BS EN 50174-2-2018 PDF

Full title and description

STB BS EN 50174-2:2018 — Information technology — Cabling installation — Part 2: Installation planning and practices inside buildings. This European/British-adopted standard specifies requirements and good practice for planning and implementing information-technology cabling inside buildings, including installation methods, safety, documentation and assessment of spaces and pathways for current and future cabling needs.

Abstract

EN 50174-2:2018 sets out the requirements for planning and on-site installation practices for information technology cabling inside buildings. It covers safety for personnel and equipment, documentation and record-keeping, assessment of spaces and pathways (including support for remote powering), cable handling and routing, termination and closures, labelling, testing and contractual acceptance. It is intended for application in commercial and residential premises and takes account of interactions with other cabling and building electrical systems.

General information

• Status: Current (European standard with national adoptions, published 2018; adopted as BS EN 50174-2:2018).
• Publication date: 2018 (CENELEC approval in May 2018, widely published July–October 2018 by national bodies).
• Publisher: CENELEC (European), with national publishers/standards bodies producing national adoptions (for example BSI for the BS version).
• ICS / categories: 35.110 (Networking); 91.140.50 (Electricity supply systems); 33.040.50 (Lines, connections and circuits) (typical ICS listings).
• Edition / version: 2018 edition (supersedes EN 50174-2:2009).
• Number of pages: Approximately 106–120 pages depending on the national publication (page counts vary by publisher/format).

Scope

This part of EN 50174 specifies requirements for planning and installation practice of information technology cabling inside buildings (and cabling defined as part of the building). It applies to all types of IT cabling including generic cabling systems designed to the EN 50173 series, and addresses premises-independent requirements (clauses on planning, installation practice and documentation) plus premises‑specific provisions where applicable. The standard excludes signal transmission in free space (wireless) and does not replace specific requirements for other cabling systems (e.g., power cabling), although it provides guidance on interactions and safety considerations (bonding, lightning protection coordination, etc.). Conformance requires meeting the planning and installation clauses and relevant complementary standards (for example EN 50310 for bonding and EN 62305 where lightning protection is involved).

Key topics and requirements

• Installation planning: site surveys, space and pathway assessment, capacity planning and future-proofing.
• Safety requirements: personnel safety, precautions for low-voltage and optical fibre work, handling and working near other services.
• Pathways and spaces: design and assessment of containment, trays, ducts, risers and rooms for cabling and equipment.
• Remote powering support: methodology for assessing pathways and cabling with respect to remote powering objectives (e.g., PoE systems).
• Installation practices: cable handling, jointing, routing, fixing, bend radii, segregation, and closures.
• Bonding and earthing interfaces: requirements for bonding within premises and coordination with building lightning protection systems (references to EN 50310 and EN 62305).
• Documentation and labelling: required records, as‑installed documentation, labelling conventions and traceability.
• Testing and acceptance: on-site verification, testing methods and contractual acceptance criteria for installed cabling.

Typical use and users

Used by cabling designers and specifiers, installation contractors, site and project managers, commissioning engineers, facility managers, electrical and ICT consultants, and procurement teams preparing technical specifications. It is referenced in tender documentation, installation contracts and acceptance testing procedures for structured cabling projects in buildings.

Related standards

Closely related to and intended to be used with EN 50173 (generic cabling), EN 50174-1 (general requirements), EN 50174-3 (installation practice outside buildings), EN 50310 (bonding of building cabling), and EN 62305 series (lightning protection) as appropriate. It is part of the EN 50174 series addressing cabling installation practices.

Keywords

cabling installation, information technology cabling, installation planning, pathways, bonding, earthing, remote powering, labelling, testing, structured cabling, EN 50173, EN 50310.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: EN 50174-2:2018 is the European standard that defines planning and on-site installation practices for information‑technology cabling inside buildings; BS EN 50174-2:2018 is the national adoption by BSI.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers planning, safety, documentation, pathway and space assessment, cable handling and routing, termination and closures, labelling, testing and acceptance, and guidance on interactions with power and lightning protection systems.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Cabling designers, installation contractors, project and facilities managers, commissioning engineers, consultants and procurement/specification teams for building ICT cabling projects.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: EN 50174-2:2018 is the current 2018 edition and supersedes EN 50174-2:2009. National adoptions (e.g., BS EN 50174-2:2018) reflect that 2018 edition. Users should check national standards bodies for any national amendments or later updates.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is Part 2 of the EN 50174 series (installation practices) and is intended to be used with the EN 50173 generic cabling family and related standards (EN 50174-1, EN 50174-3, EN 50310, EN 62305).

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Cabling installation, planning, pathways, bonding, remote powering, labelling, testing, structured cabling, EN 50173, EN 50310.