It is the design and installation of a cabling systems that will support multiple hardware use systems and be suitable for today’s needs and those of the future

1. What is structured cablingin networking
Introduction to Structured Cabling?
What is Structured cabling in Networking? It is the design and installation of a
cabling systems that will support multiple hardware use systems and be suitable for
today’s needs and those of the future. For example cat5e, cat6 or cat6a can be part
of a bundled structured cable design cable. Thus providing the infrastructure to
connect a phone, PC, CCTV Camera, Wi-Fi, TV or Music server. In this instance all
by just plugging in differently at the main cable area where all the cables originate
from
Why is Structured Cabling Important?
Without a cabling infrastructure that is structured for all technology your future
growth will be limited. Indeed one of the biggest examples of this is old telehone
wiring for PBX systems that now need upgrading for VoIP. Legacy CCTV cabling
and WiFi cabling is also increasingly being required be changed recently due to
increase in technology and surpassing old cabling standards
Data Cabling Standards
The data cabling systems is administered under a guideline of set cabling standards
so that installations follow a consistently of installation and quality with an allowance
of expansion and coverage of the technologies it is installed to link and operate
The standards cover a range of expectations such as
 How the cabling should enter a building and be terminated
 The type, construction and size of the entrance facility
 The construction and size of the communications room and cabinet
 The number of cables to allow per user and workspace area
 The containment allowances for these cables
 Installation and terminating guidelines for the cables
 Testing and labelling expectations
Network Cabling Design
What is structured cabling in networking design based on? The correct design of the
structured cabling will provide predictable performance and aid future expansion.
Furthermore assist in easier future relocations, moves and changes
In essence it’s looking at the cabling design like an architect would do with a building
or home and see how best to bring all the required elements together and work as
one harmonious system. If the cabling is lacking in design the technology systems
will lack in performance and operation
The design will consider whether to cable directly to each location where desks and
furniture are not expected to move or whether to cable to distribution points which

2. then link locally to desks allowing for easier future moves and re-arrangements of
desks and furniture
The structured cabling system should cover all elements of the building hardware
and technology requirements and bring them all into a central design. This design
would include the cabinet space and locations and whether they are in a single
location or split over several floors and how the various locations are linked whether
via copper or fibre optic cabling. The containment and spaces that the cabling will
travel through will also be a design consideration. The cabling must be correctly
contained and supported to enable longevity and performance. The structured
cabling spaces and containment must also allow for future growth of additional
cables to travel through these areas. 40% fill on initial install and 60% maximum fill is
the BICSI standard for example
Categories of Cabling
Structured cabling can consist of a single specific standard of data cabling such as
Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6a or fibre optics. It also in some cases will specify different
categories of cable dependant on what has been requested and specified by each
hardware provider. The differences in cable could be a requirement to meet
termination practices, containment limitations or installation costs.
The overall design could call for Cat6a data cabling to desks for PC’s and Phones for
10 gig, Cat6 for CCTV, Cat5e to Access Control and Dual Cat6a to WIFI. The best
solution would be to cable the overall solution to the highest standard cabling
category so that in the future all systems could work off the same data cabling but
the other considerations of containment and cost are also important to take into
consideration
All hardware has a bandwidth and speed requirement for which the correct data
cabling infrastructure must be installed to enable that hardware to perform at its
required levels and work as required. An example would be a requirement for a
10gig connection at 80 metres which would require a structured cabling system of
Cat6a cabling to be installed as Cat5e and Cat6 would not support these
transmission requirements
Importance of Data Cabling Testing
Structured cabling also outlines a consistency of termination, testing and labeling.
There are several standard of terminations when it comes to copper data cabling and
fibre optic data cabling. Problems arise if different standards are followed by different
installers. Thus over an ongoing timeline users will find that certain outlets don’t work
when moving hardware. In this instance because the ports are wired to a different
termination standard
Testing parameters and standards are also important as without fully tested data
cabling results the end user will not know if that cable has been
 Install correctly and within the maximum distance
 Installed in the correct separation distances and bend radius

3.  Been terminated correctly both ends
 Has been tested and confirmed to work to a set standard of transmission tests
Without these test results showing full passes the user will find problems in their
hardware performance in the present and ongoing into the future
Structured Cabling Labeling
The consistency of labelling is also a very important part of a structured cabling
installation. The labeling should be designed in advance and follow an easy to follow
outline. The labeling should specify some or all of the following.
 The Cabinet or Floor Number
 The Outlet Number
 The floor box or cluster number (in some cases)
Different floors or cabinets will also at times have different colour outlet labels and
panels
An example would be a blue label marked 3/15/4
(3rd
Floor, Floor Box 15, Outlet number 4)
Structured Cabling Documentation
What is structured cabling in networking when it comes to the correct
documentation? The completed data cabling systems should be accompanied by the
test results and a full set of drawings and documentation
This will depend on the size of the building and the requirements of the end user but
can consist of the following
 Marked up drawings with outlet numbers for each location
 Communication cabinet layouts
 Floor to floor cabling schematics
 Test Results
 Manufacturer data sheets
As hardware changes rapidly and the data cabling requirements to those change
with them a focus on a structured cabling systems rather than quick cabling
requirement only for the present is becoming more of a necessity.
Power over Ethernet requirements have changed immensely and the cabling
requirements to handle these data and electrical requirements will exceed legacy
cabling installations quite quickly
With a focus on data cabling design and then implementing a correctly installed
system your requirements of today and of tomorrow will be catered for and whatever
hardware you choose to add or change will be supported.

4. About NM CablingSolutions - NetworkCabling Specialist
NMCablingisa technologyandstructuredcablingintegratorworkingthroughoutthe United
Kingdom.
We have createda comprehensive KnowledgeCentre forourindustrywhichcanbe viewed
at https://www.nmcabling.co.uk/knowledge-centre/