What are the six components of structured cabling

Before the late 1970s, the wiring of voice and data communication systems was not as complex as it is now. With the development of digital transmission, new types of wiring and connectors have emerged.

Decades ago, most systems used two or four pairs of copper wires and wrapped them with ties to protect the cables. When connecting, the insulation layer at the end of the wire needs to be removed to expose the copper conductor. Then, the copper conductors are connected to a set of connectors called connection blocks, which link physical devices to switching equipment, such as private branch exchange (PBX) systems.

By the early 1980s, network engineers hoped to simplify the connection between devices and their main systems. The new cabling and connectors are expected to accelerate the process of building wired infrastructure for voice and data devices, and structured cabling greatly simplifies this process. Its continuous use enables it to support new devices, such as Internet of Things systems.

What is a structured cabling system?

With the development of wiring and connection points, wiring, connectors and different types of wiring (including copper wire, optical fiber and coaxial cable) need to be further standardized. In 1991, the National Standards Institute and the Telecommunications Industry Association of the United States developed a series of standards, namely ANSI/TIA-568.

The ANSI/TIA-568 standard introduces guidelines for all aspects of cable distribution systems in residential and commercial buildings. Its chapters contain two names:

1. General telecommunication cabling at the user end. This standard provides specifications for the structure, performance and other installation guidelines of general cabling. Its current version is ANSI/TIA-568.0-E.

2. Standards for Telecommunication Infrastructure in Commercial buildings. This standard is based on general building standards and provides additional regulations for commercial building environments. Its current version is ANSI/TIA-568.1-E.

These standards constitute the structured cabling system. Structured cabling consists of six components, which together form a convenient, repeatable and easy-to-implement framework for telecommunications cabling installation.

Six structured cabling subsystems

The six components of structured cabling are as follows:

1. Entrance facilities (EF)

2. Equipment Room (ER)

3. Backbone cabling.

4. Telecommunication Machine Room (TR).

5. Horizontal wiring.

6. Workspace (WA).

1. Entrance facilities

Cables entering a building or residence from the outside (such as local service providers or dedicated networks) pass through openings on the exterior walls via conduits. Cables enter the room where other devices are deployed, such as:

u Network connection point.

u Patch panel.

u Equipment rack.

u Hardware connector.

u Power supply.

u Grounding, shielding and lightning protection devices.

2. Equipment room

The equipment room (ER) is the area where the entrance cables are connected to the internal wiring infrastructure of the building. It houses patch panels for connecting the main trunk, horizontal and intermediate cables. In addition, it also includes network switches, PBXS and servers. Network technicians should control the environment of the equipment room according to the specifications of the equipment supplier to maintain the temperature and relative humidity levels.

3. Backbone cabling

Backbone cabling, also known as vertical cabling or riser cabling, connects EF, telecom, other ER and operator Spaces. It is usually installed on vertical passages or risers connecting each floor. The backbone cabling consists of the following two subsystems:

Cabling Subsystem 2: Cabling between horizontal cross-connections and intermediate cross-connections (ics).

 Cabling Subsystem 3: Cabling between IC and main cross-connect (MC).

The main trunk cabling uses the following types of cables:

u 100-ohm twisted-pair cables, including Cat5, Cat6 or Cat7.

u Multimode optical fiber cabling. It is recommended to use 50/125-micron cables optimized by an 850-nanometer laser. However, 62.5/125 micron and 50/125 micron cables are also allowed to be used.

u Single-mode optical fiber cabling.

The entrance cable is usually determined by the operator, and the user is not responsible.

4. Telecommunications room

A telecommunications room (TR) is an environmentally controlled area that can be a dedicated room (referred to as a telecommunications cabinet) or part of a larger room, such as a general-purpose machine room. The hardware in these Spaces is used for terminating horizontal and backbone cables. Network technicians also use local cables (referred to as patch cords or jumpers) to cross-connect different cables on patch panels in a telecommunications room (TR). The network team may also install an IC or MC here to provide additional connection resources.

5. Horizontal wiring

Horizontal cables deliver telecommunication resources to the user's work area or other rooms on the same floor. Typical cables extend from the user's equipment to the nearest relay station (TR) on the same floor. Regardless of the cable type, the maximum allowable cable length between TR and the user's equipment is 295 feet (89 meters).

Horizontal cabling, also known as cabling subsystem 1, includes cables, connectors, patch panels, jumpers and patch cords in TR or TE. Multi-user telecommunication socket assemblies and convergence points connect multiple devices or cables to a single connector.

The types of horizontal cables include

Four pairs of 100-ohm unshielded or shielded twisted-pair cables, Cat5e, Cat6 or Cat7 cables.

Multimode optical fiber cabling, dual-core optical fiber, with a higher number of cores. The recommended cable types are 62.5/125 microns or 50/125 microns multimode cables.

Single-mode optical fiber wiring, dual-core optical fiber, with a higher number of cores.

6. Work Area

The work area (WA) is the final destination of the structured cable system. It is the area from the connector (or socket) of the wall socket to the user equipment that uses the cable. Common user devices in the workspace include PCS or mobile devices.

Why is structured cabling so important?

Structured cabling simplifies the installation of cable infrastructure and supports a variety of voice and data communication devices. Whether installing coaxial cable sockets at home or wiring for skyscrapers, all components must meet the following specific standards:

• Power transmission.

• Resistance.

• Cable length.

• Connector.

• Cable manufacturing.

Structured cabling can also enhance the troubleshooting capabilities of cabling issues by using diagnostic equipment that complies with the ANSI/ TIA-5680/1 standard. Standardized interfaces also make the installation of structured cabling more convenient. Network technicians usually use snap-in connectors to install these interfaces.

The advantages of structured cabling

Structured cabling simplifies the installation, troubleshooting and maintenance of cable infrastructure. By standardizing all hardware components and cable types, network teams can save costs. Other advantages of structured cabling include:

Scalability. Structured cabling is easy to install because the connectors and their wiring simplify the connection process. This also enables the expansion and renovation of infrastructure to easily cope with any future growth.

Flexibility. Structured cabling supports a wide range of devices and applications, so the network can integrate new technologies without fundamentally changing the network. The ANSI/TIA-568 standard is almost applicable to any type of residential and commercial cabling requirements.

Reliability. As structured cabling adheres to industry standards and best practices, it ensures the reliability of the network. By following these practices, the network can minimize signal loss, interference and downtime.