ANSI/TIA 570B
Residential Telecommunications Infrastructure Standard
Updated Dec 2013 PRGodin
©PRGodin @gmail.com
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Introduction

Originally a standard for small commercial
buildings the 570B standard has migrated to
primarily address residential installations.

Communication infrastructures are still
relatively new in the residential construction
market but have become common for new
construction.
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General Requirements

Communication cabling infrastructures in singledwelling residences need to support a wide
variety of communication requirements. The
cabling structure needs to address:
◦
◦
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Voice
Data
Video
Security
Whole-home audio
Control system
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Source: ANSI-TIA-EIA-570 Standard
Single Dwelling Residence Infrastructure
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Grades of Residential Cabling

Grade 1: Basic
◦ Provides for basic telecommunication services.
Minimum:
 One 4-pair UTP (Cat5e or better)
 One 75Ω Coax

Grade 2: Intermediate
◦ Provides for basic to intermediate service needs.
Minimum:
 Two 4-pair UTP (Cat5e or better)
 Two 75Ω Coax
 Optional 2-fiber optical cabling
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Some Definitions
Demarcation point: Point where ownership
of the hardware changes
 Distribution Device (DD): Central facility
used to connect outlets within the residence
and to the service providers
 ADO Cable: Connectorized cable assembly
used to connect between the demarcation
point and the DD.

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Typical 570B Residential Installation
Source: ANSI-TIA-EIA-570 Standard
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The Distribution Device (DD)

The DD may consist of:
◦ Passive cross-connections
◦ Active cross-connections
◦ A combination of passive & active cross-connections

The DD is installed within the tenant’s space in a
centralized location that is easy to access

The DD should be capable of handling all
communication requirements
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Space for the DD

There is a guideline for space to allocate for the DD

The DD can be installed either on a backboard or
between wall studs.

Multiple interconnected DDs may be used within the
same space

DDs usually require electrical service
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DD Space Allocation Chart
Source: ANSI-TIA-EIA-570 Standard
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Outlet Cables
Cables are run from the DD to the telecom
outlets in a star topology.
 Cables shall not exceed 90 meters, with an
additional 10 meters for patch cords and
jumpers.
 Recognized cables:

◦ 4pr UTP (cat 5e or better)
◦ Coax RG-6 (RG59 for CCTV only) foil & braid
◦ Optical fiber (50, & 62.5 MM, SM)
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Room Requirements

Minimum of one outlet location for each of these
rooms:
◦
◦
◦
◦

Kitchen
Bedroom
Family Room
Den/Study Room
Additional outlets should be installed where:
◦ there is more than 3.7 meters (12ft) along a continuous
wall
◦ There is more than 7.6 meters (25ft) along a broken wall
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Examples of Room Outlet Location
Source: ANSI-TIA-EIA-570 Standard
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Cable Pathways

Efforts should be made to conceal the cabling
within the walls of the building especially in new
construction and remodeling.
image: howto.techworld.com
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Special Case Cabling

Alarm, Control and other cables may fall under the
jurisdiction of local and national codes and laws.

The standard provides installation suggestions but
is not meant to overrule specific legal and
performance requirements.
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Special Case: Alarm/Security Cable

Security alarm systems may consist of:
◦ Sensors
◦
◦
◦
◦
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◦
◦
◦

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Motion, breakage or shock detectors
Door and window contacts
Sound & Pressure sensors
Water & temperature sensors
Smoke, heat and CO2 sensors
Control panels
Entry keypads and manual activators
1 and/or 2-way audio and/or video
Alerting devices (siren, strobes, bells, etc)
Remote (personal) devices
Door and window latch operators
Lighting control
Remote connection
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Alarm/Security Systems Cable

Should be run in a physical star topology. Daisychaining some devices may be the standard connection
method but it is not recommended.

Fire systems are subject to regulation by the US NEC.

Typical security systems cable:
◦ 16 or 18 AWG stranded or 22 AWG solid conductors
◦ 4 conductor (active devices) or 2 conductor (passive devices)
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Video Cabling
RG 59 for baseband video (such as CCTV)
 RG 6 for broadband (CATV, Satellite)


Cat 5e/6 may be used with a balun
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Home Audio

Location of the audio systems is important for
performance quality and ease of control.
Follow manufacturer recommendations for
installation locations and requirements

Three areas of control:
◦ Headend (DD) to distribution device
◦ Distribution device to volume control
◦ Volume control to the speaker
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Source: ANSI-TIA-EIA-570 Standard
Audio Cable

Headend (DD) to distribution:
◦ one cat 5e/6
◦ 4 conductor speakers for left and right
◦ 2 conductors for control

Distribution to Volume control & Volume control to
speakers
◦ one cat 5e/6
◦ 4 conductors for 1 or 2 speakers
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Audio Cable AWG

The AWG is based on the wattage of the speakers and the length of
the cable. Conductors should be red(+) and black(-), and for 4conductors should include white(+) and green(-).
Source: ANSI-TIA-EIA-570 Standard
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Control Systems

Climate control, lighting control and other
home automation:
◦ Recommend following manufacturer’s
recommendations for cabling
◦ The standard recommends running a can 5e/6
between the active elements of the system to
“accommodate a large variety of climate control
options”.
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Multi-Dwelling & Campus Infrastructures

Multi-dwelling buildings may have a single services
demarcation and redistribute the service to the
individual dwellings.
Services Provider(s)
ADO/DD
ADO/DD
Unit 1
ADO/DD
Unit 2
ADO/DD
Unit 4
Entrance
Facility
ADO/DD
Common
Equipment
Room
Unit 3
ADO/DD
Unit 5
ADO/DD
Unit 6
ADO/DD
Unit 7
Unit 8
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Distances

The Entrance Facility should be connected to a
separate common Equipment Room. This room
should permit shared access for services and for the
building management’s services.

If the distance from the ER to the furthest dwelling is
more than 150 meters the service provider should be
advised.

Limitations between the DD an outlets in the dwelling
are limited to a maximum of 90 meters.
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Larger Multi-Dwelling & Campus Infrastructures

If there are a large number of floors or units a CTR,
or Common Telecommunications Room, should be
located on each floor or on each 3rd floor.
Services Provider(s)
ADO/DD
ADO/DD
ADO/DD
CTR
Unit 1
Unit 2
ADO/DD
ADO/DD
Unit 3
ADO/DD
CTR
Unit 4
Entrance
Facility
Unit 5
Common
Equipment
Room
ADO/DD
Unit 6
ADO/DD
Unit 7
Unit 8
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Campus Telecommunication Requirements
Campus environments may consist of separate
buildings.
 Interconnecting backbones should be contained
within conduit, aerially or within
interconnecting tunnels.
 Building entrance protection must be
implemented where required

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Backbone Cabling
Multi-conductor copper
 Multi-pair 100Ω UTP
 Series 6 & 11 coax (RG6 triple and quad shield
and RG11)
 Series 59 coax (CCTV only)
 Other coaxial (“hardline”)
 Fiber Optics (50 & 62.5MM, SM)

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Telecommunications Outlet
Telephone outlet with mounting studs
permitted
 8 position mod jacks that meet the 568
standards (may be used with 6 pos plugs)
 Coax F connectors


Recommendation is that patch cords be factory
made.
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Other Issues
All firestop requirements must be followed
 Secondary protection must be installed
 Grounding must be implemented

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Electromagnetic Noise

Data communications cable must be run with at least 2 inches
of separation from a parallel power cable within a wall and 6
inches of separation from cables going to active security devices.

Security cable must maintain at least 6 inches of separation
from power cables.

Audio cable should have at least 12 inches of separation from
data communication cable
Typically 12” of separation is recommended in all cases.
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Testing and Administration

Testing should follow the 568C standards

Administration should follow the 606B
standards.

Pathways planning should follow the 569B
standard.
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Conclusion

The 570B standard addresses small installations
and installations for residential units. These
installations typically make use of a greater
variety of communication requirements.

The standard relies on other standards for
administration, testing, cable performance and
documentation.
END
prgodin @ gmail.com
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