While it does not specifically mention Ethernet, ANSI/TIA-606-B-2012 is the "Administration Standard for Telecommunications Infrastructure". It includes the following definition1,
3.2 Definition of terms
cable: An assembly of one or more insulated conductors or optical fibers, within an enveloping sheath.
This, therefore, includes Ethernet.
The question relates to the termination field of the cable; here this is the front of the patch panel. According to paragraph 10.2.2 of the standard1,
If termination fields are color-coded, the coding shown in table 4 should be used. If a different color-coding scheme is used, it shall be consistent throughout the enterprise. Cross-connections generally connect termination fields of different colors. A summary [...] of these recommendations are shown below in table 4 [...].
Table 4 - Example of termination field color-coding
- Termination Type; Color; Pantone #; Typical Application
- demarcation point; orange; 150C; central office connection
- network connection; green; 353C; user side of central office connection
- common equipment; purple; 264C; connection to PBX, mainframe computer
- Cabling Subsystem 3; white; terminations of building Cabling
- Subsystem 3; cable connecting MC to ICs
- Cabling Subsystem 2; gray; 422C; termination of building Cabling
- Subsystem 2; cable connecting IC to HCs
- campus cabling; brown; 465C; termination of campus cable between buildings
- Cabling Subsystem 1; blue; 291C; terminations of Cabling Subsystem 1 cable in TSs
- miscellaneous; yellow; 101C; alarms, security, or energy management
The wording in this document is quite dense, so to clarify2, the following colours should be used.
- User desks to patch panel to non-PoE switch:
Blue
This is horizontal cabling - any cabling that is used to connect a floor’s wiring closet to wall plates.
- PoE WiFi access points to Patch panel to PoE switch:
Purple
WiFi access points are common equipment as much as servers and PBXs are.
- PoE floodlights and PoE CCTV cameras to Patch panel to PoE switch:
Yellow
Security is specifically indicated to fall into the miscellaneous category. Best not to confuse CCTV and WiFi.
- WAN to patch panel to router:
Green
This is the user side of the Internet Service Provider (Central Office3) demarcation point1:3.2, 4.
If you choose to use a different colour scheme, you must document this and remain consistent throughout the organisation.
Sources:
- TIA-606-B (Revision of TIA-606-A) Administration Standard for Telecommunications Infrastructure. (2012). [online] Available at: http://az776130.vo.msecnd.net/media/docs/default-source/contractors-and-bidders-library/standards-guidelines/it-standards/tia-606-b.pdf?sfvrsn=2 [Accessed 22 Sep. 2021].
- NavePoint. (n.d.). Cable Color Codes: ANSI/TIA/EIA-606. [online] Available at: https://navepoint.com/blog/cable-color-codes-ansitiaeia606/.
- Techopedia.com. (n.d.). What is a Central Office (CO)? - Definition from Techopedia. [online] Available at: https://www.techopedia.com/definition/10245/central-office-co [Accessed 22 Sep. 2021].
- Techopedia.com. (n.d.). What is a Demarcation Point? - Definition from Techopedia. [online] Available at: https://www.techopedia.com/definition/6805/demarcation-point-pod [Accessed 22 Sep. 2021].