Chapter 6: Cable Termination Practices

Introduction

Cable termination involves organizing cables by destination, forming and dressing cables, and proper labeling, as well as actually creating a connection with a copper or fiber conductor. This chapter describes the methods, tools, and applications for terminating copper and optical fiber cables. It lists pretermination steps and addresses several different applications relative to the termination of a cable, including:

• Termination blocks.

• Patch panels.

• Telecommunications outlet/connector.

• Direct connection.

• Copper cable.

• Coaxial cable.

• Optical fiber cable.

The following types of cable currently recognized by the ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B.1, Commercial Building Telecommunications Cabling Standard, Part 1: General Requirements, for use in the premises cabling are covered in this chapter:

• 100 twisted-pair copper cable

• Multimode optical fiber

• Singlemode fiber

Undercarpet flat cable is designed for installation under carpeting. Undercarpet cable will make a transition from round horizontal cable to flat cable in a transition box, usually at a wall. The work area (WA) termination is the same as for other work area outlets. It should be noted that the length of undercarpet cable should meet the following recommendations for data circuits:

• Avoid high traffic areas.

• Keep the undercarpet cable as short as possible (10 m [33 ft] is the recommended maximum length).

• Maintain at least 150 mm (6 in) clearance from power circuits.

• If power circuits must be crossed, the cross should be at right angles and above the power circuit.

This type of cabling system is mentioned here as...