tech options

Wired to Work
The key to cutting problems could be in the cabling

By Theo Gantos

Seems like the only thing that is constant any more is change. And the pace always seems to keep accelerating. No wonder then when it comes to your building wiring how much change can cost you in the long run.
Several years ago experts collaborated to develop and agree on a standard for of all things, wiring buildings. What this means to business owners is that you can either plan to know where you’re going or end up where you’re headed. Most communications cabling can last ten years or more, over which time much more is usually invested in changes than in the initial installation. The need was clear, develop a standard that will last, yet drastically reduce the cost of maintenance.
What came out of these efforts is known as the TIA/EIA 568 flexible wiring standard. The TIA is the Telecomunications Industries Association and the EIA is the Electronic Industries Association. Every manufacturer of communications equipment agreed that nearly every service could be carried on 8 wires. This eliminates not only the need for rewiring, but also for most other expensive (and obsolete) technologies such as coaxial and twinaxial cables. It also means that you can wire now, and adapt to your future needs over time very affordably.
Why is proper wiring so important? Most companies and even residences have computers
If you’re building a new office or even a home, make sure that your electrician knows the 568 standard or can bring in someone who does. Category 5 wire is normally used because it can handle newer technologies such as Fast Ethernet (100Mhz) or ATM without worry. The other items need to be up to par as well, jacks and patch panels also need to be equal to or better than the cable in order to perform as expected. In fact, the entire combination of jacks, wire, patch cords and patch panels should be seen as a system only as strong as the weakest link. It is a documented fact that over 70% of all computer networking problems are wiring-related.
I have spent a lot of time chasing down networking problems only to find out that the wiring was not installed properly or not the right grade of wire for the network. This can be costly to correct after the fact and may even severely interrupt operations! It can also be a nightmare to find these problems while the network is operating. I advise my clients to plan to wire at least 4 outlets per location as wire is cheap and labor is dear. In some offices we even place outlets on opposite walls to accomodate replacing furniture, etc.
Make sure that your wiring contractor uses the 568A standard and NOT 568B. The B standard is a holdover from AT&T phone systems and a lot of electricians are used to doing it this way. The 568A method is the preferred method and required for government and international sites. It has the advantage of being able to accomodate standard two line phones without rewiring. Also make sure that the installer follows the guidelines for installing the wiring noted in the standard. You can ruin the cabling by improper installation. Last, make sure that the installer certifies the cabling to make sure that it will perform optimally. They should fix or replace any runs that don’t cut the mustard. And they should warranty the cabling against future problems for at least 5-10 years.
My own preference is to use jacks and patch panels from Panduit or Siemon, since their snap together jacks cut the labor costs and time significantly. Avoid patch cords made by AllenTel as these cords are made in China and have been unreliable. Making your own patch cords is a bad idea since you can buy pre-made tested and guaranteed cables for less than the cost to make them. Homebrew cords can be a real source of trouble unless they are absolutely perfect.
Some communications products vendors have special designs intended for home installation. These can even be installed by knowledgable and careful do-it-yourselfers. I have advised several clients and associates to do this and have later heard that even though it seemed like overkill at the time, they were surprised not only at how quickly they needed more outlets (computers, fax, etc) but how easy the patch panel system made things to manage and change. Take the time to understand the new standards and you can save gobs of money and reduce stress in your organization.
To see more info on the TIA/EIA flexible wiring standard visit either: http://www.siemon.com/standard.html or http://www.anixter.com/solution/cabling/x3108100.htm

Theo Gantos is president of TEKA, a technology consulting firm. Contact him: