The I²C standard specifies that the maximum bus capacitance cannot exceed 400pF. It also states that the maximum bus pull-up current cannot exceed 3mA at 0.4V or 6mA at 0.6V when operating at 400kHz. Traces, long cables, and devices all possess capacitance and add it to the bus. This makes it difficult for large systems to stay under the defined 400pF limit. Furthermore, high bus capacitance and limited pull-up current can lengthen rise times to the point of violating the maximum rise time specification of 1µs at 100kHz or 300ns at 400kHz.

