EN 50288-4-1:2013

Multi-element metallic cables used in analogue and digital communication and control - Part 4-1: Sectional specification for screened cables characterised up to 600 MHz - Horizontal and building backbone cables

EN 50288-4-1 is a sectional specification for screened cables, characterised from 1 MHz up to 600 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.

Mehradrige metallische Daten- und Kontrollkabel für analoge und digitale Übertragung - Teil 4-1: Rahmenspezifikation für geschirmte Kabel bis 600 MHz - Kabel für den Horizontal- und Steigbereich

Câbles métalliques à éléments multiples utilisés pour les transmissions et les commandes analogiques et numériques - Partie 4-1: Spécification intermédiaire pour les câbles blindés pour applications jusqu'à 600 MHz - Câbles horizontaux et verticaux de bâtiment

Večelementni kovinski kabli za analogne in digitalne komunikacije in krmiljenje - 4-1. del: Področna specifikacija za zaslonjene kable z lastnostmi do 600 MHz - Hrbtenični kabli za vodoravno montažo in montažo v stavbah

Standard EN 50288-4-1 je področna specifikacija za zaslonjene kable, ki se lahko uporabljajo za pasovne širine od 1 MHz do 600 MHz v vodoravnem (etažnem) in stavbnem hrbteničnem (medetažnem) ožičenju, kot je določeno v standardu EN 50173. Ta področna specifikacija vsebuje električne, mehanske, prenosne in okoljske karakteristike delovanja kablov pri preskušanju v skladu z navedenimi preskusnimi metodami. Ta področna specifikacija se uporablja skupaj s standardom EN 50288-1, ki vsebuje bistvene določbe za njeno uporabo. Kabli, zajeti v tej področni specifikaciji, so namenjeni za delovanje pri napetostih in tokovih, ki so običajni v komunikacijskih sistemih. Ti kabli niso namenjeni za uporabo z viri z nizko impedanco, na primer z električnim napajanjem javnih omrežij.

General Information

• 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: 2006/95/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)
• Directive: 2014/35/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
• Directive: 2014/53/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 50288-4-1:2013 - Multi-element metallic cables used in analogue and digital communication and control - Part 4-1: Sectional specification for screened cables characterised up to 600 MHz - Horizontal and building backbone cables

Relations

• Replaces: EN 50288-4-1:2003 - Multi-element metallic cables used in analogue and digital communication and control - Part 4-1: Sectional specification for screened cables characterised up to 600 MHz - Horizontal and building backbone cables
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2023

Overview

EN 50288-4-1:2013 is a CLC sectional specification for screened multi‑element metallic cables characterised from 1 MHz to 600 MHz, intended for horizontal and building backbone wiring as defined in EN 50173. It specifies the electrical, mechanical, transmission and environmental performance requirements and test methods for screened pairs and quads, and is to be read in conjunction with EN 50288-1 (generic provisions).

Key topics and technical requirements

• Cable construction

  • Conductors: solid copper, plain or metal‑coated; nominal diameter ≥ 0.5 mm and ≤ 0.8 mm.
  • Elements: pairs or quads; identification per IEC 60189-2 and EN 50288-1.
  • Screening: core and element screening allowed; braid minimum coverage 60% (braid only) or 30% when foil + braid used (mechanical coverage basis).
  • Sheath and insulation materials referenced to EN 50290 series.

• Electrical and transmission performance

  • Conductor loop resistance ≤ 19.0 Ω/100 m; insulation resistance ≥ 5 000 MΩ·km.
  • Characteristic impedance: 100 Ω ±5 Ω or 120 Ω ±5 Ω at 100 MHz.
  • Velocity of propagation and skew limits (e.g., propagation delay difference ≤ 25 ns/100 m at 100 MHz).
  • Frequency‑dependent attenuation and crosstalk limits up to 600 MHz (NEXT, PSNEXT, ACR‑F/PSACR‑F).
  • Return loss and coupling attenuation requirements (e.g., screening attenuation ≥ 55 dB from 30–600 MHz; transfer impedance limits: ≤ 15 mΩ/m at 1 MHz, ≤ 10 mΩ/m at 10 MHz).

• Mechanical and environmental tests

  • Conductor elongation ≥ 10%; insulation shrinkage ≤ 5%.
  • Crush, impact, abrasion, simulated installation (single and “S” bend) and tensile tests with pass/fail criteria for electrical parameters.
  • Temperature cycling and cold bend performance; attenuation adjusted for temperatures up to 60 °C.

• Supplementary

  • Annex A gives guidance on voltage/current/temperature ratings for Power over Ethernet (PoE) applications.
  • Blank Detail Specification (Annex B) for purchaser/manufacturer agreement.

Applications and users

EN 50288-4-1:2013 is relevant to:

• Cable manufacturers and product designers specifying screened horizontal and backbone cabling.
• Systems integrators and structured‑cabling installers for commercial buildings and data centers.
• Specifiers, consultants and procurement teams writing cable performance requirements.
• Test laboratories verifying compliance with electrical, mechanical and environmental criteria.

Typical applications include screened copper cabling for high‑performance analog and digital communication, building horizontal wiring and inter‑floor backbone links supporting services up to 600 MHz.

Related standards

• EN 50288-1 (generic specification for multi‑element metallic cables)
• EN 50173 (generic cabling systems / horizontal and backbone wiring)
• EN 50289 series (test methods)
• EN 50290 series (materials)
• IEC 60189-2 (pair/quad colour coding and PVC constructions)

Keywords: EN 50288-4-1:2013, screened cables, 600 MHz, horizontal cables, building backbone cables, ACR‑F, PSNEXT, return loss, characteristic impedance, EN 50288-1, EN 50173.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-oktober-2013
9HþHOHPHQWQLNRYLQVNLNDEOL]DDQDORJQHLQGLJLWDOQHNRPXQLNDFLMHLQNUPLOMHQMH
GHO3RGURþQDVSHFLILNDFLMD]D]DVORQMHQHNDEOH]ODVWQRVWPLGR0+]
+UEWHQLþQLNDEOL]DYRGRUDYQRPRQWDåRLQPRQWDåRYVWDYEDK
Multi-element metallic cables used in analogue and digital communication and control -
Part 4-1: Sectional specification for screened cables characterised up to 600 MHz -
Horizontal and building backbone cables
Mehradrige metallische Daten- und Kontrollkabel für analoge und digitale Übertragung -
Teil 4-1: Rahmenspezifikation für geschirmte Kabel bis 600 MHz - Kabel für den
Horizontal- und Steigbereich
Câbles métalliques à éléments multiples utilisés pour les transmissions et les
commandes analogiques et numériques - Partie 4-1: Spécification intermédiaire pour les
câbles blindés pour applications jusqu'à 600 MHz - Câbles horizontaux et verticaux de
bâtiment
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 50288-4-1:2013
ICS:
33.120.20 äLFHLQVLPHWULþQLNDEOL Wires and symmetrical
cables
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD
EN 50288-4-1
NORME EUROPÉENNE
May 2013
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 33.120.20 Supersedes EN 50288-4-1:2003

English version
Multi-element metallic cables used in analogue and digital communication
and control -
Part 4-1: Sectional specification for screened cables characterised up to
600 MHz -
Horizontal and building backbone cables

Câbles métalliques à éléments multiples Mehradrige metallische Daten- und
utilisés pour les transmissions et les Kontrollkabel für analoge und digitale
commandes analogiques et numériques - Übertragung -
Partie 4-1: Spécification intermédiaire Teil 4-1: Rahmenspezifikation für
pour les câbles blindés pour applications geschirmte Kabel bis 600 MHz -
jusqu'à 600 MHz - Kabel für den Horizontal- und
Câbles horizontaux et verticaux de Steigbereich
bâtiment
This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2013-03-18. CENELEC members are bound to comply
with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard
the status of a national standard without any alteration.

Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on
application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CENELEC member.

This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other
language made by translation under the responsibility of a CENELEC member into its own language and notified
to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus,
the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany,
Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland,
Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

CENELEC
European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung

Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B - 1000 Brussels

© 2013 CENELEC - All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC members.
Ref. No. EN 50288-4-1:2013 E
Contents
Page
Foreword . 3
1 Scope . 4
2 Normative references . 4
3 Terms, definitions, symbols and abbreviations . 4
3.1 Terms and definitions . 4
3.2 Symbols and abbreviations . 5
4 Cable construction . 5
4.1 Conductor . 5
4.2 Insulation . 5
4.3 Cabling elements . 5
4.4 Identification of cabling elements . 5
4.5 Screening of cabling elements . 5
4.6 Cable make-up . 5
4.7 Filling compound . 5
4.8 Interstitial fillers . 5
4.9 Screening of the cable core . 5
4.10 Moisture barriers . 6
4.11 Wrapping layers . 6
4.12 Sheath . 6
5 Tests and requirements for completed cables . 6
5.1 Electrical tests . 6
5.2 Mechanical tests . 9
5.3 Environmental tests . 10
5.4 Fire performance tests . 10
Annex A (informative) Maximum voltage, current and temperature rating for cables
used for POE applications . 11
Annex B (informative) Blank Detail Specification . 12

- 3 - EN 50288-4-1:2013
Foreword
This document (EN 50288-4-1:2013) has been prepared by CLC/SC 46XC "Multicore, Multipair
and Quad Data communication cables," of CLC/TC 46X, "Communication cables".
The following dates are fixed:
• latest date by which this document has
(dop) 2014-03-18
to be implemented at national level by
publication of an identical national standard
or by endorsement
• latest date by which the national
(dow) 2016-03-18
standards conflicting with this document
have to be withdrawn
This document supersedes EN 50288-4-1:2003.
EN 50288-4-1:2003:
− the addition of the Blank Detail Specification Annex;
− a number minor corrections and updating of references;
− the re-classification of ‘ELFEXT’ to ‘ACR-F’.
This Part 4-1 is to be read in conjunction to EN 50288-1.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the
subject of patent rights. CENELEC [and/or CEN] shall not be held responsible for identifying
any or all such patent rights.
This standard covers the Principle Elements of the Safety Objectives for Electrical Equipment
Designed for Use within Certain Voltage Limits (LVD - 2006/95/EC).

1 Scope
EN 50288-4-1 is a sectional specification for screened cables, characterised from 1 MHz up to
600 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.
2 Normative references
The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and
are indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments)
applies.
EN 50173 Series Information technology - Generic cabling systems
EN 50288-1 Multi-element metallic cables used in analogue and digital
communication and control - Part 1: Generic specification
EN 50289 Series Communication cables - Specifications for test methods
EN 50290 Series Communication cables
EN 60811 Series Electric and optical fibre cables - Test methods for non-metallic
materials (IEC 60811 series)
IEC 60189-2 Low-frequency cables and wires with PVC insulation and PVC sheath -
Part 2: Cables in pairs, triples, quads and quintuples for inside
installations
3 Terms, definitions, symbols and abbreviations
3.1 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in EN 50288-1 and the following
apply.
3.1.1
screening of cable
a cable is considered screened when the cable core is covered by a continuous conductive
layer forming part of the shielding and grounding system
Note 1 to entry: d.c. continuity has to be given and minimum shielding requirements have to be met.

- 5 - EN 50288-4-1:2013
3.2 Symbols and abbreviations
For the purposes of this document, the following abbreviations apply.
EX Exogenous (derived or originating externally)
POE Power Over Ethernet
4 Cable construction
4.1 Conductor
The conductor shall be solid copper and meet the requirements of EN 50288-1, 4.1. The conductor
shall be plain or metal coated.
The nominal conductor diameter shall be ≥ 0,5 mm and ≤ 0,8 mm.
NOTE  Constructions with ‘copper clad’ conductors do not meet the requirements.
4.2 Insulation
The insulation shall be of a suitable material according to the relevant part of EN 50290-2.
4.3 Cabling elements
The cable element shall be a pair or a quad.
4.4 Identification of cabling elements
Unless otherwise specified, the colour coding for identification is given in IEC 60189-2. The colours
shall meet the requirements of EN 50288-1, 4.4
4.5 Screening of cabling elements
Where appropriate, screening of the cabling elements shall be applied in accordance with 4.5 of
EN 50288-1. When a braid is used, the minimum braid coverage (for mechanical purposes) shall be
60 %. When a foil and braid are used the minimum braid coverage (for mechanical purposes) shall be
30 %. Coverage is defined in EN 50290-2-1.
4.6 Cable make-up
The cable elements shall be laid up in concentric layer(s) or units to form the cable core.
4.7 Filling compound
Not applicable.
4.8 Interstitial fillers
Where fillers are used, they shall meet the requirements of EN 50288-1, 4.8
4.9 Screening of the cable core
The screening of the cable core shall be applied in accordance with EN 50288-1, 4.9
When a braid is used the minimum braid coverage (for mechanical purposes) shall be 60 %. When a
foil and braid are used, and/or where a foil is used over each cabling element, the minimum braid
coverage (for mechanical purposes) shall be 30 %. Coverage is defined in EN 50290-2-1.

4.10 Moisture barriers
Not applicable.
4.11 Wrapping layers
Where wrapping layers are used they shall be in accordance with EN 50288-1, 4.11
4.12 Sheath
The sheath shall be of a suitable material according to the relevant part of EN 50290-2.
5 Tests and requirements for completed cables
The following tables give the tests to be applied, together with the respective limits, in order to
demonstrate compliance with this specification.
5.1 Electrical tests
5.1.1 Low-frequency and d.c. electrical measurements
Table 1 - Low-frequency and d.c. electrical measurements
EN 50288-1 Parameter Requirement
sub-clause
5.1.1.1 Conductor loop resistance
≤ 19,0 Ω/100 m
5.1.1.2 Conductor resistance unbalance ≤ 2,0 %
5.1.1.3 Dielectric strength 1,0 kV d.c. or 0,7 kV a.c. for 1 min
conductor/conductor or
and conductor/screen 2,5 kV d.c. or 1,7 kV a.c. for 2 s
5.1.1.4 Insulation resistance ≥ 5 000 MΩ.km when tested in accordance with
EN 50289-1-4
5.1.1.5 Mutual capacitance No requirement specified
5.1.1.6 Capacitance unbalance to earth
≤ 1 200 pF/km
- 7 - EN 50288-4-1:2013
5.1.2
...