The cable that was not yours
A cabling team drills through a wall to run a new data cable. The drill bites into a cable that is not on their plan. The building's fire alarm goes dead.
A building holds many services, not only data. Knowing what else is on the route, and checking before you cut, drill or pull, protects them all.
Key words
| Word | What it means |
|---|---|
| Service | a system that uses cable, such as CCTV or an alarm |
| Containment route | the path of trunking or tray that carries cables |
| Label | a clear name fixed to a cable or port |
| Change management | planning, approving and recording every change before it is made |
| IP scanner | a tool that lists the devices answering on a network |
| Cable code | the number or letters printed on a cable's jacket |
| Wireless access point | a device that joins Wi-Fi devices to the cabled network |
| Internet of Things | small devices, such as room thermometers, that connect to a network |
| Segregate | keep things apart so that they cannot affect each other |
| Network | devices joined so they can share data |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
By the end of this lesson
Note
I can name the other services on a cable route and describe the precautions that stop damage and interference.
Starter: interference
Have a go
Starter: interference
3 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.
Other services you may find
| Service | What it does | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Telecommunications | Phone lines and the provider's cables | Cables owned by another firm |
| Security systems, such as CCTV | Cameras and recorders | Often on their own cable and power |
| Alarm systems | Fire and intruder alarms | Must keep working. Often need separate containment |
| Audio visual systems | Screens, speakers, projectors | Heavy cable and many types |
| Wireless access points | Wi-Fi coverage | Fed by data cable, often with PoE |
| Internet of Things devices | Small gadgets and smart controls | Many small devices that may be unrecorded |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
Precautions that protect the other services
Avoid common containment routes where you can: do not squeeze your data cable into the alarm trunking. Label every service cable clearly, at both ends.
Look at the installation records held by the building owner and, outside, the records kept by the local authority and the utility firms. Read them before you dig or drill.
Managing change
Change management means a change is planned, approved and recorded before it is made. Say what you will do, where, and what it may touch. Wait for approval. Then record what you did.
This stops one team undoing another team's work.
Adding a new service
When a new service joins the route, plan it and check it. Check the records for what is already there. Run an IP scanner to list the devices that answer on the network. Read the cable codes on the jackets.
Segregate wireless networks: give guests and Internet of Things devices a network of their own.