CAT 6A

Reference Guide
Thank you for choosing Leviton Network Solutions. Our copper, fiber, power, and
Connected Home solutions are ideal for today's most demanding applications,
consistently exceeding our customers’ expectations. Leviton CAT 6A structured
cabling solutions are no exception. UTP eXtreme® 6A channel- and component-rated
performance options plus a shielded solution meet the needs of any application.
Our component-rated UTP CAT 6A connectivity solution is the first in the industry to
achieve third party verification through Intertek/ETL. Our channel-rated UTP solution
balances economy with Leviton performance. And shielded connectivity delivers the
signal isolation and data security essential in government, gaming, medical,
and financial installations.
 UNDERSTANDING CAT 6A DATA CENTER APPLICATIONS
CH 02 Standards
CH 24 Pathways & Spaces
1 5
03 Leviton CAT 6A Expertise 25 New CAT 6A DC Solutions
TABLE OF CONTENTS

05 Leviton CAT 6A Systems

CAT 6A TERMINATION
HORIZONTAL CABLING 28 Tips
CH 08 CAT 6A Cable Types CH
29 110-Style Patch Panels
2 09 Routing & Handling 6
31 UTP Connectors
11 Pathways & Spaces 33 Shielded Connectors
TELECOMMUNICATIONS ROOM CAT 6A TESTING
14 Patch Panels CH
CH 7 36 Performance Tests
3 15 Cable Management Products 37 AXT Testing
17 Cable Assemblies
18 Managing Cords CH
8 39 LEVITON PART NUMBERS
WORK AREA 43 GLOSSARY
CH 20 Cabling CH
4 9
21 Workstation
1. INTRODUCTION

Understanding CAT 6A
Equipment, design and planning, and installation practices for CAT 6A
projects are all significantly different from previous generation structured
cabling systems. Use this guide to gain a better understanding of these
unique requirements, which will in turn help you accurately bid jobs and
shorten installation time. The final result will be a high-performance
system that supports today’s requirements and provides a smooth
migration path toward 10G network performance.
CH. 1 The Category 6A Organization: Organization: Organization:
INTRO (Augmented Category 6) TIA (Telecommunications ISO (International Standards IEEE (Institute of Electrical and
standard addresses the Industry Association) Organization) Electronics Engineers)
performance demands Standard: Standard:
Standard:
of 10 Gigabit Ethernet 11801; Class EA Specification 802.3an
568-C.2 (replaces 568-B.2-10)
(10GBASE-T). Several
organizations detail Defines: Defines: Defines:
Performance requirements for Class EA cabling and component Channel performance for

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aspects of the standard,
STANDARDS

but all define 6A CAT 6A channels, permanent performance requirements 10GBASE-T Ethernet over
performance as up to links, and components for customer premises. ISO balanced twisted pair cables
500 MHz and a maximum equivalent of CAT 6A; commonly
distance of 100 meters specified outside of North America
(328 feet). CAT 6A is
backward compatible
with CAT 6, 5e, 5, and
3 performance and
applications.
2
 CH. 1 Technical Support & Applications Engineering
INTRO When you need assistance with your next CAT 6A project, from selecting the
best products for an application to tips on building or installing a system,
LEVITON CAT 6A EXPERTISE
contact our technical support team. Team members have extensive training on
CAT 6A standards and applications, and can help work through your questions
as you complete your first 10G installations.
Leviton’s expert team of applications engineers provides CAT 6A infrastructure
design assistance. Each design is built around the specific needs of your
active equipment, network topology, and transmission methods. The unique
requirements of facilities such as data centers, government agencies,
health care facilities, and high-rise structures are also incorporated. Just as
important, the team utilizes its thorough understanding of industry standards
and product functionality to plan systems that will accommodate industry
trends and future needs.
Call 800.824.3005 or +1.425.486.2222 or email appeng@leviton.com for
technical support or applications engineer assistance.

3
 CH. 1
Leviton Contractor Program
INTRO
For guaranteed product performance, choose a Leviton Contractor
Program installer. The program builds on contractor experience
LEVITON CAT 6A EXPERTISE
and knowledge to ensure quality installation of Leviton Network
Solutions products. Program installers attend Leviton’s training
course, which includes the latest structured cabling standards,
industry technologies, installation techniques, and field-testing
methods. Most importantly, they offer more value to their
customers with a lifetime product and performance warranty on
qualified projects.
Visit leviton.com/lcp or email contractorprograms@leviton.com
for more information.
Contractor Program
Specification Support
Leviton’s nationwide team of specification engineers supports
consultants, architects, specifiers, and engineers who design
network systems. All team members hold BICSI’s RCDD
certification, and are members of the Construction Specifications
Institute. These engineers thoroughly understand the demands
placed on different network environments, and specify only
the equipment that will provide optimal performance in each
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installation. In addition, Leviton offers direct field support and
materials for use in bids, design plans, RFPs, and specification
documents, including BIM (building information modeling) objects,
CAD drawing files, Visio stencils, and bid spec/RFP documents.
Visit leviton.com/specteam or email specteam@leviton.com for
more information.
4
 CH. 1 Channel-Rated UTP System
INTRO All category-rated solutions are channel
rated, meaning that the end-to-end
LEVITON CAT 6A SYSTEMS
system has been tested to perform at
or above its standard’s requirements.
Leviton’s channel-rated system balances
economy with Leviton quality and
performance. Our exclusive Cone of
Silence® helps suppress alien crosstalk, a
dual layer wiring scheme label simplifies
termination, and patented Retention Force
Technology protects against damage from
four- or six-pin plugs.
Component-Rated UTP System
Leviton’s component-rated system delivers
industry-leading performance for today’s
high bandwidth applications. Component-
rated performance is more stringent than
channel-rated; each connectivity element
is guaranteed to meet or exceed the
standard’s performance. To provide greater
headroom in high-density and short-link
installations, Leviton has designed and
engineered a component-rated CAT 6A
connector with patent-pending triple-stage
compensation. An advanced rigid circuit
board design, engineered tine geometry,
and a flexible circuit provide compensation
to minimize the adverse effects of return
loss, near end crosstalk, and alien crosstalk.
Shielded System
Like our CAT 6A UTP solutions, Leviton’s
shielded solutions exceed CAT 6A
performance standards and protect
network traffic from alien crosstalk.
Our shielded solutions offer a high level of
data security and EMI/RFI protection for
government, healthcare, gaming, financial,
manufacturing, and other sensitive
environments. With shielding, internal
data signals are securely contained and
isolated from interference.
5
 CH. 1 UTP Channel- &
INTRO Component-Rated
• QuickPort® connectors
LEVITON CAT 6A SYSTEMS

• SlimLine patch cords

• 110-style patch panels
• QuickPort patch panels
• 110-style wiring blocks

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Shielded
• Die-cast QuickPort connectors
• SlimLine patch cords
• QuickPort patch panels

6
2. HORIZONTAL CABLING

CAT 6

CAT 6A

CAT 6A cable is considerably different from previous generation cable.

Its larger outside diameter (OD), corresponding larger minimum bend radius,
and heavier weight will change installation requirements for routing and
handling as well as design of pathways and spaces.
How is CAT 6A Cable Unique?
• TIA standard allows up to .354" outside diameter (OD), a 54% increase over
CAT 6 OD average of .23"
• More than twice the weight of typical CAT 6 cable
• Tighter twists and larger conductor size than CAT 6 and 5e
• Typically comes on large reels and requires special reel-handling equipment
CAT 6A Cable Types
1st Generation
UTP
1st Gen
Most 1st generation UTP cable
is designed and manufactured
with tighter twists, larger
conductor size, and more
complex center splines
than CAT 6 cable. These
characteristics increase cable
OD and result in heavier cable
weight, reduced fill capacity,
and a larger bend radius.
Cable Type 5e
Average OD .185"
2nd Generation
UTP
2nd Gen shielded
1st Gen 2nd Gen
2nd generation UTP cable also has
tighter twists and larger conductors
than CAT 6, but incorporates new
cable design elements such as filler
tubes or non-conductive isolation
wraps that allow a smaller cable
OD while retaining 6A performance.
2nd generation cable is lighter and
offers better performance with a
smaller bend radius.
6 6A Gen1 6A Gen2
.230" .330"
Shielded
1stshielded
Gen 2nd Gen
Shielded cable provides higher
immunity to EMI/RFI and has a
smaller OD, typically .29" - .32".
However, the cable has a drain
wire and foil shield that will
increase installation time. In
addition, every component in
the system must be shielded
and properly bonded to ground
in order to be effective.
6A Shielded
.300" .290"
Maximum Horizontal
TECH TIP
Cable Distance
TIA specifies 90 meters
shielded (295 feet) as the maximum
permanent link length and
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100 meters (328 feet) for
maximum channel length.
The standards do not specify
a minimum length, but 10
feet is recommended to avoid
return loss and NEXT issues
due to the higher signal
frequency. Leviton is the only
manufacturer to provide lifetime
warranty coverage on qualified
installations for a 10 foot
6A Max permanent link, critical in data 8
center applications.
.354"
 CH. 2 Larger, heavier CAT 6A cables require Cable Reels Cable Pulling
modifications to traditional cable
HORIZ. Typically, CAT 6A cable will come on The maximum pulling tension for a
CABLING routing and handling techniques.
reels instead of in pull boxes and will 4-pair balanced twisted pair cable must
Follow the tips here to help ensure a require racks/carts that can support not exceed 25 lbf (110N). Exceeding
smooth installation. their larger size. this tension will result in transmission
ROUTING & HANDLING

degradation and may affect the system’s

ability to pass certification testing.

Leviton VELCRO® Brand Fasteners

SPOTLIGHT
Use Leviton's VELCRO® Brand
fasteners to secure all cable bundles.
Our genuine VELCRO® Brand products
won’t crush or damage cables like
tie wraps can, and are reusable for
moves, adds, and changes.
DO DON'T 9
 CH. 2 Bend Radius Placement
HORIZ. To maintain CAT 6A performance, minimum bend radius Leviton approved-partner CAT 6A cable may be placed in the same
CABLING
should exceed 4x OD for UTP and shielded cable. This radius tray with CAT 6, 5e, and other category-rated cables. In addition,
is significantly larger than CAT 6 and 5e. Plan carefully to Leviton warrants its product performance whether strict combing or
ensure there is sufficient space throughout cable runs to randomizing dressing methods are used. As with all cable runs, large or
ROUTING & HANDLING

maintain proper bend radius. heavy cable bundles should be positioned under other cable to prevent
Note: In 568-B.2-10, CAT 6A shielded cable bend radius was 8x OD. crushing. Follow NEC code for separating power and data cables.

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Slack Loops
TIA recommends storing 10 feet of extra cable in Pulling Lubricants

TECH TIP
the telecom room and 12-18 inches above work area To maintain CAT 6A performance, choose spray or wipe
installations for re-terminations and to accommodate lubricants specifically designed for data communications
moves, adds, and changes. Use an extended or figure 8 cables. Using other lubricants can degrade performance;
the majority of insertion loss failures have been traced
loop configuration to alleviate cable stress. Cable slack in
back to the use of general purpose lubricants.
bundled or excessive loops has been shown to degrade
cable performance and is associated with return loss 10
failures. Plan carefully to ensure there is sufficient space
and support for heavy CAT 6A cable slack loops.
 CH. 2 Cable Tray Fill Structural & Cable Supports
HORIZ. TIA-569 recommends 25% fill at initial installation and up to 50% with unplanned additions. • Stronger anchors and threaded
CABLING
If a single cable tray will also carry power cables, a physical barrier is required to comply with rods are needed to support heavier
the NEC. Finally, ensure tray support spacing is sufficient to prevent excessive sagging. CAT 6A cable
Consider solid bottom tray for higher density applications. • Use properly sized J hooks and
PATHWAYS & SPACES

other supports to accommodate

Conduit Fill Typical Tray & Conduit Capacity (# of cables) bundle size
• Limit bundles to 50 cables to prevent
A maximum conduit fill ratio 5e 6 6A1 6A2 6AS
damage to cables on the bottom
of 40% is recommended Average OD .185" .230" .330" .300" .290"
by TIA-569 standards to 2" x 6" 111 72 35 42 45 • Do not exceed cable support

Cable
manufacturer’s recommended

Tray*
accommodate cable bundle 4" x 8" 298 192 93 113 121
bend radius requirements and 6" x 20" 1116 722 350 424 454 capacity
allow for future expansion. 3/4 6 5 1 3 3 • Space cable supports randomly

Conduit**
1 11 8 4 4 5 between 3 and 4 feet apart to
1 1/4 19 14 6 8 9
prevent system degradation due
1 1/2 25 19 9 11 12
to sagging
*25% fill ratio
**EMT Trade Size. Calculations based on industry standards of 53% capacity for
• Do not use ceiling support wires or
1 cable, 31% for 2 cables, and 40% for 3 or more cables. other ceiling components to support
11
Note: 6A1 = 1st generation, 6A2 = 2nd generation, 6As = Shielded communications infrastructure
 CH. 2 Cable Tray Sizing Consolidation Points & Zone Enclosures

HORIZ. To determine the proper tray size based on 25% fill, use the TIA standards allow an optional consolidation point (CP) within
CABLING following calculation: a permanent link. A CAT 6A 110 block is Leviton’s standard
Step Instructions Example CP solution; density is 1/3 less than CAT 6 110 blocks (64-pair
.30" diameter each,
CAT 6A capacity vs. 96-pair for CAT 6 in the same footprint).
1 Determine cable diameter and total number of cables
PATHWAYS & SPACES

100 cables total

Consolidation points may be mounted into a Leviton zone
2 Square the cable diameter .30 x .30 = .09 enclosure, which are available in several styles:

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3 Multiply result by number of cables .09 x 100 = 9
• Ceiling- or floor-mount
Multiply result by .785 to factor for cable roundness • Plenum-rated
4 9 x .785 = 7.065 sq in
(This result is the total cross-sectional area of your cables)
• Active or passive equipment rated
5 Multiply result by 4 to obtain pathway size at 25% fill 7.065 x 4 = 28.26 sq in
Zone enclosures also accept patch panels and/or active
At 25% fill, a 28 sq in area is needed, so a standard 4" x 8" tray would be adequate.
equipment, and are then considered telecom enclosures (TEs).
Note: For conduit, size for 40% fill by substituting 2.5 as the multiplier in Step 5
TELECOM ROOM
Firestopping HORIZONTAL UTP CABLE
TECH TIP

CAT 6A cables may require larger firewall penetrations. Always follow

applicable national code (e.g. NEC or CEC) or a superceding authority- CONSOLIDATION POINT 12
having jurisdiction (AHJ) codes for firestopping requirements. PERMANENT LINK (90m)

CHANNEL (100m)
3. TELECOMMUNICATIONS ROOM

Organizing cable runs at racks and cabinets is essential

to a well-managed network. Larger, heavier CAT 6A
cables may require special planning and equipment for a
successful installation. Select the best patch panels, cable
management, and patch cords or trunks for your application
to speed installation and simplify ongoing management.
 CH. 3 110-Style Shielded VertiGO® Zero-U
TELECOM • 1RU 24-port flat and angled • 1RU 24-port flat and angled QuickPort • 12-port panel only, 3" rear
ROOM
• 2RU 48-port flat and angled • 2RU 48-port flat and angled QuickPort channel, or 6" rear channel
Flat 110-style panels are our most popular Shielded panels are ideal for installations where data Patented VertiGO Zero-U panels can be
models; they can be used in a wide variety of security and signal isolation are critical, including mounted on racks or cabinets, to a ladder
applications and offer a standard IDC field with government agencies, banking, gaming, and hospitals. tray or wire basket, directly to the wall, under
easy punchdown. a raised floor, or even onto modular furniture.

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PATCH PANELS

QuickPort® C1 Ultra™ QuickPort

C1 Ultra™ Composite Patch Panel

Flat, angled, recessed angled, and
recessed flat:
• 1RU 24-port
• 2RU 48-port
• 2RU 72-port high-density
Flat and angled:
• 1RU 48-port high-density
Our QuickPort panels allow you to color-code your
CAT 6A installations, mix-and match media, and to
add connectors as more capacity is needed.
SPOTLIGHT
• 2RU 48-port flat composite
Our newest panel offers a high-end aesthetic,
superior strength, and customization
capabilities perfect for data centers and
other showroom-style applications.
For the ultimate in panel design and customization
capabilities, choose Leviton’s new C1 Ultra.
Polymer construction has a higher strength-to-
weight ratio than 16-gauge metal and a look
totally unique in the industry. Custom labeling
options include A/B switch fabric color-coding,
corporate or school logos, or virtually any front
panel design. 14
 CH. 3 Vertical Management
TELECOM
ROOM 8" High-Capacity Versi-Duct® 5" Versi-Duct®
• 80" length, standard hinged black cover, front only • 80" length, standard snap-on black cover, front only
• 80" length, standard hinged black cover, front and rear • 80" length, standard snap-on black cover, front and rear
CABLE MANAGEMENT

• 80" length, designer hinged grey cover, front only
• 80" length, designer hinged grey cover, front and rear
• Center mounting bracket, 8" channel
• Cable retainer and slack loop organizer, 8" channel
High-capacity Versi-Duct is ideal for CAT 6A installations, especially large
deployments. Choose a designer cover for a sleek look in showroom environments.
• 40" length, standard snap-on black cover, front only
• 40" length, standard snap-on black cover, front and rear
• Grey snap-on designer cover, front and rear
• Mounting bracket, 5" channel
Choose 5" Versi-Duct for smaller installations where its capacity meets
installation needs, including future growth (see capacity chart below).

Versi-Duct Capacity (# of cables)

CAT 6A Gen1 CAT 6A Gen2 CAT 6A Shielded
Average OD .330" .300" .290"
Fill Rate 25% 50% 25% 50% 25% 50%
5" Channel Size 45 90 55 110 59 118
8" Channel Size 145 290 177 354 190 380
15
 CH. 3 Horizontal Management
TELECOM
ROOM Versi-Duct® Rear Cable Management Support Bars Standard Front Cable Management
• Front only • Standard flat, angled, and recessed angled • 1, 2, and 4RU managers with metal rings
• Front and rear • Extended flat • 1 and 2RU managers with plastic saddles
CABLE MANAGEMENT

• 1 and 2RU grey designer covers • High-density flat • SpaceMaker manager

• Bend radius limiters • Rear manager for active equipment flat Standard front managers complement Leviton panel styles

Choose horizontal Versi-Duct as part of a complete
Versi-Duct cable management solution, or in installations
where aesthetics or large finger spacing are priorities.
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and keep patch cords visible for easy identification.
Rear support bars complement specific panel styles
and are included with all Leviton flat panels.

Leviton VELCRO® Brand Fasteners

SPOTLIGHT
• 5", 8", and 12" tie wraps in four colors plus plenum-rated maroon Need cable management for use
• 15' and 75' bulk rolls in four colors plus plenum-rated maroon in air handling spaces? Leviton’s
large selection of genuine VELCRO®
• 600' bulk rolls Brand fasteners includes several
• 15" compression straps in four colors styles in plenum-rated maroon.
16
• 75' SoftCinch Lite 1/2" wide rolls
• Utility fasteners including saddle ties, J hooks, workstation loops, and storage rings
 CH. 3 Leviton Pre-Terminated Copper Trunks
TELECOM Copper trunks are part of Leviton’s extensive, quick turnaround make-to-order
ROOM Leviton SlimLine Patch Cords
(MTO) program. The custom-configured cable assemblies speed installation

SPOTLIGHT
at data centers and other large, critical applications. By shifting much of the
assembly work to the factory, field installation time is reduced by up to 80%.
CABLE ASSEMBLIES
Leviton CAT 6A patch cords feature our exclusive
SlimLine plug design. The narrow profile plugs reduce
congestion in high-density applications. In addition,

All Leviton trunks include a braided sleeve with pulling eye to protect
terminations during shipment, ensure easy installation, and keep trunk
assembly organized. In addition, our pre-terminated trunks are 100% factory
tested and shipped with test results and individual cable serial numbers.
No further testing is necessary after installation, and qualified installations
are eligible for our limited lifetime product and performance warranty.
Custom-configuration options:
• Cable type
• Breakout and overall length (10-295 feet/90 meters)
• Jack, plug, or open termination
• Even or staggered connector alignment
• Cable and jack color
• Plenum or riser sleeve
they feature a strain relief boot for long-term network
performance, and a snagless design to prevent tab
breakage. An industry-leading outside diameter of
.240" further reduces congestion while 26-gauge
stranded cable provides maximum flex-life.
Cable construction provides excellent alien crosstalk
(AXT) suppression and EMI/RFI protection. In fact,
the same cord is deployed for UTP and shielded
applications. SlimLine patch cords are component-
rated for optimum channel performance. The cords are
available in 6 standard lengths from 3 to 20 feet, and
in 8 popular colors.
17
 CH. 3 Cable & Cord Dressing Bend Radius
TELECOM Rear of Rack (cables) To maintain CAT 6A performance, minimum bend radius
ROOM
Whether routing cables from above or below, symmetrically distribute should exceed 4x OD for both UTP and shielded. For CAT
bundles to feed into each panel from left and right. This will balance 6A cables, this radius is significantly larger than CAT 6
the cable bundles, allow easier access to connections, and reduce and 5e. Plan carefully to ensure there is sufficient space
congestion at the rear of the panels. Leviton rear cable managers, to maintain proper bend radius.
Managing CORDS

Versi-Duct® vertical and horizontal finger duct (front/rear versions), and

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Note: In 568-B.2-10, CAT 6A shielded cable bend radius was 8x OD.
VELCRO® Brand fasteners all support CAT 6A cable at the rear of racks
and cabinets.
Color Coding

TECH TIP
Front of Rack (cords) Enhance data center and telecom room organization by
Symmetrically dress cords and route into cable management. Leviton’s color-coding connectors and patch cords. Choose from
CAT 6A cords have been independently and field-tested to ensure 10G several schemes, depending on application and system
management priorities:
performance whether they are strictly combed or randomized in cable
managers. Our horizontal ring-type cable managers as well as horizontal • A/B switch fabric for data center redundancy
and vertical Versi-Duct products help manage patch cords at the front • Connectivity types such as WAN/corporate data, LAN,
of the rack. To reduce cord bundle sizes, consider using angled patch engineering networks, voice, and more
panels with vertical Versi-Duct. Also consider Leviton SlimLine CAT 6A • Campus location
18
patch cords; their low-profile will reduce congestion at the face of the • Company colors
patch panel and on high-density switch equipment.
4. WORK AREA

Connectivity in the work area requires a finished look,

ease of maintenance, and performance, all while meeting
installation codes and guidelines. Simplify work area
connectivity planning, design, and installation with the
following tips.
 CH. 4 In-Wall Applications
CAT 6A cables require additional depth
SPOTLIGHT
WORK
AREA behind faceplates and at all directional
changes to maintain proper bend
radius. Before installation, verify that
WORK AREA CABLING
the design allows sufficient depth
throughout the run.
Drop Ceiling Applications
Cable infrastructure must be independently
suspended by components designed
for this purpose, separate from all other
building systems. Do not use ductwork,
piping, earthquake bracing, or the drop
ceiling grid to suspend cable or cabling
support infrastructure.
Leviton Consolidation Points & Zone Enclosures
Reduce the cost and complexity of moves, adds,
and changes with Leviton’s consolidation point
110-Style Wiring Block
(CP) solutions. Our TIA-compliant solutions allow
businesses to add an interconnection point within a
horizontal cabling permanent link. When work areas
are modified, cabling need only be reconfigured
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back to the consolidation point, rather than all the
way to the telecom room.
Leviton’s standard CAT 6A consolidation point
solution is our 110-style wiring block. Mount into a
Leviton zone enclosure, available in several styles:
Active Ceiling Enclosure
• Ceiling- and floor-mount
• Plenum-rated
• Active or passive equipment rated
Zone enclosures also accept patch panels and/or
active equipment, and are then considered telecom 20
enclosures (TEs).
Passive Raised-Floor Enclosure
CH. 4 Junction Boxes and Mud Rings
WORK Verify that the connectivity design specifies the
AREA proper junction box size before drywall is installed.
Consider an oversized junction box to accommodate
CAT 6A cabling and bend radius requirements, or use
mud rings (box eliminators) instead.
WORKSTATION
Surface Mount Boxes
To maintain proper bend radius, consider exiting
cable from modular furniture pathways into
a surface mount box instead of directly to a
faceplate. Leviton’s extended depth four-port
surface mount box works with most modular
furniture and is an excellent solution for larger
CAT 6A bend radius requirements.
Modular Furniture Installations
TECH TIP
Cubicle furniture and walls often have restricted
wireways. Determine cable capacity before finalizing
specifications to verify there is adequate space for
cables and bend radius requirements. Consider mocking
up a cubicle. Most cubicle installations use surface
mount boxes or modular furniture faceplates, which help
offset the space restrictions of narrow cubicle walls.
21
CH. 4

WORK SPOTLIGHT Leviton QuickPort® Faceplates & Inserts

AREA
Leviton offers numerous QuickPort opening faceplates to match any décor. Choose from:

• Standard commercial, Decora® or Acenti® designer, or Excella™ British Standard styles

• Stainless steel construction or thermoplastic in seven popular colors
• Single- or dual-gang with 1- to 12-port capacity
• Openings for data connectors or multimedia connectivity

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WORKSTATION

• With or without ID windows

22
Standard Commercial Acenti Decora Angled Excella
5. DATA CENTER APPLICATIONS

Data centers are one of the most critical parts of any data network
and thus require the highest levels of performance and reliability.
Cabling for data centers differs from horizontal installations in
several ways: typical distances, network function, pathways and
spaces, and more. CAT 6A cabling may affect requirements for all
of these, but especially pathways and spaces. Careful planning and
proper specifications will help ensure a successful installation.
 CH. 5 Raised Floor vs. Overhead Cable Runs
DATA There are three typical data center CAT 6A cable run Follow best-practice CAT 6A installation guidelines to achieve and
CENTER configurations: power and data cabling both under a raised floor, maintain optimum performance:
both overhead, or power below and data overhead. The chosen
• Pathways should be sized for 25% initial fill ratio, which allows space
configuration will affect other data center design elements:
for up to 50% fill with future additions. Pathways should be no more
PATHWAYS & SPACES

• If power and communications cable are both overhead, than 6" deep; larger deployments may use multiple trays or pathways
cable trays must be properly sized, separated, and to support cabling requirements.

configured to support 6A cables and accommodate
power runs.
• If both are underfloor, pedestals must be higher to
accommodate larger 6A cables, room for expansion,
segregation from power runs, and proper airflow.
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• Space cable bundle supports every three to four feet at irregular intervals.
• Leviton trunks can be pre-terminated or field terminated. There are
numerous advantages to using pre-terminated trunks, including factory
testing for alien crosstalk (AXT); see page 17 for a detailed discussion.

Leviton Component-Rated Performance

SPOTLIGHT

Leviton component-rated CAT 6A solutions offer guaranteed performance at permanent link distances as short as 10
feet, which is critical in data center applications. How? With patent-pending triple-stage compensation. An advanced rigid
circuit board design, engineered tine geometry, and a flexible circuit combine to enhance permanent link and channel 24
performance, and minimize the adverse effects of near end crosstalk (NEXT), return loss (RL), and alien crosstalk (AXT).
 CH. 5 Pre-Terminated Copper Trunks
DATA Reduce installation time by up to 80%
CENTER with Leviton make-to-order (MTO)
copper trunks. All MTO trunks are
NEW CAT 6A SOLUTIONS
100% factory tested and shipped
with test results and individual cable
serial numbers. No further testing
is necessary after installation, and
qualified installations are eligible
for our limited lifetime product and
performance warranty.
Configuration options:
• Cable type
• Breakout and overall length (up to
90 meters)
• Jack, plug, or open termination
• Even or staggered plug alignment
• Cable and jack color
• Plenum or riser sleeve
Leviton C1 Ultra™ Composite Patch Panel
The new Leviton C1 Ultra combines strength and durability with
a sleek look ideal for data centers. Polymer construction has a
higher strength-to-weight ratio than 16-gauge metal and a look
totally unique in the industry. Custom labeling options include A/B switch
fabric color-coding, corporate or school logos, or virtually any front panel
design. The 2RU 48-port flat QuickPort® panel accepts eXtreme® CAT 6A
component- or channel-rated connectors.
8" x 8" Versi-Duct® Cable Management
High-Capacity Versi-Duct is ideal for CAT 6A data center
installations. The large channels accommodate larger outside
diameter CAT 6A cables, while channel covers help create a
finished look in showroom-style installations. Managers can be
side or center mounted for optimal space utilization.
• 80" length with standard hinged black cover, front only or front and rear
• 80" length with designer hinged grey cover, front only or front and rear
• Center mounting bracket
25
• Cable retainer and slack loop organizer
 CH. 5
Component-Rated Connectors SlimLine Component-Rated Patch Cords
DATA For unparalleled performance, choose the eXtreme CAT 6A
® Leviton SlimLine patch cords feature a narrow profile plug to reduce
CENTER component-rated connector – the first in the industry to achieve congestion in high-density data center applications. A wealth of
this stringent benchmark. It has the best available performance features maximizes performance:
NEW CAT 6A SOLUTIONS

for short run applications, down to a 10' permanent link. In fact, • Exceptional alien crosstalk suppression and EMI/RFI protection
it's so well designed, it even meets component requirements • The same cord is used for both UTP and shielded applications
when loaded in a 1RU 48-port QuickPort® panel. • Strain relief boot ensures long-term network performance

leviton.com/cat6a | 800.722.2082
Leviton-exclusive features combine to deliver a connector with • Snagless design prevents tabs breakage during moves, adds, and changes
best-in-class performance and functionality: • 26-gauge stranded cable and .24" OD provide maximum flexibility

• Patented dual-layer T568A/B label with larger wiring diagrams

• Patented Cone of Silence® and metalized body help suppress Leviton Data Center Specialists

SPOTLIGHT
alien crosstalk (AXT)
Need help with a CAT 6A data center infrastructure project? Our DC
• Patented Retention Force Technology protects against
specialists provide technical support including design, layout, elevations,
damage from four- or six-pin plugs
pathways, and specifications to support any data center architecture
• Patent-pending triple-stage compensation enhances margin and equipment requirements. Team members average more than two
performance and augments AXT suppression
decades of industry experience and have a deep understanding of
• Sharper Pair Separation Towers ease conductor separation industry best practices and our customers needs. 26
• Conductor retention feature holds wires during termination
Email dcteam@leviton.com for more information.
6. CAT 6A TERMINATION

Termination steps for CAT 6A connectors are much the same as for CAT 6,
with the major exception of handling the cable’s larger OD. To compensate,
Leviton has designed several exclusive features into its new CAT 6A connectors
to speed termination. Read on for details of these features, other tips for
a seamless installation, and for termination instructions for our 110-style
panel, UTP connectors, and shielded connector.
 CH. 6 Extra Cable for Re-terminations
TERMI- TIA recommends storing 10 feet of extra cable in
NATION the telecom room and 12-18 inches above work area
installations for re-terminations and to accommodate
moves, adds, and changes. Use an extended or figure
8 loop configuration to alleviate cable stress. Cable
TERMINATION TIPS
slack in bundled or excessive loops has been shown
to degrade cable performance and is associated with
return loss failures.
Leviton Palm Termination Tool
SPOTLIGHT
Use Leviton’s Palm Termination Tool to quickly and
easily punch down connectors at the jobsite. The Palm
Tool offers an ergonomic comfort grip, increased
connector stability, and integrated holes that allow
rack mounting for QuickPort® panel terminations.
The Palm Tool is compatible with all CAT 6A/6/5e and
standard QuickPort A/V connectors.
Leviton CAT 6A Connectors
SPOTLIGHT
All eXtreme® CAT 6A UTP connectors include several
features that deliver ease-of-use and superior performance:
• Patented dual-layer T568A/B label with larger wiring diagrams
• Patented Cone of Silence® and metalized body to help
suppress alien crosstalk (AXT)
leviton.com/cat6a | 800.722.2082
• Patented Retention Force Technology protects against
Component-Rated CAT 6A
damage from four- or six-pin plugs
Our component-rated UTP connectors add performance-
enhancing features:
• Patent-pending triple-stage compensation enhances
margin performance and augments AXT suppression
Channel-Rated CAT 6A • Sharper Pair Separation Towers ease conductor separation
• Conductor retention feature holds wires during termination
CAT 6A shielded connectors offer superior signal isolation
and EMI/RFI protection, a 270° hinge for easy access,
28
no punchdown tool needed, and snap-close cap when
termination is complete.
Shielded CAT 6A
 CH. 6
eXtreme® CAT 6A 110-Style Patch Panel Termination
TERMI-
NATION 1 Mount the eXtreme CAT 6A 110-Style Patch Panel to 5 Starting with the middle two pairs (orange/white and green/
a standard 19" equipment rack or wall-mount bracket, white) use your fingers to carefully seat and secure the wires into
using the provided screws. the IDC slots. Maintain wire pair twisting to within 1/2" of the IDC
contact. Then position a 110-style impact tool (set to low impact)
2 Determine which color-coded wiring scheme is desired
perpendicular to the IDC slot, seat and trim the cable.
(T568A or T568B).
INSTRUCTIONS

NOTE: The color codes and port numbers are located on
the panel labels between termination (IDC) slots.
3 Remove approximately 3" of the jacket and center
spline/separator from cable.
4 Route jacketed wire to the termination field so that the
jacket is centered near the IDCs (Figure A).
CAUTION: Use of mass termination impact tool is not
permissible for this product.
NOTE: If wires appear to be “bridged” over the IDC, rather than securely
seated into the slot, pull out the wires and reseat and repunch them
(Figure B).
6 Once the CAT 6A module has been terminated, snap the 3-port
retention cap to the back of the connector top and bottom sides.
The retention cap can also be broken into single pieces (Figure C).
After the panel has been fully terminated, attach the cable
management bar to the back of patch panel (Figure D).
29
 CH. 6

TERMI-
NATION

A. B. C. D.
"Bridged" Wire Retention Dust Cap

leviton.com/cat6a | 800.722.2082
Cable
INSTRUCTIONS

Management
Bar

30
 CH. 6
eXtreme® CAT 6A Component- and Channel-Rated Connector Termination
TERMI-
NATION 1 Remove about 3" of cable jacket and center spline (stiff plastic separator
inside CAT 6A cable).

2 Determine whether to use wiring scheme T568A or T568B. Note the

T568A & T568B WIRING STANDARDS IDC
associated color codes and connector pin number on the label located COLOR ASSIGNMENTS
between the IDC connector slots (Figure A). Peel back label for T568A wiring.
INSTRUCTIONS

CONNECTOR T568A T568B

3 Leave the cable jacket within 1/8" of the connector side, then route the wires Pin # Wire Colors Wire Colors
for termination using the selected wiring scheme (Figure B). Route cable
1 White/Green White/Orange
perpendicular to the IDC field. Ensure there is enough slack in the twisted
pairs, and do not place the cable jacket into the termination field. 2 Green Orange
3 White/Orange White/Green
4 Use your fingers to carefully seat wires into the IDC slots. Maintain wire pair
4 Blue Blue
twisting to within 1/2" of the IDC. Set a 110-style impact tool to low and
position it perpendicular to the connector. Seat and trim the cable one pair at 5 White/Blue White/Blue

a time to prevent crushing the inside pairs (Figure C). 6 Orange Green
7 White/Brown White/Brown
5 Place the Cone of Silence® over the terminated wires for secure connection
and guaranteed CAT 6A performance (Figure D). 8 Brown Brown 31
 CH. 6

TERMI-
NATION

A. B. C. D.

leviton.com/cat6a | 800.722.2082
INSTRUCTIONS

eme
®

eme eXtrT 6A
®

eXtrT 6A CA eme
®

CA eXtrT 6A
CA

32
 CH. 6
CAT 6A Shielded Connector Termination
TERMI-
NATION 1 Strip a minimum of 1.5" of jacket from the end of the 5 Make sure that arrows on both connector and cap point in
cable. For F/UTP cable, pull the foil or braided shield back the same direction, align the cap with the IDC towers, and
over the jacket, and wrap the drain wire around the shield. press into position. Rotate the cap wings toward each other
For U/FTP cable, fold the foil from each twisted pair over until they snap closed (Figure D).
the jacket and wrap the drain wire around the shield.
6 Ensure that the drain wire is wrapped around the cable and
INSTRUCTIONS

2 Insert the wires from the stripped cable into the stuffer shield. Tie-wrap the drain wire to the shield. Do not over-
cap through the hole (Figure A). tighten the tie wrap! It should be snug, but not so tight that
it crushes the wires (Figure E).
3 Determine whether to use wiring scheme T568A or
T568B. Insert the wires into their correct positions per
the desired wiring scheme (Figure B).

4 Using a flush cutter, cut the excess wire off as close

to the edge of the cap as possible (Figure C). Wire tips
should not protrude more than 1/32 of an inch.

33
 CH. 6
INSTRUCTIONS

TERMI-
NATION

D.
A.

A
B
A
B

E.
B.

B
C.

leviton.com/cat6a | 800.722.2082
34
7. CAT 6A TESTING

Field testing of CAT 6A installations is much like field testing for CAT 5e and
CAT 6. However, CAT 6A testing is performed out to the higher frequency of
500 MHz. In addition, CAT 6A adds several tests for alien crosstalk (AXT).
 CH. 7 CAT 6A Performance Tests Field Testing
CAT 6A • Wire map • Return loss (RL) Use an industry-recognized
TESTING
• Length • PSFEXT – power sum far-end crosstalk UL Level 4 field tester
capable of testing to 500
• Attenuation • PSACRF – power sum attenuation-to-crosstalk
MHz. Contact the test
PERFORMANCE TESTS

• Propagation delay ratio, far-end

equipment manufacturer for
• Delay skew • AACRF – alien attenuation-to-crosstalk ratio, any necessary hardware or

• NEXT – near-end crosstalk
• PSNEXT – power sum near-end crosstalk
• FEXT – far-end crosstalk
• ELFEXT (ACRF) – equal level far-end
crosstalk (attenuation-to-crosstalk ratio,
far-end)
• PSELFEXT (PSACRF) – power sum equal
level far-end crosstalk (power sum
attenuation-to-crosstalk ratio, far-end)
far-end
• AFEXT – alien far-end crosstalk
• ANEXT – alien near-end crosstalk
• PSAACRF – power sum alien attenuation-to-
crosstalk ratio, far-end
• PSAFEXT – power sum alien far-end crosstalk
• PSANEXT – power sum alien near-end crosstalk
leviton.com/cat6a | 800.722.2082
software upgrades, including
AXT testing capabilities, for
testing CAT 6A installations.
Perform permanent link or
channel tests for all installed
drops. Upon completion,
provide the customer with all
test results.
36
 CH. 7

PSANEXT PSAACRF
CAT 6A Leviton AXT Performance

SPOTLIGHT
TESTING
Alien crosstalk (AXT) can have a
serious impact on CAT 6A cabling
system performance. Choose
Leviton and get guaranteed
AXT suppression. Independent
3rd-party and Leviton tests have
proven that properly installed
AXT TESTING

Leviton CAT 6A solutions have

Frequency (MHz): (Blue - Worst Case, Green - Average)
Independent (ETL) Test Results for Leviton Short Channel (30 ft.) CAT 6A System
significant AXT headroom over
the standard’s requirements,
even for permanent links as short
as 10 feet. As a result, properly
installed Leviton systems with
approved cable do not require
field alien crosstalk testing. In
addition, Leviton pre-terminated,
Frequency (MHz): (Blue - Worst Case, Green - Average)
pre-tested trunk cables do not
require any field testing.
37
 CH. 7
Is AXT Testing Required?
TECH TIP
CAT 6A
Even though Leviton does not
TESTING
require field AXT testing for its
CAT 6A solutions, you may still be
required to perform this testing.
Read project specifications
carefully to determine if they
call for field AXT testing. If
AXT TESTING
they do, ask for a waiver based
on the proven performance of
Leviton’s CAT 6A solutions. If the
customer won’t grant a waiver,
you’ll need to perform the testing.
Read the following “AXT Testing
Preparation” section to gain a
better understanding of field AXT
testing requirements.
AXT Testing Preparation
AXT testing measures the unwanted noise coupled to the cable being tested
(called the “Victim” or “Disturbed”) by six surrounding cables (called “Disturbers”).
Two tests need to be performed: The Power Sum Alien Near-end Crosstalk
(PSANEXT) test and the Power Sum Alien Attenuation-to-Crosstalk Ratio, Far-end
(PSAACRF) test. Results for the remaining AXT tests are taken as part of these
two, so although they are not directly provided, a “pass” result for PSANEXT and
leviton.com/cat6a | 800.722.2082
PSAACRF ensures passing results for AACRF, AFEXT, ANEXT, and PSAFEXT. A 2%
sample of the installed cables is typically recommended; testing the longest cables
in the installation will provide the most meaningful results.
AXT testing requires special planning, equipment and training:
• AXT tests are time-consuming! Budget AXT test time into your bid
• Handheld test instruments (field testers) require an adjunct AXT module
• A laptop computer is also typically used with the field tester
• The field tester’s AXT application software must be loaded onto the laptop
• Installation personnel will require training prior to performing AXT testing
38
8. PART NUMBERS
 CH. 8
110-STYLE EXTREME® 6A Component-Rated Patch Panels QUICKPORT® PATCH PANELS

PART DESCRIPTION PART NO. DESCRIPTION PART NO.

NUMBERS
Flat, 1RU, 24-port 6A586-U24 1RU, 24-port, black connectors included 6910G-U24
Flat, 2RU, 48-port 6A586-U48 1RU, 24-port, empty 49255-H24
Angled, 1RU, 24-port 6A587-U24 1RU, 48-port, black connectors included 6910G-D48

FLAT
UTP PATCH PANELS

Angled, 2RU, 48-port 6A587-U48 2RU, 48-port, black connectors included 6910G-U48

leviton.com/cat6a | 800.722.2082
C1 ULTRA™ COMPOSITE Patch Panels 2RU, 48-port, empty 49255-H48
2RU, 72-port, empty 49255-D72
QuickPort, flat, 2RU, 48-port, empty C1255-H48
1RU, 24-port, empty 49256-H24
VertiGO® Zero-U Patch Panels
1RU, 48-port, empty

ANGLED
12-port, panel only, empty 49280-QP0 49256-D48
(for use with 6A10G CAT 6A connectors)
12-port with 3" channel, empty 49280-QP3 2RU, 48-port, empty 49256-H48

12-port with 6" channel, empty 49280-QP6 2RU, 72-port, empty 49256-D72
1RU, 24-port, empty 4W256-H24

RECESSED
ANGLED
2RU, 48-port, empty 4W256-H48
40
2RU, 72-port, empty 4W256-D72
 CH. 8 UTP Shielded
PART CONNECTORS CONNECTORS
NUMBERS
DESCRIPTION PART NO. DESCRIPTION PART NO.
eXtreme 6A component-rated
®
6A10G-R†6 CAT 6A shielded 6S10G-S6A
eXtreme 6A channel-rated 6110G-R†6 PATCH CORDS
PATCH CORDS eXtreme CAT 6A component-rated SlimLine 6AS10-xx*
UTP/SHIELDED

eXtreme 6A component-rated SlimLine 6AS10-xx* PATCH PANELS

CROSS CONNECT QuickPort®, flat, 1RU, 24-port, empty 4S255-S24
eXtreme 6A 110-style wiring block kit, with legs and 41D6A-1F4 QuickPort, flat, 2RU, 48-port, empty 4S255-S48
C-4 clips, 64-pair
QuickPort, angled, 1RU, 24-port, empty 4S256-S24
† = Connector colors: Choose from any of the colors below.
QuickPort, angled, 2RU, 48-port, empty 4S256-S48
xx = Length: (03), (05), (07), (10), (15), or (20) feet.
Custom length cords available, call inside sales at 800.722.2082 or +1.425.486.2222
for more information.
White (W) Light Almond (T) Almond (A) Ivory (I) Yellow (Y) Orange (O) Crimson (C) * = Patch Cord colors: Choose from any of the colors below.

Dark Red (R) Purple (P) Blue (L) Green (V) Grey (G) Black (E) Brown (B) White (W) Yellow (Y) Orange (O) Red (R) Blue (L) Green (G) Grey (S) Black (E) 41
 CH. 8
VERSI-DUCT® CABLE MANAGERS VELCRO® Brand Fasteners

PART
DESCRIPTION FRONT ONLY FRONT & REAR DESCRIPTION BLACK COLORS
NUMBERS
80" length, standard cover 8980L-VFO 8980L-VFR 5" tie wrap 43105-005 43105-05*
8" X 8" CHANNEL

80" length, designer cover 8C80L-VFO 8C80L-VFR 8" tie wrap 43108-008 43108-08*
Center-mount bracket – 89265-BKT 12" tie wrap 43112-012 43112-12*
CABLE MANAGEMENT

Slack loop organizer – 89265-SL1 15' bulk roll 43115-015 43115-15*

leviton.com/cat6a | 800.722.2082
Cable retainer – 89265-wr1 75' bulk roll 43115-075 43115-75*
80" length, standard cover 4980L-VFO 4980L-VFR 600' bulk roll 43115-600 –
Channel

44115-15*
5" x 4"

40" length, standard cover 4940L-VFO 4940L-VFR 15" compression strap 44115-15E
(no maroon)
Center-mount bracket – 49265-BKT 75' SoftCinch Lite roll 4S115-75E –
Designer cover, grey – 59265-5DC * = Colors: Choose from any of the colors below. Maroon fasteners are plenum-rated.
2RU, black cover 492RU-HFO 492RU-HFR
Horizontal

1RU, black cover 491RU-HFO 491RU-HFR

2RU designer cover, grey
1RU designer cover, grey
Cable retainer
Blue (L) Yellow (Y) Orange (O) Maroon (P)
– 49265-DC2
See Leviton’s full product catalog for more VELCRO® Brand utility fastener part numbers.
– 49265-DC1 42
Leviton offers a wide variety of metal front and rear cable managers. Go online to Leviton.com
– 49265-WR1 or see our full product catalog for the complete selection.
9. GLOSSARY
10GBASE-T (10 Gigabit baseband over twisted
pair) This IEEE standard, 802.3an, defines 10 Gigabit
Ethernet running 10Gbps over balanced twisted-
pair cabling.
ANSI (American National Standards Institute)
ANSI oversees the creation, circulation and use
of standards and guidelines that directly impact
businesses in various sectors. ANSI is also actively
engaged in accrediting programs that assess
conformance to standards.
Attenuation The loss of volume during
transmission, or decrease in the power of a signal,
light beam, or light wave. Attenuation is the opposite
of gain and is measured in decibels (dB).
AWG (American wire gauge) is the standard
measuring gauge for nonferrous conductors (i.e.,
non-iron and non-steel). Gauge measures the
diameter of a conductor (thickness of cable).
AXT (alien crosstalk) is electromagnetic noise that
can occur in a cable run alongside other signal-
carrying cables. The term “alien” arises from the fact
that this form of crosstalk occurs between different
cables in a group or bundle, rather than between
individual wires or circuits within a single cable.
Bandwidth The difference between the highest and
the lowest frequencies of a transmission channel
(path for information transmission). Identifies the
amount of data that can be sent through a given
channel. Measured in hertz (Hz); higher bandwidth
numbers mean higher data capacity.
Bend Radius The amount of bend that can
occur before a cable may sustain damage or
increased attenuation.
BICSI (Building Industry Consulting
Services International) is a non-profit
professional association for the promotion of
telecommunications industry standards.
Category 5e (enhanced category 5 or CAT 5e)
is a standard for balanced twisted pair cable and
components supporting signaling rates up to
100 MHz. CAT 5e is intended to support systems up
to 1000BASE-T or Gigabit Ethernet up to distances
of 100 m (328 ft).
Category 6 (CAT 6) is a standard for balanced
leviton.com/cat6a | 800.722.2082
twisted pair cable and components supporting
signaling rates up to 250 MHz. CAT 6 is intended
to support systems up to 1000BASE-T or Gigabit
Ethernet up to distances of 100 m (328 ft).
Category 6A (augmented category 6 or CAT 6A)
is a standard for balanced twisted pair cable and
components supporting signaling rates up to 500
MHz. CAT 6A is designed to support 10GBASE-T or
10 Gigabit Ethernet up to distances of 100 m (328 ft).
Category of Performance Cabling and 44
cabling component standards adopted by the
telecommunications industry.
Channel In the horizontal cabling portion of a
structured cabling system, the channel contains
all of the elements of the permanent link, plus the
equipment cords at the horizontal cross-connect
(HC) and the patch cords in the work area.
Channel-rated Category-rated structured cabling
components are said to be channel-rated if, when
installed as a system in an industry-defined
channel, they meet all of the transmission and noise
characteristics defined in the standard. Compare
with Component-rated.
Compliance A wiring device that meets all
characteristics of a standard is said to be in
compliance with that standard.
Component-rated Category-rated structured
cabling components are said to be component-
rated if they exceed all of the transmission and
noise characteristics defined in the standard for an
individual structured cabling component. Component
specifications are more stringent than channel
specifications and may provide greater permanent
link and channel test margins. Compare with
Channel-rated.
Conductor Any substance, usually a wire or cable,
that can carry an electrical current.
Connecting Block Also called a terminal block,
punch-down block, quick-connect block, or cross-
connect block, this plastic block contains metal
wiring terminals to establish connections from one
group of wires to another. Usually each wire can be
connected to several other wires in a bus or common
arrangement. There are several types of connecting
blocks: 66, 110, etc.
Connector A device that connects wires or fibers
in cable to equipment or other wires or fibers. Wire
and optical connectors most often join transmission
media to equipment or cross connects. Connectors
are sometimes referred to as jacks; but although all
jacks are connectors, not all connectors are jacks.
Consolidation Point An optional location between
an ER or TR and the workstation for interconnection
of horizontal cables.
Data Center (DC) A data center is a facility used
for housing a large amount of electronic equipment,
typically servers, computers, data storage devices,
and communications equipment. Data centers are
designed to assure that the equipment and data
housed in them are protected from environmental
hazards and security breaches. Data centers can be
private, serving a single company, or a public “utility”
serving a variety of companies.
dB (decibel) A dB is a unit of measure of signal
strength, usually the relationship between a
transmitted signal and a standard signal source. Every
3dB equals 50% of signal strength, so therefore a 6dB
loss is a loss of 75% of total signal strength.
45
EIA (Electronic Industries Alliance) The EIA is a trade
organization made up of manufacturers that set
standards for its member companies.
Ethernet Leading local area network (LAN) protocol
used for connecting computers, printers, workstations,
terminals, etc. within the same building. Ethernet is a
physical link and data link protocol that operates over
twisted pair wire. See IEEE 802.3x.
ETL (Edison Testing Laboratories) is an independent
testing, inspection and certification laboratory
owned by Intertek that provides electrical safety,
electromagnetic compatibility, benchmark and
performance testing. In addition, ETL issues two
product safety marks: “listed” and “verified”.
ER (equipment room) is a centralized space that
houses telecommunications equipment. ERs
generally serve an entire building or campus, while
TRs (telecommunication rooms) serve one floor of a
building or a portion of a floor. An ER may contain active
equipment, cross-connect equipment, and building
systems (e.g. life safety, security, electrical and HVAC).
FCC (Federal Communications Commission) The FCC
is an independent United States government agency.
It was established by the Communications Act of
1934 and is charged with regulating interstate and
international communications by radio, television, wire,
satellite and cable. The FCC's jurisdiction covers the 50
states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. possessions.
FTP (foiled twisted pair) is balanced twisted pair
cable with an overall foil shield and drain wire. Also
called screened twisted pair (ScTP) cable.
F/UTP (foiled screened with unshielded twisted
pairs). Overall shielded cable with no shield on
individual twisted pairs.
Gain An increase in signaling power when an electric
device boosts the signal; measured in decibels (dB).
Gigabit When used to describe data transfer
rates, Gigabit refers to 10 to the 9th power
(1,000,000,000) bits. Gigabit Ethernet, abbreviated
GbE, supports data transfer rates of 1 Gigabit (1,000
megabits) per second. The first Gigabit Ethernet
standard (802.3z) was ratified by the IEEE 802.3
Committee in 1998.
leviton.com/cat6a | 800.722.2082
HC (horizontal cross-connect) The HC is a location
for the cross-connect of horizontal cabling to other
cabling and equipment.
IC (intermediate cross-connect) The IC is a cross-
connect point located between the MC (main cross-
connect) and the HC in interbuilding backbone cabling.
IDC (insulation displacement connection) An IDC
allows the termination of a conductor without
stripping the conductor’s insulation. When the
conductor is inserted into the contact, the insulation 46
is displaced, creating contact between the conductor
and the IDC, producing a gas-tight connection.
IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics
Engineers) is a publishing and standards-making
body responsible for many standards used in LANs.
IEEE 802.3 is a collection of IEEE standards
defining the physical layer and the media access
control (MAC) sublayer of the data link layer of
wired Ethernet. This is the most common local area
network specification.
IEEE 802.3an is a standard for 10GBASE-T
released in 2006 to provide 10 gigabit per second
transmission over balanced twisted pair cables up to
100 meters (328 ft).
Impedance The total opposition (i.e. resistance and
reactance) a circuit offers to the flow of alternating
current. It is measured in ohms, and the lower the
ohmic value, the better the quality of the conductor.
Insertion Loss (IL) The difference in the amount of
power received before and after something is
inserted into the circuit.
Interconnect A circuit administration point, other
than a cross-connect or an information outlet, that
provides capability for routing and rerouting circuits.
It does not use patch cords or jumper wires, and
typically is a jack-and-plug device used in smaller
distribution arrangements or that connects circuits
in large cables to those in smaller cables.
ISO (International Standards Organization) is the
world's largest developer and publisher of international
standards. It is a non-governmental organization
(NGO) network of national standards institutes in 157
countries, based in Geneva, Switzerland.
Jacket (also cable jacket or sheath) The outer
covering applied over internal cable elements
for protection.
LAN (local area network) A LAN is a computer
network covering a small physical area, generally
a single building or contiguous campus. LANs
are characterized by higher data-transfer rates
(compared to a WAN or wide area network) and lack
of leased telecommunications lines.
Mbps Megabits Per Second. One million bits
per second.
MC (main cross-connect) The MC is the cross-connect
in the ER (equipment room) for connecting entrance
cables, backbone cables and equipment cables.
MHz (megahertz) is a unit of frequency denoting
one million hertz (1,000,000 cycles per second).
Mud Ring Industry jargon for a plaster ring/frame
mounted in a wall to support a telecommunications
outlet such as a faceplate. Essentially, mud rings are
backless junction boxes.
47
NEC (National Electric Code) The NEC or NFPA 70
(NFPA is the National Fire Protection Association,
the organization that publishes the Code) addresses
safeguards for people and property from electrical
hazards. The NEC also specifies fire resistance
and smoke ratings for building materials and is
recognized and enforced in the United States.
NEC article 800 addresses requirements for
communications circuits.
NEXT (near-end crosstalk) Electrical noise coupled from
one pair of wires to another within a multi-pair cable.
Part 68 Requirements specifications established
by the FCC as the minimum acceptable protection
communications equipment must provide the
telephone network.
Patch Cord A cord made from 4-pair 100-ohm
balanced twisted-pair cable. Patch cords may be
shielded or unshielded, depending on the type of
system being installed. They are typically wired T568
A or B with an 8-position, 8-conductor (8P8C) plug
on each end. Work area and TR patch cords are made
from stranded cable, which has better flexibility,
durability and longer life than solid-conductor cords.
Patching A means of connecting circuits via cords
and connectors that can be easily disconnected and
reconnected at another point. May be accomplished
by using modular cords connected between jack
fields or by patch cord assemblies that plug onto
connecting blocks.
Patch Panel A piece of connecting hardware
designed for use in a standard 19" equipment rack
or cabinet. Standard patch panels have modular
jack appearances on the front, and 110-style IDC
connections on the rear. Field-configurable patch
panels can be loaded with a variety of jacks or other
connectors for mixed-media installations, or where
the use of various jack colors is desired.
Performance The totality of a communication
transmission’s characteristics, including rate
of transfer, barriers to peak transfer rate, and
comparison to applicable standards. Compare with
Compliance. A device can exhibit performance
characteristics without being compliant to an
industry standard.
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Permanent Link In the horizontal cabling portion
of a structured cabling system, the permanent link
contains the following: the telecommunications
outlet (TO), the cabling between the horizontal
cross-connect (HC) and the TO, an optional
consolidation point (CP), and the connecting
hardware at the HC.
Power Sum A test method for four-pair cable
whereby the mathematical sum of pair-to-pair
crosstalk from three pairs to one pair is measured.
48
Premises Telephony term for the space occupied by
a customer or authorized/joint user in a building(s)
on continuous or contiguous property (except railroad
rights of way, etc.) not separated by a public road or
highway. Frequently used as “premises-based”.
Premises Wiring System The entire wiring system
on the user’s premises, especially the supporting
wiring that connects the communications outlets to
the network interface jack.
Punchdown Refers to the use of an impact tool
that enables installers to make efficient IDC
style connections.
RCDD® (Registered Communications Distribution
Designer) The RCDD title is a professional credential
granted by BICSI. RCDDs have demonstrated a
superior level of knowledge of Information Transport
Systems (ITS) design and associated disciplines.
Return Loss (RL) is a measure of the similarity
of the impedance of a transmission line and
the impedance at its terminations. It is a ratio,
expressed in decibels, of the power of the outgoing
signal to the power of the signal reflected back.
RJ (registered jack) RJs are telephone and data
jacks registered with the FCC. Specific RJs, such
as RJ-11 and RJ-45, are widely misused in the
telecommunications industry. A much more
accurate way to identify a jack is to specify the
number of positions (width of opening) and number
of conductors. Example: “8-position, 8-conductor
(8P8C) jack” or “6-position, 4-conductor (6P4C) jack”.
RU (rack unit) is a unit of measure of vertical space
in an equipment rack or cabinet. One rack unit is
equal to 1.75 in (45 mm).
Standards Agreed-upon principles of performance.
Standards are set by committees working under
various trade and international organizations.
Structured Cabling System A structured cabling
system (SCS) is defined as the complete collective
configuration of cabling and associated hardware
that has been installed at a given site to provide a
comprehensive telecommunications infrastructure.
TDMM (Telecommunications Distribution Methods
Manual). The TDMM is a publication from BICSI that is
based on internationally accepted industry standards,
codes and guidelines. The TDMM addresses the newest
methodologies and recommends best practices for the
design of structured cabling systems.
TE (Telecommunications Enclosure) Also referred
to as a zone enclosure, a TE is a housing for
telecommunications equipment, cable terminations,
cross-connect cabling, and wireless access points.
A TE serves the function of an horizontal cross-
connect (HC) for a portion of a building floor and
provides access to the building’s backbone and
pathways. A TE should supplement, not replace, the
requirement for a TR on a building floor. 49
TIA (Telecommunications Industry Association)
The TIA is a trade organization of manufacturers
which sets standards for use of its member
companies. Formerly fell under the umbrella of EIA.
See www.tiaonline.org.
TO (telecommunications outlet) is a connecting
device in the work area on which horizontal
cable terminates.
TR (telecommunications room) A TR is
an architectural space that provides an
environmentally suitable and secure area for
housing cables, terminations, cross-connects,
hardware and telecommunications equipment.
U/FTP also classified as STP (shielded twisted pair),
is twisted pair cable with individually foil-screened
twisted pairs, but no overall shield.
UL (Underwriters Laboratories®) is a privately owned
product safety certification organization.
UL also certifies category-rated cable performance
and quality.
UTP (unshielded twisted pair), also classified
as U/UTP, is overall unshielded twisted pair with
unshielded twisted pairs.
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Work Area (WA) or workstation, is a building space
where occupants interact with telecommunications
terminal equipment.
WAN (wide area network) is a computer network
that covers a broad geographic area. WANs connect
LANs and other networks together. Some are private,
but many are built by Internet service providers, who
provide connection from organizational LANs to the
Internet.
50
 This guide has been developed consistent with all known applicable cabling practices as defined by the following:

TIA-568-C.0: Generic Telecommunications Cabling for Customer Premises (replaces applicable TIA 568-B standards)
TIA-568-C.1: Commercial Building Telecommunications Cabling Standard (replaces applicable TIA 568-B standards)
TIA-568-C.2: Telecommunications Cabling, Copper Component and Cabling Specifications (replaces applicable TIA 568-B standards)
TIA-569-B: Commercial Building Standard for Telecommunications Pathways and Spaces
REFERENCES

TIA-606-A: Administration Standard for The Telecommunications Infrastructure of Commercial Buildings

TIA-942: Telecommunications Infrastructure Standard for Data Centers
ANSI-J-STD-607-A: Commercial Building Grounding and Bonding Requirements for Telecommunications
IEEE 802.3: Ethernet-based LANs (multiple standards)
IEEE 1100: Recommended Practice for Powering and Grounding Electronic Equipment
Intertek/ETL: Applicable verifications
ISO 11801: Generic Cabling for Customer Premises (multiple standards)
National Electrical Safety Code (NESC): Published by IEEE
National Electric Code (NEC, NFPA 70): Published by NFPA
Telecommunications Distribution Methods Manual (TDMM): Published by BICSI
Underwriter’s Laboratories (UL): Applicable listings and ratings

Always follow superceding national, state, and local codes and regulations.
51
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For Leviton warranty information, please visit © Copyright Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc. 2010. All rights reserved. Any reproduction is forbidden
Leviton.com/warranties. without express written permission. Information in this guide is provided to assist in understanding
CAT 6A structured cabling systems. All information contained herein is deemed accurate to the best
of the company’s knowledge at time of publication and is subject to change without notice. 52
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