| Full title | ANSI/TIA-1152-A, Requirements for Field Test Instruments and Measurements for Balanced Twisted-Pair Cabling |
| Publisher | Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), subcommittee TR-42.7 (Telecommunications Copper Cabling Systems) |
| Current edition | TIA-1152-A, November 2016. Replaces TIA-1152 (2009) |
| Status | Current. TR-42.7 issued a ballot to reaffirm 1152-A in July 2026. A call for interest for revision 1152-B was issued in April 2026 |
| Related standards | ANSI/TIA-568.2, ANSI/TIA-568.0, IEC 61935-1, ISO/IEC 11801-1 |
What it covers
ANSI/TIA-1152-A sets requirements for field test instruments used to test installed balanced twisted-pair cabling. It specifies the reporting and accuracy performance requirements that field testers must meet.
It also gives methods for comparing field tester results with laboratory measurements. Measurement accuracy is addressed through key tester performance parameters.
It applies to cabling specified in the ANSI/TIA-568 series. It does not set the pass and fail limits for the cabling itself. Those come from the cabling standard, such as ANSI/TIA-568.2.
The field tester requirements were taken out of the ANSI/TIA-568-C series during its development and published on their own as TIA-1152 in 2009. Revision A added Level 2G for Category 8.
Accuracy levels
Each accuracy level matches a cabling category and its frequency range.
| Accuracy level | Cabling category | Frequency range |
|---|---|---|
| Level IIe | Category 5e | 1 to 100 MHz |
| Level III | Category 6 | 1 to 250 MHz |
| Level IIIe | Category 6A | 1 to 500 MHz |
| Level 2G | Category 8 | 2 000 MHz (Category 8 bandwidth) |
How it relates to other standards
| Standard | Relationship |
|---|---|
| IEC 61935-1 | International counterpart for testing installed balanced cabling. Uses corresponding Levels IIe, III and IIIe, and defines further levels for ISO/IEC classes up to 2 000 MHz |
| ANSI/TIA-568.2 | Sets the Category 5e to Category 8 performance limits that field testers measure against |
| ANSI/TIA-568.0 | Generic cabling standard that 1152-A references for the cabling it applies to |
| ISO/IEC 11801-1 | International cabling design standard. Its Class D to Class II cabling is tested to IEC 61935-1 |
What it means in practice
- Check the tester accuracy level is correct for the cabling category. Category 6A needs Level IIIe. Category 8 needs Level 2G.
- As good practice, check the test report states the tester accuracy level and the test limit used.
- For projects tested to ISO/IEC or EN limits, the tester level is usually stated against IEC 61935-1 instead. Levels IIe, III and IIIe are common to both.
- Check whether the specification names 1152-A or a later revision. TIA issued a call for interest for a revision, 1152-B, in April 2026.
Related reading: How to read a cable test certificate.