A well planned, and carefully installed cabling system is vital to the efficient operation of any network. With a Structured Cabling System (SCS) (shown below) you have the flexibility to change, move or upgrade equipment, or resize the network, all without changing your cabling. SCS can be utilized for data, voice, audio/visual, HVAC, access (security), and other control systems in both commercial and residential applications.

By pre-wiring all possible locations in a new or existing building, all future moves, changes and additions can be made quickly and easily by simply moving patch cables in a centralized wiring closet. Remember that any system is only as fast as its slowest component. Installing higher performance products may cost a bit more up front, but is far less expensive than replacing or upgrading components later.

Typical structured cabling system

SCS has horizontal and backbone components. Horizontal wiring connects the patch panels in the telecomm closet, to the workstation. Although horizontal, or station, cabling for data and voice can be Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP), coax, or fiber, UTP cabling is considered the industry standard. The cable is constructed of four unshielded twisted pairs under one jacket. Category 3 UTP is generally considered “voice grade”, while Category 5, 5E and 6 are used for data applications. Most commercial installations are now Cat 5E or 6. Coax is used for most video applications.

The maximum horizontal run for Cat 3-6 systems cannot exceed 90 meters (285 feet) including patch cables. In large facilities this often requires multiple wiring closets. The backbone portion of your system, if required, connects wiring closets and equipment rooms, as illustrated below.

Backbone Cabling

Backbone systems may be UTP, coax or fiber. Fiber systems, due to their high bandwidth capacity, are often chosen for backbone runs.

Workstations are connected, through the horizontal runs, to the patch panels, which in turn are connected, via patch cords, to the various switches, servers and other equipment.

All systems, regardless of the medium used, should be tested for performance levels. Any firm that you choose to install your SCS should have the equipment and expertise to properly test your system. Maintain copies of the test results for each channel and save them for future reference. Original test results can be a valuable point of reference when troubleshooting a network problem.

In choosing a cabling installer for your network it is always best to use a company that utilizes Building Industry Consulting Services International (BICSI) Registered Communications Distribution Designers (RCDD’s). BICSI is the industry standard for cable installations and RCDD’s are BICSI certified experts in all aspects of the cabling field. Certification requires a rigorous testing program, continuous industry training and periodic re-certification. They can provide you with experience in every aspect of your cabling system, from design and installation through testing and maintenance.