2 Information technology – cabling installation – part 2: Installation planning and practices inside buildings EN 50174-3 Information technology – cabling installation – part 3: Installation planning and practices outside buildings 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 Cabling Design Phase EN 50173 EN 50098 Planning Phase Application of equipotential bonding and earthing in buildings with information technology equipment Information technology – Generic cabling systems Customer premises cabling for information technology. ISDN basic and primary access EN 501741/2/3 EN 50310 Implementation Phase EN 501741/2/3 EN 50310 Operation Phase 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:- in emergency escape routes. The minimum clearance on all faces of the frames and cabinets that require access shall be at least 1.2 metres. boiler/plant/machine rooms. Scope of work items Pre-installation tasks Civil works – identify and document Pathways Earthing and bonding Building entrance facility Bill of materials Survey status Installation tasks safety plan connectivity programme in-service date labeling testing documentation documentation hand-over date Post installation tasks . in ceiling or sub-floor spaces or within cabinets or closures containing fire fighting equipment.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. Pathways Pathway systems are referenced to : EN 50085 Cable trunking systems and cable ducting systems for electrical installations – Part 1: general requirements EN 50086 Conduit systems for electrical installations – Part 1: general requirements Pathways should not be installed in lightning conductor voids or lift shafts. fire retardant and low smoke/toxic emission properties. Frames and cabinets shall not be installed in toilet facilities. as it is more comprehensive and will be called up by later editions of EN 50173 and ISO 11801. It would seem better to specify IEC 61935 as the main testing regime. 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 .’ Testing Annex B refers to a yet un-named standard known as EN 50XXX. Yet all three fall well short of the IEC 61935 tests invoked in EN 50173.Reinstatement definition Recommended spares Support services Administration Documentation Final cabling documentation includes:site plans identifying locations of cables. However it is recommended that the principles of administration outlined in this clause be implemented using a computer based administration system. pathways. termination points etc. A table lists reduced acceptance tests. 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. standard acceptance tests and compliance tests. 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. Additional installation practice for metallic cabling This chapter goes on at great length about EMC considerations and the organisation of power and earthing systems. . and on 10-3-00 a negative vote was returned by the UK with a technical justification. The separation distances are Distance without divider or non-metalic divider Aluminium Divider Steel Divider unscreened power cable and unscreened data cable 200 mm 100 mm 50 mm unscreened power cable and screened data cable 50 mm 20 mm 5 mm screened power cable and unscreened data cable 30 mm 10 mm 2 mm screened power cable and screened data cable 0 mm 0 mm 0 mm Type of Installation In addition. must be effectively earthed with a 360 0 bonding mechanism. For runs longer than 35 m. and this has always been a major point of concern to installers and end users. The chapter contains a chart detailing minimum separation distances between power and data cables. Screened cables for example. separation distances shall apply except for the final 15 m to the outlet. The original draft proposed:No separation between horizontal data and power required if the parallel run is less than 35 m. However the wording of the ‘final’ draft of 2000 has been contested by the UK. a distance of 130 mm shall be kept from fluorescent lamps. completely enclose the cables. for IT cables installed above or below ground. the clearance must be at . Stainless steel is not permitted. 130 mm separation from fluorescent lights is still required. 50/60 Hz. For overhead power lines. ENV 61024-1 Protection of structures against lightning Much space is devoted to the coexistence of IT cabling with other services and utilities. Where power and data cables cross they must do so at right angles and with the aid of a bridge. Outlet boxes that share power and data circuit must keep 6 mm segregation. A three phase 415 V ac circuit would account for three of the former power cables. single phase circuits. with a maximum of ten such power cables. 20 amp. The minimum segregation distance between power cables and IT balanced cables for cable lengths of up to 90 m is 75mm This minimum distance applies to 230 V ac. Segregation is not required when power and data cables are enclosed in separate metal trunking or conduit.The UK technical recommendation is to replace the above by. Note that trunking must be continuous. Segregation is not required when the power cables are of a shielded design. be earthed and made of 1 mm low-carbon steel or 2 mm of aluminium. EN 50174-3 The organisation of EN 50174-3 is:· Installation practice for metallic cabling -proximity to high voltages -overhead cabling -underground lines -interface between internal and external cabling · Installation practice for optical fibre cabling -general precautions -pre-installation procedures -preparation of cable routes One standard invoked is. for example. The minimum depth of buried IT cabling is given for various circumstances. or CENELEC . or Rise Of Earth Potential.e. with a formula supplied to calculate the distance when the voltage is above 1000 V.6 m for pavements and roads. high pressure. The clearance between IT cabling and other services such as gas (low pressure. 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. Many rules and design guidelines are given for when the IT cable runs through ‘hot zones’.g. Nederlands Normalisatie Instituut etc. To purchase the full Standard go to your national standards body.5 m. 0. areas that can suffer from ROEP. 1. such as at least 0. The above information is offered as a summary of EN 50174.3 m) is also given. i.least 0.5 m for less than 1000 volts. The publisher accepts no responsibility for inaccuracies or omissions.5 m) and water (0. British Standards Institution. It is not a definitive design guide and does not replace study and implementation of the Standard itself. e.