Structured Cabling

Refresher Course
Engr. Alex L. Maureal, PECE
ICT Director, MUST
President & CEO, SKY Electronics & Communications Solutions Inc.
 Topics
1. What is Structured Cabling System (SCS)?
2. Factors (What causes it)
3. Understanding Cabling Standards and Codes
4. Subsystems and Components
5. Network Cabling
6. Benefits
7. Applications - Network Hardware (Passive and Active)
 What is Structured Cabling System (SCS)?

• is building or campus telecommunications cabling

infrastructure that consists of a number of
standardized smaller elements (hence structured)
called subsystems.- Wikipedia
• is a set of standards for cable installers to follow,
defined by EIA/TIA, used all over the world to install
physical cabling and networks in a safe and orderly
fashion!- Mike Meyers Network Guide /McGraw Hill

*
 What is Structured Cabling System (SCS)?

• A structured cabling system (SCS) is a set of

cabling and connectivity products that
integrates the voice, data, video, and various
management systems of a building (such as
safety alarms, security access, energy systems,
etc.).
Factors (What causes it)
 Factors (What causes it)
• Deregulation of the telecommunications industry enabled cablers to be
licensed /registered to install telephony cabling in a customer’s premises
from the network boundary.
• Additionally, impetus for an integrated approach to voice and data cabling
came from the need for both a telephony connection and a computer-
networking connection at each “desk” of a commercial/industrial
enterprises.
• A generic approach to cabling was needed so that new computer
networking systems could be installed on an existing generic cabling
system without having to abandon the existing cable.
• Finally there was a need for a structured cabling system which would
efficiently cope with the regular “move and changes” within the office
environment, without having to run cables or re-route old cables, a process
which greatly disrupt normal office operations.
Standards and Safety codes
 Standard Agencies
• EIA (Electronic Industry Association)
• TIA (Telecommunications Industry Association)
• IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
• ISO (International Standards Organizations)
• ANSI (American National Standards Institute)
• UL (Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.)
 Other Specific Standards
• CNACL (China National Accreditation of Laboratories)

• Australia & New Zealand 3080 (Int’l) and the ISO

11801 Standard.

• TS008 and TS009 for the Australian Communications

Authority.

• MIL-C-83522 standard
 Structured Cabling Standards

• EIA/TIA-568: Issued jointly by the Electronic

Industries Association and the Telecommunications
Industry Assoc.
• ISO 11801: Issued by the International Organization
for Standardization.

• Both Standards are similar.

 Applicable Standards
• ANSI/TIA/EIA-568B.1
• Commercial Building Telecoms Cabling Standards
– Part 1: General Requirements

• ANSI/TIA/EIA-568B.1-2
• CBTCS Part 1: General Requirements, Addendum 2,
• Grounding and Bonding Specifications for Screened Balanced Twisted-Pair
Horizontal Cabling

• ANSI/TIA/EIA-568B.1-3
– CBTCS Part 1: General Requirements, Addendum 3, Supportable
Distances and Channel Attenuation for Optical Fiber Applications by
Fiber Type
National Electrical Code
• Stated purposes of the NEC
– Ensures the safety of people and property.
– Provides proper installation practices for
high and low voltage systems.
• Adopted in whole or part by most federal,
state and local municipalities.
• Identifies building space environments.
• Endorsed by the American National Standards
Institute.
• Deals with inside plant installations.
The Six Sub-Systems of a Structured
Cabling System

1. Building Entrance 1. Electrical Meter Pan

2. Equipment Room 2. Main Switch Board
3. Telecomm Room 3. Electrical Branch Panel
4. Backbone 4. Electrical Feeders (Riser)
5. Horizontal 5. Electrical Branch Circuit
6. Work Area 6. Electrical Duplex
Receptacles
Let’s take a look at each
subsystem individually!
Entrance Facility

Service
Provider

The entrance facility is the point where outside cabling and services
interface with backbone cabling. (The electrical equivalent would be
the meter socket/main disconnect switch.)
Equipment Room

The equipment room is the area of the building where incoming

cabling interfaces with electronic equipment. It is also the main
cross-connect (MC) to the backbone cabling. (The electrical
equivalent would be the Main Distribution Panel.)
Telecommunications
Room

Telecommunications Room is the area within a building that houses

telecommunications/networking equipment, as well as the cross-
connection (patch panels) between backbone and horizontal cabling.
I.e. Horizontal Cross-connect (HC) (The electrical equivalent would
be the circuit breaker panel.)
Backbone

Backbone consists of the pathways and cabling that provide the

interconnection between the Building Entrance/Equipment Room and the
Telecommunication Rooms. It consists of the mechanical terminations for
backbone-to-horizontal cross-connects. (The electrical equivalent would
be electrical feeders.)
 Horizontal

Horizontal consists of the pathway and cabling that extends between

the Telecommunications Room and the Work Area. (The electrical
equivalent would be a branch circuit.)
 Work Area

Work Area is where personal computers, telephones,

printers, etc are located. It also includes equipment
cords that connect the device to the horizontal cable.
Elements of a Structured Cabling System
Structured Cabling Components
Network Cabling
(Components)
 What is Network Cabling?
• Cable is the medium through which information
usually moves from one network device to another.
• There are several types of cable which are commonly
used with LANs.
• In some cases, a network will utilize only one type of
cable, other networks will use a variety of cable
types.
• The type of cable chosen for a network is related to
the network's topology, protocol, and size.
 Types of cables
• Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) Cable
• Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) Cable
• Coaxial Cable (COAX)
• Fiber Optic Cable (FO)
 Twisted Pair Cable (UTP & STP)
• comes in two varieties: shielded and
unshielded.
• Unshielded twisted pair (UTP)
– is the most cost-effective and is generally the best
option
• Shielded twisted pair (STP) is suitable for
environments with electrical interference
 Categories of UTP

Type Use

Category 3 Data to 10 Mbps (Ethernet)

Category 4 Data to 20 Mbps (16 Mbps Token Ring)

Category 5e Data to 100/1000 Mbps (Fast Ethernet/TIA/EIA 568-5-A)

Category 6 Data to 100/1000 Mbps (Fast Ethernet/TIA/EIA 568-5-

A/ IEEE 802.3ab) 250 MHz
Data to 100/10000 Mbps (ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B.2-10/ IEEE
Category 6a 802.3ab) 500 MHz
 UTP Connector
• The standard connector for unshielded
twisted pair cabling is an RJ-45 connector.
• This is a plastic connector that looks like a
large telephone-style connector.
• RJ stands for Registered Jack
 Fiber Optic Cable

Facts about fiber optic cables:

• Outer insulating jacket is made of Teflon or PVC.
• Kevlar fiber helps to strengthen the cable and
prevent breakage.
• A plastic coating is used to cushion the fiber
center.
• Center (core) is made of glass or plastic fibers.
 Fiber Optic Connector

• SC Connector
• ST Connector
• MT-RJ Connector
• LC Connector
 Ethernet Cable Length Summary

Specification Cable Type Maximum length

10BaseT Unshielded Twisted Pair 100 meters

10Base2 Thin Coaxial 185 meters

10Base5 Thick Coaxial 500 meters

10BaseF Fiber Optic 2000 meters

100BaseT Unshielded Twisted Pair 100 meters

STRUCTURED CABLING SYSTEM
TIA/EIA-568B
 Passive Components
For Horizontal Cabling
• Information Outlet
• Faceplates
• Patch Panel
• Patch Cord
 Passive Components
For Equipment Side
• Cable Manager (Horizontal & Vertical)
• Open Bay Rack or Data Cabinet (MDF)
• Wall-mounted Rack, Open or Closed Type
(IDF)
• Blank Panel
• Equipment Tray
 Passive Components
For Vertical or Backbone Cabling
• Fiber Optic Cable
• Fiber Panel
• Fiber Patch Cord
• Fiber Connectors ( ST, SC, LC, MTRJ, etc.)
 Active Components
• Unified Threat Management (UTM)
a) Router
b) Firewall
c) Web Filtering (content manager)
• VoIP
• Access Points (AP)
• PoE (power over ethernet)
 SCS Single Line Diagram
(Data Only)

23 U
Patch Cord @
workstation side
2U System Base `
1U Data Ports
1U Cable Manager
2 runs of UTP
2U
2-port Faceplate

Patch Cord @ rack side

1U Active Components `
1U Cable Manager
1U
1U Cable Manager
1U

1U Patch Cord @ workstation

side with SIP PHONE
(VOIP)

Open Bay Rack

 Benefits of Structured Cabling System

• Redundancy at design stage reduces downtime & repair time

• Concealed cabling (safety and interference)
• Ease of fault location & repair (troubleshooting)
• Flexibility, expandability & modular connecting platform
• Ease of moves, adds and changes
• Enhanced end-use understanding and control
• Continuous product support and warranty
• Significant long term cost containment
 Questions to Clarify the need
For a Cabling System
• What type of cabling system do you have currently?
• What’s the brand of your current cabling system?
• Who is your current cabling contractor?
• Are you working with a consulting engineer or architect for the design of your
new cabling system? If not we can assist you with the design of your
network?
• Are you aware that we can provide a complete end-to-end, copper or fiber
optic structured cabling system along with cabling management capabilities?
• Did you know that we can also provide a 20-25 Year System Performance
warranty? What are your warranty requirements?
• We can be your single source for all of these systems saving you from having
to deal with multiple vendors and contractors.
• Would you be interested in learning more about other VIVANCO system
solution?
Q&A
APPLICATIONS
Network Hardware
 Basic LAN Diagram

Server

Switch

LAN

` ` ` ` `
 Basic WAN Diagram

Internet
Router

Server

Switch

LAN

` ` ` ` `