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Appendix A
Structured Cabling Case Study
For structured cabling systems to be consistent with respect to architecture and
performance, they must be installed with adherence to standards. Standards are rules that
define cable types, distances, and termination types. Structured cabling standards define
minimum requirements for telecommunications rooms, equipment rooms, and the
interconnection to the service provider. The standards call out items in such a way that
many portions of the structured cabling infrastructure will be provided almost
automatically. The topology is almost invariably some kind of store, with nodes closest to
the network center forming the core, and nodes further away from the network center
forming the access layer.
Safety is also an important part of the cabling process. Ladder safety, for example, must
be observed. A fall from even a modest height can put an installer in the hospital.
Concept Questions
1. What is a Structured Cable System (SCS)? Explain.
An architecture that provides standardized media and layout descriptions for both
backbone and horizontal cabling, standard connection interfaces for the physical
connection of equipment, consistent and uniform design that follows a system
plan and basic design principles, end-to-end tested components that minimize the
risk of incompatibility, open architecture supports equipment and applications of
many vendors, decreased maintenance costs, and specific training and
certification.

2. Explain why safety glasses are required on cable installation job sites.
Safety glasses are required because the work requires the use of cutting tools.
When wire is cut, small bits can fly up into an eye. Also, when striping wire, it is
possible for the tool to slip off and strike the installer.

3. Explain why using the right tool for the job is important in cable installation.
Cable installation requires specialized tools. For example, a wire cannot be
terminated on an IDC connector with a screwdriver or a 900-pair cable cannot be
cut with a pair of electrician’s scissors.

4. What is the role of the UL?

The Underwriters Laboratories (UL) evaluates wire and cable products under
more than 70 different product categories, using more than 30 standards for
safety. While the UL focuses on safety standards, it has expanded its certification
program to evaluate twisted-pair local-area network (LAN) cables for

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performance according to IBM and TIA/EIA performance specifications, and

National Electrical Code (NEC) safety specifications. UL is becoming one of the
most recognized, reputable conformity assessment providers in the world.

5. Explain what occupational safety is and why it is important to the cabling

installer.
An effective occupational safety program results in fewer lost time accidents. It
also results in fewer injuries to the cable installer.

6. What are the five subsystems of structured cabling?

Demarcation point, telecommunications rooms, backbone cabling, horizontal
cabling, and the work area.

7. What is the purpose of wire management?

The purpose of wire management is to organize and protect cables. Proper cable
management eases the removal or addition of cables.

Vocabulary Exercise
Define the following terms as completely as you can. Use the Appendix A from the Cisco
Networking Academy Program CCNA 1 and 2 Companion Guide, Revised Third Edition,
for help.

ANSI (American National Standards Institute) A voluntary organization composed of

corporate, government, and other members that coordinates standards-related activities,
approves U.S. standards, and develops positions for the United States in international
standards orgnizations. ANSI helps develop international and U.S. standards relating to,
among other things, communications and networking.
Backbone Vertical cabling that connects MCs, ICs and HCs.The part of a network that
acts as the primary path for traffic that is most often sourced from, and destined for, other
networks.
BNC connector A bayonet type connector used to terminate coaxial cable.
Bullwheel A large diameter pulley that is used in a mechanical cable pulling process.
cable tree A device that supports a number of small reels of cable. This allows the cable
installer to pull multiple runs of cable simultaneously.
CENELEC CENELEC develops electrotechnical standards for most of Europe.
CENELEC works with 35,000 technical experts from 19 European countries to publish
standards for the European market. It has been officially recognized as the European
standards organization by the European Commission in Directive.

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certification meter A device which performs all of the required performance tests to
insure installed cables adhere to the ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B standards. Most meters have
an auto-test function that starts all of the required tests with the touch of a button. These
meters store multiple test results, which are downloaded to a computer.
Class C Fire A fire which involve energized electrical equipment such as appliances,
switches, panel boxes, power tools, hot plates, and most other electronic devices. Water is
a dangerous extinguishing medium for class C fires because of the risk of electrical
shock.
Demarc The point at which the service provider’s cable interfaces with the building
distribution cabling.
distribution rack A frame used to mount wiring hubs, patch panels, and cable
organization devices usually located in a TR.
DSL Digital subscriber line. A new technology that the telephone company uses to
provide high-speed Internet access over their existing telephone lines.
EMI The electrical fields that emanate from electric motors and florescent light fixtures
that interfere with the signals that are traveling down cables
ER Equipment Room. A space for equipment that can also be used as a
telecommunications room.
ESD The rapid discharge of static electricity from one conductor to another of a different
potential. An electrostatic discharge can damage integrated circuits found in computer
and communications equipment.
F connector A screw type connector used to terminate coaxial cable.
fish tape A device specifically designed to make the retrieval of wires inside a wall a
quick and easy process. Fish tape can be run through walls or conduits.
GFCI Ground fault circuit interrupter. This grounding circuit will activate whenever an
electrical current is passed through its path into ground.
HC Area where patch panels or punch-down blocks connect cables from work areas to
the MC. The HC can be a telecommunications room, a cabinet, or a floor or ceiling
installation.
horizontal cabling The networking media that is used in the area that extends from the
wiring closet to a workstation, including the networking medium that runs to the
telecommunications outlet or connector in the work area and the patch cords or jumpers
in the HC.
IC The connection point between a backbone cable that extends from the MC to the HC.
IP phone A special telephones that uses data networks when placing telephone calls. A
significant advantage of this technology is the avoidance of costly long distance charges
when VoIP is used over existing network connections.
Kellem grip A device attached to the end of the cable so that a pulling rope can be tied to
the end of the cable.

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MC The cross-connect that is normally located in the primary telecommunications room

or equipment room.
MSDS Material safety data sheet. Documention containing information on the use,
storage, and handling of hazardous material. It provides detailed information on the
potential health effects of exposure and how to work safely with the material.
Multimeter A testing tool used to ensure that there is no voltage on the
telecommunications line. Most of these devices can measure AC/DC voltage, current,
resistance, and continuity.
multipair termination tool A tool designed to terminate and cut UTP cable and seat
connecting blocks.
MUTOA Multi-User Telecommunications Outlet Assembly. A device that holds multiple
outlets for use in work areas where modular furniture is used. Computers and telephones
are plugged directly into the MUTOA.
NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) An organization and develops, publishes,
and disseminates more than 300 consensus codes and standards intended to minimize the
possibility and effects of fire and other risks. Virtually every building, process, service,
design, and installation in society today is affected by NFPA documents.
patch panel A device that interconnects data networking or voice systems to the physical
cable network, or that interconnects backbone cable systems to network distribution
cable systems.
Plenum An open ceiling that acts as an air return duct for heating, ventilation, and air
conditioning systems.
punch list The checklist that the customer provides to the contractor when the contractor
considers the project complete. The punch list is a list containing uncompleted items.
Raceway Channels that contain cables in an installation. Raceways include common
electrical conduit, specialized cable trays or ladder racks, in-floor duct systems, and
plastic or metal surface mounted raceways.
structured cabling system A uniform cabling system with standards defining the actual
cable, cabling distances, type of cable, and type of terminating devices.
TR The area within a building that houses the telecommunications cabling system
equipment.
UL The UL level markings deal with performance and safety, so the products that merit
UL level markings also meet the appropriate NEC and the TIA/EIA standard for a
specific category.
vertical cabling Backbone cables, intermediate and main cross-connects, mechanical
terminations, and patch cords or jumpers used for backbone-to-backbone cross-
connections.
VoIP A category of hardware and software that enables people to use the Internet as the
transmission medium for telephone calls by sending voice data in packets using IP rather
than by traditional circuit transmissions of the PSTN.

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work area The area served by a given telecommunications room.

Focus Questions
1. What are the five phases that cover all aspects of a cabling project?
The five phases are pre-sales/sales, rough-in, trim out, finish, and customer
support.
2. What is involved in the rough-in phase?
In the rough-in phase, all the cables are installed in the ceilings, walls, floor ducts,
and risers.
3. What is involved in the trim-out phase?
The principal tasks during this phase are cable management and terminating the
wires.
4. What is involved in the finish phase?
The principle tasks during the finish phase are cable testing, troubleshooting, and
certification.
5. Why is the site survey important?
It allows the contractor to identify any issues that may affect the installation
because drawings and specifications supplied by the customer may not indicate
potential problems or complications.
6. How does a vacuum cleaner aid in the installation of cable in conduit?
A special foam rubber missile with a light pull string tied to it, sometimes called a
mouse, is inserted into the conduit. When the mouse is slightly lubricated with
common household liquid detergent, a high-powered vacuum cleaner can draw it
through an entire conduit run. After the string has reached the other end of the
conduit, it is used to pull the pull rope through the conduit.
7. How is cable installed through a firewall?
A hole is drilled and a small section of conduit is inserted in the hole. The conduit
must be large enough to hold the cables, with extra room for additional cables in
the future. This conduit must also protrude 0.3 m (11.3 in.) on both sides of the
wall. Cables are then pulled through the conduit. After the cables have been
pulled through the conduit, the conduit must be sealed with approved fire-stop
material. This prevents fire from spreading from one section of a building to
another through the hole in the firewall.

8. In what application would you normally use a surface mount raceway?

Plastic surface mount systems are used in work areas to protect cabling and for
aesthetic reasons. In older buildings or those with brick, stone, or concrete block
walls, raceways house cable drops from ceilings to the desktop.

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9. What is covered in TIA/EIA-568-B.1?

Commercial Building Telecommunications Cabling Standard
10. What is covered in TIA/EIA-568-B.2?
Propagation delay and delay skew and defines field testing and transmission
requirements UTP and ScTP cables.
11. What is covered in TIA/EIA-568-B.3?
This document specifies the component and transmission requirements for an
optical fiber cabling system (e.g., cable, connectors)
12. What is covered in TIA/EIA-569-A?
Commercial Building Standard for Telecommunications Pathways and Spaces
13. What is covered in TIA/EIA-570-A?
This document standardizes requirements for residential telecommunications
cabling. These requirements are based on the facilities that are necessary for
existing and emerging telecommunications services.
14. What is covered in TIA/EIA-606?
This document provides the user of this document with guidelines and choices of
classes of administration for maintaining telecommunications infrastructure.
15. What is covered in TIA/EIA-607?
Grounding and Bonding Requirements for Telecommunications

CCNA Exam Review Questions

The following questions help you prepare for the CCNA exam. Answers appear in
Appendix B, "CCNA 1 and 2 Exam Review Questions Answer Key."
1. What U.S. agency ensures that businesses comply with certain safety
practices that protect workers on the job site?
A. EIA/TIA
B. NEC
C. OSHA
D. NFPA

2. Bonding and grounding is covered by which ANSI/TIA/EIA standard?

A. ANSI/TIA/EIA 586-A
B. ANSI/TIA/EIA 586-B.3
C. ANSI/TIA/EIA 607
D. ANSI/TIA/EIA 606
E. None of the above

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3. What is covered in ANSI/EIA/TIA-568-B.1?

A. Commercial building cabling
B. Cabling pathways and spaces
C. Telecommunications grounding and bonding
D. Telecommunications cabling administration
4. What standard governs pathways and spaces?
A. ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-A
B. ANSI/TIA/EIA-569-A
C. ANSI/TIA/EIA-570-A
D. ANSI/TIA/EIA-606
5. What is the TIA/EIA standard for residential cabling?
A. ANSI/TIA/EIA-569-A
B. ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-A
C. ANSI/TIA/EIA-570-A
D. ANSI/TIA/EIA-606
6. OSHA recommends
A. Company logo stickers on hardhats
B. OSHA logo stickers on hardhats
C. Safety stickers on hardhats
D. No stickers on hardhats
7. What is the most appropriate attire when working in a factory environment?
A. Long-sleeve shirt, shorts, safety glasses, and tennis shoes
B. Short-sleeve shirt, jeans, hard hat, and tennis shoes
C. Short-sleeve shirt, jeans, safety glasses, and hard-sole shoes
D. Long-sleeve shirt, shorts, hard hat, and hard-sole shoes
E. None of the above
8. According to the NEC, select the appropriate cable types for riser
installations.
A. CMP, CMR, and OFC.
B. CMP, CM, and OFCR.
C. CMP, CMR, and OFNR.
D. CMR, OFNP, and OFC.
E. The NEC does not regulate this, TIA /EIA does.
9. What is the division between the service provider’s cabling and the
customer’s cabling called?
A. Backbone
B. Demarc
C. MC
D. MPOE

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10. What is the standard thickness of the plywood in a wiring closet?

A. ¼ in.
B. ½ in.
C. ¾ in. (20mm)
D. 1 in.
11. Into which of the following phases does cable testing fall?
A. Rough-in
B. Trim-out
C. Finish
D. Customer support
12. Computers, fax machines, and telephones are typically found in the
A. Consolidation point
B. TR
C. Work area
D. Equipment room
13. What type of cabling is between the TR and the work area?
A. Vertical
B. Point of presence
C. Horizontal
D. Work area
14. What type of topology does the TIA/EIA recommend for horizontal and
backbone cabling?
A. Ring.
B. Star
C. Bus.
D. It does not matter.
E. It depends on the type of cable being installed.
15. MSDS is an acronym for which of the following?
A. Material security data sheet
B. Material safety data sheet
C. Multimeter safety data sheet
D. Material safety determination sheet
16. Which of the following tools would be used to terminate a cable on a 110
block?
A. Copper snip tool
B. Wire probe
C. Punch-down tool
D. Diagonal cutters

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17. What type of drawing will show cable drop locations?

A. T0
B. T1
C. TT2
D. T3
18. What color pair is terminated on pins 4 and 5 on a T568B jack?
A. White/Blue, Blue
B. White/Orange, Orange
C. White/Green, Green
D. White/Brown, Brown
19. What color pair is terminated on pins 4 and 5 on a T568A jack?
A. White/Blue, Blue
B. White/Orange, Orange
C. White/Green, Green
D. White/Brown, Brown
20. What is the purpose of a surface mount raceway?
A. Conceal cable
B. Protect cable
C. Route cable
D. All of the above

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