TIA

STANDARD

ANSI/TIA-568-B.1-5-2004
Approved: March 18, 2004

Commercial Building Telecommunications Cabling

Standard Part 1: General Requirements
Addendum 5 Telecommunications Cabling for
Telecommunications Enclosures

TIA-568-B.1-5
(Supplement to TIA/EIA-568-B.1)

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Representing the telecommunications industry in

association with the Electronic Industries Alliance

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TIA-568-B.1-5

Telecommunications Cabling for Telecommunications Enclosures

Addendum 5 to ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B.1
1

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this addendum is to complement the recognition of TEs in TIA-569-B by providing
cabling requirements on when and where to use this space. This maintains structured cabling while
providing additional flexibility offered by a TE in certain situations. Revisions are identified in the
following text with additions shown in bold italics and deletions shown as strikeout.

SCOPE

This Standard specifies minimum requirements for telecommunications cabling within an environment
that uses telecommunications enclosures in its infrastructure. A telecommunications enclosure as
defined in ANSI/TIA/EIA-569-B is a case or housing that is dedicated to the telecommunications
function and related support facilities. Just like a telecommunications room, the telecommunications
enclosure is a common access point for backbone and building pathways. The use of
telecommunications enclosures is a specific implementation and not a general case.
A
telecommunications enclosure is intended to serve a smaller floor area than a telecommunications
room (see TIA-EIA 569-B). One must plan in advance if a telecommunications enclosure is needed
and make sure that the introduction of this space will not create issues regarding the structured
cabling systems, the management and administration of the installation.
TEs may be used as an addition to the minimum requirements of TIA-569-B that require one
telecommunications room per floor and recommend an additional TR for each area up to 1000 m2
(10000 ft2). The number of TRs required or recommended in TIA-569-B is not reduced by the use of
TEs. TEs may also be used for serving certain environments like classrooms, entrance lobbies, or
historic buildings.
This Standard provides requirements to retain the integrity of a structured cabling system, when a
telecommunications enclosure is required.

CLAUSE REVISIONS

1.5

Telecommunications cabling system structure

Figure 1-1 illustrates a representative model for the various functional elements that comprise a
commercial building telecommunications cabling system. It depicts the relationship between the
elements and how they are configured to create a total system.
The elements of the telecommunications cabling system structure are:
a) Horizontal cabling (clause 4);
b) Backbone cabling (clause 5);
c) Work area (clause 6);
d) Telecommunications rooms and telecommunications enclosures (clause 7);
e) Equipment rooms (clause 8);
f)

Entrance facilities (clause 9); and,

g) Administration.
1

TIA-568-B.1-5
NOTE Basic administration information is covered in various locations throughout
this Standard.
Refer to ANSI/TIA/EIA-606-A for more information regarding
administration.

Legend
Access provider

AP

Entrance facility

EF

Equipment room

ER
IC

Intermediate cross-connect
TR

WA

Horizontal
Cabling

IC

Main cross-connect

MC

Telecommunications room

TR

Telecommunications

ER/TR

Enclosure.TE

Intrabuilding
Backbone Cabling

TR
EF

EF

AP

WA

Work area
Telecommunications
outlet/connector

MC

Cross-connect
Splice

Building 1
Interbuilding
Backbone
Cabling

IC
TR

EF
&
ER

IC
TE

EF
&
ER

WA
TR

WA
TR

Building 2

Building 3

IC
TR

EF
&
ER

WA
TE

NOTES

Building 4

1 This figure is not meant to be an all-inclusive representation of the

telecommunications cabling system and is provided only as a typical example.
2 All cross-connects located in the telecommunications rooms (TRs) and
telecommunications enclosures (TEs) in this figure are horizontal cross-connects
(HCs).
Figure 1-1 Typical telecommunications cabling system

TIA-568-B.1-5

3.2

Definition of terms

The generic definitions in this clause have been formulated for use by the entire family of
telecommunications infrastructure standards. Specific requirements are found in the normative clauses
of this Standard. For the purposes of this Standard, the following definitions apply.
backbone: 1) A facility (e.g., pathway, cable or conductors) between any of the following spaces:
telecommunications rooms, telecommunications enclosures, common telecommunications rooms,
floor serving terminals, entrance facilities, equipment rooms, and common equipment rooms. 2) in a
data center, a facility (e.g. pathway, cable or conductors) between any of the following spaces: entrance
rooms or spaces, main distribution areas, horizontal distribution areas, telecommunications rooms.(TR42.1.1)
building backbone: Pathways or cabling between telecommunications service entrance rooms,
equipment rooms, telecommunications rooms, or telecommunications enclosures within a building.
centralized cabling: A cabling configuration from the work area to a centralized cross-connect using
pull through cables, an interconnect, or splice in the telecommunications room or
telecommunications enclosure.
enclosure, telecommunications: A case or housing for telecommunications equipment, cable
terminations, or horizontal cross-connect cabling.
intrabuilding telecommunications backbone: This term is out dated term. See building backbone.
space (telecommunications): An area used for housing the installation and termination of
telecommunications equipment and cable, e.g., common equipment rooms, equipment rooms, common
telecommunications rooms, telecommunications rooms, telecommunications enclosures, work
areas, and maintenance holes/handholes.
telecommunications enclosure: See enclosure, telecommunications.

3.3
TE

Acronyms and abbreviations

telecommunications enclosure

TIA-568-B.1-5

4.1

General

The horizontal cabling is the portion of the telecommunications cabling system that extends from the
work area telecommunications outlet/connector to the horizontal cross-connect in the
telecommunications room or when used, in the telecommunications enclosure. The horizontal
cabling includes horizontal cables, telecommunications outlet/connectors in the work area,
mechanical terminations, and patch cords or jumpers located in the telecommunications room or
when used, in the telecommunications enclosure, and may include multi-user
telecommunications outlet assemblies and consolidation points.
NOTE - The term "horizontal" is used since typically the cable in this part of the
cabling system runs horizontally along the floor(s) or ceiling(s) of a building.
The following list of common services and systems should be considered when the horizontal cabling
is designed. (The list is not intended to be complete.)
a) Voice telecommunications service
b) Premises switching equipment
c) Data communications
d) Local area networks (LAN)
e) Video
f)

Other building signaling systems (building automation systems such as fire, security, HVAC,
EMS, etc.)

In addition to satisfying today's telecommunications requirements, the horizontal cabling should be

planned to reduce on-going maintenance and relocation. It should also accommodate future
equipment and service changes. After construction of the building, the horizontal cabling is often
much less accessible than the backbone cabling. The time, effort, and skills required for changes
can be extremely high. In addition, access to the horizontal cabling frequently causes disruption to
occupants and their work. These factors make the choice and layout of horizontal cable types very
important to the design of the building cabling. Consideration should be given to accommodating a
diversity of user applications in order to reduce or eliminate the probability of requiring changes to the
horizontal cabling as user needs evolve.
The pathways and spaces shall be designed and installed to support horizontal cabling in accordance
with the requirements of ANSI/TIA/EIA-569-A ANSI/TIA/EIA-569-B.

4.2

Topology

The horizontal cabling shall be installed in a star topology as shown in figure 4-1. Each work area
telecommunications outlet/connector shall be connected to a horizontal cross-connect in a
telecommunications room or when used, in the telecommunications enclosure via the horizontal
cable. A telecommunications room or when used, a telecommunications enclosure should be
located on the same floor as the work areas served.
Some networks or services require applications-specific electrical components (such as impedance
matching devices). These application-specific electrical components shall not be installed as part of
the horizontal cabling. When needed, such electrical components shall be placed external to the
telecommunications outlet/connector.

TIA-568-B.1-5

Keeping application-specific components external to the telecommunications outlet/connector will

facilitate the use of the horizontal cabling for varying network and service requirements.
Horizontal cabling shall contain no more than one transition point or consolidation point between the
horizontal cross-connect and telecommunications outlet.
Bridged taps and splices shall not be installed as part of the copper horizontal cabling. Splitters shall
not be installed as part of the optical fiber horizontal cabling.
WA

Horizontal
Cabling

TR/TE

90 m (295 ft) Maximum

HC

WA

Legend
X HC

Horizontal cross-connect
Mechanical termination
Telecommunications outlet/connector

TR

Telecommunications room

TE

Telecommunications enclosure
Transition/consolidation point

WA

Work area
4-pair UTP/ScTP
4-pair UTP/ScTP
-or2-fiber multimode fiber

NOTES
1 Cabling between telecommunications rooms or telecommunications
enclosures for the purpose of creating "bus" and "ring" topologies is considered part
of the backbone cabling.
The direct connections between nearby
telecommunications rooms or telecommunications enclosures are covered in
subclause 5.2.3.
2 Centralized optical fiber cabling is designed as an alternative to the optical
cross-connection located in the telecommunications room or telecommunications
enclosures when deploying recognized optical fiber cable in the horizontal in
support of centralized electronics. Specifications concerning centralized cabling are
found in annex A.
Figure 4-1 Typical horizontal and work area cabling using a star topology

TIA-568-B.1-5

4.3

Horizontal distances

The horizontal distance is the cable length from the mechanical termination of the media at the
horizontal cross-connect in the telecommunications room or telecommunications enclosure to the
telecommunications outlet/connector in the work area. The maximum horizontal distance shall be 90
m (295 ft), independent of media type (see figure 4-1). If a multi-user telecommunications outlet
assembly (MUTOA) is used, the maximum horizontal distances of copper media shall be reduced in
accordance with subclause 6.4.1.4.
The length of the cross-connect jumpers and patch cords in the cross-connect facilities, including
horizontal cross-connects, jumpers, and patch cords that connect horizontal cabling with equipment
or backbone cabling, should not exceed 5 m (16 ft) in length. For each horizontal channel, the total
length allowed for cords in the work area plus patch cords or jumpers plus equipment cables or cords
in the telecommunications room or telecommunications enclosure shall not exceed 10 m (33 ft),
unless a multi-user telecommunications assembly is used (see subclauses 6.4.1.4 and 6.4.1.5).
NOTE In establishing the maximum distance for each horizontal channel, an
allowance was made for 5 m (16 ft) from the telecommunications outlet/connector to
the workstation.

4.6

Grounding considerations

Grounding systems are an integral part of the signal or telecommunications cabling system that they
support. In addition to helping protect personnel and equipment from hazardous voltages, a proper
grounding system may reduce electromagnetic interference (EMI) to and from the
telecommunications cabling system. Improper grounding can produce induced voltages and those
voltages can disrupt other telecommunications circuits.
Grounding and bonding shall meet the requirements and practices of applicable authorities or codes.
In addition, telecommunications grounding/bonding shall conform to ANSI/TIA/EIA-607
ANSI/TIA/EIA-J-STD-607-A requirements.
The screen of ScTP cables shall be bonded to a telecommunications grounding busbar (TGB).
Grounding at the work area is usually accomplished through the equipment power connection.
Shield connections at the work area are accomplished through an ScTP patch cord. At the work area
end of the horizontal cabling, the voltage measured between the shield and the ground wire of the
electrical outlet used to supply power to the workstation shall not exceed 1.0 V rms. The cause of
any higher voltage should be removed before using the cable.

5.1

General

The function of the backbone cabling is to provide interconnections between telecommunications

rooms, telecommunications enclosures, equipment rooms, main terminal space and entrance
facilities in the telecommunications cabling system structure (see figure 1-1). Backbone cabling
consists of the backbone cables, intermediate and main cross-connects, mechanical terminations,
and patch cords or jumpers used for backbone-to-backbone cross-connection. Backbone cabling
also includes cabling between buildings.
The backbone cabling is expected to serve the needs of building occupants for one or several
planning periods, each period spanning three to ten years. During each planning period, the
backbone cabling design should accommodate growth and changes in service requirements without
the installation of additional cabling. The length of the planning period should be based upon the
stability and growth of the end user organization.

TIA-568-B.1-5
In order to estimate the maximum amount of backbone cabling required, calculate the number of
fibers or copper pairs that will be required in each backbone segment to support the maximum
number of users and simultaneous applications projected for the planning period of the cabling
system. Estimate the size of the cross-connect facilities to accommodate the cable and number of
connections required.

5.2.1

Star topology

The backbone cabling shall use the hierarchical star topology as illustrated by figure 5-1 wherein
each horizontal cross-connect in a telecommunications room or telecommunications enclosure is
cabled either directly to a main cross-connect or to an intermediate cross-connect, then to a main
cross-connect. There shall be no more than two hierarchical levels of cross-connects in the
backbone cabling. From the horizontal cross-connect, no more than one cross-connect shall be
passed through to reach the main cross-connect. Therefore, connections between any two horizontal
cross-connects shall pass through three or fewer cross-connect facilities (see figure 5-1).
Backbone cabling cross-connects may be located in telecommunications rooms,
telecommunications enclosures, equipment rooms, or at entrance facilities. Bridged taps and
splitters shall not be used as part of the backbone cabling.
NOTES
1 The topology required by this Standard has been selected because of its
acceptance and flexibility in meeting a variety of application requirements. The
limitation to two levels of cross-connects is imposed to limit signal degradation for
passive systems and to simplify moves, adds and changes. This limitation may not
be suitable for facilities that have a large number of buildings or those that cover a
large geographical area, such as universities, industrial parks and military bases. In
these cases, it may be necessary to divide the entire facility into smaller areas within
the scope of this Standard and then connect these areas together.
2 The star topology is applicable to the individual units of the transmission medium,
such as individual fibers or twisted-pairs. Depending on the physical characteristics
of a site and the facility architecture, cable sub-units that are terminated at different
locations may be part of the same cable over a portion of the distance or may use
individual cables over the entire distance.
3 Centralized optical fiber cabling is designed as an alternative to the optical
cross-connection located in the telecommunications room or telecommunications
enclosure when deploying recognized optical fiber to the work area from a
centralized cross-connect. Specifications concerning centralized cabling are found in
annex A.

TIA-568-B.1-5

Legend
Equipment room

ER

Horizontal cross-connect

HC

Intermediate cross-connect

IC
ER

MC

Main cross-connect
Mechanical termination

MC

TR

Telecommunications room

Telecommunications enclosure TE
Telecommunications
outlet/connector
WA

Work area

ER/TR
IC
Backbone
Cabling

TR

TR
TR

TR
HC

TE
HC

TR
HC

TR
HC

TE
HC

HC

Horizontal
Cabling

WA

WA

WA

WA

WA

WA

Figure 5-1 Backbone hierarchical star topology

5.2.2

Accommodation of non-star configurations

The topology in figure 5-1, through the use of appropriate interconnections, electronics, or adapters in
the telecommunications rooms or telecommunications enclosures, can often accommodate
systems that are designed for non-star configurations such as ring, bus, or tree.

5.2.3

Cabling directly between telecommunications rooms or telecommunications

enclosures

If requirements for "bus" or "ring" configurations are anticipated, then cabling directly between
telecommunications rooms or telecommunications enclosures is allowed. Such cabling is in
addition to the connections for the star topology specified in subclause 5.2.1.
See
ANSI/EIA/TIA-569-A ANSI/EIA/TIA-569-B for pathway considerations.

6.4.1

Multi-user telecommunications outlet assembly

8

TIA-568-B.1-5
Multi-user telecommunications outlet assemblies (MUTOAs) may be advantageous in open office
spaces that are moved or reconfigured frequently. A multi-user telecommunications outlet assembly
facilitates the termination of single or multiple horizontal cables in a common location within a
furniture cluster or similar open area. The use of multi-user telecommunications outlet assemblies
allows horizontal cabling to remain intact when the open office plan is changed. Work area cables
originating from the multi-user telecommunications outlet assembly should be routed through work
area pathways (e.g., furniture pathways). The work area cables shall be connected directly to work
station equipment without the use of any additional intermediate connections (see figure 6-3).

Telecommunications Room
Multi-User
or Telecommunications
Telecommunications
Enclosure
Outlet Assembly
Equipment
cable

Horizontal
cross-connect

Patch cords/
jumpers

Horizontal
cables

Work area cables

Telecommunication
outlet/connectors

Backbone
cable

Work Area

Figure 6-3 Application of multi-user telecommunications outlet assembly

6.4.1.4

Maximum lengths for copper cabling

Copper work area cables used in the context of multi-user telecommunications outlet assemblies and
open office furniture, shall meet the requirements of ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B.2. Based upon insertion
loss considerations, the maximum length shall be determined according to:
C = (102 - H)/(1+D)

(1)

W = C - T 22 m (72 ft) for 24 AWG UTP/ScTP or 17 m (56 ft) for 26 AWG ScTP

(2)

Where:
C

is the maximum combined length (m) of the work area cable, equipment cable, and patch
cord.

is the length (m) of the horizontal cable (H + C 100 m).

is a de-rating factor for the patch cord type (0.2 for 24 AWG UTP/24 AWG ScTP and 0.5 for
26 AWG ScTP).

W is the maximum length (m) of the work area cable

T

is the total length of patch and equipment cords in the telecommunications room or
telecommunications enclosure.

TIA-568-B.1-5

Table 6-1 applies the above formulae assuming that there is a total of 5 m (16 ft) of 24 AWG UTP/24
AWG ScTP or 4 m (13 ft) of 26 AWG ScTP patch cords and equipment cables in the
telecommunications room or telecommunications enclosure. The multi-user telecommunications
outlet assembly shall be marked with the maximum allowable work area cable length. One method to
accomplish this is to evaluate cable length markings.
Table 6-1 Maximum length of horizontal and work area cables

Length of
horizontal
cable
H
m (ft)
90 (295)
85 (279)
80 (262)
75 (246)
70 (230)

6.4.2

24 AWG UTP/24 AWG ScTP

patch cords
Maximum
Maximum combined
length of
length of work area
work area
cables, patch cords,
cable
and equipment cable
W
C
m (ft)
m (ft)
5 (16)
10 (33)
9 (30)
14 (46)
13 (44)
18 (59)
17 (57)
22 (72)
22 (72)
27 (89)

26 AWG ScTP
patch cords
Maximum
Maximum combined
length of
length of work area
work area
cables, patch cords,
cable
and equipment cable
W
C
m (ft)
m (ft)
4 (13)
8 (26)
7 (23)
11 (35)
11 (35)
15 (49)
14 (46)
18 (59)
17 (56)
21 (70)

Consolidation point

The consolidation point is an interconnection point within the horizontal cabling using
ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B.2 or ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B.3 compliant connecting hardware installed in
accordance with the requirements of clause 10 and rated for at least 200 cycles of reconnection. It
differs from the multi-user telecommunications outlet assembly in that it requires an additional
connection for each horizontal cable run. Cross-connections shall not be used at a consolidation
point. No more than one consolidation point shall be used within the same horizontal cable run. A
transition point and consolidation point shall not be used in the same horizontal-cabling link. Each
horizontal cable extending to the work area outlet from the consolidation point shall be terminated to
a telecommunications outlet/connector or multi-user telecommunications outlet assembly, provided
the requirements of subclause 6.4.1.4 and the transmission performance of clause 11 are met. The
cables and connections used at a consolidation point shall meet the requirements of
ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B.2 or ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B.3 and be installed in accordance with the requirements
of clause 10 (see figure 6-4).
For copper cabling, in order to reduce the effect of multiple connections in close proximity on NEXT
loss and return loss, the consolidation point should be located at least 15 m (49 ft) from the
telecommunications room or telecommunications enclosure.

10

TIA-568-B.1-5

Telecommunications Room or
Telecommunications Enclosure
Horizontal
Cross-Connect

Horizontal Cabling

Work area telecommunications

outlet/connector or multi-user
telecommunications outlet assembly

Consolidation
Point

Work area
cables

Connecting
hardware

Backbone
cable

Work Area

Figure 6-4 Application of consolidation point

A consolidation point may be useful when reconfiguration is frequent, but not so frequent as to
require the flexibility of the multi-user telecommunications outlet assembly.

6.4.2.3

Administration

Consolidation points shall be administered in the same manner as connecting hardware described in
ANSI/TIA/EIA-606. Moves, adds, and changes of service not associated with open office
rearrangements should be implemented at the horizontal cross-connect in the telecommunications
room or telecommunications enclosure.

7
7.1

TELECOMMUNICATIONS ROOMS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

ENCLOSURES
General

Telecommunications rooms (TRs) and telecommunications enclosures (TEs) provide many

different functions for the cabling system and are often treated as a distinct sub-system within the
hierarchical cabling system described in clauses 4 and 5.

7.2

Design

Telecommunications rooms and telecommunications enclosures shall be designed and

provisioned according to the requirements in ANSI/EIA/TIA-569-A ANSI/TIA/EIA-569-B.

7.3

Functions

The primary function of a telecommunications room or telecommunications enclosure is the

termination of horizontal and backbone cables to compatible connecting hardware.
The
cross-connection of horizontal and backbone cable terminations using jumpers or patch cords allows
flexible connectivity when extending various services to telecommunications outlet/connectors.
Connecting hardware, jumpers, and patch cords used for this purpose are collectively referred to as
horizontal cross-connections.
A telecommunications room may also contain the intermediate cross-connect or the main
cross-connect for different portions of the backbone cabling system.
Sometimes
backbone-to-backbone cross-connections in the telecommunications room or telecommunications

11

TIA-568-B.1-5
enclosure are used to tie different telecommunications rooms or telecommunications enclosures
together in a ring, bus, or tree configuration as described in subclause 5.2.2.
A telecommunications room or telecommunications enclosure also provides a controlled
environment to house telecommunications equipment, connecting hardware, and splice closures
serving a portion of the building. The telecommunications room or telecommunications enclosure
provides for the administration and routing of the equipment cables/cords from the horizontal
cross-connect to the telecommunications equipment. In some cases, the demarcation point and
associated protection apparatus may be located in the telecommunications room.

7.4

Cross-connections and interconnections

Horizontal and backbone building cables shall be terminated on connecting hardware that meets the
requirements of ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B.2 and ANSI/TIA/EIA-B.3. These cable terminations shall not be
relocated to implement cabling system moves, adds, and changes. All connections between
horizontal and backbone cables shall be cross-connections.
NOTE Centralized optical fiber cabling is designed as an alternative to the optical
cross-connect located in the telecommunications room or telecommunications
enclosure, when deploying recognized optical fiber cable in the horizontal in support
of centralized electronics. Specifications concerning centralized cabling are found in
annex A.
Equipment cables/cords that consolidate several ports on a single connector shall be terminated on
dedicated connecting hardware. Equipment cables/cords that extend a single port appearance may
either be permanently terminated or interconnected directly to horizontal or backbone terminations.
Direct interconnections reduce the number of connections in a link, but may reduce flexibility (see
figure 7-1).

12

TIA-568-B.1-5

TELECOMMUNICATIONS ROOM OR
TELECOMMUNICATIONS ENCLOSURE
Interconnection

Cross-connection
Connecting Hardware

Common Equipment

Equipment
Cable

Equipment
Cable

Patch Cord

Connecting Hardware

Connecting Hardware
Horizontal Cabling

WORK AREA 1

WORK AREA 2

Telecommunications
outlet/connector

Telecommunications
outlet/connector

NOTE - The horizontal cabling to

Work Area 2 is cross-connected
to the common equipment.

NOTE - The horizontal cabling to

Work Area 1 is interconnected to the
common equipment.

Figure 7-1 Illustration of interconnection and cross-connection schemes

11.2.3 Test configurations

This subclause is intended to specify requirements for field test instruments and procedures for field
measurement practices that will yield repeatable measurements of installed 100 Ohm twisted-pair
cabling links.

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TIA-568-B.1-5
Channel and permanent link test configurations are defined in the following paragraphs. Other
compliant test configurations shall be tested using limits computed according to subclause 11.2.4.
The channel test configuration is to be used by system designers and users of data communications
systems to verify the performance of the overall channel. The channel includes up to 90 m (295 ft) of
horizontal cable, a work area equipment cord, a telecommunications outlet/connector, an optional
transition/consolidation connector, and two connections in the telecommunications room or
telecommunications enclosure. The total length of equipment cords, patch cords or jumpers and
work area cords shall not exceed 10 m (33 ft). The connections to the equipment at each end of the
channel are not included in the channel definition. The channel definition does not apply to those
cases where the horizontal cabling is cross-connected to the backbone cabling. See figure 11-1 for a
schematic representation of a channel.
Work area
Begin channel
A

Field
test
instrument

Legend
Work area cord
Optional transition cabling
Horizontal cabling
Patch cord or jumper cable
Telecommunications room
equipment cord
Maximum length
90 m (295 ft)
B+C
A+D+E
10 m (32.8 ft)

Optional transition/consolidation
point connector

Telecommunications
outlet/connector

A
B
C
D
E

End channel
D
Horizontal
cross-connect
or interconnect

Field
test
instrument

Telecommunications room or
telecommunications enclosure

Figure 11-1 Schematic representation of a channel test configuration

The permanent link test configuration is to be used by installers and users of data
telecommunications systems to verify the performance of permanently installed cabling. A schematic
representation of the permanent link is illustrated in figure 11-2. The permanent link consists of up to
90 m (295 ft) of horizontal cabling and one connection at each end and may also include an optional
transition/consolidation point connection. The permanent link excludes both the cable portion of the
field test instrument cord and the connection to the field test instrument.

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TIA-568-B.1-5

Work area

Begin permanent link

Field
test
instrument

Optional transition/consolidation
point connector

Telecommunications
outlet/connector

H
End permanent link

Legend
Test equipment cord
Optional transition cabling
Horizontal cabling

G+H

Maximum length
90 m (295 ft)

F
G
H

F
Horizontal
cross-connect
or interconnect

Field
test
instrument

Telecommunications room or
telecommunications enclosure
Figure 11-2 Schematic representation of a permanent link test configuration
NOTE If cross-connections are used, then channel testing is recommended.

11.3.2 Link segment

An optical fiber link segment is the passive cabling, to include cable, connectors, and splices (if
present), between two optical fiber connecting hardware termination points as indicated in figure
11-5. A typical horizontal link segment is from the telecommunications outlet/connector to the
horizontal cross-connect. There are three typical backbone link segments: main cross-connect to
intermediate cross-connect, main cross-connect to horizontal cross-connect, and intermediate
cross-connect to horizontal cross-connect. Additionally, centralized optical fiber cabling provides a
link from the telecommunications outlet to the centralized cross-connect through a splice or
interconnect in the telecommunications room or telecommunications enclosure. As figure 11-5
illustrates, the test includes the representative connector performance at the connecting hardware
associated with the mating of patch cords. It does not, however, include the performance of the
connector at the equipment interface.

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TIA-568-B.1-5

Figure 11-4 Optical fiber passive link

NOTES
1 Optical power budgets specified in application standards, such as FDDI,
10BASE-F, and others, include the optical loss of the connector at the equipment
interface.
2 If the desired system link is created by the concatenation of two (2) or more
passive link segments, i.e., a cross-connect patch cord linking cross-connects
together, then the expected attenuation for the system link is the sum of the
concatenated passive link segment attenuation.

11.3.3.3

Centralized optical fiber link measurement

The centralized optical fiber cabling link shall be tested at 850 nm or 1300 nm in one direction.
Because of the short length of cabling (300 m [984 ft] or less), attenuation deltas due to wavelength
are insignificant. The centralized link shall be tested at 850 nm or 1300 nm (850 nm recommended)
in one direction in accordance with ANSI/EIA/TIA-526-14A, Method B, One Reference Jumper. The
attenuation test results shall be less than 3.3 dB. This value is based on the loss of three connector
pairs, one pair at the telecommunications outlet/connector, one pair at the interconnect center in the
telecommunications room or telecommunications enclosure, and one pair at the centralized
cross-connect, plus 300 m (984 ft) of optical fiber cable.
For centralized optical fiber cabling link segments implemented in conjunction with open office
cabling with a consolidation point, the attenuation results shall be less than 4.1 dB.

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TIA-568-B.1-5

A.1 Introduction
Many single tenant users of high performance optical fiber are implementing data networks with
centralized electronics versus distributed electronics in the building. Centralized optical fiber cabling
is designed as an alternative to the optical cross-connection located in the telecommunications room
or telecommunications enclosure when deploying recognized optical fiber cable in the horizontal in
support of centralized electronics.
Centralized cabling provides connections from work areas to centralized cross-connects by allowing
the use of pull-through cables, an interconnect, or splice in the telecommunications room or
telecommunications enclosure.
The horizontal cross-connection as specified in clause 4, and clause 7 of this Standard and
subclause 5.4 of ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B.3 provides the user with maximum flexibility, specifically in the
deployment of distributed electronics or in multi-tenant buildings.
Careful planning and implementation of centralized optical fiber cabling will help assure that the user
maintains adequate flexibility and manageability with the cabling network. Users of this Standard are
advised to consult with equipment manufacturers and system integrators to determine the suitability
of these requirements for specific networking applications.

A.2 Applicability
The guidelines and requirements for centralized optical fiber cabling networks are intended for those
single-tenant users who desire to deploy centralized electronics rather than distributed electronics
and want an alternative to locating the cross-connection in the telecommunications room or
telecommunications enclosure.
This annex specifies requirements for the connecting hardware and general implementation
guidelines that will ensure adequate flexibility and manageability of optical fiber links including the
ability to migrate to a cross-connection located in the telecommunications room or
telecommunications enclosure, if required.

A.3 General guidelines

This annex specifies the use of either pull-through cables, an interconnect, or splice in the
telecommunications room or telecommunications enclosure. The use of an interconnection
between the backbone and horizontal cabling is recognized to offer increased flexibility,
manageability, and ease to migrate to a cross-connection (see figure A-1).

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TIA-568-B.1-5

Horizontal
Cable

Backbone
Cable

Interconnect
or Splice

Pathway

Telecommunications Rooms or
Telecommunications Enclosures

Work Area
Term. Pos.

Pull-through
Cable

Pathway
Work Area

Backbone
Pathway
Term.
Pos.
Term.
Hdwr.

Term. Pos.

Centralized
Cross-Connect

Equipment
Equipment Room

Figure A-1 Centralized optical fiber cabling

The specifications of ANSI/TIA/EIA-569-A ANSI/TIA/EIA-569-B shall be followed.
The maximum horizontal cabling distance is as specified in clause 4.
The installation shall be limited to 300 m (984 ft) consisting of the combined length of the horizontal,
intrabuilding backbone, and patch cords.
Centralized cabling implementations shall be located within the same building as the work areas
served. The administration of moves and changes shall be performed at the centralized
cross-connect.
The addition and removal of horizontal links should be performed at the
telecommunications room or telecommunications enclosure. Pull-through cables are continuous
sheath cables that are pulled through a telecommunications room or telecommunications
enclosure from the centralized cross-connect to the telecommunications outlet/connector. The
pull-through cable length shall be less than or equal to 90 m (295 ft). Pull-through cables shall meet
the same requirements of recognized horizontal optical fiber cable per clause 4 of
ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B.3.
Centralized cabling design shall allow for migration (in part or in total) of the pull-through,
interconnect, or splice implementation to a cross-connection implementation. Sufficient space shall
be left in the telecommunications room or telecommunications enclosure to allow for the addition
of patch panels needed for the migration of the pull-through, interconnect, or splice to a
cross-connection.
Sufficient cable slack shall exist in the telecommunications room or
telecommunications enclosure to allow movement of the cables when migrating to a
cross-connection.
NOTE Specifications on pull-through implementations apply equally to all media
types. Cross-connects for different media types are required by subclause 5.4 to be
in the same location.
Slack may be stored as cable or unjacketed fiber (buffered or coated). Slack storage shall provide
bend radius control so that cable and fiber bend radius limitations are not violated. Cable slack may
be stored within enclosures or on the walls of the telecommunications room or telecommunications
enclosure. Fiber slack shall be stored in protective enclosures.

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TIA-568-B.1-5
Centralized cabling design shall allow for the addition and removal of horizontal and intrabuilding
backbone fibers. The layout of both rack-mount and wall-mount termination hardware should
accommodate modular growth in an orderly manner.
The intrabuilding backbone subsystem should be designed with sufficient spare capacity to service
additional outlet/connectors from the centralized cross-connect without the need to pull additional
intrabuilding backbone cables. The intrabuilding backbone fiber count should be sized to deliver
present and future applications to the maximum work area density within the area served by the
telecommunications room or telecommunications enclosure. Generally, two fibers are required for
each application delivered to a work area.
Centralized cabling shall support the labeling requirements of ANSI/TIA/EIA-606-A. In addition,
splice and interconnect hardware in the telecommunications room or telecommunications
enclosure shall be labeled with unique identifiers on each termination position. Field color-coding is
not used at the interconnect or splice. The centralized cross-connect termination positions connected
to telecommunications outlet/connector shall be labeled as a blue field. The blue field shall move to
the telecommunications room or telecommunications enclosure for each circuit that is converted to
a cross-connection in the telecommunications room or telecommunications enclosure.
Centralized cabling shall be implemented to ensure the correct fiber polarity as specified in subclause
10.3.2 (i.e., A-B orientation at the telecommunications outlet/connector and B-A orientation at the
centralized cross-connect).

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