This means for permanent links:

• Wall outlet, including RJ 45 plug with 5 cm of cable
• 90 metres of horisontal cable
• Patch panel, including RJ 45 plug with 5 cm of cable

It should be noted that a permanent link may also include a consolidation/transition point and that this, as well as cable length, will affect the permanent link performance. However, the permanent link performance limits vary and always correspond with the actually applied configuration which will allow the application of a 3P certified permanent link to other configurations than actually tested.

For channels the situation is different. The customer specifies his worst case configuration, which is tested against the general channel requirements without considering the selected configurations. 3P's approval of a specific channel therefore cannot be extended to cover more components than those included in the tested configuration. The following types of channel configurations have so far been used:

• Channel Configuration 1: No cross-connect, no consolidation point, 5 metres of patch cable in each end
• Channel Configuration 2: No cross-connect, a consolidation point 7 metres from the wall outlet, 5 metres of patch cable in each end
• Channel Configuration 3: No cross-connect, a consolidation point 10 metres from the wall outlet, 5 metres of patch cable in each end
• Channel Configuration 4: A cross-connect with 5 metres of patch cord, no consolidation point, 2,5 metres of patch cable in each end
• Channel Configuration 5: A cross-connect with 2 metres of patch cord, a consolidation point 10 metres from the wall outlet connected with patch cable, 75 metres of horisontal cable, and 5 metres and 3 metres of patch cable at the wall outlet and cross-connect end, respectively

The testing includes verification of all permanent link and channel parameters specified in the amendments to CENELEC EN 50173 and ISO/IEC 11801, which also covers all parameters specified by TIA/EIA 568-A amendments. Furthermore the minimum EMC performance of permanent links and channels is measured if requested by the supplier. Results of any EMC performance measurements are presented in tables 22 through 25.

As discussed in the guide to selection of cabling from permanent link and channel testing the qualification status of the cables and connecting hardware gives significant information to help to identify any risk of fluctuating component quality, which may cause degradation of permanent link and channel performance. Therefore the qualification status of components is specified for each permanent link and channel.

Likewise the latest date of approval is specified for each permanent link and channel. The risk of change in component performance will of course increase with time. 3P has therefore decided that a certification will only be valid approx. one year from granting of certification unless documentation from component producers is received by 3P and demonstrates that component performance is unchanged. The date of certification will then be amended in accordance with the latest date of documentation.

The following electrical performance standards apply for each of the four performance ratings Class D, Class D+, Class E and Class F:

Class D:

• ISO/IEC Generic Cabling Standard 121801, Addendum 1
• CENELEC Geeneric Cabling Standard EN 50173, Amendment 1
• ANSI/TIA/EIA Generic Cabling Standard 568-A, including Addendum 4 (modified for 2 2 metres of measurement cords for permanent links)

Class D+: All Class D standards referenced above

• ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-A-5 Category 5e Generic Cabling Standard (modified for 2 2 metres of measurement cords for permanent links)

Class E:

• All Class D+ standards referenced above
• ISO/IEC working group proposal Cancun 91
• CENELEC working group proposals for Class E (similar to Cancun 91)
• TIA/EIA Cat. 6 addendum to ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-A (modified for 2 2 metres of measurement cords for permanent links)

Class F:

• All Class E standards referenced above
• ISO/IEC working group proposal Cancun 91
• CENELEC working group proposals for Class F (similar to Cancun 91)