Specifications

30
Black Box Guide to Structured Cabling
Section NameSection Name
Other Standards
Following standard practices ensures current and future
occupants of a building have all the information they need for
smooth operations. Administrative record keeping is detailed
in TIA/EIA-606-A: Administration Standard for Commercial
Telecommunications Infrastructure. It specifies identification,
labeling, and documentation for different components of the
structured cabling system, including:
• Telecommunications pathways (horizontal and backbone)
• Telecommunications spaces (telecommunications rooms,
work areas, equipment rooms, etc.)
• Connecting hardware and splices
• Cables
• Equipment
• Building(s)
• Grounding and bonding
Classes of administration.
The TIA specifies four classes of administration based on
the size and complexity of the infrastructure. It defines the
requirements for identifiers, records, and labeling.
Class 1: Single equipment room. This is a building with
a single equipment room and no backbone cabling.
– Telecommunications Space (TS) identifier
– Horizontal link identifier
– Telecommunications Main Grounding Busbar (TMGB)
– Telecommunications Grounding Busbar (TGB)
Class 2: Single building, multiple telecommunications rooms.
– Class 1 identifiers
– Building backbone identifier
– Building backbone pair or fiber identifier
– Firestopping location identifier
– Optional pathways identifiers
Class 3: Campus with multiple buildings.
– Class 2 identifiers
– Building identifier
– Campus backbone cable identifier
– Campus backbone pair or fiber identifier
Optional identifiers:
– Optional Class 2 identifiers
– Outside plant pathway element identifier
– Campus pathway or element identifier
Additional identifiers may be added.
Structured cabling administration
Class 4: Multisite/multicampus.
– Class 3 identifiers.
– Campus or site identifier
Optional identifiers:
– Optional Class 3 identifiers
– Intercampus element identifier
Additional identifiers for mission-critical systems, WAN
connections, large or multitenant buildings, pathways and spaces,
and outside plant elements are optional, but recommended.
Identification formats/labeling.
When identifying the elements in your system, you must create
a unique alphanumeric code, or label, for each location, pathway,
cable, and termination point. These codes link back to the
corresponding record, which should contain all the information
related to that component, including linkages.
The format of the code or label is not mandated by the
standard, although it does list numerous examples. Whatever
format you choose, it must be consistent, logical, and flexible.
The label itself must be easily readable and should withstand
environmental conditions. The labels must be printed or produced
mechanically.
Color coding.
Color coding the termination fields is recommended to simplify
system administration. A rule of thumb is that the labels identifying
each end of a cable must be the same color.
Pantone Element
Color Number Identified
Orange 150C Demarcation point
(central-office termination)
Green 353C Network connections
on the customer side
Purple 264C Common equipment
White First-level backbone
Gray 422C Second-level backbone
Blue 291C Horizontal cabling terminations
Brown 465C Interbuilding backbone
Yellow 101C Auxiliary circuits
Red 184C Key telephone systems
Label Color Coding