Electricity can be a dangerous thing causing over 4,000 injuries every year with about one fatality occurring every day! How do you stop such accidents from happening in your own workplace? A properly installed structured cabling system!
A structured cabling system is the foundation of your networks and communication infrastructure. Contributing to the creation of a standardized and consistent method for your data, audio, and videos. It’s the only thing that can grant your wish for flexibility, continuous connectivity, and scalability.
Read on to get a better understanding of what to do before and after installing structured cabling!
1. Find the Right Structured Cabling Installer
Novices who want to install a structured cabling system but know nothing about it is a big no-no. Professionals are there for a reason because they have the knowledge, experience, and skills needed to install your cables. Structured cabling services that are honest, experienced, and dependable will ensure that you will not have any problems in the future.
So, how do you begin your search for the right cabling company? Start by looking through the company’s testimonials and reviews. You can search their website to check if they have plenty of satisfied customers with no to little complaints about their response time, trustworthiness, and problem-solving skills.
If you’re looking locally for structured cabling Pompano Beach, then consult the structured cabling service provider’s website and office to get a better look at everything. You have to ensure that the contractor offers low voltage systems that encompass fiber optic cables, data and phone wiring, alarm, and security systems, and provides other cabling of fewer than 50 volts. This ensures that whoever you hire in Pompano Beach brings the necessary structured cabling with a practical and cost-efficient price tag.
Other factors to consider when searching for the right cabling service include:
- Quotes: The quotes should be detailed with all the necessary price estimates available for you to see
- Longevity: If a company has lived for so long, then they have had many successes over the years
- Certification: Up-to-date certifications mean that the contractor takes their job seriously and constantly follows state and local service codes
Structured cabling contractors are professionals that know everything there is to know about structured cabling. They have the experience and knowledge to install cables correctly, which reduces risk issues while ensuring the best performance and reliability.
2. Plan for Possible Changes
Before you begin cable installation, it is important to be prepared for future network requirements. Try to take a better look at your company’s current needs and prepare for potential growth and technological changes or advancements. Take a good look at your space allotment plan and ensure there’s enough room to add one more cabinet or rack for the future.
Consider the number of devices, users, and data volumes that your network may need to handle. This information will help you find the best cabling standards, bandwidth requirements, and future-proofing measures in the future. Go for a cabling system that can accommodate growth while being able to easily modify or upgrade without disturbing your entire network.
3. Choose a Cable Type
Before installing, make sure you have the right type of cables that can support your network’s bandwidth requirements. The most commonly used types of cables for structured cabling are:
- Category 5e (Cat5e)
- Category 6 (Cat6)
- Category 6A (Cat6A)
Cat5e is the most used cabling type in building wiring. They are best for voice and data apps. On the other hand, Cat6 has an allowed bandwidth of up to 200 MHz. These can handle PoE, like cameras, automatic doors, phone systems, and WiFi.
Lastly, Cat6A offers improved specifications, doubling the transmission frequency and making it an excellent choice for network connections. They also have longer cables that have faster speed, giving better performance and more flexibility.
4. Follow Industry Cabling Standards
Some states and cities require you to use a certain type of cabling system. This is so your cables can handle the municipal power networks in your state. So you have to study any relevant standards regarding cabling, such as TIA/EIA-568 and ISO/IEC 11801. Be sure to follow their guidelines around termination, cable routing, and labeling.
Following the proper grounding, cable management, and bonding techniques will save you a ton of headaches down the line. These are essential for minimizing any signal interferences and guaranteeing electrical safety. We recommend speaking to certified cabling installers that have the expertise and experience with these practices.
5. Fire-Proof Your Cables
To minimize operational concerns and safety risks, you must plan for the worst when installing a structured cabling system. Why not prepare for such issues with a fire-proof cabling system to avoid these dangers?
One of the reasons why your cable may catch on fire is due to contagion and the insulation sheath that may carry the fire around your workplace. So be sure to install your cables away from any possible sources of fire and use cables with insulation that are not flammable. Opting for thermoset cabling material since they have better flame-resistant properties and also fight against degradation and softening is better way to go.
6. Don’t Forget Cable Labeling
Cable labeling is frequently overlooked, but it is crucial for cable maintenance, troubleshooting, and management of your network. Label both ends of each cable with distinct identifiers that correspond with a centralized documentation system. This will help you save time and effort when seeking certain cables or troubleshooting connectivity issues. To minimize misunderstandings, make sure your labeling is clear and consistent, especially for big installments with plenty of cables.
7. Plan for Cable Pathways
When troubleshooting and managing wires, simplify the process by thoroughly examining possible pathways and vacant areas. This can be achieved by carefully planning your installation routes, listing out obstacles, and finding the best cable paths.
Take a moment to clean out the room and remove any potential interference, such as lights and power wires. Once you’ve chosen a room, consider using a conduit, cable tray, or elevated floors to your advantage to effectively secure and manage your cables.
8. Test and Certify the Cable System
Once everything is in place and you have installed your structured cabling system, it’s time to test and certify the cables. Testing will ensure that your cables are performing well and follow industry and comply with standards. You can use cable length, crosstalk, attenuation, and impedance for testing. These tests will help you get the best signal transmission with reduced error rates and suitable transmission speeds.
After completing the testing, you can proceed to certify the cables. This is to guarantee trust in the cabling system’s quality. It also gives assurance that your system fits your needs and performs to your expectations.
Conclusion
Coming to work with a structured cabling system is a dream come true for those who want maximum scalability, performance, and longevity! The points given above are your next move for organized and neat cabling management with great benefits. Learn more about cabling systems and management by browsing through the rest of our articles.
