Network Cable Installations

If you need to install network cables but have no idea how to keep everything organized, you’ve come to the right place. Gather your network cable installation tools and check out all the necessary network cable installation guidelines, followed by the best practices for cabling.

Network Cable Installation Guidelines

When installing network cable, the most important thing to keep in mind is safety. Follow these guidelines and you’re sure to have a safe and secure network cable installation:

Keep Your Cables Organized

• Don’t bundle the cables over one another, as their performance would be degraded.
• Make sure the unshielded twisted-pair cables for canceling out EMI from external sources aren’t exposed.
• Keep the fiber and copper cables in the runs separate.
• Label the cables at both ends and label the racks and the patch panels as well.
• Don’t route the cables through pipes or holes. You might want to add more cable runs later.

Cable Planning

• Test every cable you install and terminate, so that you can immediately separate any potentially malfunctioning one.
• Make sure you have a port in the patch panel for every horizontal cable you terminate.
• Ensure there are enough vertical and horizontal runs because even removing a single cable can cause downtime.
• Use the straight patch panels in the cabling distribution racks and use the angled patch panels in the cabling distribution area.
• Don’t route the cables over the ports in the patch panels, or over other equipment, but rather above or below the ports and into the horizontal cable manager.
• Make sure there are at least 2 inches (50 mm) between the cables and conductors.
• Don’t use patch cables that are constructed with a solid-core STP cable with stranded-core RJ-45 connectors.

Do Not Manipulate the Cables

• Don’t apply additional twists or staple the cable ties.
• Don’t pull or stretch the cables beyond their pulling load rate.
• Don’t bend the cables beyond 90°, or their specified bend radius.

Cable Maintenance

• Remove all the abandoned cables to prevent airflow restriction and temperature increase.
• Don’t expose cables to direct sunlight or condensation.

These guidelines are key to a successful and safe network cable installation. Follow them and you’ll feel safe and secure in your processes. If you need a professional with all the network cable installation tools and, more importantly, skills to perfectly handle your network cable installations, MSC Electrical is here for you.

Contact us today for a quote!