Project Team Leader: Mike Gilmore

Introduction

The segregation of power supply cabling and telecommunications cabling containing metallic structural and/or signalling elements requires the consideration of safety, protection and electromagnetic interference. These aspects are addressed by different national standards and this document seeks to consolidate the requirements and recommendations of those standards within a simple reference document.

It is not uncommon for aspects of the segregation requirements to be in conflict with the needs of the building infrastructure due to lack of space or competing demands for the available space. As a result the installer of the telecommunications and/or power supply cabling is unable to comply with the published standards, despite those standards being a contractual and/or legal requirement.

This Telecommunications Infrastructure Advisory Board SID contains interpretation of published standards covering the planning and installation of telecommunication cabling infrastructures, explains the consolidated requirements and recommendations in relation to segregation of telecommunications and mains power cabling and provides:
users with guidance in relation to sizing of pathways and spaces and long-term management of
cabling within them;
consultants with guidance in relation to the location and construction of pathways and pathway
(cable management) systems;
installers with the ability to identify any potential or actual non-compliance with the published
standards and act accordingly.

The specific standards subject to interpretation within the document are BS 6701:2010 and BS EN 50174-2:2009 together with electrical system standard HD 60364-4-444:2010 (which will form the basis of a future BS 7671 section 444). Historic information is provided relating to BS 6701:2004, BS EN 50174-1:2001 and BS EN 50174-2:2001 in combination with BIP 0007 (published by BSI and available free-of-charge to FIA and ECA members).

This document provides interpretation of published standards which is intended to be submitted to checking and endorsement by the BSI Technical Committee, or equivalent, responsible for the production of the standards that are subject to TIA-B interpretation.

Scope

This Telecommunications Infrastructure Advisory Board SID contains interpretation of the following published standards covering segregation of power supply cabling and telecommunications cabling containing metallic structural and/or signalling elements:
BS 6701:2010;
BS EN 50174-2:2009;
HD 60364-4-444:2010.

HD 60364-4-444 is the European Harmonisation Document that provides source material for a future clause 444 of BS 7671 (17th Edition of the IEE Wiring Regulations).

Project Team Leader: Mike Gilmore

Introduction

The earthing of telecommunications infrastructures is handled in a number of standards, all of which are applicable in the United Kingdom, but most of these address the topic from a specific viewpoint and can appear contradictory.

With regard to the earthing of cabinets/frames/racks containing, or intended to contain, telecommunications equipment and cabling, installers need to have clear guidance based on accurate interpretation of these standards which is endorsed by the relevant standard bodies.

This Telecommunications Infrastructure Advisory Board SID contains interpretation of published standards covering the earthing arrangements for cabinets/frames/racks containing, or intended to contain, telecommunications equipment and cabling and:
explains the circumstances under which earthing is required;
provides guidance to the minimum requirements for protective earth conductors;
allows users, consultants and installers to identify any potential or actual non-compliance with the
published standards and act accordingly.

The specific standards subject to interpretation within the document are BS 6701:2010, BS EN 50174-1:2009, BS EN 50174-2:2009 and BS EN 50310:2010 together with together with electrical system standard HD 60364-4-444 (which will form the basis of a future BS 7671 section 444).

This document provides interpretation of published standards which is intended to be submitted to checking and endorsement by the BSI Technical Committee, or equivalent, responsible for the production of the standards that are subject to TIA-B interpretation.

Scope

This Telecommunications Infrastructure Advisory Board SID contains interpretation of published standards covering the earthing arrangements for telecommunication cabling infrastructures,

This Telecommunications Infrastructure Advisory Board SID contains interpretation of the following published standards covering earthing arrangements of cabinets/frames/racks containing, or intended to contain, telecommunications equipment and cabling:
BS 6701:2010;
BS EN 50174-1:2009;
BS EN 50174-2:2009;
BS EN 50310:2010;
CLC HD 60364-4-444:2010.

CLC HD 60364-4-444 is the European Harmonisation Document that provides source material for a future clause 444 of BS 7671 (17th Edition of the IEE Wiring Regulations).

Project Team Leader: Mike Gilmore

This Infrastructure Advisory Note provides information regarding the relevance of various test methods for fire performance parameters in relation to telecommunications cabling and equipment.

Following a general review of fire performance parameters, the document addresses the tests associated with those parameters for:
telecommunications cables;
telecommunications connecting hardware;
telecommunications cord and jumpers;
mains power cables;
closures;
cabinets, frames and racks;
cable management systems;
and
telecommunications equipment.

A substantial portion of this document was produced during the development of BS 8492:2009 “Telecommunications equipment and telecommunications cabling. Code of practice for fire performance and protection” but it was determined that the format of the information contained herein was tutorial and not appropriate in the Code of Practice. However, the ECA-ITEC and FIA representatives in the group that produced BS 8492 felt that the content was important enough to justify its publication in another forum - the TIA-B.

Attention is also drawn to the future release of BS EN 62222 “Fire performance of communication cables installed in buildings. Update new methods of fire retardancy” which replaces BS PD IEC/TR 62222:2005 “Fire performance of communication cables installed in buildings”