The Data Cabling Universe

Understanding Cabling Standards,

Design Elements, & Market Strategies
Training Goal

Give you a basic overview

of the technical and marketing aspects
of the data cabling industry

in order to equip you to make this

a successful and profitable aspect
of your business.
Training Overview

Data Cabling Standards

& Design Overview

Understanding the
Cabling Market

How to Win in Cabling

Training Overview

Data Cabling Standards

& Design Overview

Understanding the
Cabling Market

How to Win in Cabling

1. Introduction to the TIA
568-C Cabling Standard
2. Cabling System Design
Overview
3. Estimating Keys
1. Introduction to the TIA
568-C Cabling Standard
2. Cabling System Design
Overview
3. Estimating Keys
What is data cabling?

Data cabling is
that cabling deployed in commercial buildings
to facilitate the transfer of computer network traffic
between networked devices
What is data cabling?

data cabling
The standard for this
infrastructure is known as
the TIA 568-C standard!
The TIA 568-C Standard
• TIA: Telecommunications Industry
Association (tiaonline.org)
• Formal name: “Commercial Building
Telecommunications Cabling Standard”
• Areas covered:
– Electrical and mechanical performance
– Installation and testing
• Subordinate & complementary standards:
– 569-C: Pathways and Spaces
– 606-B: Labeling and Identification
– 607-B: Grounding and Bonding
Key Point:
1. Introduction to the TIA
568-C Cabling Standard
2. Cabling System Design
Overview
3. Estimating Keys
Elements of a Cabling
System
Horizontal
Cabling Telecomm
Room Work Area

Telecomm Backbone
Room Cabling

Equipment
Room

Entrance
Facility

Campus Building or Internet

Horizontal Cabling

• Connects Work Area (WA) to Telecomm

Room (TR)
– WA: Where user or device interfaces with cabling system
– TR:
• Centralized location for the aggregation of Horizontal
Cabling (HC) runs
• Location of network equipment (as well as Equipment
Room, ER)
• What is network equipment?
Network Equipment

• Basis of a network: The network protocol

– Protocol: Set of rules governing the format of messages that
are exchanged between computers
– Ethernet is the most commonly used protocol in the world
• How Ethernet works
– Puts data into packets which are then sent over the network

Header
Payload (Data) Check
(addresses)
Ethernet: The Postal
Service of Networking

My Computer
In My Office
On My Network
Your Computer
In Your Office
On Your Network

Header
Payload (Data) Check
(addresses)
Switches and Routers

Switch Router
Internet

Router

Switch Switch
Types of Horizontal
Cabling
1. 4-Pair Twisted Pair Cable
2. Multimode Fiber Optic Cable
Types of Horizontal
Cabling
1. 4-Pair Twisted Pair Cable
2. Multimode Fiber Optic Cable
4-Pair Twisted Pair Cables
• Characteristics
– 8-Wire, 4-Pair, spiraled inside jacket; twisting reduces interference
– Unshielded and Screened/Shielded Versions
– Max distance: 100M (90M jack-to-patch panel + 10M patch cables)
• Common Performance Categories
Category Bandwidth Ethernet Tech Use Today
Cat 5e 100 MHz 100 MegaBit (MB) Low-cost solutions
Cat 6 250 MHz 1 GigaBit (GB) Typical commercial
Cat 6E* 350 MHz** 1GB High end commercial
Cat 6A 500 MHz 10GB Data Centers/High PoE

* Not specified in the standard; market designation

** Typical value; varies by manufacturer
Twisted Pair Components
Prove…you’re not a zombie!
• Name the standard for data cabling
– TIA 568-C
• Name the 4 categories of 4-pair?
– Cat 5e, Cat 6, Cat 6E, Cat 6A
• Name the max distance of
horizontal cabling, jack-to-patch
panel?
– 90m / 295’
Types of Horizontal
Cabling
1. 4-Pair Twisted Pair Cable
2. Multimode Fiber Optic Cable
Fiber Basics
– Fiber optic cable transmits
light vs electricity
– Therefore it is immune to all
forms of EMI
– Allows higher data rates and
longer distances than copper
Reflection/Refraction Key
Fiber Cable Components

End Face View

Core/Cladding
Transmission through
Core

Loss at Core/
Cladding Boundary

Axial Ray

Modes/Angles Critical Angle

of Light
Elements of a Cabling
System
Horizontal
Cabling Telecomm
Room Work Area

Telecomm Backbone
Room Cabling

Equipment
Room

Entrance
Facility

Campus Building or Internet

Common Fiber Sizes
Multi-mode fiber
(multiple angles)
Common Fiber
Performance

Type Size Typical Use Distance Limitation

MM 62.5u Horizontal Cabling 100M
Low-cost Backbone 2000M
MM 50.0u High-performance 100-1000M depending on
HC, data center, application
10G applications
SM 9.0u Data center Up to 10,000M depending
Inter-building on application
backbone
Types of Horizontal
Cabling
1. 4-Pair Twisted Pair Cable
2. Multimode Fiber Optic Cable
– 2-strands of multimode fiber optic cable are acceptable
– Fiber used in HC is typically called “Fiber-to-the-Desktop,” FTTD
– Distances without using optional designs are the same as
copper cabling, 100M (90M port-to-port + 10M patch cables)
Elements of a Cabling
System
Horizontal
Cabling Telecomm
Room Work Area

Telecomm Backbone
Room Cabling

Equipment
Room

Entrance
Facility

Campus Building or Internet

Backbone Cabling

• Connects Telecomm Rooms (TR) with the

Equipment Room (ER)
– ER: A building serving room that houses the majority of network
equipment and servers for a commercial building
– Backbone cabling also extends to the Entrance Facility (EF),
where outside cabling enters the building
– Sometimes an ER will also serve as a TR for a floor and an EF for
the building

Telecomm Equipment Entrance

Room Room Facility
Backbone Cabling Types

1. Multi-pair Copper Cabling

– 25-, 50-, 100-, 300-pair cables
– Typically used for voice transmission
2. Fiber Optic Cabling
– Multi-strand single and multimode cable
– All types of constructions and fiber counts
Fiber Optic Components

ST
SC LC
Prove…you’re not a zombie!
• Name the two glass portions of
a fiber optic cable.
– Core and cladding
• Name the two general types of
fiber optic cable.
– Multimode and Singlemode
• Name the two core sizes common
in multimode cable.
– 62.5 and 50 micron
1. Introduction to the TIA
568-C Cabling Standard
2. Cabling System Design
Overview
3. Estimating Keys
HC Estimating Keys

• Specs located in Division 27

• Understand outlet configuration
– How many cables per WA outlet/drop location?
– Prints typically indicate via symbols and notes
• Remember distances
– 90M (295’) max
– Includes up/down (8’), service loops (1’ WA, 10’ TR)
– Max takeoff distance around 250’
– Include 10% overage on print distance for unknowns
• Identify if plenum cable needed! $$$
HC Estimating Keys

• Components
– 1 jack and 1 patch panel port per WA cable
– Patch panels typically 24- & 48-port configurations
– 1 RU (1.75”) horizontal manager per 24-port patch
panel
– 2 vertical cable managers per rack (1/2 rack or full rack
as needed)
• Be careful about Cat 6 requirements
– Most projects “min compliant” product
– 6E more expensive; make sure it is required
– 6A generally on high-end projects; make sure
HC Estimating Exercise

• Requirements
– 1 floor building; 10 WA with 2 Cat 6 min compliant cables
– TR in center of floor; existing rack already in place; no wire mgt
– Average cable run from prints is 150’
• Task
– Specify number of jacks, number and type of patch panels,
amount of cable, and horizontal and vertical wire mgt panels
– Faceplates: Assume 1 x 2-port, single gang for each WA location
HC Exercise Answers
• Components
– Jacks
• 2 jacks x 10 WA locations = 20 Cat 6 jacks
– Patch Panels
• 2 cables x 10 WA = 20 total cables
• 1 x 24-port Cat 6 patch panel
– Cable
• 150’ + 15’ (10%) + 16’ (up/dn) + 11’ (TR/WA svc) = 192’ avg
• 20 cables x 192’ avg cable = 3840’ (come in 1000’ boxes)
– Horizontal Wire Mgt
• 1 RU mgr / 24-port pp; 1 x 1 RU horizontal manager
– Vertical Wire Mgt
• 2 half rack verticals (may not require)
BB Estimating Keys

• Understand type of fiber required

– Some specs say “multimode”; several versions
– Use Accu-Tech team to specify correct version
• Fiber components
– 2 connectors / 2 adapter panel ports per fiber strand (1 each end)
– Adapter panels typically in 6- and 12-port versions
– Verify wall mount or rack mount fiber enclosures
– Example: 12-f from TR-ER, SC connectors, rack mount needs…
• 24 x fiber connectors; 2 x 12-pack SC adapter panels,
2 x 12-fiber or greater rack mount fiber enclosures
BB Estimating Exercise

• Requirements
– 12-strand, 50u MM fiber cable from ER to TR
– SC connectors
– Rack mount enclosure
– 200’ distance as shown on prints
• Task
– Specify number of connectors, number and type of patch panels,
number and type of adapter panels, and amount of cable
BB Exercise Answers
• Components
– Connectors
• 12 connectors x 2 ends = 24 x 50u SC fiber connectors
– Patch Panels
• 2 x rack mount fiber enclosures (12-fiber minimum)
– Adapter Panels
• 6-port: 2 panels per end; 4 x 6-port SC adapter panels
• 12-port: 1 panel per end; 2 x 12-port SC adapter panels
– Cable
• 200’ + 20’ (10% ovr) + 16’ (up/dn) + 20’ (TR svc) = 256’/cable
Testing

• Copper: What kind of testing required?

– Small jobs: Continuity only; larger: 568-C verified tester
– Accu-Tech can help you get the testers you need
• Fiber testing: What kind of testing?
– Power Meter Testing: tests the total loss (in dB) of the
cable plant (cable, connectors, splices)
– OTDR Testing (Optical Time Domain Reflectometer):
tests the total loss of the cable plan, but gives individual
values for loss at each connector and loss of cable
 What are the three fiber optic connector types
commonly used today, and, which is the smallest?

ST
SC
LC
Training Overview

Data Cabling Standards

& Design Overview

Understanding the
Cabling Market

How to Win in Cabling

1. Manufacturers,
Distributors, Integrators
2. Specifications and
Registrations
3. Warranties and
Certifications
1. Manufacturers,
Distributors, Integrators
2. Specifications and
Registrations
3. Warranties and
Certifications
AV Market Channel

Manufacturer

Integrator

End User
Cabling Market Channel

Manufacturer

Integrator

End User
How the channel operates

Manufacturer

Integrator

End User
1. Manufacturers,
Distributors, Integrators
2. Specifications and
Registrations
3. Warranties and
Certifications
Specifications
• Generally, end users will develop a
specification for their data cabling,
including:
– Performance level required (Cat 5e/6, etc)
– Manufacturers accepted
• “Sole source”: one brand specified by name, no alternatives
• List of brands: two or more that are acceptable
• Performance only: no brands specified if meet performance
– Contractor qualifications
• Experience
• Industry Certs: RCDD (bicsi.org), BICSI certified techs, etc.
• Manufacturer Certs: Authorization by mfg to warrant installs
(more in final section, “Certifications and Warranties”)
Specification Strategy

• Use your relationship to influence spec

– Encourage the EU to write the spec in a way that favors
your experience, certifications, mfg relationships
– This puts you in a stronger position to win the bid
• Leveraging manufacturers with spec
– If you position a line…
• The mfg will register it with you
• This give you preferential pricing
– When a spec comes out listing mfgs…
• Be sure you are getting the “project pricing” available
• Be sure no other integrator is “protected”
 Can you name every element
(termination areas and cabling types)
of a 568-C compliant cabling system?

Complete the handout to find out…

1. Manufacturers,
Distributors, Integrators
2. Specifications and
Registrations
3. Warranties and
Certifications
Warranties

• Warranties
– Common industry practice for mfgs to offer extended
warranties on performance of cabling systems
– Term: Typically 25-year
– Requirements
• Use of required products
• Testing and documentation to 568-C standard
• “Certification” of installer
Certifications

• What is a certification?
– Marketing relationship between mfg and integrator
– Generally requires:
• Opening in geography (city) or market segment (schools)
• Commitment of annual purchase level
• Training of techs and designers (varies by mfg)
 l

Your Company Name Here

Certifications

• What is a certification?
– Marketing relationship between mfg and integrator
– Generally requires:
• Opening in geography (city) or market segment (schools)
• Commitment of annual purchase level
• Training of techs and designers (varies by mfg)
• Why need certification?
– To compete on larger projects or at specific EUs must have it
– Can’t get one from everyone, so need to be strategic
• Check your customer’s specs: Who do they require?
• 1 brand name; 1 low-cost
• ATC can help!
Training Overview

Data Cabling Standards

& Design Overview

Understanding the
Cabling Market

How to Win in Cabling

What are the three requirements most manufacturers
require from the contractor in order
to issue a warranty for data cabling?

Use of required products

Testing and documentation to 568-C
“Certification” of the installer
1. The Importance of
Partnerships
2. The Importance of
Strategy
3. The Importance of
Commitment
1. The Importance of
Partnerships
2. The Importance of
Strategy
3. The Importance of
Commitment
The Right Partnership
Critical
• Accu-Tech: A Great Partner to Build On
– In cabling business since its inception, over 30 years ago
– Carry every major line in the country
– 35 stocking locations from which to pull
– Know the landscape of this market
• We want to be your partner!
– Place you into projects
– Help you get lines you need
– See you succeed
• Demonstrated our commitment: This training!
1. The Importance of
Partnerships
2. The Importance of
Strategy
3. The Importance of
Commitment
A Winning Strategy

Invest in training
– Sales and technical staff
– ATC, Bicsi.org, foa.org

Dedicate people to this endeavor

– Put someone in charge: “Everybody’s responsibility is
nobody’s responsibility”
– Focus salespeople, or at least, make cabling a focus:
Talk about it, incentivize it, measure it
– Have a group of dedicated (or, mostly dedicated) data
cabling technicians
A Winning Strategy

Start small
– Small wins leads to big wins
– Learn to quote, install, manage smaller, less-risky projects first
– Go after smaller projects with smaller clients first
– Shy away from quoting anything of size until you are ready
1. The Importance of
Partnerships
2. The Importance of
Strategy
3. The Importance of
Commitment
Critical Ingredient:
Commitment
• Difficult to break into a new market, to do it
profitably and long-term
– You will experience a learning curve, which will cost you
– You are going to make mistakes, and you likely will be tempted to
cut and run sometime in the first six months
• Therefore, up front commitment is critical
2 Key Commitments

1. Commitment to continue after failure

– Keep in mind the profit and increased control over accounts you
can have when (not if!) this division becomes a success
– Especially critical to keep in mind when you have a bad job, or
when one of your existing accounts gives the cabling to
someone else
2. …first let’s talk about…
#1
2 Key Commitments

1. Commitment to continue after failure

– Keep in mind the profit and increased control over accounts you
can have when (not if!) this division becomes a success
– Especially critical to keep in mind when you have a bad job, or
when one of your existing accounts gives the cabling to
someone else
2. Commitment to investing in this business
– $$$: Training, tools, incentives, marketing
– People: Focused staff, internal processes, accountability
If you do not invest in this business,
you will not succeed in it.