Interface Networks

The Value of Implementing a Total Corporate Cable Infrastructure Standard

Posted by Tony on Tue, Apr 20th 2010, 14:51

In my work designing and implementing cabling standards for Fortune 500 companies I have seen the value of establishing a national (and in some cases international) single standard for all network cabling installations, one that can be employed throughout all office sites regardless of their geographic location. Having a single product and a single vendor that oversees all cable installation can guarantee a high level of quality and consistency. 

 

But let's leave that issue aside for a moment and first talk about the value of simply having a written and strictly adhered to cabling standard.

 

Simply stated, if your IT department is managing multiple sites, it is imperative that, when a problem arises, they can immediatly rule out the cabling as a cause. By creating and implementing a standard that includes proper testing and documentation, that can be achieved. 

 

In addition to that, if your IT people travel to remote sites to do roll outs or MAC work, having the identical cable infrastructure in each location will save them time and effort in completing their tasks. Having a detailed, well documented standard and holding your cable vendors accountable to the strict adherence of that standard can be a crucial part of both controlling costs and assuring optimal network performance. 

 

Here are several steps we recommend to our our national clients.

1) Decide on a single primary cabling vendor. Even if you are going to use other cabling contractors in other geographic areas, create a close relationship with one primary cabling vendor in particular.

2) Give that primary vendor the task of creating and documenting a standard. Make sure they are detailed and specific, right down to the size of the print on the faceplate labels.

3) Decide on a single product solution. There are many product manufacturers that offer complete end to end solutions. Once you and your primary cable vendor have decided on one, you can make sure that all the other contractors you use in the other geographic areas are certified in that particular product. That will assure a certain level of competence and narrow down the field of prospective installation contractors. By settling on one specific product solution the end user can create a relationship with the product rep and get better pricing and also be able to hold a specific person accountable if the material is not correct. And again, consistency is the key.

4) Decide on the performance level of the product (i.e. cat 5E, cat 6, etc). Specifics on that will be discussed in a future post.

5) Work with your primary cable vendor to create a budget and an implementation timeline. Ideally you would want to have the new standard implemented and in place throughout your entire organization as quickly as possible, but you may initially apply the standards for only new installations and then budget to change out all the legacy cabling over the period of two years.