Version 1.0, February 1996
1. Introduction
Information Systems and Services (ISS) currently specifies the installation and use of Category 5 Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) cable to support Ethernet data communication services on the GW campus. A variety of other data communication services running at speeds of up to 100 Mb/s may be supported on UTP cabling in the future.
The standard UTP data communications cabling specified for use on the GW campus shall be of a specific type and must be installed according to the following standards. The standards for data communications cable are more restrictive than those normally encountered for voice communications. In general the requirements include:
- A specified cable type
- Restricted cable topology
- Maximum end-to-end circuit length
- Specific handling and installed cable protection
- Specific outlet types and placements
- Compliance testing of installed cabling
2. General
Cables shall be installed in unbroken segments from central utility closets to individual workstation locations. In the utility closets UTP cables shall be terminated on 110-style Patch panels designated for data communication service using the TIA/EIA 568B wiring. Solid copper, category 5 patch cables terminating in RJ45 plugs shall be used on the 110-style patch panels. At each workspace location cables shall be terminated in a wall mounted TIA/EIA 568B compliant communications outlet from specified manufacturers. All installed cabling runs shall be tested for compliance with specified parameters, documentation provided, and both ends of each cable run shall be labeled. The Siemon Company has an excellent overview of utp network cabling standards.
3. Cable Type
All installed cable shall be 100 ohm, 4 pair, unshielded twisted pair (UTP), #24 AWG solid copper inside wire, which meets or exceeds TIA/EIA 568A, section 10 standards for UL Category 5 cable, (Belden part number 1583A, or equivalent). Cable specification sheets for all cable must be provided to the Director of Technology - ISS, (202) 994-6005, prior to installation.
Plenum rated cable shall be used in all plenum spaces and elsewhere as specified by the Director of Technology-ISS (202) 994-6005. The campus Fire Marshall shall have the final decision about the plenum requirement for any given space. Riser rated cable is an acceptable superior substitute for plenum rated material. (Berk-Tek 230247 or equivalent)
4. Physical Installation
4.1 General Topology
Cabling between utility closets and workstation locations shall be made as individual home runs. No intermediate punch down blocks or splices may be installed or utilized between the utility closet and the communications outlet at the workstation location. It is imperative that only the specified Category 5 cable be used in all cabling and that the factory twist be maintained throughout the runs.
4.2 Concealed Cabling
All cabling shall be installed inside walls or ceiling spaces wherever possible. Any exposed cable run of more than three feet must be enclosed in appropriate raceway, as described below.
4.2.1 Raceways
Cable that can not be run inside a protected space must be enclosed in protective raceway such as Wiremold 400, 800, 2300 or Panduit type L. Protective raceways must be permanently attached to underlying wall surfaces with appropriate wall anchors.
4.2.2 Wall Penetrations
Cable penetrations of walls or floors designed as fire barriers are to be sleeved with metallic conduit and packed with fire blocking material in compliance with national, campus, and District of Columbia fire codes.
4.3 Maximum Length
The maximum length of any cable run shall not exceed 90 meters, (295 feet).
4.4 Securing Cables
All cables shall be dressed neatly and physically secured to prevent accidental dislocation or damage. It is not permissible to secure cabling to the outside of conduit or to gas, plumbing, steam, or any other functional pipes. Cables shall not be secured to any utility structures in any fashion that might prevent maintenance of or access to those facilities.
Since modern twisted pair cabling must be expected to carry high data rates, it is necessary to avoid stressing the wire. Tight 90-degree bends are not permissible, and any tie-wraps or other securing straps must not be cinched tight. Care should be taken to avoid routing cables within 18 inches of electrical noise generating devices such as transformers and lighting ballasts.
5. Cable Termination
Category 5 data cables shall be terminated on 110-style patch panels in the utility closets and category 5 communications outlets at the workstation locations. Telephone cable may be terminated on category 5 66-type connecting blocks in the utility closets and on category 5 communications outlets at the workstation. Wiring shall be TIA/EIA 568B compliant.
5.1 Cross Connect Blocks
The following 110-style connecting blocks, 110-style patch panels, 66-style connecting blocks, and associated materials are specified for use on the GW campus.
5.1.1 110-Style Cross Connect Blocks and Patch Panels
Siemon S110AW1-100 100 pair type 110 wiring block
Siemon S110AW1-300 300 pair type 110 wiring block
Siemon S110-HLDR Plastic label holder
Siemon S110AB1-100JP12 12 port ,wired T568B patch panel
Siemon S110AB1-300JP36 36 port, wired T568B patch panel
5.1.2 66-Style Cross Connect Blocks
Siemon S66M1-50 66-type connecting block, category 5
Siemon S89B Standoff bracket for S66M1-50 connecting block
(note: metallic backboards for S89B brackets are optional)
5.1.3 Associated Materials
Siemon S20A White spool (mushroom)
Panduit E3X3LG6 Type E wiring duct
Panduit C3LG6 Duct cover
5.2 Communications Outlets (CO's)
Each cable shall be terminated at the workstation location on the specified communications outlet.
5.2.1 Specifications
The specified communications outlets have spaces for multiple adapter inserts. Normally, one voice adapter will be placed in the topmost position and one data adapter will be placed below the voice adapter. A blank insert shall be installed in the unused spaces.
ISS has standardized on the use of the Ortronics communications outlet for most campus installations. Products from AT&T (Lucent) and Siemon are offered as substitutes. Clearance must be obtained from the Director of Technology - ISS, (202) 994-6005, prior to the installation of outlets other than the Ortronics product. Communications outlets for installation at GW shall consist of the following components.
5.2.1.1 Flush Mount
For flush mounting in recessed wall boxes use:
5.2.1.1.1 Ortronics
Ortronics OR-40300158 Face Plate
5.2.1.1.2 AT&T (Lucent)
AT&T M-Series information outlet (adapter capacity 1 to 8)
5.2.1.1.3 Siemon
Siemon CT4-FP-02 Single Gang Face Plate or
Siemon CT8-FP-02 Double Gang Face Plate
5.2.1.2 Surface Mount
For surface mounting use either:
5.2.1.2.1 Ortronics
Ortronics OR-40400028 Surface mount interface box
5.2.1.2.2 AT&T (Lucent)
AT&T M102SMB-262 Modular duplex surface mount box
AT&T M104SMB-262 Modular quadplex surface mount box
5.2.1.2.3 Siemon
Siemon CT4-FP-02 Single Gang Face Plate or
Siemon CT8-FP-02 Double Gang Face Plate
5.2.2 Location
Where possible, the communications outlet shall be located so that its centerline is 18 inches above floor level or 12 inches above permanent bench surfaces. In no case shall it be installed lower than 12 inches above floor level without prior written approval from the Director of Technology - ISS, (202) 994-6005. Surface mounted outlets are acceptable if well secured. Recessed outlets require metal mounting boxes in any wall designated as a fire barrier.
Outlets shall not be mounted on temporary, movable, or removable surfaces, doors, or access hatches.
5.2.3 Adapter Inserts
A variety of inserts are available to make the specified communications outlets usable for different wiring applications. For all installations, unless specified otherwise, the default installed insert shall be the one designated for Category 5, T568B wiring. It is critical that only those specified below be used.
5.2.3.1 Ortronics
Ortronics OR-60950008 Single 568B jack
Ortronics OR-60950009 Double 568B jack
Ortronics OR-40300164 Blank Module
Ortronics OR-40300221 White voice keystone icon
Ortronics OR-40300221-04 Yellow data keystone icon
5.2.3.2 AT&T (Lucent)
AT&T M100BH-262 T568B single insert
AT&T M20AB-262 Blank
5.2.3.3 Siemon
Siemon CT-5-T4-02 568B Outlet
Siemon CT-BLNK-02 Blank
5.3 Utility Closet Station Cable Termination
In the utility closet all data cables shall be terminated on horizontally mounted 110 style patch panels. Where necessary, a new 3/4" plywood panel shall be firmly anchored to the wall to accommodate mounting of the patch panels. Patch panels shall be located adjacent to any existing data wiring patch panels. If no existing patch panels are present, a new location shall be chosen away from telephone blocks, cross-connects, and equipment. The proposed locations of any patch panels or blocks must be approved by the Director of Technology - ISS, (202) 994-5006 before installation begins.
Each cable shall be left with a service loop (slack) of approximately six inches at the 110 block to facilitate future changes.
At the patch panel or cross-connect block, it is imperative that the twist of each individual pair be maintained up to the connection point. Only the minimum amount of sheath shall be removed at each connection point. There shall never be more than one half inch of unsheathed category 5 UTP cable at either the wiring closet or workstation termination location.
5.4 Cross-Connects
In the communications closet solid copper UL Category 5 cable shall be punched down on the 110-style station patch panel. The equipment end of the cable shall be terminated, in compliance with T568B color code, in an RJ-45 style connector. Installed cable shall be of sufficient length to reach any port of the active electronics with a minimum of 8 inches slack after routing.
6. Labeling
Each individual cable and communications outlet shall be labeled. Cable labels shall be made with permanent black ink on laminated white labels between 6 and 9 inches from the cable ends. The label information shall consist of the room number of the workspace end, with a dashed suffix distinguishing multiple outlets in the same room. Thus, the first connection in room 245 would be labeled "245-1", the next as "245-2", and so on. The numbering suffix within a room should be initiated with xxxx-1 at the first communications outlet to the left of the entrance door and serialized in a clock-wise manner within the room. Installers should check with ISS staff for the next available suffix in room where existing cables are located. If there is only a single connection in a given room, it is to be labeled "xxxx-1", in anticipation of future expansion.
In the wiring closets, each punch-down connection is to be labeled on the designation strips and on the cable jacket with an appropriate, permanently attached, label using the same scheme as above.
The RJ-45 end of each cross connect cable shall be labeled approximately 6 inches from it's terminal end. The label's information shall be identical to that on the 110-style designation strip.
7. Compliance Testing
7.1 General
Category 5 UTP cabling is currently used for 10BaseT Ethernet applications. ISS requires that all pairs of all installed level five UTP wiring be tested for full compliance with Category 5 specifications regardless of intended use. Contractors are required to provide written documentation of test results for all conductor pairs of each cable. Documentation of test results must include all parameters listed below and be recorded on standard ISS Cable Test Sheets. or provided on a ISS provided diskette in Microsoft Excel or Borland Paradox. Contact the Director of Technology - ISS, (202) 994-6005, for appropriate Cable Test Sheets and/or diskette.
7.2 Testing Strategy
After installation all cables shall be tested for Category 5 compliance. Tests shall be run from the utility closet RJ-45 termination through the installed communications outlet at the workspace end of the cable.
7.3 Testing Parameters
All four pairs shall meet or exceed the following specifications at 100 MHz. Any cable not meeting or exceeding the following shall be inspected for anomalies, and replaced if necessary to ensure compliance.
* All cables shall be line mapped to verify pin-to-pin continuity, lack of opens, shorts, and/or polarity reversals.
* The cable impedance shall be 100 ohm (+ or - 15%).
* The cable attenuation of any pair shall be less than or equal to 22.0 dB.
* The near end cross talk coupling loss between any two pairs within a cable shall be greater than or equal to 32 dB.
* Ambient noise shall be less than or equal to 40 dB, (247 MV).
* Signal to noise ratio shall be greater than or equal to 7 dB.
* Length shall be less than or equal to 90 meters, (295 feet).
8. Exceptions
Any exceptions to the above specifications must be approved in writing by the Director of Technology - ISS, (202) 994-5006 before work begins.
Data communication cabling specifications and usage are dynamic in nature. ISS reserves the right to change specifications and practices as changes in technology warrant. It is incumbent upon cable installers to check with ISS prior to planning and installation to ensure that current specifications and practices are understood and met.
Requests for clarification or exceptions to these specifications are to be directed to the Director of Technology - ISS, (202) 994-6005.
Version 1.0
Created 02/15/1996 by Donald L. Steward, Ed. D., R.C.D.D.
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comments to: dsteward@iun.edu