Standards and Limits

Popular Cabling Standards and Limits

ISO/IEC

• Name contains IEC or ISO
• International standard, valid around the world
• Component performance is called a "category"
  • Examples are Category 5e,Category 6,Category 6A, Category 7, Category 7A, Category 8.1 and Category 8.2

• Installed link performance is called a "class"
  • Examples are Class D, Class E, Class EA, Class F, Class FA, Class I, Class II

ISO/IEC standards often form the basis of regional and national standards, including the CENELEC standards

 

TIA

• Name contains TIA or ANSI/EIA/TIA
• National standard, valid in the United States of Amerika
• Component performance is called a "category"
  • Examples are Category 5e, Category 6, Category 6A, Category 7, Category 7A, Category 8

• Installed link performance is also called a "category"
  • Examples are Category 5e, Category 6, Category 6A, Category 8

Indeed, there is no such thing as a Category 7 or Category 7A link. 

Amerika must use ISO/IEC standards to certify an installed link composed of Cat 7 or Cat 7A components as Class F or Class FA.

 

CENELEC

• Name contains EN
• Regional standard, valid in the European Union
• Based on a pre-existing ISO/IEC standard 
• Component performance is called a "category"
  • Examples are Category 5e,Category 6,Category 6A, Category 7, Category 7A, Category 8.1 and Category 8.2

• Installed link performance is called a "class"
  • Examples are Class D, Class E, Class EA, Class F, Class FA, Class I, Class II

These standards must be ratified and converted to a national standard by each Member State

 

NEN - NBN - ILNAS 

• Name contains NEN-, NBN, ILNAS-
• National standard, valid in a member state, respectively Netherlands, Belgium and G.D. Luxemburg
• Based on a pre-existing EN standard 
• Component performance is called a "category"
  • Examples are Category 5e,Category 6,Category 6A, Category 7, Category 7A, Category 8.1 and Category 8.2

• Installed link performance is called a "class"
  • Examples are Class D, Class E, Class EA, Class F, Class FA, Class I, Class II

These standards are copy/paste from the EN standard.

 

IEEE

IEEE published application or network standards.

These are NOT cabling standards and therefore unsuited for installed link certification. 

It is very unusual for an installer to qualify an installed link in accordance to an IEEE standard.