SIST EN 50173-6:2018/oprA1:2026

• Abstract:

  This standard specifies generic cabling for distributed building services and can be used in conjunction with all the space-specific standards of the EN 50173 series.; It covers balanced cabling and optical fibre cabling.; This standard specifies directly or via reference to EN 50173 1 the:; — structure and minimum configuration for generic cabling for distributed building services;; — interfaces at the service outlet (SO);; — performance requirements for cabling links and channels;; — implementation requirements and options;; — performance requirements for cabling components;; — conformance requirements and verification procedures.

• Status: Not Published
• Public Enquiry End Date: 29-Oct-2026
• ICS: 33.040.50 - Lines, connections and circuits
• ICS: 35.110 - Networking
• Technical Committee: ELI - Electrical and communication installations
• Current Stage: 4020 - Public enquire (PE) (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 14-Aug-2026
• Due Date: 01-Jan-2027
• Ref Project: EN 50173-6:2018/prA1:2026 - Information technology - Generic cabling systems - Part 6: Distributed building services

• Amends: SIST EN 50173-6:2018 - Information technology - Generic cabling systems - Part 6: Distributed building services
• Effective Date: 23-Dec-2025

SIST EN 50173-6:2018/oprA1:2026 is a CENELEC draft amendment to EN 50173-6:2018 for information technology generic cabling in distributed building services. It specifies how balanced cabling and optical fibre cabling are structured, connected, and verified for building services systems, and it adds single pair cabling content where the amendment applies.

What does SIST EN 50173-6:2018/oprA1:2026 specify?

SIST EN 50173-6:2018/oprA1:2026 specifies generic cabling for distributed building services and is intended to be used with the space-specific standards in the EN 50173 series. It sets out the cabling structure, the service outlet (SO) interface, performance for links and channels, implementation options, component performance, and conformance and verification procedures.

The amendment content is organized as modifications to the European foreword, Introduction, Clause 2, Clauses 4 to 9, and Annex A. The main technical focus is the extension of Type B generic cabling with single pair cabling from EN 50173-10.

• Clause 4 - structure of the generic cabling for distributed building services
• Clause 5 - channel requirements for distributed building services
• Clause 6.2.3.3 - extension of Type B generic cabling using single pair cabling
• Clause 7 - balanced cables
• Clause 8 - connecting hardware
• Clause 9 - balanced cords
• Annex A - balanced cabling and link performance

What are the key requirements of SIST EN 50173-6:2018/oprA1:2026?

SIST EN 50173-6:2018/oprA1:2026 keeps the baseline distributed-building-services cabling model, then adds explicit requirements for extending Type B generic cabling with single pair components. In practice, that means designers must match the cabling segment, component type, and performance class to the intended application.

Cabling structure and supported applications

Clause 4 links the standard to applications in EN 50173-1:2018, Annex F, and EN 50173-10:2025, Annex C. That matters because the cabling is intended to support those application sets through active equipment connected to the generic cabling.

Clause 4 also clarifies that Type B generic cabling can include generic cabling between the SCP and the SO, and that extending Type B cabling with single pair components changes the service distribution cabling path. In practice, the installer needs to know which section is still generic cabling and which section is the single pair extension.

Channel performance and single pair extensions

Clause 5 states that the channel transmission performance is sized to carry the applications in EN 50173-1:2018, Annex F, and EN 50173-10:2025, Annex C. Clause 5.3.2.2 adds single pair channel performance classes of T1-20, T1-20A, and T1-600 for certain Type B extensions.

Clause 6.2.3.3 gives reference implementations and length equations for single pair extensions. It also states that the equations assume four connections and that the service distribution cable length may be adjusted when connections are removed. That matters when checking whether a proposed layout still fits the allowed channel length.

Cables, hardware, cords, and verification

Clause 7 requires 4-pair cables to meet EN 50173-1:2018 and single pair cables to meet EN 50173-10:2025. Clause 8 requires 4-pair connecting hardware to meet EN 50173-1:2018 and single pair hardware to meet EN 50173-10:2025, with pairs terminated consistently at the SO, SCP, and SD where relevant.

Clause 9 says cords should be factory-terminated, with 4-pair cords to EN 50173-1:2018 and single pair cords to EN 50173-10:2025. Annex A then adds the corresponding link performance rules for single pair extensions, so testing can follow the same design logic used for the channel.

What terms does SIST EN 50173-6:2018/oprA1:2026 use?

• Service outlet (SO) - The point where the service connection is presented to the user or equipment interface.
• Service connectivity point (SCP) - The point used in Type B cabling where the generic cabling path is extended toward telecommunication equipment.
• Service distribution (SD) - The part of the cabling system that distributes services toward one or more SOs.
• Telecommunication equipment (TE) - The active equipment connected to the generic cabling.
• Type B generic cabling - The cabling arrangement used in this part for distributed building services, including the extension cases added by the amendment.
• Single pair cabling - The cabling family taken from EN 50173-10:2025 and used for the new extension and performance cases.
• 4-pair cabling - The balanced copper cabling used by the baseline requirements in this part.

Who uses SIST EN 50173-6:2018/oprA1:2026?

SIST EN 50173-6:2018/oprA1:2026 is used by cabling designers, installers, system integrators, and test laboratories working on distributed building services. It is also relevant to quality managers, specifiers, and buyers who need to define what cabling media, hardware, and verification method are acceptable for a building project.

What changed in SIST EN 50173-6:2018/oprA1:2026 from the previous edition?

SIST EN 50173-6:2018/oprA1:2026 is a draft amendment to EN 50173-6:2018. The changes stated in the document include:

• adding EN 50173-10 and EN 50173-20 to the European foreword context
• updating the Introduction figure and relationship table
• adding EN 50173-10:2025 to Clause 2, the normative references
• clarifying that applications in EN 50173-1:2018, Annex F, and EN 50173-10:2025, Annex C are supported
• adding single pair cabling extensions, performance classes, and length equations
• updating the cable, hardware, and cord clauses to include single pair requirements
• adding single pair link-performance text to Annex A

Which standards are used with SIST EN 50173-6:2018/oprA1:2026?

• EN 50173-1:2018 - supplies the baseline general requirements for 4-pair cabling, cords, hardware, and several referenced application sets.
• EN 50173-10:2025 - supplies the single pair cabling requirements used by the amendment for cables, hardware, cords, channel classes, and link performance.
• EN 50174-1, EN 50174-2, EN 50174-3, EN 50174-4 - are shown in the Introduction relationship table as supporting standards across the design, installation, planning, and operation phases.
• EN 50310 - is shown in the Introduction relationship table as another document used alongside the EN 50173 series in the relevant phases.
• EN 50173-20 - is named in the foreword context as another generic cabling part on alternative cabling configurations.

What does the SIST EN 50173-6:2018/oprA1:2026 document contain?

The document contains updated foreword and introduction text, revised contextual figures and a relationship table, and amended clauses covering structure, channel performance, cabling, hardware, and cords. It also includes a new single pair extension clause with reference implementation equations and temperature adjustment notes.

Annex A is updated with link-performance text for single pair extensions. The figures and Table 5 are used to explain system structure, extension examples, and length calculation for design and verification work.

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-oktober-2026
Informacijska tehnologija - Generični kabelski sistemi - 6. del: Porazdeljene
storitve v stavbah - Dopolnilo A1
Information technology - Generic cabling systems - Part 6: Distributed building services
Informationstechnik - Anwendungsneutrale Kommunikationskabelanlagen - Teil 6:
Verteilte Gebäudedienste
Technologies de l’information - Systèmes de câblage générique - Partie 6 : Services
distribués dans les bâtiments
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 50173-6:2018/prA1:2026
ICS:
33.040.50 Vodi, zveze in tokokrogi Lines, connections and
circuits
35.110 Omreževanje Networking
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD DRAFT
EN 50173-6:2018
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
prA1
August 2026
ICS 35.110 -
English Version
Information technology - Generic cabling systems - Part 6:
Distributed building services
Technologies de l'information - Systèmes de câblage Informationstechnik - Anwendungsneutrale
générique - Partie 6 : Services distribués dans les Kommunikationskabelanlagen - Teil 6: Verteilte
bâtiments Gebäudedienste
This draft amendment prA1, if approved, will modify the European Standard EN 50173-6:2018; it is submitted to CENELEC members for
enquiry.
Deadline for CENELEC: 2026-10-30.

It has been drawn up by CLC/TC 215.

If this draft becomes an amendment, CENELEC members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which
stipulate the conditions for giving this amendment the status of a national standard without any alteration.

This draft amendment was established by CENELEC 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, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Türkiye and the United Kingdom.

Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are aware and to
provide supporting documentation.

Warning : This document is not a European Standard. It is distributed for review and comments. It is subject to change without notice and
shall not be referred to as a European Standard.

European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2026 CENELEC All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC Members.
Project: 83174 Ref. No. EN 50173-6:2018/prA1:2026 E

Contents Page
1 European foreword . 3
2 1 Modifications to the European foreword . 4
3 2 Modifications to the Introduction . 4
4 3 Modifications to Clause 2, “Normative references” . 5
5 4 Modifications to Clause 4, “Structure of the generic cabling for distributed building
6 services” . 5
7 5 Modifications to Clause 5, “Requirement of channels for distributed building services” . 7
8 6 Modifications to 6.2.3, “Service distribution cabling (Type B generic cabling)” . 7
9 7 Modifications to 7.2, “ Balanced cables of Category 6 , 7, 7 , 8.1 and 8.2” . 8
A A
10 8 Modifications to 8.2.1, “General requirements “ . 8
11 9 Modifications to 9.2, “Balanced cords of Category 6 , 7, 7 , 8.1 and 8.2” . 9
A A
12 10 Modifications to A.2.2, “Balanced cabling” . 9
13 European foreword
14 This document (EN 50173-6:2018/prA1:2026) has been prepared by CLC/TC 215 “Electrotechnical aspects of
15 telecommunication equipment”.
16 The following dates are proposed:
• latest date by which the existence of this (doa) dav + 6 months
document has to be announced at national
level
• latest date by which this document has to be (dop) dav + 12 months
implemented at national level by publication of
an identical national standard or by
endorsement
• latest date by which the national standards (dow) dav + 36 months
conflicting with this document have to be (to be confirmed or
withdrawn modified when voting)
17 1 Modifications to the European foreword
18 Add the following standards at the end of the paragraph starting with “At the time of publication …”:
“EN 50173-10 Information technology – Generic cabling systems – Part 10: Single pair cabling
EN 50173-20 Information technology – Generic cabling systems – Part 20: Alternative cabling
configurations”
19 Add the following list item to the paragraph starting with “This edition of EN 50173-3”:
20 “f)  includes the implementation of single pair cabling according to EN 50173-10.”
21 2 Modifications to the Introduction
22 Delete the first list item of the paragraph starting with “In addition, a number of Technical Reports …”.
23 Replace Figure 1 with the following:
24 “
26 Figure 1 — Schematic relationship between the EN 50173 series and other relevant documents”
27 Replace Table 1 with the following:
28 “
29 Table 1 — Contextual relationship between the EN 50173 series and other documents relevant for
30 information technology cabling systems
Building Generic cabling Specification phase Installation phase Operation phase
design phase design phase
EN 50174-1
EN 50173-2
EN 50174-2
EN 50173-3
EN 50174-1
EN 50174-3
EN 50174-4
EN 50310 EN 50173-4 Planning phase
EN 50174-4
EN 50173-5
EN 50310
EN 50173-6
(These ENs reference
EN 50174-2
general requirements
EN 50174-3
of EN 50173-1 and
EN 50310
EN 50173-10)
31 “
32 Add the following list item to the paragraph starting with “As a result, this standard”:
33 “e)  specifies a structure for generic cabling supporting a wide variety of applications including, but not
34 restricted to, those in EN 50173-10:2025, Annex C.”
35 3 Modifications to Clause 2, “Normative references”
36 Add the following reference:
37 EN 50173-10:2025, Information technology - Generic cabling systems - Part 10: Single pair cabling
38 4 Modifications to Clause 4, “Structure of the generic cabling for distributed
39 building services”
st
40 In 4.1, 1 paragraph, replace the last sentence with the following:
41 “Applications listed in EN 50173-1:2018, Annex F and EN 50173-10:2025, Annex C are supported by
42 connecting active equipment to the generic
...