Distributor spaces in the standards

EN 50174 contains a lot of specifications of distributor spaces, from the room size, the free space in front of and behind cabinets and the technical equipment inside of rooms that hold the distributors. Here’s a simple list where the most important specs of distributor spaces in IT cabling can be found:

Size of the room where distributors are located:

• in office premises: EN 50174-2:2018-10, chapter 8.3.8
• in industrial premises: EN 50174-2:2018-10, chapter 9.3.8 (points to chapter 8.3.8 of the same standard)
• in homes: EN 50174-2:2018-10, chapter 10.3.8
• in apartment buildings: EN 50174-2:2018-10, chapter 13.3.8
• in data centres: EN 50174-2:2018-10, chapter 11.3.8
• for distributed building services: EN 50174-2:2018-10, chapter 12.2.8

Height of the ceiling:

EN 50174-2:2018-10, chapter 4.9.2.1

Door width/height:

• in office premises: EN 50174-2:2018-10, chapter 8.3.8.2.4
• in industrial premises: EN 50174-2:2018-10, chapter 9.3.8 (points to chapter 8.3.8 of the same standard)
• in data centres: EN 50174-2:2018-10, chapter 11.3.8.1.3
• for distributed building services: EN 50174-2:2018-10, chapter 12.2.8.2.2 (points to chapter 8.3.8.2.4 of the same standard)

Locking of the room:

• demarcation rooms: EN 50174-2:2018-10, chapter 4.9.2.3
• in office premises: EN 50174-2:2018-10, chapter 8.3.8.2.4
• in industrial premises: EN 50174-2:2018-10, chapter 9.3.8 (points to chapter 8.3.8 of the same standard)
• in data centres: EN 50174-2:2018-10, chapter 11.3.8.1.3

Raised floor:

• general: EN 50174-2:2018-10, chapter 4.3.2.2, chapter 4.4.2.1and chapter 4.5.3.1
• cable pathways: EN 50174-2:2018-10, chapter 4.3.1.4
• in office premises: EN 50174-2:2018-10, chapter 8.3.8.1.3
• in industrial premises: EN 50174-2:2018-10, chapter 9.3.8 (points to chapter 8.3.8 of the same standard)
• in data centres: EN 50174-2:2018-10, chapter 11.3.8.2.4

Free space in front of/behind racks and cabinets:

• in office premises: EN 50174-2:2018-10, chapter 8.3.8.1
• in industrial premises: EN 50174-2:2018-10, chapter 9.3.8 (points to chapter 8.3.8 of the same standard)
• in data centres: EN 50174-2:2018-10, chapter 11.3.8.1.3 and chapter 11.3.8.2.4 as well as EN 50600-2-4:2023-09, chapter 6.4.3.2

Lighting:

• general: EN 50174-2:2018-10, chapter 4.3.2.1
• in office premises: EN 50174-2:2018-10, chapter 8.3.8.1.3
• in industrial premises: EN 50174-2:2018-10, chapter 9.3.8 (points to chapter 8.3.8 of the same standard)

Environmental conditions (temperature, humidity):

• in rooms for internet providers: EN 50174-2:2018-10, chapter 4.9.1.3 and appendix D
• in rooms for service providers: EN 50174-2:2018-10, chapter 4.9.1.4 and appendix D
• in rooms for distributors in office premises: EN 50174-2:2018-10, chapter 8.3.8.1.5 and appendix D
• in apartment buildings: EN 50174-2:2018-10, chapter 13.3.8.1.3 and chapter 13.3.8.1.4 and appendix D