Overview
EN 61935-3:2009 (adopted from IEC 61935-3:2008, modified) defines conformance testing for installed home cabling - both balanced (twisted‑pair) and coaxial systems - as specified for homes in EN 50173‑4. The standard sets out a structured process for ensuring that cabling installed in residential premises will support intended services by requiring visual inspection, verification testing, and either qualification testing or certification testing, together with prescribed documentation of results.
Key topics and requirements
- Scope: Conformance testing for home generic cabling systems (balanced and coaxial).
- Three-step conformance process:
- Visual inspection: performed after cable placement but before insulation/drywall; checks for physical damage, incorrect bend radii, staples/nail damage, separation from EMC sources and excessive length.
- Verification testing: continuity/connectivity checks for twisted‑pair and coaxial (e.g., absence of shorts between centre conductor and shield); performed before insulation/drywall.
- Qualification or certification testing:
- Qualification: tests to verify performance for specific network technologies (e.g., 100BASE‑T, 1000BASE‑T); field tester accuracy need not be traceable to national standards.
- Certification: measurements to demonstrate cabling meets generic classes (e.g., Class D/E/F as per ISO/IEC 11801/EN 50173‑1); requires field testers with accuracy traceable to national standards.
- Documentation: The standard specifies the required reporting and test-result records for installed cabling.
- Supported applications: ICT (Ethernet variants, IEEE 1394), analog telephony/ISDN/DSL, broadcast/TV (VHF/UHF up to 862 MHz), FM radio, satellite TV, CCTV, and control systems.
Practical applications
- Ensures residential cabling installations will support present and future services (data, voice, video, control).
- Used during construction and final acceptance to catch installation damage (e.g., staples, kinks) before drywall and finishes hide faults.
- Helps building owners, integrators and service providers quantify conformance and provide documented proof for warranty, commissioning and troubleshooting.
Who uses this standard
- Cabling contractors and installers performing home wiring
- Test and commissioning technicians and certification laboratories
- System integrators and home automation specialists
- Specifiers, architects, building inspectors and facility managers
- Manufacturers of field test equipment and cabling components
Related standards
- EN 50173‑4 (Information technology – Generic cabling systems – Part 4: Homes)
- EN 50173‑1 / ISO/IEC 11801 (Generic cabling for customer premises)
- IEC 60728‑1, IEC 60728‑12 (cable networks for television and EMC of cabled distribution systems)
- IEC 61935 series (testing of balanced and coaxial information technology cabling)
Keywords: EN 61935-3:2009, home cabling, verification testing, qualification testing, certification testing, visual inspection, installed cabling, EN 50173-4.
