Whether it’s voice, data, video, security or the building management system, information is increasingly critical to the productivity of building occupants and to the performance of the building itself. But the quality of that information flow can be no better than the conduit carrying it — the cabling system. A structured cabling system is designed to ensure that information flows smoothly over the cabling network. It includes a set of transmission products applied with engineering design rules that allow the user to apply voice, data and signals in a manner that maximizes data rates.
The structured cabling system is the foundation of a successful intelligent building network and the basic investment on which all other network equipment depends. A structured cabling system installation is neither vendor-specific nor topology-dependent. It offers uniformity, flexibility, scalability, easy and low cost changes, and investment protection of an asset with a very long life — 10 years or more.
The system has become a common platform for many information technology system types and applications, including telecom (voice and data), building automation, security (CCTV, access control, etc), teleconferencing and in some instances fire alarm. This convergence makes the structured cabling system the most important component of the network and the associated systems, one that merits a serious investment in a highly reliable, flexible and scalable system.
A structured cabling system divides the entire infrastructure into manageable blocks and then integrates these blocks to produce a high-performance network that serves as the lifeline for most businesses and all data centers. A structured cabling system will support near-future applications with little or no upgrade pain. Unforeseen problems are less likely to bring down an entire network because problems are easier to isolate and correct. And it is easy to test and isolate the specific points of failure and rectify the situation with minimal disturbance to the entire network.
Another advantage of a structured cabling system is that it minimizes the effort required for moves, adds and changes. Such a system also allows for a consistent infrastructure across the network in cases of converged building systems. Consistency yields cost savings by simplifying maintenance procedures, reducing staff needs and increasing reliability.
Moreover, a structured cabling system based on the current standards also provides the flexibility to support a variety of applications and hardware from different vendors. This improves installation, testing and management efficiencies.
Finally, the “structured” nature of such a system facilitates administration and management by providing designated points of distribution, standard labeling and coloring mechanisms and methods, and cabling management and distribution methodologies.
More often than not, data center managers resort to a dynamic approach in populating a data center with IT equipment. This approach has to be employed to accommodate the changing requirements of business operations, which in turn often drive the need for the latest IT equipment. And because businesses depend on IT equipment and infrastructure, top management expects any need for additional IT capacity or capability to be met almost instantaneously.
However, data center managers can react only as fast as the availability of IT equipment and the facility infrastructure allow. In today’s market, vendors can generally supply products very quickly. But, if a data center manager is faced with a poorly designed IT infrastructure, the process can grind to a halt.
To avoid such a situation, it is essential to address critical structured cabling system issues during the planning phase. Among the most important points to address are these:
The planning stage is the time to maximize the flexibility to respond to ongoing changes in equipment planning today and adapt to future technologies. That’s why facility executives should get an IT design engineer (preferably an RCDD — Registered Communications Distribution Designer) involved from the planning stages of a data center project.
An effective design can significantly reduce downtime; minimize moves, adds and changes; and reduce life-cycle costs of the cabling system. In the planning stages of new construction, it is crucial to spend time to address system performance, redundancy, diversity and modularity for the structured cabling system, as well as to anticipate future requirements. A comprehensive design approach will ensure that prudent planning and intelligent design are combined with industry standards. The result will be a cabling infrastructure that has a good chance of staying useful for several years, saving money while providing access to cutting-edge telecommunications solutions.
Omar Elissa, P.E., is a senior telecommunication systems engineer with EYP Mission Critical Facilities Inc. Rakesh Mohan, RCDD, contributed to this article.
