Cabling Code Arlington Heights IL

The Telecommunications Industry Association 570-B cabling standard serves as a decisive reference for high-quality residential system cabling installations, which now also include whole-home audio, control, and security systems cabling. Implementing this standard helps installers, builders, and equipment manufacturers maintain a good reputation while building credibility with their customers.

A quality installation is proven to all stakeholders when the qualification testing approach, detailed by the standard, economically documents that cabling installations support technologies to be used in the home. For example, the homeowner will have printed results that the cabling supports Ethernet up to gigabit speeds, Firewire, and VoIP.

Qualification testing lowers installation costs by significantly reducing callbacks and making it possible to charge for roll-backs that result from damage done to cabling after the installer has already left the job. Because qualification testing was completed at the finish stage of the project and documentation was given to the builder and the homeowner, it makes it much easier to determine what caused the fault should an issue arise. Most important, the new standard improves customer satisfaction; qualified cabling systems ensure high-quality, reliable systems that eliminate a negative experience, and bolster the reputation of the installer.

The complexity associated with residential cabling is growing at a rapid rate as more new and renovated homes are wired with Category 5e or 6 and RG6 coax for data and voice, home entertainment, security, DSL and cable modems, and specific gauge wire for some speaker, control, and alarm systems. The much broader range of bandwidth-intensive applications in the home, especially those in the future, present unique cabling installation challenges. Residential cable installers must be knowledgeable of the wide range of low-voltage cable types and must also implement their work within a much broader installation process that, many times, presents problems later found in the cabling.

The potential for problems exists throughout the residential installation process. Cabling is typically installed at rough in. At this point, installers need to be careful not to apply too much tension on cable pulls, ensure they are sufficiently separated from electrical cables, and that the cable has not been punctured by a nail or screw or knotted. Careful inspection of the cable and verification of its continuity should be performed just after the rough-in stage because installers still have the chance to replace the cable if necessary. After the home is insulated, sheet rocked, and painted, the installer goes back to place the faceplates (and connectors if not done during rough-in for a verification check) at the finish stage and needs to qualify the cabling. Qualification testing is necessary to ensure that a sheet rock screw had not found its way into the cable and that the cabling will supp...

Click here to read the rest of the article from Residential Systems