Network Testing and Commissioning Plan Template

There are a few regulatory bodies that impose standards on network cabling system installations around the world. Before commencement of planning, installation, testing & commissioning, or any works, one must determine which regulation their work is subject for compliance:

• Globally, the International Organization for Standardization ISO/IEC 11801 serves as the standard for generic cabling for customer premises.
• In the UK, the British Standard BS EN 50173 serves as the technical equivalent and is closely similar to the ISO/IEC 11801.
• In the US, the Telecommunication Industry Association (TIA) upholds the TIA-568 as the technical standard for cabling for telecommunication products & services.

These regulations similarly define the standards of network cabling systems, and include other standards on topology, performance, hardware & software standards, and testing requirements. You can find the minimum system transmission performance for tests like continuity, bandwidth, insertion loss and NEXT tests in these regulations as well.

However, it is important to note that these regulations have differences as well, accounting for other regional conditions and requirements. For example, the TIA may reference the US national building code, the NEC, and other local safety requirements. Further, some nomenclature and other differences may be noted. For example, the ISO/IEC and the British Standard both classify cables into “Classes”, while the TIA classifies them into “Categories”.