Network cabling is a vital component of any modern organization’s communication system. It is essential to ensure that network cabling installation is done correctly to prevent downtime and ensure that the system functions as expected. This article provides an overview of the installation standards that must be followed during network cabling installation.
Certifications and Professionalism
Installers must be certified by the manufacturer of the system(s) they are installing and be able to certify the installation for the manufacturer’s warranty. Installers must also have the necessary tools and test equipment and trained technicians to operate the equipment. They must have the ability to test, record, and produce drawings, provide new and defect-free material, and follow campus rules, including the no tobacco and parking policies. It is recommended that a Registered Communications Distribution Designer (RCDD) be assigned as a Project Manager. Installers must be professional in their interactions with Faculty, Staff, and Students and in their appearance. No objectionable graphics or language on shirts.
UTP/Coax/Fiber Optic Installation
During UTP/Coax/Fiber Optic installation, strict adherence to the methods of ANSI/TIA/EIA, and BICSI is crucial. All UTP terminations must be to the T568A wiring scheme. Installers must be responsible when pulling cables through conduit or sleeves that are installed by themselves or others. Installations that do not meet BICSI standards or NEC codes must be redone at the discretion and direction of OIT. This includes fill percent, conduit size, the number of bends between pull points, improper pull box and or size, conduit ends not terminated properly with bushings or connectors. Installers must maintain proper clearances above ceiling tiles and away from EMI sources. They must not use other trades’ pathways or allow them to use theirs.
Before any terminations and installation of equipment, the Equipment Room (ER), Equipment Closet (EC), or Telecommunications Room (TR) must be in its finished stage, free of dust and debris, with all walls and ceiling painted to finish coat and floors installed or treated. This will need to be coordinated with the building/project schedule for Fire Alarm, Elevator, Building Automation Systems, and Access Controls testing, inspections, and certifications. Contractors are responsible for dust, debris, and moisture. After terminations and equipment are installed, the EF/ER/TR’s door must be kept closed and locked at all times.
With the installation of underground or buried fiber optic cables, a trace wire shall be installed along the entire fiber optic cable route for use in active cable location. The trace wire shall be a #16 or larger AWG solid-copper. The trace wire shall provide a connection point for any future underground utility location equipment.
Inspections and Walk-Through
All work is subject to inspection and review at any time by qualified UTK personnel. All rough-in work will be inspected by UTK personnel before finished walls and ceilings are installed. Final walk-through inspections must be done before turning in final documentation and test results. The preliminary documentations will be made available for review during this walk-through inspection. Cables with visible defects, kinks, twists, crushed, cuts, or smashed will be replaced regardless if they pass tests. Installers must take reasonable steps to protect their installation in a construction environment. Free of dirt, defects, and debris.
Commissioning and Documentation
This document outlines the commissioning and documentation requirements for newly installed telecommunications infrastructure at UTK OIT. The infrastructure must be tested and certified according to ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-C.1,2,3,4 standards before it can be put into use. The testing criteria for the permanent link must be followed, and approved test equipment must be used to obtain a manufacturer warranty.
Testing can only commence in a clean environment free of moisture, dirt, dust, and debris. If terminations are exposed to such environments after testing, they will require retesting. In addition to the cabling being commissioned and certified, the electrical grounding and bonding systems must also be tested and certified.
The electrical contractor is responsible for testing the Alternating Current (AC) Grounding Electrode System, and the telecommunications installer is responsible for testing the Equipment Grounding (Bonding) System. The BICSI TDMM current edition provides information on approved test equipment and acceptable results.
Test Results
All installations must have a 25-year warranty that includes all types of telecommunications services such as Power over Ethernet (PoE) Voice over IP (VoIP), LAN Security Cameras, Wireless LAN, Fiber applications, and any future services that meet CAT5E or CAT6 ANSI/TIA/EIA and or IEEE specifications.
Administration / Labeling
All test results, including CATV, Fiber Optics, and Grounding/Bonding, must be submitted to UTK OIT before final certification. UTP cable test results must be submitted in their original format from the tester in electronic format. CATV signal loss and attenuation, length, signal leakage report, and document on a spreadsheet. Fiber lengths, attenuation, OTDR trace, must be submitted in their original format from the tester. Cables with visible defects and deformations such as kinks, twists, or crushed will fail and need to be replaced regardless of test results.
All outlets, ports, WAOs, patch panels, 110 blocks, conduits, trays, backbone cables, grounding, and racks must be labeled according to ANSI/TIA/EIA 606-A, Class 3 standards, with a specific labeling scheme of UTK OIT. All labeling material, methods, and schemes shall be submitted during the required submittal process. All labels shall be printed or generated by a mechanical device.
Firestopping
Finally, firestopping methods and materials must meet the approval of the AHJ. Firestopping around the conduits shall be elastomeric (permanent), while firestopping inside the conduit shall be pliable putty (removable). Firestopping must be accomplished by listed and approved methods and materials.
