- You Can't Take It with You
- What To Look For in a Wiring Contractor
- Elements of a Cable Plant
- Calculating Cable Drops
- Planning a Pathway
- CAT5, CAT6, Wireless
- Testing, Certification, and Warranty
- Summary Checklist
Testing, Certification, and Warranty
The goal is installing a cable plant that's warrantable. There are several coalitions in the cabling industry in which the cable manufacturer and the patch panel and jack manufacturer, when teamed together, will provide an extended warranty. The one we selected offers a 25-year warranty. I think that should cover the life of the product.
To get the 25-year warranty, we had to have the cable plant certified. Following BICSI standards, our cabling vendor performed rigorous tests, verifying that each cable did not surpass 90 meters.
TIP
100 meters is the maximum length, but that includes the station and patch cables to connect the PC all the way to the patch panel. Remember that fact in your estimation.
The cable vendor also tested each cable to verify that it surpassed the CAT6 specification for speed. To get it all correct, they had to re-terminate several cables at either the jack end or the patch panel end, paying close attention to the tight twist that's needed.
Designing your cable plant can be excruciatingly detailed. Working alongside a RCDD-certified contractor will help you eliminate problem areas.