How to Specify an Augmented Category 6 Cabling System
How to Specify an Augmented Category 6 Cabling System 10GBASE-T - IEEE 802.3an is a specification for the transmission of ten gigabit Ethernet over ex...
How to Specify an Augmented Category 6 Cabling System 10GBASE-T - IEEE 802.3an is a specification for the transmission of ten gigabit Ethernet over existing Category 6 copper cables or a new standard of products called Augmented Category 6. It was published in September 2006. 10GBASE-T has a limited capability on existing Category 6 but for new installations the forthcoming Augmented Category 6 or Cat6A is recommended. These standards come in two groups. The first gives methods of installing and testing cabling to understand their performance relative to 10GBASE-T requirements and the second group are product standards for the new range of Cat6A products. The product standards are: • • •
Draft - ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B.2-10 – Transmission Performance Specifications for 4-pair 100 Ω Augmented Category 6 Cabling. Draft - ISO/IEC 11801 Edition 2.1 – Information Technology – Generic Cabling for Customer Premises. (Draft document number ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 25 N 755.) Draft EN 50173-1 Amd 1
The test standards are: • • •
Draft - ISO/IEC 24750 – Guidelines for Support of 10GBASE-T over Copper Balanced Pairs of Class E and Class F as per ISO/IEC 11801:2002 and IEEE802.3an. Draft EN 50173-99-1 ANSI/TIA-TSB-155 – Additional Guidelines for 4-pair 100 Ω Category 6 Cabling for 10GBASE-T Applications. –March 2007.
At the time of writing, May 2007, only TSB 155 has been published (March 2007) but all the other product standards are expected before the end of 2007.
System specification The cabling system must be designed according to: EN 50173-1:2002 Information Technology - Generic Cabling Systems -- Part 1: General Requirements and Office Areas. All components must meet the Category 6A specification Draft - ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B.210. The cabling system must meet the Permanent Link and Channel performances defined in the draft standards as Class EA as a minimum. At least one product combination must be externally verified by a competent laboratory. The overall design must take into account any relevant portions of BS 8300 (access for the disabled) e.g. when selecting mounting heights for wall sockets.
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Components Specification
2.1
Cable
2.1.1 2.1.2
The cable must be four-pair Category 6 with a low-flammability sheath. The cable must be of the following construction; foil screened pairs with an overall braid screen. 2.1.3 The cable must be 100% tested by the manufacturer. 2.1.4 The flammability performance must meet IEC 60332-1 as a minimum. 2.2
Connecting Hardware
2.2.1
Patch Panels 2.2.1.1 Must be 19” rack mounting, in exact multiples of 1U (44 mm) in height. 2.2.1.2 Cable termination must be Insulation Displacement Connectors (IDC). 2.2.1.3 Front connectors to be 24 x RJ45 style IEC 60603. 2.2.1.4 Electrical performance to be Category 6A. 2.2.1.5 All connecting hardware must be shielded with a continuous metal screen.
2.2.2
Connectors 2.2.2.1 2.2.2.2 2.2.2.3 2.2.2.4
Cable termination must be IDC. Connectors to be RJ45 style IEC 60603. Electrical performance to be Category 6A. All connecting hardware must be shielded with a continuous metal screen.
2.2.3
Patch Leads 2.2.3.1 2.2.3.2 2.2.3.3
Must be 27 AWG (STP) stranded, with low flammability sheath to IEC 60332-1. Connectors must be RJ45 style IEC 60603. Electrical performance to be Category 6A.
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Installation Specification
3.1 3.2
The cabling system must be procured from one manufacturer. The cabling system must be installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Planning, quality control, documentation and earthing/bonding must be according to EN 50174 parts 1 and 2. External cables must be installed according to EN50174 part 3. Earthing and bonding must be according to the manufacturer’s instructions and EN 50174-2, EN 50310 and BS 7671. 100% of the installed cables must be tested according to TSB 155. Alien crosstalk testing is not required if screened construction cabling is used 100% of the test data must be reviewed by the manufacturer and approved by the manufacturer before any warranty certificate is released. The Permanent Link must be tested to TSB 155 with a Level III cable tester set to Cat 6A Permanent Link. A Cat 6 generic interface must be used on the tester. Cabling must be tested in both directions and the results stored in an electronic database compatible with the tester manufacturer's cable management programme. The cabling must be covered by a manufacturer’s product and application warranty and installed by an installer accredited and trained by the manufacturer. Proof of training, which must be less than two years old, must accompany the tender. A labelling and administration system must be designed into the cable system in line with EN 50174 or ISO 14763-2 or TIA/EIA-606. Separation of power and data cables must be according to EN 50174 part 2 and BS 6701 except where local or national electrical safety regulations require a greater separation. Mitigation installation techniques are not required due to the use of screened cables and components.
3.3
3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.7
3.8
3.9 3.9
3.10
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LAN Applications
4.1
Any communications protocol designed for use on a 100-ohm (nominal) characteristic impedance Class EA cabling system must operate satisfactorily on the installed cabling system. ‘Satisfactory’ shall mean better than one in ten-tothe-power-of-ten bit error rate whilst in the presence of up to 3 V/m external interference over 500 MHz for at least thirty minutes.
4.2
4.3
5
LAN operation shall include, but not be limited to, ATM at 155 Mb/s, 622 Mb/s and 1.2 Gb/s. Gigabit Ethernet to IEEE 802.3ab and 10 Gb/s Ethernet to IEEE 802an. Delay skew of the Permanent Link shall be better than 20 nanoseconds (typical) to ensure satisfactory video operation.
EMC Performance
The structured cabling system shall comply with cable balance and EMC requirements of EN 61000 and ISO 11801:2002 and will not degrade the EMC performance of any electrical device connected to it. This facility shall be guaranteed by the manufacturer.
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Reference to Standards
BS 6701 BS 7671 BS 8300 EN 50173 EN 50174 EN 50310 EN 50346 EN 61000
Telecommunications Equipment and Telecommunications Cabling. Specification for Installation, Operation and Maintenance (2004). Requirements for Electrical Installations (IEE 16th Ed). Design of Buildings and their Approaches to Meet the Needs of the Disabled. Information Technology, Generic Cabling Systems (2002). Information Technology, Cabling Installation. Parts 1, 2 (2000) and Part 3 (2003). Application of Equipotential Bonding and Earthing in Buildings with Information Technology Equipment. Information Technology - Cabling Installation - Testing of Installed Cabling (2002). Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Generic Standards - Emission Standard for Residential, Commercial and Light-Industrial Environments. Physical Layer Specification for 1000 Mb/s Operation on Four Pairs of Category 5 or Better Balanced Twisted Pair Cable (1000BaseT), July 1999. Physical Layer and Management Parameters for 10 Gb/s Operation. Information Technology - Generic Cabling for Customer Premises. (2002). Information Technology – Implementation and Operation of Customer Premises Cabling. Part 1 – Administration. Part 2 Planning and Installation. Part 3 - Testing of Optical Fibre Cabling. Flammability of a Single Vertical Cable. Detail Specification for Connectors, 8 way. Test Methods and Related Requirements for use at Frequencies up to 200 MHz. Generic Specification for Testing of Generic Cabling in Accordance with ISO/IEC 11801- Part 1. Halogen Gas Emission. Smoke Corrosivity.
IEC 61034 ISO 11801:2002 TIA/EIA 568-B TIA-606
Smoke Density and Evolution. Information Technology – Generic Cabling for Customer Premises. Commercial Building Telecommunications Cabling Standard (2001 Addendum B2-1). Administration Standard for the Telecommunications Infrastructure of Commercial Buildings.
