WHAT IS STRUCTURED WIRING?
Structured wiring is a method of providing the communications infrastructure of your business in a well organized, easy to understand, and thorough way to provide a general solution to your present and future needs. Rather than run a coax here, and a Cat 5e there, and another coax somewhere else as you guess at the future needs, the structured
approach is to consistently run a full bundle of wire to every significant room. A structured bundle consists of a minumum of two 4-pair Cat 5e cables. There are other structures, but this is the minumum configuration that has overwhelmingly become the standard.
The whole purpose of installing a structured wire system is to have the flexibility to accommodate
a wide variety of changing needs during the life of the business. The organization you put into your installation will show its benefit as you start installing the entertainment, communications, and computer equipment that attaches to these wires. You will undoubtedly be very happy you put
this infrastructure into your business as the years go on.
PRE-WIRE INSTALLATION
Cat 5e wire, fiber optics and coaxial cable need special care during installation. Cat 5e wire is
manufactured to very tight dimensional tolerances. So is fiber optis & coaxial cable. These cables are designed
to work at very high frequencies. Take care to make sure they are not physically damaged during installation. Do not use metal staples or holding devices that will dent or deform the cable.
Minimize the pulling tension to avoid physically damaging the shape of the cable. Low voltage signal cables are normally installed after the electricians have finished roughing-in the power wiring. That is so the low voltage installer can avoid running signal wires next to power
wires. Run the signal wires at least 18" inch's away from the power wires.
Service Loops
At the mud ring, provide a service loop of at least two feet. Tuck the loop in the stud cavity so that after the sheet rock
has been installed you can pull out the service loop. You will find that a generous service loop will make attaching the specialized connectors and trimming out the wall plate much easier than if you are working with short wires. It also gives you a second chance if you make a mistake while applying a
connector.
At the head end panel, allow a very generous service loop. I recommend allowing enough wire to provide a full “U” from the entry into the panel around the inside of the panel and back to panel
entry point. This will facilitate good organization of your wire when you are trimming out your
panel. It is good to arrange the entry of the wire into the head end panel in such a way that you can push excess wire back into a storage location such as the crawl space or the attic area where
it is out of sight and protected. This allows you to dress the cables in the panel in a neat and tidy way, and yet still have an extra service loop tucked away out of sight to allow for reconfiguring at
a later point in time if ever needed.
