S 1.68 Proper installation

Initiation responsibility: Head of IT

Implementation responsibility: Head of IT

The installation of IT cabling requires specialised knowledge and extreme thoroughness. When manufacturers of cables and passive components offer warranties whose coverage extends beyond the minimum legal requirements, the warranty is often only valid when a company with certified qualifications performs the installation.

The critical criteria used to determine whether the IT cabling was installed properly should be inspected in all phases by the customer.

At the time the material is delivered, it must be inspected first as to whether the right cables and connection components were delivered. The first step in the inspection is to check if the cables' and connection components' (e.g. shielding) categories match.

If the cables and accompanying material will not be installed immediately, they must be stored appropriately. The storage location must be dry and provide protection against strong climatic influences.

It is recommended to leave the stored material in the original packaging until it is installed.

When laying IT cabling, special care must be taken to ensure that no damage occurs during installation and that the cable routes are selected in such a way that damage to the installed cable due to normal use of the building is impossible.

In addition, it must be ensured in general that the IT cabling is routed separately from the electrical cabling. Even a centre rail in a channel carrying both types of cable will usually help to prevent the power cables from affecting the IT cables.

Protective safeguards and load limits must be observed when laying the cable:

• Before laying the cables, all wall openings or similar openings must be rounded out and smoothened to prevent mechanical damage to the cable sheathing when pulling and securing the cables.
• The cables must not be bent past the minimum bending radius during installation and operation. If the bending radius is not marked on the cable, EN 50173 applies, which means that the smallest permissible bending radius may not be less than 8 times the outer diameter of the cable. Correspondingly, it must be ensured that the cables in the cable channels and cable trays are not bent past the permissible bending radius.
• The manufacturer sometimes provides two bending radii in the data sheets for the cables that depend on the cable type: the larger of the two bending radii specified is the maximum bending radius when pulling the cable. The smaller value applies to the cable once it is installed.
• The maximum tensile strength of the cable type can also be found in the data sheet.
• When pulling the cable, only suitable lubricants may be used as pulling aids. Lubricants free of grease and oil (e.g. talcum powder) must be used in general.
• Cables must not be pinched or crushed in any way when securing them on a cable tray with cable ties or cable clips.

Cables should be concealed or installed in cable channels or on cable trays. Open installation of cables is permissible, of course, but it must be ensured that the cables cannot be damaged when run over by office furniture or transportation equipment, for example.

Review questions:

• Has the IT cabling been installed properly in compliance with the applicable standards and manufacturer's specifications?