EN 50288-6-1:2013

• Abstract:

  EN 50288-6-1 is a sectional specification for unscreened cables, characterised from 1 MHz up to 250 MHz, to be used in horizontal and building backbone wiring as defined in EN 50173. This sectional specification contains the electrical, mechanical, transmission and environmental performance characteristics of the cables, when tested in accordance with the referenced test methods. This sectional specification is to be read in conjunction with EN 50288-1 which contains the essential provisions for its application. The cables covered in this sectional specification are intended to operate with voltages and currents normally encountered in communication systems. These cables are not intended to be used in conjunction with low impedance sources, for example, the electric power supplies of public utility mains.

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 23-May-2013
• Withdrawal Date: 17-Mar-2016
• ICS: 33.120.20 - Wires and symmetrical cables
• Technical Committee: CLC/TC 46X - Communication cables
• Drafting Committee: CLC/SC 46XC - Multicore, Multipair and Quad Data communication cables
• Current Stage: 6060 - Document made available - Publishing
• Start Date: 24-May-2013
• Completion Date: 24-May-2013
• Directive: Not Harmonized2006/95/EC - Directive 2006/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 on the harmonisation of the laws of Member States relating to electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits (codified version)
  OJ Ref: C 255/01, C 348/03 OJ Date: 28-Nov-2013
• Directive:

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  Harmonized Standard2014/35/EU - Directive 2014/35/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 2014 on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to the making available on the market of electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits
  OJ Ref: C 249/03 OJ Date: 08-Jul-2016
• Directive:

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  Harmonized Standard2014/53/EU - Directive 2014/53/EU of The European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to the making available on the market of radio equipment and repealing Directive 1999/5/EC
• Mandate: M/212 - ICT - metallic and optical cables and cabling systems
• Ref Project: SIST EN 50288-6-1:2013 - Multi-element metallic cables used in analogue and digital communication and control - Part 6-1: Sectional specification for unscreened cables characterised up to 250 MHz - Horizontal and building backbone cables

• Replaces: EN 50288-6-1:2003 - Multi-element metallic cables used in analogue and digital communication and control - Part 6-1: Sectional specification for unscreened cables characterised up to 250 MHz - Horizontal and building backbone cables
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2023

Overview

EN 50288-6-1:2013 is a CLC sectional specification for unscreened multi‑element metallic cables used in analogue and digital communication and control. It covers cables characterised from 1 MHz up to 250 MHz intended for horizontal and building backbone cabling (as defined in EN 50173). The document defines construction principles, electrical, mechanical, transmission and environmental performance requirements and the relevant test methods. EN 50288-6-1 is to be read in conjunction with EN 50288-1 (generic specification).

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope & usage: Unscreened pairs or quads for communication systems; not intended for connection to low‑impedance mains or utility power.
• Conductor & insulation: Solid copper conductors (plain or metal‑coated), nominal diameter 0.5–0.8 mm; insulation per EN 50290‑2.
• Cable construction: Elements laid up in concentric layers; no screening, no filling compound or moisture barriers unless specified.
• Electrical tests & limits:
  • Conductor loop resistance ≤ 19.0 Ω/100 m; resistance unbalance ≤ 2.0%.
  • Insulation resistance ≥ 5 000 MΩ·km.
  • Characterisation across 1–250 MHz: attenuation, phase delay, velocity of propagation, skew, NEXT, ACR‑F (formerly ELFEXT), PSNEXT, PSACR‑F.
  • Characteristic impedance: 100 Ω ±5 Ω or 120 Ω ±5 Ω at 100 MHz.
  • Return loss and coupling attenuation limits defined up to 250 MHz.
• Mechanical & environmental tests: Conductor elongation, insulation shrinkage, crush and impact resistance, abrasion, simulated installation bends, tensile loading, cold bend, temperature cycling.
• Fire performance: As specified in EN 50288‑1.
• POE guidance (Annex A): Recommended maximums for PoE applications - communication voltage up to 100 V (some telephone voltages up to 300 V), maximum conductor surface temperature 60 °C, current density recommendations; warning against mains connection.

Applications and who uses this standard

• Specifying and certifying horizontal cabling and building backbone cable products for offices, data centers and commercial buildings.
• Used by cable manufacturers, test laboratories, network designers, installers, procurement and compliance engineers to ensure performance for Ethernet and other balanced digital/analogue services up to 250 MHz.
• Useful when selecting unscreened twisted‑pair cables for structured cabling systems and for validating PoE thermal/current limits.

Related standards

• EN 50288‑1 (generic specification)
• EN 50173 (generic cabling system definitions)
• EN 50289 series (test methods)
• EN 50290 series (materials)
• IEC/EN 60811, IEC 60189‑2

Keywords: EN 50288-6-1, unscreened cables, 250 MHz, horizontal cabling, building backbone, twisted pair, NEXT, ACR‑F, PSNEXT, PoE, structured cabling.