The Telecommunications Industry Association has published two new standards. The standards are Commercial Building Telecommunications Cabling Standard, Part 2: Balanced Twisted Pair Cabling Components, Addendum 1 -Transmission Performance Specifications for Four-Pair 100 U Category 6 Cabling.

The document is addendum No. 1 to TIA/EIA-568-B.2.

The document specifies requirements for insertion loss, near-end crosstalk (NEXT), loss, equal level far-end crosstalk (ELFEXT), return loss, propagation delay, and delay skew requirements for 100 U four-pair Category 6 cabling, cables and connecting hardware.

The standard also specifies NEXT loss and return loss requirements for modular plug cords. For cabling and cable NEXT loss and ELFEXT, both worst pair-to-pair and multi-disturber power sum requirements are specified. Balance recommendations are provided for Category 6 connecting hardware and cables.

In addition to these requirements and recommendations, Category 6 cabling, cables, cords and connecting hardware shall meet or exceed all the requirements of ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B.1 and ANSI/TIA/EIA-568.B-2. Compliance with this standard does not imply compatibility with cabling having nominal impedance values other than 100 U.

TIA/EIA-568-B.2-1 was created by TIA TR-42.7 Subcommittee on Telecommunications Copper Cabling Systems. To obtain copies or for more information visit www.tiaonline.org.