Specifications

2009
2010
8
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
This catalogue is designed to aid users, installation techni-
cians and industry professionals in selecting cabling system
components. The catalogue is divided by sector, both from
the point of view of theory and product range. The theoreti-
cal part is a brief summary, since the details are dealt with in
a separate telecommunications manual.
CABLING SYSTEM
▼ GENERAL INFORMATION
The organisational flexibility of a modern company is largely
dependent on how quickly it can react to the market in every
way. This means that the modern enterprise requires comput-
er systems which are adequate to these needs and hence a
network capable of supporting the actual data traffic, along
with any future reconfigurations and upgrades.
This need to guarantee the operation of the system with as
little downtime as possible has for many years been support-
ed by specific industrial standards. These are documents which
govern cabling systems both in terms of their specifications
(electrical and performance parameters) and physical instal-
lation. They establish standards of conduct for the fabrication
of a product. The main purpose of a standard is to assure a
minimum level of performance. It univocally defies what is
to be used and how, how it is to be installed, how tested or
commissioned, and how certified. The three main standards
governing the installation of cabling system are ISO/IEC
11801, EIA/TIA 568-B, and EN 50173-1.
Another concept of importance for cabling systems is topolo-
gy. The architectural model is very well defined by the stan-
dards cited above.
This structure is defined as a "hierarchical star", which implies
two fundamental concepts.
• The first is that each peripheral service must satisfies its
own needs, while its failure does not compromise the
performance of the other peripherals which are individu-
ally connected to the centre of the star.
• The second is that this star is part of an assembly which
is more complex at three hierarchical level which corre-
sponds to the maximum admitted level of complexity.
Such systems are composed of subsystems as follows:
▼ WORK AREA
The area of the system between the RJ45 wall socket and
the surrounding environment in which the service operates
and interacts with the telecommunications equipment (Fax,
Telephone, Computer, etc.). A standard size of work area for
office or commercial type installations is 10 m2. There are
other standard sizes which are used as references for other
types of application, as follows:
• Warehouse, industrial 80 m²
• Shops, supermarkets 40 m²
• Hotels 25 m²
• Hospitals 15 m²
• Schoolrooms, laboratories 5 m²
This initial design step is extremely important, since knowing
the total area to be served makes it possible to estimate the
overall requirements for sockets, ducting, cables and cabinets.
Once the number of services is known and the areas to be
served has been estimated, the average length of cable runs
can be determined and the number of sockets, accessories
and star centres (cabinets) can be calculated.
▼ HORIZONTAL CABLING
The area of the system which runs from one side at the serv-
ice or resource to be connected to the telecommunications
system to the other side, at the RJ5 wall socket.
The horizontal cabling is defined as such because it is usual-
ly laid out flat, and is composed of:
• Floor cabinet
• Patch panels
• Rigid cable
• Wall socket