Cabling Best Practices Guide
By: Brian Rhodes, Published on Jan 03, 2018
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Comments (37)
Undisclosed End User #1
And please be nice to your service folks and use Velcro instead of tie wraps :)
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Kyle Folger
I go between zip ties and hook and loop. I like hook and loop if I have a bundle near the head end that may be added to in the future. I will use zip ties for dressing power cables or for cables that will almost never be added to and won't be touched. I watch how tight I bundle them. I can say I've never really been cut by zip ties. Maybe it's because I clean up messes that never use any form of cable management. I love when the expensive cable management exists in racks, and then is not even used.
Besides drop ceilings, the other location for bad cable management is in attics, especially those constructed with wood. It can be like an obstacle course not to step on data cabling thrown any way they please. I like to place the cables high while keeping in mind others will be in the attic at some point so I make sure the cable is seen and does not block or prevent navigating the attic. This means I generally keep the cable high and out of the way whenever possible.
Here are some fun pics:
Above the ceiling at a Save-A-Lot (They sure did)
A local cable company after the store got expanded to two bays, I lifted the ceiling panel and this bundle fell on me. That was fun. We call all bad cable installs doing it "Buckeye Style".
Not necessarily bad cable install but unique camera installation with bad cabling.
From Stanley Security
From my daughter's school (in-house installation) They even asked for volunteers to have a cable pulling day. Great charter school, but really.
The POS company said they would install the POS and thrown in the camera system as part of the deal. How generous of them.
This was fun:
There were labels on some of the cable. The only thing that remains now is a hole where they need to cut a piece of ceiling tile.
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Undisclosed Integrator #3
Hey John, maybe you can sponsor a photo contest to see who finds the worst cable or camera install? Would be interesting. Just a thought.
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Jay Hobdy
Just curious to know how many times this has been pointed out to a client, and how many times they bother to fix it?
This is pretty typical of the apartment communities we work with.
BTW IPVM When I click on the "insert/edit image" there is no upload option. Windows 7 Chrome Browser, hit ctrl F5. Seems to work in my office on Win 10 and Chrome. I had to drag the pictures over
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Chris Daniels
These best practices are a good start. However I would recommend that if you do a lot of commercial work that requires "standards compliant cabling practices" by specification and you perform your own IP cabling installation that your company invests in the ANSI/TIA Telecommunications Building Wiring Standards. They are available from IHS on CD and include TIA-568 Cabling and Components series, TIA-569 Pathway and Spaces series, TIA-606 administration standard, TIA-607 grounding requirements and TIA-758 outside plant standard. There are other sections in there as well but these are the critical ones. I see comments about zip ties in this string that would require replacement of Cat/ Cat6A cables in some cables due to damaging the geometry of the cable jacket. Just a word to the wise. Knowledge is power.
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Undisclosed Integrator #4
I am seeing more and more security companies that are doing their own cabling in the midwest. I don't know if it is because the cabling companies are starting to do their own security or if they are just to busy to be subcontracted to do security cabling. Either way, this means that the quality of cabling on the installs has gone down.
As a company, we take pride in the fact that all of our cabling is installed per BICSI standards. While most people think that is doesn't make a difference, we have seen first hand what doing things the correct way does for your reputation. It makes you look like a true professional when at the end the of your project, you hand over closeout documents with all documentation and this documentation includes certified Cabling test results.
Another thing we always do is always use velcro. How many people have gone into an IDF and seen 50 tie-wraps on 20 cables, because people are to lazy to cut them off. Velcro makes it so easy to keep your cabling manageable and organized.
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Derek Caudill
Recently spotted in a warehouse in Atlanta GA.
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Ari Erenthal
01/15/18 04:27pm
I saw this on Facebook the other day. An integrator had to relocate an alarm panel, here's how he made the splice:
It's a terminal block by a company called Phoenix Contact.
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Christopher Freeman
Since Professionalism starts in the install , and looks great at the very beginning.
after several techs or outsourced contractors tear the application apart to add or fix problems , that is where it gets messy
Changes , adding to system s , then tech's cut out the ties , dont wrap the new wires and leave a messy job behind them.
Cheep Help , or outsourced contractors with no oversight to keep them in check.
will send some great examples later on
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Undisclosed Manufacturer #7
It's important to understand the differences between codes, standards, and best practices.
Codes are for life safety. In the cabling world, the NFPA and other codes are relevant. A code violation may effect permits, and has liability ramifications. One example is installing a riser rated cable in a plenum space. This should never pass an inspection, and if this type of violation causes loss of life, then liability comes into play. Some code documents are available on-line free of charge.
Standards are all about performance. Category 5E, 6, and 6A are all ANSI/EIA/TIA standards, which measure performance. Attenuation, NEXT, FEXT, return loss, are examples of values measured in cabling performance. Based upon verified cabling performance, network protocols can be sure that the infrastructure will provide reliable transport. Obtaining standards docs usually require payment to a 3rd party, which is unfortunate.
Best Practices are generally a combination of codes, standards, and recognized industry best practices summarized in one document. The BICSI TDMM and Installer Courses are perfect examples. These types of documents generally require a fee, and are a valuable reference for codes, standards, and best practices.
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Christopher Freeman
Most Professional Companys have and live by the IT standards
Expect the professional , and wont hire back the T.S. if they mess up
In the contract and the contracts I submit , I mandate the code, to the minimum standard
When I service others and I mean a lot of others , I see very poor work , like they dont have the time to put back into place what they tear apart.
As said earlier , standards are only as good as the enforcement and holding back pay is how you force the compliance
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Undisclosed End User #6
Question #4 on the quiz needs the correct answer to be corrected. From at device, to at rack.
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