Distributors in the standards

The cabling standards specify cabling and connecting hardware. But they also specify distributors. Read on to find out more.

The different parts of EN 50173 and 50174 contain more specifications of distributors than one would guess. But the standards are comprehensive and so one would like to know where the specs can be found. Here’s a simple list where the most important specs of distributors in IT cabling can be found:

Specifications of distributors in general: EN 50174-1:2020, chapter 4.2.5

Places for distributors: EN 50174-1:2020, chapter 4.2.5.1

Number of distributors per floor:

• in office spaces: EN 50173-2:2018, chapter 4.8.1
• in industrial premises: EN 50173-3:2018, chapter 4.8.1
• for distributed building services: EN 50173-6:2018, chapter 4.8.1

Cabling of adjacent floors with only a few outlets:

• in office spaces: EN 50173-2:2018, chapter 4.8.1
• in industrial premises: EN 50173-3:2018, chapter 4.8.1
• for distributed building services: EN 50173-6:2018, chapter 4.8.1

Size of the service area of a floor distributor:

• in office spaces: EN 50173-2:2018, chapter 4.8.1
• in industrial premises: EN 50173-3:2018, chapter 4.8.1
• for distributed building services: EN 50173-6:2018, chapter 4.8.1

Concentrating several distributors (e.g. building distributor and floor distributor):

• in office spaces: EN 50173-2:2018, chapter 4.8.1
• in industrial premises: EN 50173-3:2018, chapter 4.8.1
• in data centres: EN 50173-5:2018, chapter 4.8.1
• for distributed building services: EN 50173-6:2018, chapter 4.8.1

Redundant links between distributors:

• in general: EN 50173-1:2018, chapter 4.5.1
• in office spaces: EN 50173-2:2018, chapter 4.5.1
• in industrial premises: EN 50173-3:2018, chapter 4.5.1
• in data centres: EN 50173-5:2018, chapter 4.5.6 and EN 50600-2-4:2023, chapter 8.4.5.2
• for distributed building services: EN 50173-6:2018, chapter 4.5.1

Home distributor:

EN 50173-4:2018, chapter 4.3 to 4.6 and 4.8.1

Grounding and bonding of racks and cabinets:

EN 50310:2020-06, chapter 7.5 (whole EN 50310 contains important information)