Have trouble performing the daily tasks? Businesses these days irrespective of their size need to have a reliable and efficient network infrastructure to perform their routine tasks smoothly. And guess what? Structured cabling installation is a must to ensure your operations do not come to a halt.
But when it comes to actually planning the structured cabling installation, you may be forced to cut corners and go for a cheaper solution than hiring an expert.
Businesses hardly realize that cutting down the corners will eventually lead to mistakes. These mistakes become huge when left ignored.
As a result, have a sneak peek into some common mistakes to avoid in structured cabling installation and ensure you have a reliable infrastructure in place.
Mistakes To Avoid in Structured Cabling Installation
Insufficient planning
Some questions need to be answered before you begin with the structured cabling. For instance, how many rooms need connectivity, the speed required, devices that need to be connected, the type of cable to be used and the list goes on.
Without insufficient planning, you might be left with a network that does not run as expected and cannot be maintained in the future.
The best way forward would be to choose experts, work closely with them, and tell them about your business so that they can plan.
Paying no heed to cable management
Without proper cable management, the chances are that the system will become a total mess. It might seem unnecessary to color coordinate, label, and bundle network cables at first but it is a must.
A significant amount of time will be wasted in finding the problem. Moreover, it’ll become challenging to make any changes or add-ons to the system.
But this would not be a problem if you invest your time into cable management at the start only and maintain it well in the future.
Improper use of zip ties
Zip Ties are commonly used in structured cabling installation and are also useful. But compared to electrical cabling, data cabling is fragile and fails to stand the wear and tear. And if you over-tighten zip ties, it can crush the data cables or leave them crimped.
As a result, the network access will be slow. This is why experts always recommend using zip ties the proper way.
Cable too close to the electrical equipment
The next major mistake to avoid in the structured cabling installation is running the cable too close to electrical equipment. This is because the electronic equipment can interfere with the normal function of data cabling.
The biggest sources of interference include fans, AC units, and fluorescent lighting. But you can avoid this mistake by carefully planning where to place the cable.
Getting the cabling installation done right is crucial for your business operations as it not only saves you money but also frustration and routine maintenance.
Cables parallel to power cords
Besides the ones mentioned above, running network cables parallel to power cables is another major mistake during structured cabling installation. It is because when current runs through electrical cables, electromagnetic fields are generated which in turn reduce the effectiveness of structured cabling.
This interference can lead to slow speeds, intermittent network access, or the chances that you might be unable to access the network.
No compliance with safety guidelines
Another blunder committed during the installation is not complying with the safety guidelines. Ignoring safety guidelines in structured cabling installation can increase your chances of accidents, injuries, and damage to property.
Make sure to follow all safety precautions and make technicians wear protective gear throughout the installation.
Missing testing and documentation
Missing testing and documentation of cables is also a big mistake most businesses make during the installation. It is crucial to test the cables to check their quality and compliance with standards.
Moreover, documentation is also a must to ensure easy identification and identifying the issues in the future.
Inferior quality cables
Using inferior quality cables won’t run as you expected them to. The quality of cables you use directly impacts the speed and efficiency of your network. Inferior quality cables are not reliable and fail to handle data transmission.
Above all, these have a shorter lifespan. As a result, only high-quality cables should be used during the installation.
Neglecting maintenance
Neglecting your cable inspection regularly is also a huge mistake that most businesses make. It ensures that the cables are in good condition and performing in the right manner.
Moreover, an expert also identifies the issues and suggests solutions right away before they become severe.
Wrapping Up
Avoid making the above-stated mistakes during the structured cabling installation and always hire the best cabling company to do the installation. Avoiding these mistakes will result in minimum downtime and maximum performance.
