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THE CABLINGGUIDE:How to plan and delivera successful structuredcabling projectVISITWWW.ROYCECOMMS.COMCALLEMAIL0845 833 1163INFO@ROYCECOMMS.COM

Contents4-5Your game plan for structuredcabling success6 - 15The beginner’s guide tostructured cabling16Put a price on your project17How ignoring health and safetycan hurt your business18 - 19The benefits of engaginga structured cablingpartner directly2

IntroductionIf you’re planning a structured cabling project, thisguide is for you. Inside you’ll find a step-by-step plan forstructured cabling success, which provides the answersto some of the trickier questions that often arise duringthe planning and implementation process; our budgetestimator tool to help you calculate the cost of yourproject; and a quick précis of the health and safetyregulations you’ll need to get to grips with.All of our advice and guidance is based on over 25 years’of experience designing, installing and maintainingstructured cabling solutions for customers such asThe AA, Lloyds Bank and BT. If you need a proven partnerwho can ensure your structured cablingnetwork is delivered in time and on budget, pleaseget in touch. But for now, get reading!3

Your game plan forstructured cabling success123456Conduct due diligenceAlign your planned structured cablinginfrastructure with your businessesneeds and objectives.7Find your cabling typeCat 5e, Cat 6 of Cat 6A? Choose thebest fit for your business.8Cable onceInstall a solution that covers bothyour current and future needs to avoidadditional costs post-implementation.9Know your limitsCheck for any physical barriers thatmay affect the topology of yoursolution.10Position your patch panel wiselyPlace this crucial cabling hub, andyour network equipment (which maybe noisy), in a secure area away fromyour workforce11Stay aliveSafeguard live systems cabledthrough vulnerable areas.12Bring building systems togetherUnify built environment systemsthrough your structured cablingnetwork to increase efficiencyand reduce costs.Establish connectionsEnsure that the ducts connectingyour buildings have capacity for newcabling.Pick the right patch cordsChoose cords that match the rest ofyour network to ensure your solutiondelivers consistent performance.Be wise to warrantiesPartner with an approved cablinginstaller to receive a warranty that’scomprehensive and meaningful.Choose the right solutionPick a solution that delivers peace ofmind, performance and stability for upto 20 years.Don’t fall at the final hurdleMake adequate resources available toensure your network is launched ontime and on budget.4

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Thebeginner’sguide tostructuredcablingTake the fast lane to project successwith our rundown of the roadblocksto avoid (and shortcuts to take) whenplanning and installing a structuredcabling network.6

Conduct due diligenceFind your cabling typeAligning your structured cablinginfrastructure with your businessesneeds and objectives is critical ifyou’re to maximise the return on yourinvestment in structured cabling.Consider the following factorswhen you’re defining the shape andrequirements of your infrastructure:You have three types, or categories,of cabling to choose from – Cat 5e,Cat 6 and Cat 6A. Structured cablingis generally judged in terms of itstransmission performance – howeffectively and rapidly the cabletransmits data – and as you ascendthe categories this performanceimproves. Generally speaking, thehigher the category of cabling, themore bandwidth (throughput) it willcope with and the more resilient andfuture-ready it will be. Anticipated growth in headcount Planned technology upgrades Bandwidth requirements New application support Mobile device support The benefits of incorporatingbuilding infrastructure systemsinto your networkEngaging a cabling supplier at thisstage in the planning process canhelp you define the best possibletopology for your business. The rightpartner should be willing to providecomplimentary advice and consultation(including a site survey) as partof its service.Cat 6 costs30%more thanCat 5eCat 6A costs30%more thanCat 6Whilst we don’t recommend buildinga network with Cat 5e, it does have itsplace, particularly in scenarios whena short-term network will suffice,e.g. when you’re wiring a temporaryoffice. However, as it was developedas an interim standard, its ability tosupport high-bandwidth applicationsis limited.7

Cable onceAdding outlets to an existing networkis expensive and often disruptive soit pays to plan for every eventualitywhen designing and installing yoursolution. In our experience, utility or“dead” space” is often repurposed intooffice space at a later date so provideadequate distribution and coveragefor any possible office layout toavoid additional costs (and stress)in the future. This may sound like achallenge but often it’s a surprisinglysimple task. We find that the optimumsolution is to allocate at least threeoutlets per work location. Once you’veidentified how many workstationscan be accommodated within yourfloorplan, the number of outlets canbe easily calculated.The final step is determining howyou present these outlets so thatthey can be connected to equipment.You have several options here andyour decision can have a significantbearing on the flexibility, capabilitiesand administration of your structuredcabling solution, so choose wisely.The options are essentially straight tothe desk, beneath the floor or withinthe ceiling. Combining these routes isalso an option. Your choice should bebased on the specific needs of yourbusiness and the physical structure ofyour building. However, depending onthe available routes, we recommendthat you consider the third option forat least for some of your services asit’s the most flexible and future-ready,provided it’s distributed correctly.Whilst flood wiring your workplacemay seem like overkill, it will enableyou to rapidly expand and utilise allof the space at your disposal, and itgrants total flexibility. It also providesadequate network coverage for theconnectivity of other services(e.g. Wi-Fi, access points, cellularaccess, security & surveillance,access control, building controls,etc.), allowing you to maximise thevalue of your investment.8

Know your limitsThe structure and features of yourbuilding can shape the topology ofyour structured cabling network soidentifying any physical limitationsduring the planning process is crucial.You don’t want to start a project withthe aim of running cabling underneathyour office only to learn that yourbuilding has inadequate or congestedcable routes.BEFORE YOU START DESIGNINGA SOLUTION, CONSIDERTHE FOLLOWING: The capacity for cablingbeneath the floor and above theceiling of your workspace The location and availablespace for communicationsroom(s) Available routes between floors Special architectural featurese.g. wood panelled walls How you will manoeuvre andtransport equipment andcabinets around your buildingYou may be able to identify newroutes, layouts and ideas that resultin potential savings and an easierinstallation project over the long run.If you’re struggling to map cablingto the blueprint of your building, itmay be worth engaging a third partywith experience defining topologiesand navigating restrictive physicalinfrastructure. By involving a cablingsupplier early in the planning processyou may be able to identify newroutes, layouts and ideas that resultin potential savings and an easierinstallation project over the long run.9

Position your patch panel wiselyThe location of your patch panel,the central hub that connectsworkstations or equipment to theswitch, can have an unexpectedimpact on the cost of your structuredcabling solution. Naturally, panelsshould be located near networkequipment, in a position thatminimises the total cabling distanceto outlets. This will reduce the costof your network cabling as a wholeand potentially the number of patchpanel locations and subsequentequipment costs.Don’t overlook the fact that patchpanel network equipment can createa lot of noise. This can be a seriousproblem and we’ve moved a fewcabling cabinets in the past simplybecause they were too distracting.Reinstalling these cabinets can beboth costly and disruptive so ensureyou make the right decision first timearound.Resist the urge to cram thesepanels into a cupboard. Engineerswill need access on an ongoingbasis so ensure adequate flooror wall space is made available.The design and layout of panels canhave an unexpected knock-on effectfor communications room sizingand additional associated costs.10

Stay aliveIf you share your building, youmay have live services routed viacommunal links or areas in needof refurbishment. This can exposecritical cabling and systems to risk.These services may be particularlyvulnerable if contractors areworking on other services such asair conditioning, power or lightingsystems in these spaces. A simple,straightforward process can beemployed during the initial stagesof your structured cabling project toidentify and safeguard live systems.Bring buildingsystems togetherIt’s also worth checking that yourplanned works won’t disrupt yourneighbours. Complaints and landlordrestrictions can hinder the progressof your project or stop it in itstracks. Review any contractual rulesgoverning access and disruption bothduring and after working hours beforekick-starting your project.Advance design and planningconsiderations will allow theincorporation of systems such assecurity & surveillance, accesscontrol, building control systems andWi-Fi and cellular networks.By unifying your built environmentsystems through one structuredcabling solution you can significantlyenhance return on investment andavoid unnecessary costs.11

Establish connectionsIf you’re connecting buildings withyour structured cabling network you’llneed to consider the practicalities ofdoing so. Making assumptions can bedangerous here. Even if external ductsexist, you may not be permitted to usethem. If you can gain access, checkthere’s capacity for your cabling andthat draw-ropes in-situ. Crucially,make sure they haven’t collapsed!Your chosen structured cablingprovider should be able to investigatethese ducts on your behalf and offercivil engineering services should anyrepairs or modifications be required.Pick the rightpatch cordsAlthough a single cord is relativelyinexpensive, an order of hundreds canbe costly, so factor these cables intoyour budget from the outset.Watch out for patch cords whenyou’re calculating the cost of aproject. Less scrupulous cablingcompanies may ‘forget’ these crucialcables in order to reduce the priceof their quote, only to hit you withadditional costs later in the project.When specifying patch cords, ensurethat they are manufactured by thesupplier responsible for the rest ofyour cabling network. A hybrid systemwon’t deliver the desired level ofperformance and will compromiseyour warranty.12