| Full title | ANSI/TIA-862-C, Structured Cabling Infrastructure Standard for Intelligent Building Systems |
| Publisher | Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), TR-42 Telecommunications Cabling Systems, subcommittee TR-42.1 |
| Current revision | ANSI/TIA-862-C, dated June 2022, announced by TIA on 12 July 2022 |
| Status | Current. TR-42.1 is developing ANSI/TIA-568.1-F, a consolidation of 568.0, 568.1 and TIA-862 (status March 2026: approval ballot) |
| Previous revisions | TIA-862-B (2016) with Addendum 1 (2017); TIA-862-A (2011); TIA/EIA-862 (2002) |
| Related standards | ANSI/TIA-568.0, 568.1, 568.2, 568.3, 568.5; ISO/IEC 11801-6; EN 50173-6 |
What it covers
TIA-862-C specifies requirements for intelligent building system cabling infrastructure. It covers cabling topology, architecture, design and installation practices, test procedures and components. TIA states that the cabling is intended to support a wide range of systems, particularly those that use, or can use, IP-based infrastructure.
Intelligent building systems are the systems that monitor and control building functions. Published descriptions of the 2002 standard list HVAC, lighting and power control, security and access control, and fire and life safety. The 2002 standard stated that life and safety codes take precedence over its requirements.
Revision history
| Revision | Date | Title or change |
|---|---|---|
| TIA/EIA-862 | 2002 | Building Automation Systems Cabling Standard for Commercial Buildings |
| TIA-862-A | 2011 | Building Automation Systems Cabling Standard |
| TIA-862-B | 2016 | Renamed Structured Cabling Infrastructure Standard for Intelligent Building Systems |
| 862-B Addendum 1 | 2017 | Updated references; new media types from ANSI/TIA-568-C.2-1 and ANSI/TIA-568.3-D |
| TIA-862-C | 2022 | Includes Addendum 1, aligns with the revised ANSI/TIA-568.0, adds single-pair cabling from ANSI/TIA-568.5 |
Key concepts
The terms below are from the 2002 standard. Check the 862-C text for current definitions.
- Coverage area (2002 standard): the area served by a building device.
- Horizontal connection point (HCP) (2002 standard): a connection point in the horizontal run between the telecommunications room and the devices.
- Coverage area cable (2002 standard): the horizontal cabling from the HCP or building outlet to the device.
Topology and distance (original standard)
Published descriptions of the 2002 standard give a star topology from the telecommunications room, with bus or ring connections possible using multipoint connections, and three horizontal arrangements, each limited to 90 m:
| Arrangement | Path |
|---|---|
| 1 | Cross-connect to HCP to device |
| 2 | Cross-connect to HCP to outlet to device |
| 3 | Cross-connect directly to outlet to device |
How it relates to other standards
- ANSI/TIA-568.0 gives the generic cabling model that 862-C was aligned with. Component and test requirements for each medium are in 568.2 (balanced twisted pair), 568.3 (optical fibre) and 568.5 (single pair).
- ISO/IEC 11801-6 and EN 50173-6 are the international and European standards for distributed building services cabling. They use a service concentration point (SCP) between the floor distributor and service outlets. See the ISO/IEC 11801-6 library page.
- ANSI/TIA-568.1 covers commercial building cabling. ANSI/TIA-568.1-F, a consolidation of 568.0, 568.1 and TIA-862, was at approval ballot in March 2026.
What it means in practice
- Cite the revision. TIA-862-C (2022) is current; specifications that still cite 862-A or 862-B may use older media and terms.
- Single-pair cabling to ANSI/TIA-568.5 is included from 862-C onwards.
- For field testing, check the 568.2, 568.3 or 568.5 requirements for the media installed.
- On projects designed to ISO/IEC or CENELEC standards, use ISO/IEC 11801-6 or EN 50173-6 and their terms.
- Expect references to change when ANSI/TIA-568.1-F is published.
Related reading: What is structured cabling?.