What are Structured Cabling Standards and Why Are They Necessary?
When we look at our modern world, we fail to see the beautiful things that make it possible.
One of these is the wiring infrastructure of your building or facility. It is the backbone of the Internet because data can’t travel efficiently from your service provider to your workstation without it.
Standards are required to make connections between different systems and network architectures possible. The most critical are the structured cabling standards ANSI/TIA-568 and ISO/IEC 11801.
This article will discuss these standards, what they govern, and why implementing them in your infrastructure is essential. Let’s start by defining what structured cabling is.
What is Structured Cabling?
Structured cabling refers to a system of setting up the wiring infrastructure of a building or facility in an organized and modular way. The goal is to make it as future-proof as possible.
It’s governed by stringent rules and regulations based on ANSI/TIA-568, a joint structured cable standard by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA). TIA-568 is a comprehensive standard covering the setup, installation, and testing of wiring infrastructures.
A similar standard is ISO/IEC 11801, which governs IT-specific network wiring standards. We’ll discuss these standards a bit more later.
The most important components of a structured cabling system are the patch panels, trunks, and switches. Together, these three make it easy to manage, troubleshoot, and scale the infrastructure without dismantling the entire system.
Using the right cables and wires is also crucial. Most data cabling standards call for fiber optic wires, used for high-bandwidth applications over long distances. Coaxial cables are also suitable for data. Finally, phones require twisted pair cables.
Structured data cabling standards are composed of six subsections, each describing a particular component or aspect of the infrastructure. It also defines the wiring, routers, cabinets, and other network equipment required for that area.
The first subsection defines the entrance facility – the official starting point of the system. This is where the wiring from an external service provider or network meets with the local network. Thus, this section focuses on network protection and demarcation.
Next is the backbone cabling. This section is responsible for routing data traffic from the entrance facility through the various rooms and floors in the facility. As such, the main bulk of this section is composed of wires and cables, as well as support systems like grounding hardware and fire-stopping solutions.
Once wires from the backbone cabling reach a floor, the horizontal cabling subsection takes over. It governs the connections between the rooms and workstations on a given floor. It’s so-called because wires tend to run horizontally on the floor or ceiling.
In between the backbone cabling and horizontal cabling is the telecommunications room. It is the hub where most connections radiate. Because of this, it contains network equipment like distribution frames. As a rule of thumb, the telecommunications room's size coincides with the overall facility's size.
The equipment room is the subsection that houses all the major network equipment in the facility. It also acts as the hub for all the building’s wiring.
Lastly, you have the work area subsection. It is the point where the structured cabling system meets with the end-point devices such as desktops and mobile phones. This can be done via a LAN cable or a Wi-Fi connection.
As you can see, each subsection is both interconnected and independent of the others. That means you can modify one without affecting the other. But at the same time, disruptions on one will also bring the whole system down. Thus, careful planning and maintenance are vital.
The Benefits of Structured Cabling
The primary benefit of structured network cabling standards is consistency.
Network administrators don’t need to reinvent the wheel or improvise when setting up their company’s infrastructure. They also have a standard that can guide them on which equipment to use and how to install it. These standards dramatically simplify the process.
Structured cabling is also cost-efficient. While you have to invest more in hardware up front, you’ll save a lot more in the long run because you don’t need as much maintenance. As a result, you can reduce your workforce costs.
In addition, it’s easier and cheaper to expand your infrastructure because you don’t need to dismantle everything. To accommodate new equipment, you simply need to re-route a few switches and cables. In the long run, this can help your organization become more innovative and flexible.
Apart from expansion, structured cabling solutions are also easier to relocate intact, making migration to a bigger facility painless as there are minimal disruptions to your operations.
It’s also easier and faster to troubleshoot network issues, reducing the risk of downtimes. Again, this can be a great cost saver since you won’t lose as much revenue when your operations are down. The consistent wiring design is also easier to document, making it easy to train new staff to maintain the infrastructure.
Physical safety is also an advantage that a structured cabling system can give you. Wires are always neatly organized, unlike point-to-point layouts. The organization of wires eliminates tripping hazards. In addition, point-to-point wiring tends to bundle together, introducing heating issues. Structured cables can prevent such a risk.
What are the Structured Cabling Standards?
Structured cabling standards define every aspect of a wiring infrastructure. Their most important role is to set standard specifications that all data cabling companies and wire manufacturers must follow. Doing so ensures that cabling products are predictable and consistent worldwide.
As mentioned in a previous section, there are currently two primary standards you need to know: ANSI/TIA-568 and ISO/IEC 1180.
ANSI/TIA-568 is the technical standard that governs the wires and cables and the topologies you need to use. The majority covers the type of cables, the distance between them, the required connectors to join them, and the system architectures to adopt.
ANSI/TIA-568 is also comprised of sub-standards that deal with a particular type of cable. ANSI/TIA-568.3-D, for instance, includes fiber optic cabling standards for high-bandwidth network applications. ANSI/TIA-568-C.4, on the other hand, contains network cables standards for coaxial wires.
ANSI/TIA-567 is mostly reserved for commercial buildings or campuses. Related network cabling standards and practices exist for other applications, for example, ANSI/TIA-570-C for residential properties.
Now let’s look at ISO/IEC 11801. This international standard deals primarily with IT network cabling for telecommunications and enterprises. It covers both optical fiber cables and copper cables.
ISO/IEC 11801 divides copper (twisted pair) cables into class categories, which differ in the maximum frequency it supports. As a result, each is also suitable for specific applications.
Class A, for instance, supports up to 100 kHz with Category 1 cables. It’s primarily used for connecting telephone systems. Class F, on the other hand, supports up to 600 MHz and uses Category 7 wires. Wires in this class have strict shielding and crosstalk reduction rules, making them suitable for Ethernet connections with a low tolerance for signal noise.
Structured Cabling Standards During Installation
The ANSI/TIA-568 and ISO/IEC standards don’t just govern the type of cables and wires to use. They also define how it should be installed.
When asking your IT team or an agency to set up wiring for you, ensure they adhere to these two standards when applicable. That’s because both ANSI/TIA-568 and ISO/IEC are essential for backward compatibility. That means if you upgrade to the latest cable, it should still support older equipment that uses the previous cable version.
Compatibility is essential if you want to make your infrastructure as future-ready as possible.
ANSI/TIA-568 will also tell you the safest and most efficient ways to arrange your wiring. It is called the topology.
Horizontal cabling, for instance, should be done with a star topology, with each workstation connected to the main horizontal cable via a cross-connect with the telecommunications room. It also dictates that other devices like impedance matchers should be stored in the telecommunications room instead to maximize future changes.
On the other hand, backbone cabling is best used with a hierarchical star topology. It also specifies that a signal should only pass through 3 or fewer cross-connects.
Standards also specify the suggested distances between each wiring, depending on the cable type. For example, work area standards will tell you that the maximum length of a wire should be 5 meters. Anything longer might compromise the system.
Overall, strictly adhering to ANSI/TIA-568 and ISO/IEC standards is as important in planning as it is during installation. If guidelines aren’t followed, your organization might be unable to maximize the benefits a structured cabling system can give.
Need a Structured Cabling Expert?
Since 1987, Signal Solutions has been San Francisco’s leading data transport solutions provider. We have the expertise and experience to install a comprehensive, structured cabling system in your facility.
Want to upgrade your existing cabling system? Contact us today to schedule a consultation with our structured cabling installers.