Contractors will be responsible for all cable installation and terminations, including the work area outlet face-plate and jacks and coax terminations) and be terminated in the communications closet according to SLU's requirements; i.e. 110 blocks for telecom cable and racks with modular jack panels for data cable. Installation will include labeling as specified below. The contractor will also be responsible for cable testing and verification according to the standard listed below.

AV Installation Standards

Network electronics

Network equipment will be specified by SLU Information Technology and will be in accordance with existing hardware being used at the university.

Wireless networking: In addition to the "standard" wired network, all new construction and renovation projects will include WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) installations to IEEE 802.11g Standards.

This information as well as all wiring and testing standards are available via the IEEE at: http://standards.ieee.org/catalog/olis/index.html

SLU's wireless solution will be designed with an Access Point for every 12 users. There will be a minimum of three access points covering every sq. ft. of a defined space. Antennae and layout of the access points will be determined by SLU by using a wireless survey and be tested after installation.

Drops per room

Faculty/staff offices, class rooms, conference rooms will have a minimum of 1 Cat 6 + 1 Cat 5 & 1 RG6 cable pulled & terminated to each room. Additional drops will be pulled where required.

TC inter-connects will have a minimum of 2 Cat 6 cables for each closet. Also an additional cross-connect for every 24 installed Cat 6 jacks above & beyond the first 24 connections.

Video (coax) connections Top of page

All coax cable will be RG6 unless specified otherwise. All cable will be "home-runs" i.e. faceplate to communications closet and be terminated with proper "F-Connectors". Splitters, amplifiers, or other hardware will be provided with consultation from SLU and Time Warner Cable.

Network data connections

All cable used for network data will be standard Category 6 rated such as, BELDEN, 1872A or higher. Blue in color unless otherwise designated by SLU or required by environmental standards and will be installed to the EIA/TIA 568A/569 guidelines for the installation of CAT 6 cable.

Telephone connections Top of page

All cable will be CAT 5 grade with a white jacket.

Copper requirements 

Network & telecommunications cable: All cable shall be installed according to EIA/TIA 568A/569 standards. Care shall be taken to ensure that during the installation nicks, abrasions, burning, and scuffing of cable is prevented. Cables found to be damaged will be replaced at the contractor's expense regardless of whether the cable passes Cat.5 testing standards.

Telephone trunk cables: Cables of 25 pair and up shall be 24 awg., solid conductor cables. Cables shall be in standard increments of 25, 50, 100, 300, 600, 800, 1000, and 1200. Terminated on 110-style punch down blocks. Punch-down order should follow traditional USOC color code order for Multi-pair telephone cables punched on 110 Blocks with clips installed.

Telecommunications closets

All telecommunications closets shall have direct access to the hallway or other such corridor. Telecommunications closets shall not be shared by other building services such as Electrical (i.e. Electrical Distribution Panels or Transformers), Custodial Services (i.e. Cleaning Carts, Solvents, Buffers) or other storage use. All pose a threat of damage or EMF interference that makes them unacceptable for telecommunications equipment & wiring. Supporting codes are found in the EIA/TIA 568A/569 wiring standard unequivocally against multi-use closets.

Floors in telecommunications closets shall be concrete or tile. Carpeted floors are totally unacceptable for telecommunications closets due to the associated static electricity they create posing a threat of damage to sensitive Network Electronics.

A minimum space of 10' X 8' is required for all single floor telecommunications closets.

A minimum of 15' X 8' is required for all multi-floor telecommunications closets.

At least one long wall of the telecommunications closets will be covered in ¾" plywood from floor to ceiling and painted white.

All telecommunications closets shall be equipped with a grounding bus bar that is tied back to the building's grounding system. This point should be at an electric panel per NEC 1999 standards.

Jacks (inserts, all installations) Top of page

All installers must be properly trained to install jacks according to manufacturer specifications.

PANDUIT Brand P/N CJ688GRD CAT 6 Network Data jacks will be used for all installations RED (unless otherwise specified)

PANDUIT Brand P/N CJ66WH CAT 3 jack shall be used for all Telephone/Voice circuits. WHITE (unless otherwise specified)

Work Area Outlet (WAO) Faceplate will be a PANDUIT Brand Mini-Com System, white (unless otherwise specified)

All electronics equipment will be specified and installed by SLU Information Technology, including connections from termination blocks to electronic equipment.

Cable pathways 

Pathways will be constructed from J-hooks or other suitable communications cable trays or raceway.

Open cable tray is the preferred method of installation. Cable pathways shall be so designed to avoid EMF and RFI interference. Common causes of this interference are fluorescent lighting fixtures, air handling motors and many kinds of electrical controls including starters , lighting contactors, and power distribution panels.

Never run parallel with electrical conduits or strap to them.

Every cable, whether an individual or many grouped together, shall be supported.

Wherever possible, cable shall be grouped together in pathways.

Plastic cable ties should not be used, they deform the outer cable jacket causing cable performance problems in the future (use of Velcro straps is recommended for cable management.

Identification and labeling Top of page

Labels for both the W.A.O & T.C. will be provided by the contractor with the following criteria.

Each end of the cable will be labeled at approximately 3 to 6 inches with cable label.

Labeling for the faceplate and block terminations will be provided by the contractor with consultation from the Information Technology Network Group.

Testing and documentation Top of page

A certified category 6 cable tester may be used to perform certification test on any and all Category cabling installed on this campus. All testing will be provided at the Information Technology Network Group's discretion.

All testing will adhere to the TIA TSB 67 for certifying cable installations.

An as-built set of drawings will be provided the Information Technology Network Group, showing all cable routes, jack locations and identification, wiring closet locations, etc.

*Prepared by Philip J. Trivilino, Manager of Network Infrastructure; Greg Stahl, Manager of Telecommunications; revised 8/24/2004.