Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Horizontal
cross-connect
Consolidation
point
Work area outlets
Telecommunications
room
User cords
15 m min.
Work area
Horizontal cabling
FIGURE 10.3
The consolidation point method.
The connecting hardware for the consolidation point is required to function
for at least 200 mating cycles. This requirement is already the case with all the nor-
mal connecting hardware under the standard, but is a more significant limit for the
connecting blocks used with punchdowns. You will need to be sure that the hard-
ware meets this limit. This number of cycles is quite sufficient in allowing for the
periodic movement and reattachment of the portion of the horizontal cabling that
connects to the work area outlet.
All cables and connecting hardware used in the consolidation point should
meet all the performance measures of EIA-568-C, including the transmission param-
eters for the applicable category of operation. In addition, the actual location of the
consolidation point should be placed
more
than 15 m (49 ft) from the TR, because
of the “short cable” problem and the added crosstalk effect. If you need to connect
to a consolidation point that is closer to the TR termination than 15 m, the recom-
mended method is to coil extra cable until that minimum distance is met.
All connecting hardware for the consolidation point must meet or exceed the
requirements for the category of operation that you need. In other words, a
Category 5e/6/AC6 installation must use a punchdown that is rated at Category
5e/6/AC6 or higher category. Additionally, installation methods must meet the same
category of operation, just as with any connection within the link.
The placement of the consolidation point within the open office is another
important consideration. Clearly, the points of consolidation of all these cables must
be easy to access and in a permanent location. It would do little good to provide a
handy distribution point for the modular furniture outlets and face the possibility of
that location being moved. As you can see from the diagram, this method does rede-
fine the work area to encompass the consolidation point. This allows one to say that
the horizontal run to the work area still can remain splice-free.
