ISO IEC 11801-1-2017 PDF

Full title and description

Information technology — Generic cabling for customer premises — Part 1: General requirements. This part of ISO/IEC 11801 defines the fundamental structure, configuration and common requirements for a multi-vendor generic cabling system that supports voice, data, video and the delivery of power over cabling within customer premises.

Abstract

ISO/IEC 11801-1:2017 specifies the generic cabling architecture and the requirements common to the parts of the ISO/IEC 11801 series. It addresses channel and link transmission performance, component performance references, environmental and installation considerations, backbone reference implementations, and test procedures to verify conformance. The document is intended to enable interoperable, multi-vendor cabling installations across a variety of premises types.

General information

• Status: Published / Current.
• Publication date: November 2017 (base publication: 13 November 2017 / implemented November 2017).
• Publisher: Joint ISO/IEC publication (ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 25 — Interconnection of information technology equipment).
• ICS / categories: 35.200 — Interface and interconnection equipment.
• Edition / version: Edition 1 (2017). Corrigendum 1 issued April 2018; Amendment 1 issued December 2025 (applies to the 2017 part).
• Number of pages: 149 pages (base publication).

Scope

This part specifies requirements common to the ISO/IEC 11801 series for generic cabling within and between customer premises. It covers the generic cabling architecture, channel and link performance requirements, component performance (by reference to component standards), environmental and installation considerations, backbone reference implementations to support other parts of the series, and test procedures to verify transmission performance. It does not replace premises-specific requirements contained in the other parts of the series.

Key topics and requirements

• Definition of generic cabling architecture and models (link, channel, horizontal, backbone and equipment connections).
• Channel and permanent link transmission performance requirements across balanced copper and optical-fibre media.
• Component performance references and test methods (references to component and test standards where appropriate).
• Environmental and installation requirements affecting performance (temperature, segregation from power cabling, pathways and spaces).
• Backbone cabling reference implementations to support other premises-specific parts of the series.
• Requirements and guidance for powering over cabling (PoE) considerations integrated with cabling performance and environment.
• Test procedures and measurement conditions to verify conformance of links and channels.
• Administration, labelling and documentation principles (as referenced or implemented via companion standards on installation and testing).

Typical use and users

Used by network designers, cabling system planners, electrical and communications installers, infrastructure consultants, facilities managers, equipment manufacturers and test laboratories. Typical applications include enterprise LANs, building backbone design, multi-tenant installations and any customer premises requiring standardized, interoperable cabling capable of supporting current and foreseeable services.

Related standards

Part of the ISO/IEC 11801 series (2017 revision) — key related parts include ISO/IEC 11801-2 (Office premises), ISO/IEC 11801-3 (Industrial premises), ISO/IEC 11801-4 (Single-tenant homes), ISO/IEC 11801-5 (Data centres) and ISO/IEC 11801-6 (Distributed building services). Implementation and test/installation guidance is often used together with ISO/IEC 14763-2 (planning and installation/testing guidance) and relevant IEC normative references (for example IEC solderless connection standards referenced for component aspects). Corrigenda and amendments to ISO/IEC 11801-1 should be consulted for updates.

Keywords

generic cabling, customer premises cabling, channel performance, permanent link, backbone cabling, twisted-pair, optical fibre, PoE, cabling architecture, test procedures, ISO/IEC 11801, JTC 1/SC 25.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO/IEC 11801-1:2017 is Part 1 of the ISO/IEC 11801 series and provides the general, premises-independent requirements for multi-vendor generic cabling systems used on customer premises.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers the cabling architecture and configurations (links, channels, backbone and horizontal subsystems), transmission and link performance requirements for copper and fibre, component performance references, environmental and installation impacts, backbone reference implementations and test procedures to verify performance. It sets the common baseline used by the premises-specific parts of the 11801 series.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Network and cabling designers, installers, test laboratories, facilities and estate managers, specifications authors, and manufacturers of cabling components use this standard to design, implement and verify interoperable cabling infrastructures.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The 2017 edition is the current Part 1 publication. A technical corrigendum was published in April 2018 and an Amendment 1 was published in December 2025 which updates/appends content to the 2017 part — users should consult the corrigendum and amendment for the latest technical changes.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is Part 1 of the ISO/IEC 11801 series (revised in 2017) that includes Parts 2 through 6 addressing office premises, industrial premises, single-tenant homes, data centres and distributed building services respectively. The parts are intended to be used together where appropriate for complete premises-specific cabling specifications.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Generic cabling, customer premises, channel, link, backbone, horizontal cabling, twisted-pair, optical fibre, PoE, performance, testing, installation.