Keep in mind when planning a new installation that the cost to pull additional lines is the added cost
of the cable, not the labor to pull it. Plan ahead for expansion, the average new installation will expand by 20% in the first year.
Wire management is as critical after the installation as in the planning stages. Take the time to keep
your communications room neat and orderly. This will pay off in big dividends when it comes time to relocate personnel or troubleshoot a problem.
Temperature is a key factor in equipment longevity. Adequately ventilate Communication rooms and
closets so they operate at normal office temperatures. A room currently set at 70° will increase by at
least 20° after all the equipment is installed. In a large room, total your BTUs and refer this information to your HVAC person for recommendations.
In many new installations or network expansions electrical outlets often are overlooked or forgotten
completely. Predetermine your outlet requirements before cabling the new terminal location or communications room.
Local building codes and/or insurance carriers normally mandate the type of cable to be installed. If
plenum cable is not required, a considerable savings might be realized by using PVC-type cable. Take the time to check the requirements it could mean money in your pocket.
When Multiple cable drops are required for a specific area, consider doubling up outlets (1 quad vs 2
single outlets) this will reduce installation time and result in client savings. This is often feasible from the user's viewpoint.
The use of copper is a common error when connecting two buildings for a campus area network,
"CAN", solution. Copper is less expensive but provides no lightning or grounding potential protection.
Fiber optic cable, although more expensive, provides the lightning and grounding protection needed and offers a much greater bandwidth for future needs.
Protect your investment. Many new network installations overlook system power protection. Costly
"down time" due to power interruptions, brownouts and total power outages can be eliminated with the
use of an uninterruptable power system "UPS" or an isolated ground power conditioner.
