Why You Should Follow the Cable Manufacturer's Installation Guidance

When looking at the various choices you have to make to ensure your building is ready for the challenges of the future, you may find that you have to upgrade your network and cabling system. Emerging software and applications are built to evolve, and your network and cabling system should be ready for the new innovations as they come. 

What you're looking for is a cabling system that is both sturdy and flexible, one that can handle what's needed today, while also being prepared to take on the challenges of tomorrow. However, your system is only as good as how it's installed. Even the best designs and cabling solutions will lose their efficiency and key features if they're not installed properly. 

In this blog post from Superior Essex, let's explore just how crucial it is to ensure correct installation. Some of these reasons might surprise you! 

Why Do the Manufacturer’s Instructions Matter?

Every cable has a different purpose, and those uses can multiply when you introduce connectivity variables. However, as the possibilities increase, the validity of general standards decreases.

“Our cables are versatile and can be connected to numerous applications. But, if you want to achieve maximum performance, you need to take care to adhere to our manufacturer’s guidance,” says Amir Sekhavat, director of product management for Superior Essex Communications. “These specify exactly how to install the cables to ensure the cables do their job to support the needs of the whole communications system now and in the future.”

• Follow tension rules for cable. Most manufacturers provide slacking rules and often sell pulling tools to meet the requirements for their cables. But even packaging from the same manufacturer can be more sensitive than others. If you understand their pulling guidance, you can avoid tension and kinks and ensure optimal performance.
• Bundle cables with care. If using nylon ties, ensure they are loose; if using Velcro, ensure it meets the fire rating of space. You also need to respect the filling ratio (for example 40% in conduit according to NEC) in those bundles. On top of those general rules, manufacturers prescribe bend radius rules, J-hook installation guidelines and other details to decrease alien crosstalk and attenuation.
• Use the recommended connections. The connecting devices can make or break a cable’s ability to deliver data and power to the rest of the network. Most cabling manufacturers have a set list of approved connections manufacturers because they alleviate installation headaches and maintain high-level performance over time.

Help the Cables Avoid Heat

“Heat is the enemy of data and of safety,” Sekhavat points out. “This is an important goal of communications cabling design but it’s just as important in installation.” Heat can slow down your data transmission and impact the ageing of the cable, but there are external heat factors that can put your building at risk.

With high PoE applications, the power transmission significantly increases the heat inside the cable. Installers may know some rules of thumb, but it becomes critical to make sure you are using the right cable with the right temperature rating. “This is the reason most manufacturers include this rating information in their installation guidance, and it is printed on the cable,” explains Sekhavat.

Another issue with heat is the temperature rating. Make sure that the temperature rating of the jacket is at least the same as the temperature rating of the insulation. A cable with a temperature rating higher than the jacket is only as good as the rating for the jacket. You should corroborate the two ratings so the external and internal heat capacities match.

Beyond the function of the cable, heat can come from termination points and the devices the cables supply. Verify you have the right cable design for the application requested. If you do not, it could spoil the whole project and leave your building with a fire hazard.

Test It

Before the job is done, you must test the cables. Proper testing verifies the cables and connections and can spot both manufacturer and installation errors. This means you need to run unique tests for each type of cable and run of cable you have, and the test includes all the cables and devices.

Channel testing provides the most accurate readings because it includes all components of the physical layer including cords, connectivity, and cable. This way, you can accurately compare test results with the manufacturer’s standards with confidence in the readings.

Industry standards are important to create a universal knowledge base and interoperability among the manufacturers of the components of communications networks. Those standards, however, are the starting point for installation projects. You should always refer to the cable manufacturer’s guidelines for the specific cable, devices and environment. If you do not, you run the risk of reduced performance and a shorter lifespan for the cables.

Contact your local Accu-Tech representative to learn more, or visit the Superior Essex page on our website.