1. Design Considerations for Telecommunications Pathways and Spaces
EIA/TIA 569-C
Design Considerations for Telecommunications Pathways and Spaces
ELCM 254
Updated January 2014

2. EIA/TIA 569-C
A communications infrastructure in today’s commercial buildings is essential. All buildings, new and old, must have allowance for this infrastructure.
This standard addresses the architectural design elements of cable pathways and dedicated rooms for a telecommunications infrastructure.

3. Architectural Masterformat
The Masterformat is a reference document used by architectural engineers when designing a building. It contains all the vital elements and details of proper building design and construction.
The communication infrastructure is part of the Masterformat under Division 27 (since 2004).
Other cabling requirements have their own division numbers:
Security & safety (28)
Electrical (26)
Automation (25)

4. Examples of Pathways & Spaces
Telecommunications & Equipment Rooms (called “Distributor Rooms” in this standard)
Entrance Facilities
Other spaces for access
Pathways:
Routes for Horizontal & Backbone cabling
Pathways for Services

5. Physical Characteristics Recommendations
Backbone and Horizontal pathway systems such as conduit and tray
Entrance Facilities characteristics
Distributor room space, size, conditions and design

6. Installation, Safety & Performance Recommendations
Backboard installation
Electromagnetic Interference
Firestop and fire safety
Cable management and physical support
Other factors that may affect cable performance

7. Pathways
Allowances must me made for the physical routing of communication cabling throughout the building.
Image: 7

8. Cable Pathway Planning
Building Pathways:
Vertical & Horizontal cable pathways
walls, ceiling, plenums, floors
Exterior or interior
Cable Pathway and Support Structures:
Conduit, raceway, tray, duct, sleeves, etc
J-Hook, clamps, cable shoes, waterfall, etc

9. Backbone Pathways
Telecommunication Rooms should be stacked vertically and 3, 4-inch conduit or other cable pathways provided between these rooms.
Rooms that are not stacked should be connected with a minimum of 4 inch conduit.
Firestopping is required between vertically stacked rooms and recommended between other rooms.
Cable tray fill should be planned at 25%, not exceed 50%

10. Cable Trays at over 50% fill
According to the photographer, each jacket color represented a different office zone.
Image: Jeff Keddy

11. Vertical Building Elevation Pathways
3rd
2nd
1st B1 TR ER EF
Available pathways for communication and grounding cabling
Communication Cabling: Connected in a star configuration from the ER, but the cable may be routed through other rooms (see the 568C standard).
Ground Cabling: Ring configuration through several rooms, leading to the EF (see the 607B standard)

12. TIA/EIA 569C Conduit Systems
Fill ratio of 40%. (recommendation is less fill/larger conduit)
No more than two 90 degree bends

13. Conduit (continued) Flexible metal tubing is not permitted
Section not longer than 30 meters (100ft)
install a pull box for greater distances
4” min. should be used underground
manholes within first 150 meters
no more than 300 meters between manholes
Pull Box

14. Separation: Electrical Equipment & Wiring
If metal conduit is used:
must be properly grounded
if it completely encloses a communication cable there is no minimum distance between it and the power cables
If there is no metal conduit:
crossing at right angles between the electrical and communication cables is permitted
Cables must maintain 2” (50mm) of separation if the electrical cable is a standard 15Amp circuit.
Must maintain 5” (250mm) separation from lighting
A table is available for other electrical circuit types

15. Other Pathway Considerations
Cables must not be laid on ceiling tiles, and must be supported every 1.5m (5ft). The supports must be dedicated to this function.
The standard addresses raised flooring and underfloor ducting and conduit.

16. Entrance Facilities 16

17. Entrance Facility (EF)
Includes
Service Entrance
Building Entrance
interbuilding backbone
alternate entrance
antennae entrance pathways
The EF consists of a termination field interfacing any outside cabling to the intrabuilding cabling.

18. Service Entrance
A Service Entrance is where outside companies physically bring their services into a building.
Electrical (power, ground)
Communication (Voice, Video, Data)
Alarm (Fire, Security)
Wireless equipment connections (antenna)
Other services outside of communications (water, gas, etc)
There may be more than one Service Entrance facility in a building. 18

19. Demarcation on Service Entrance
The Demarcation (Demarc) is the separation of ownership or responsibility. It is the seperation between the service company’s equipment and the building’s equipment.
Telco
Bldg
Building Cable
Telco Cable
Demarc
Telco Ownership
Building Ownership

20. Entrance Facility Cables and Safety
Local fire regulations will dictate termination requirements and fire protection.
Recommendation is terminate as close to the entrance as possible.
Fire control systems should be implemented.
If the cable contains metallic elements it must be lightning protected, even if buried.

21. Entrance Facilities (Details)
Recommendation and Standards:
One wall must contain a ¾ inch sheet of plywood, painted white.
Must not have a false ceiling.
The service entrance pathway is either underground, buried, aerial or tunnel.
Access to the area must be restricted but doesn’t need to be a dedicated, enclosed room.
Must avoid electrical cable pathways.
Must be flood control systems in place.

22. Entrance Facilities (Details)
Recommendation and Standards:
Minimum conduit size:
Minimum 4” conduit of PVC type B,C, or D or multiple plastic duct or galvanized steel or fiberglass (all with appropriate encasement)
No more than ° manufactured bends (10 times the diameter of conduit)
Drain slope:
should not be less than 12” per 100’
Conduit fill varies
should not exceed 40%

23. General Distributor Room Criteria
Entrance Facilities, Equipment Rooms and Telecommunications Rooms 23

24. Sample Telecom Room Design 24

25. Room General Guidelines
Must have minimum of one per floor, centrally located
Must be placed in areas where they be expanded. Must have a ceiling height of 3m or more. No exterior windows.
Should be accessible for large equipment delivery but have limited, secure access (36” X 80” single or double lockable doors).
Must have a backboard (¾” plywood, painted white)
Room sizing is now contained in the 568C standard but there are recommendations in this standard.

26. Distributor Rooms General Guidelines
There are many additional guidelines addressed specifically in the standards. Factors include:
Humidity, temperature, vibration and dust controls
Physical access issues, security and fire suppression
Lighting and electrical requirements
Ceiling height, construction, paint color
Must contain protection against:
Lightning
Water
Humidity
Fire Spread
Tampering

27. Distributor Room Details
Unrelated equipment (plumbing, piping, tubing, ducting, etc) should not be routed through the room.
Shall not be used as access to other rooms or facilities.
The room shall be dedicated to its primary function and cannot be shared with other functions (for instance, cannot be used as an electrical room).

28. Sample Telecom Room
Image Source: Anixter.com

29. Equipment Room
The Equipment Room is a facility which houses items of more complexity such as:
Telephone related equipment such as an MDF (Main Distribution Frame), PBX’s (Private Branch Exchange), secondary voltage protection, and the like.
Networking equipment such as switches, hubs, routers, servers, etc., although a separate but connected computer room is usual.

30. Room Equipment
The standard states minimum clearance and working space in front of (3ft) and behind (2ft) racks and cabinets.
Cooling methods should be employed. Racks should have adjustable mounting rails.
Cable management and power bars should be provided for each cabinet or rack. Number of electrical receptacles is also stated.
Provide additional rooms or spaces for service and access providers.

31. Environmental The standard is specific regarding:
Temperature Control (includes altitude adjustments)
Humidity Control
Lighting (minimum Lux measurements)
Dust particulates 31

32. Work Area Guidelines The standard addresses Equipment Outlets:
Minimum and maximum depths for outlet boxes
Standard sizes for furniture outlets
Bend Radius requirements on both the inside and outside of the EO.

33. Conclusion
The TIA/EIA 569-C is a structured cabling standard that addresses the physical requirements and design issues for pathways and spaces for cable within a building.
Since each building and installation has unique challenges, the standard is frequently used as a guideline and not the rule.
END
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