Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
ously distort the cable jacket or break the minimum bend radius of the cable
allowed by the standard for Category 5e/6. If the box can be secured to a surface, a
better approach might be to use a surface raceway to protect the cable up to the
point of entry to the box and leave the cable entry relatively loose. These surface
raceways are described below.
The other variety of surface-mount box, shown in Fig. 6.5, is a rectangular
plastic box with a 2-in by 4-in opening for a standard, flush-mount outlet plate.
These surface adapter boxes are really part of an elaborate surface raceway system
that is technically suitable for electrical wiring in addition to telecommunications
wiring. The system includes long, flat plastic raceways that may be joined together
with a variety of couplings, including corners and straight couplers. Surface race-
ways are available from several manufacturers. An older system of metal raceways
and boxes exists, but the plastic ones are much easier to use and are permitted in
almost all jurisdictions for Class 2 or 3 wire or telecommunications wiring. Many
of the plastic raceways have an adhesive foam tape backing for quick and easy
mounting to the wall or other surface along which they run. The boxes may also
come from foam mountings, but you are better advised to secure them to the wall
with screws. The screws also help stabilize the entire raceway system.
Other plastic raceways are available that do not interlock with a surface box.
These raceways use the same type of foam-tape mounting, but snap closed after
installation so that the wires can be slipped in at the side of the raceway after it is
FIGURE 6.5
Rectangular plastic box for a standard flush-mount outlet plate.
