Structured Cabling Systems (SCS)

• A structured cabling system (SCS) consists of all cabling and associated hardware installed at a site, providing comprehensive information transportation infrastructure.
• This infrastructure serves a wide range of uses.
• A structured cabling system begins where the service provider (SP) terminates, known as the demarcation point (demarc).
• The components and methods for structured cabling are relatively standard, but the specifics can be unique.
• Standards, while not legally enforced, are crucial for a well-performing cabling system.
• Standards ensure structured cabling design, installation, maintenance, and physical/transmission requirements are consistent.
• Key elements include entrance facilities (EF), equipment rooms (ER), telecommunication rooms (TR), telecommunications enclosure (TE), main cross connect (MC), intermediate cross connect (IC), horizontal cross connect (HC), backbone cabling and pathways, horizontal cabling and pathways, telecommunications outputs/connectors (TO), termination hardware, multi-user telecommunications assemblies (MUTOA), transition points (TP), consolidation points (CP), horizontal connection points (HCP), and work area (WA).

Copper Cabling Standards (Transmission Media)

• Twisted pair cabling is used for voice and data.
• Typically, twisted pair cable consists of 22-26 AWG thermoplastic insulated conductors twisted together to form pairs, with an overall jacket or sheath for protection.
• Twisted pair cables feature electrical performance characteristics in addition to mechanical properties.
• Performance categories of balanced twisted pair cable and connecting hardware are recognized by TIA-568-C and ISO standards.
• Balanced twisted pair cabling has two conductors of the same length wound together to cancel out electromagnetic interference (EMI) or crosstalk.
• Twisted pair cables have a 100 ohms impedance at 100 MHz.
• Two types of balanced twisted pair cabling for structured systems are 100Ω unshielded twisted pair (UTP) and shielded twisted pair (STP).

Twisted Pair Color Code

• Twisted pair cabling uses color codes allowing installers to quickly identify each pair within a cable.
• In telephony, individual conductors are referred to as Tip and Ring.
• There are five tip conductor colors (white, red, black, yellow, violet) that indicate group, and five ring colors (blue, orange, green, brown, slate) that indicate position within the group.
• This allows up to 25 pairs to be identified without duplicating color combinations.

Twisted Pair Cable Markings

• Twisted pair cables must be marked with their fire resistance rating.
• Fire resistance ratings and requirements are defined by NEC article 800 and CSA flame test (FT) ratings.
• Plenum cables (CMP) are used where environmental air is handled.
• CMP cables have adequate fire resistance and produce low smoke.
• Plenum space is a compartment connected to one or more air ducts as part of the air distribution system.
• In plenum areas, CMP rated cables and materials are needed.
• Non-plenum cables must be placed in metal conduit in plenum areas.
• This requirement applies to the space above a suspended ceiling or under raised floor if used for environmental air handling.
• Riser cables (CMR) are used in vertical runs in shafts from floor to floor, and have fire resistant characteristics.
• General purpose cables (CM) are for general use, except in riser and plenum spaces, and are resistant to fire spread.
• Limited use cables (CMX) are for use in dwellings and raceways, and are resistant to fire spread.
• Undercarpet cables (CMUC) are listed for undercarpet use and resistant to fire spread, but are not recommended because of damage susceptibility and limited flexibility.

Unshielded and Four Pair Twisted Pair Cable

• Unshielded twisted pair cable, commonly called UTP Cable is classified as U/UTP or overall unshielded twisted pair with unshielded twisted pair.
• UTP cable is most commonly installed in premise or inside plant (ISP) environments.
• Four pair UTP cable is most commonly used in horizontal distribution for work area cabling.
• It can be installed for backbone distribution but is rarely used in commercial buildings due to distance limitations of 295 ft (90 m).

Multipair UTP Cable

• Multipair UTP cable (more than 4 pairs) is typically used for backbone distribution within a single building.
• Multipair UTP cable is constructed in multiples of 25 pairs or more.
• Multipair UTP cable is specified in performance categories up to Category 5e.

Shielded Twisted Pair Cable

• Shielded twisted pair (STP) cable is most commonly used where performance requirements demand higher protection from outside noise sources (industrial applications).
• Shielded cable offers increased shielding from electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radio frequency interference (RFI).
• Shielded cabling provides a very effective solution for greatly reducing noise from adjacent twisted pair cables.
• A shield is a metallic covering or envelope enclosing individual insulated conductors.
• Shields are made of foil or braided metal strands, typically tinned copper, bare copper, aluminum, or another conductive material.

Shielding

• Shielded cables feature many different designs of braided or mesh screens, foil shields, or shield combinations.
• Other shielded cables may be required based on the physical application of structured cable design.
• Shielded multipair riser cable (ARAM/aRMM/ALVYN) may be required for backbone distribution in riser shafts if conduit is not used.
• Outside plant cable is required for backbone distribution between buildings.
• Outside plant (OSP) cables are designed to protect cable pairs from outside elements like moisture, sunlight, stray voltage and rodents.
• Air core OSP cables are not filled are commonly used in applications that may require pressurization such as aerial cable plant.

Connecting Hardware

• The TIA standard requires insulation displacement connector IDC connectors to be used to terminate twisted pair cables.
• The IDC connection allows the termination of a conductor without stripping the insulation from the conductor.
• When the conductor is inserted into the contact, the insulation is displaced creating a gas tight connection.
• Modular connectors are used to interface twisted pair cables with equipment lines or patch cords, terminated on the rear of the connector, while the front provides a modular plug.
• An 8 position, 8 conductor modular connector shall be utilized for four pair cable termination.
• This connector type supports the termination of U/UTP, F/UTP, SF/UTP, S/FTP and U/FTP cables.
• There are two pin and pair assignments recognized by the TIA-568-C standard, the T568A and T568B pin/pair assignments.
• Most commercial installations use the T568B pin/pair assignment.
• The T568A pin/pair assignment is widely used internationally and is recommended for residential.
• Universal Service Order Code (USOC) pin/pair assignment is used for telephony.
• Though common in older systems, USOC connectors are not recognized by TIA-568 Cabling Standard.

Termination Hardware and Patch Panels

• 110 style termination blocks are widely used for both voice and data applications.
• It may be wall or rack mounted and accommodate up to 300 pairs per block.
• Patch panels are typically pre-loaded with 110 IDC connections, and are designed to be used on 19" standard racks and cabinets.

Work Area Components and Patch Cords

• Work Area outlets include standard faceplates, surface mount housings, and they can include modular furniture faceplates.
• Key elements include industrial outlets that are rated IP67 class protection.
• Patch cords must be constructed of 100Ω balanced twisted pair and utilize either T568A or T568B wiring.
• Patch cords meet the same transmission performance criteria as the horizontal cabling and may be constructed of stranded or solid conductors and may be shielded or unshielded.
• Stranded conductor patch cords are preferred for better flexibility, durability, and flex life; they have a slightly higher signal attenuation than solid patch cords.
• Solid conductor patch cords have better attenuation than stranded cords but are less flexible.

Optical Fiber Cabling Systems and Optical Fibers

• Optical fibers are ultra-pure glass strands that provide a path to support the transmission of light pulses instead of electrical signals.
• Optical fiber cable is constructed of ultra-pure glass fiber strands with a core as the innermost part of the optical fiber through which light pulses are guided over the length of the fiber.
• The cladding, surrounds the core which creates an interface that acts like a mirror, reflecting the light pulses down the core of the fiber, known as internal reflection.
• The reference used to define the size of a fiber is a micrometer or micron (μm).
• The size of the optical core will range between 8 and 62.5 μm.
• All optical fiber strands have a diameter of 125 µm.
• An acrylate coating increases the original 125 µm diameter of the strand to 250 μm.
• Each optical fiber cable is then protected with an outer jacket for physical and environmental protection.

Fiber Classifications

• Optical fibers strands may be either multimode or single mode.
• There are four classes of optical multimode (OM1, OM2, OM3, OM4) and one class of optical Single mode (OS1).
• Single mode optical fiber supports one mode of light travel normally using a laser light source and have a core size that will range from 8 to 11 μm.
• Single mode optical fiber is primarily used in riser and campus environments for backbone distribution.
• Single mode optical fiber supports distances up to 9840 ft (3000 m) but is not recognized for use in horizontal distribution.
• Multimode optical fiber cable is the most common optical fiber choice for backbone and horizontal distribution.
• Multimode optical fiber will have a 50 m or 62.5 µm core and a 125 m cladding.
• The TIA-568-C now recommends 850 nm laser-optimized 50/125 μm be installed as the multimode fiber for commercial buildings.

Optical Fiber Designations

• Fiber cables use a color code in accordance with EIA/TIA-598 standards to quickly identify them by jacket, group, buffer tubes, etc.
• For optical fiber cables larger than 24 strands are color coded with binder tapes, ribbons, or threads that are consisting of two binders.
• For premise cables and patch cords, the jacket color and connector/adapter type are dependent upon the fiber type.
• For cables larger than 12 fibers and higher, the color code is repeated with a black stripe or dash.

Fiber Markings, Types and Design

• Optical fiber cables must be identified by their fire resistance rating.
• OFNP and OFCP are non-conductive and conductive optical fiber plenum cables used in ducts, plenums, and other environmental air spaces.
• OFNR and OFCR are non-conductive and conductive optical fiber riser cables used in vertical shafts from floor to floor.
• OFNG and OFCG are non-conductive and conductive general purpose optical fiber cables which shall be listed as being resistant to the spread of fire.
• OFN and OFC types of fiber cables are used as general purpose cables while other areas are used for environmental air and must be resistant to fire.
• In OSP cables the sheath provides additional protection from the extreme temperatures. The cable jacket comes in different materials.

Premise, Tight Bufferred and Armored Cable

• Premise fiber is designed for indoor use only and conforms must be listed to meet local building codes.
• Tight-buffered optical fiber cable protects the fiber by supporting each optical strand within 900µm coating.
• Improved fiber buffering eases cable handling and makes connectorization easier.
• Tight buffered cable is available with various jacket types to meet building code requirements.
• Interlocked armor optical fiber cables offer a well-protected cable for harsh environments.
• The flexible interlocked armored cable design eliminates the need to install rigid conduit.

Indoor/Outdoor and Outer Plant Fiber Cable

• Indoor/outdoor (I/O) optical fiber cables have at minimum an NEC Fire Resistance Rating.
• They provide better temperature properties and UV protection, and some contain additional protection against water penetration.
• The ability to transition from outdoor to indoor cable is a primary advantage of these cables since it eliminates splicing and cross-connection.
• Outside Plant (OSP) optical fiber is designed for outdoor use and employs loose tube fiber construction.
• Its possible buffered construction may be used depending on the needs.

Fibers

• Ribbon fiber has up to 24 strands bundled together in a single color-coded ribbon, offering a high-density solution.
• In loose tube optical fiber, the fiber strand is coated with only a color coded 250 µm acrylate coating.
• The gel filled transport tube has external stress is isolated and is designed to isolate the fibers.

Cables and Connectors

• Optical fiber connectors have minimal power loss when mating to other cable while protecting its end and are able to disconnect from cables or equipment.
• Optical fiber enclosures may be unloaded or pre-loaded with optical fiber adapters and optical fiber patch panels are commonly used if empty.
• Optical fiber patch cords have single mode or multimode ST, SC, FC, LC and MTRJ connectors.
• Two types are available: Simplex and Duplex cords are more common for two strand transmissions.

Backbone Cabling Systems

• Backbone cabling handles bulk telecommunications traffic, interconnecting EFs, TRs, ERs, and TEs and includes cables, pathways, cross-connects, hardware, terminations, and patch cords/jumpers.
• Backbone cables are interbuilding (between buildings) or intrabuilding (within a building).
• Network topologies include Bus topology, in which there is a linear appearance with a common communication channel for all devices.
• There is also Ring topology, in which devices are connected in a circle with information passing through each device.
• Common topologies include a star topology which uses a central hub, switch, or concentrator with connected devices like points on a star and is commonly used for backbone networks.
• With a star toology with is typically two levels: MC to IC/HC on a first level and IC to HC on a second level.
• Its important that the topology has a maximum of two levels of cross connections.
• All connections between any two points should not pass through more than three cross-connections.
• Three types of Cross Connections are possible to use. -Main Cross-Connect (MC) is located in the ER, connects entrance cables, backbone cables, and equipment cables. -Intermediate Cross-Connect (IC) is located between the MC and HC in interbuilding backbone cabling. -Horizontal Cross-Connect (HC) connects horizontal cabling to other cabling and equipment.
• Backbone distance limitations depend on media type and application.

Horizontal Cabling Systems

• Horizontal cabling runs through ceilings or under floors, connecting TRs/TEs to work area outlets
• It includes a 4-pair 100Ω UTP/STP, optical fibers, outlets/connectors, terminations, patch panels, and potentially MUTOAs, CPs, and TPs described as a permanent or channel link.
• The permanent Link includes all horizontal cabling components but equipment cords, with a Maximum length of 90m (295ft).
• The Channel Link includes all components of the horizontal cabling system, including equipment cords and patch cords to add up to 10m (33ft) and has a total allowable link of 100m (328ft).
• There should be a maximum of three patch cords in a channel link, and total patch cord length should not exceed 10 meters (33 ft).
• No single patch cord should exceed 5 meters (16 ft).
• The total length should not exceed 5 meters.
• Minimum of two outlets/connectors are required, which should be a minimum of four-pair unshielded or shielded 1000 Category 5e or higher-rated cables.
• The TIA recommend s850nm laser-optimized 50µm optical fiber (OM3) and not Single-mode optical fiber (OS1) to not be permitted.
• Optical fibers should be terminated to a duplex outlet/connector, and it requires that outlet/connectors are labeled per TIA 606 standard and labeled to and from information for the most area in cable length.

Transition and Consolidations Points

• Transition Points are the location where flat undercarpet cable (CMUC) connects to round cable.
• Transition is important, Undercarpet cabling is not a best practice.
• The Multi-User Telecommunications Outlet Assembly (MUTOA) is used infrequently with reconfigured open office spaces.
• Maintains horizontal cabling integrity during reconfigurations, and it can serves multiple work areas served by one or more MUTOAS Horizontal cable lengths need to be limited to make sure they are in rated parameters so work area cables connected directly to equipment.

Telecommunication Spaces

• Telecomication cables should be extended TR/TE with one MUTOA per open office furniture and has a maximum 12 work spaces.
• If using High-density patch panels, cables are not to exceed 5 meters (16 ft).
• Horizontal cable conductor loss should be under that threshold by with stranded will have more issues than solide.
• Telecom spaces are area and rooms that hold equipment that will be running the cabling that goes to points such as wifi, and it includes telecom spaces such as entrance facilities (EF), Equipment Rooms (ER), main cross connect (MC) - MDF/MTTC/ Open bay rack, Telecommunications Rooms (TR) and wireless access points.

Entrance Facilties

• Entrance Facilities includes the cabling for service equipment that is outside a facility to the to a premise cable that include transition cables and the physical cabling that is the for fire control.
• It should have copper cables limited to 30 meters of OSP unlisted cables per buildings for lightning and other surges.
• Metallic components of optical fiber or cables should be grounded due to power conductors.
• This means locations need to be planned on available service feed locations to access utilities.
• The path and design is is to determine how much power is needed from buildings, as well as the type and structure of the buildings that are using that power.
• It needs approval to run on service equipment.
• And be underground cables or lines.
• Entrance needs to be as easy as possible by using equipment.

Rooms and Power

• The point needs to be grounded with the conduit.
• Installation in a protector cabinet that keeps the components in weather and electrical surges.
• For 5 or less line entrance wiring is not required ,but it can be done for looks and if over that point, it will be needed per cables and is based on number of lines.
• The location will determine what it can hook to so it doesent cause an issue.
• Conduit is needed.
• Pull and equipment should be based on needs in an accessible location.
• A gounding to electrode to protect electrical needs to be in use.
• Conduits are needed but must be dry to components and use metal if neefed, no elboes if running to 30+ meter or more.

Pathways

• Paths needs to be available and no access by unauthorized people but allow people to work on then.
• The paths is to go from power and fire barriers through walls which is a must.
• Not safe to put cables, shafts and ducts for safety.
• Electrical needs to be sperated and increased if there is noise from what it is doing.
• J hooks with 4 to 12in safg needs to run with support and look at what it has in bulk.
• Paths with 40 and addition addions are to be avoided because of high traffic when working on them.
• Must be free from electrical componets and has paths that is burr at the sharp areas for use.
• Paths for inside need to look at needs for safe use and the pathways must not be sharp.
• Flex is required for outside as most is recommended to be at 25% and 50 for additions when in needed.
• Sepraation from all power and be safe and dont overload it.