What Are the Main Data Cabling Standards?
Structured data cabling standards offer several benefits such as consistency in the design and installation of a cabling network. Listed below are the main standards for structured data cabling that you should know about.
The ANSI/TIA-568
During the 1980s, vendors, consumers, and manufacturers started to worry about the absence of specifications and details for telecommunications cabling systems. To mitigate this concern, the TIA and EIA produced their first iteration of the Commercial Building Telecommunications Cabling System in 1991, known as ANSI/TIA/EIA-568 or TIA/EIA-568. This was done under the supervision of the TIA TR-41 group and other associated subcommittees.
At the time, the Computer Communications Industry and Association (CCIA) petitioned the EIA to provide a specification to support and encourage standardized and structured cabling networks.
ANSI/TIA-568-C Purpose & Scope:
The ANSI/TIA/EIA-568 standard developed in the 1990s has seen multiple iterations through the years, finally giving us the version that we have today. Following are some of the things that the current ANSI/TIA-568-C standard covers:
- Minimum requirements for a telecommunication cabling system.
- Performance specifications and media types for the present-day backbone and horizontal cabling.
- Recommended distance and topology.
- The lifespan of a cabling system technology (should be more than 10 years).
- Installation methods and networking practices.
- The definitions and parameters of cabling elements.
- Pin and connector assignments.
- Subsystems of the structured cabling system.
- Connecting the hardware performance specifications.
The ISO/IEC 11801
The ISO/EIC is an international standard for IT systems that is employed all over the world. It governs and standardizes structured cabling systems in an IT network, as implied by its name. Every five years, the ISO standards are rigorously evaluated, with the most recent major review and amendment occurring in 2017.
Section 11801 covers all of the general requirements for network wiring in any business space or building. The section includes voice, data, and video amenities, as well as various specifications for both fiber-optic and copper cabling.
Conclusion
Structured data cabling standards have made it easier for companies and installation businesses to install, maintain and integrate cabling systems. Keeping this in mind, the IT and business worlds have benefited greatly from the advent of cabling standards.