sundance-communications.com/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Cabling Telephones Systems Wiring More code noob questions...FL

Some noob questions....it's been a long while...

I've pulled a decent amount of cable, but I've only been told where to mount J hooks and if I had a question I would just ask my supervisor.

I'm now planning and designing the cable route for voice/data CAT6 job and I've been searching the NEC book like crazy in regards to restrictions.


Can anyone point me in the right direction or page of a book for the following?

Supporting cable...

1. Can you (at any point) touch BX wire with bare CAT6?

2. If so, is it only at a perpendicular angle?

3. If not, what is the restriction....4" away? 6"...more?

4. How far away from plumbing?

5. How far away from HVAC and duct work?

5. If going 90* around a wall without any options to hang/support....what's the best solution to make the turn? Any restrictions?

6. Am I thinking about this too much?

I was taught very well about the technical physical restrictions of CAT5E, but I don't know codes.

Thanks guys...I'm sure I'll come up with more...

As far as I know, the NEC does not address most of your questions. There are industry standards and FCC recommendations that concern these issues.

The NEC says that all wiring must be done in a professional manner.

Thanks Arthur.....BTW....I laugh everytime I see your signature!

Anyone else?

What is an electrical inspector going to look for?

You basically have to issues to consider.

1) Running your cables in a manner that complies with code so as not to create any hazards. (safety, fire, electrical or otherwise)

2) Running your cables in a manner which follows best practices and standards, which ensures reliable data transfer among other things.

Generally speaking, you can follow codes and still have useless data cabling. If you follow best practices and standards for running your data cables, you will probably also pass most code requirements.

When you have questions like you do above, you really need to think about whether you have a potential safety/code issue, or whether you have a standards/best practices issue. As Arthur said, most of your questions would not be code related. Actually, I don't think a single one of them would be code related.

Disclaimer: I'm in Canada, so I honestly don't know anything about the NEC, I just assume it's very similar to the CEC.

It's not a code, but if you look at the EIA/TIA 569 Structured wiring spec it addresses all these issues.

If you don't have the spec (or the $1,000+ it costs) you should be able to find excerpts from it on the web. Try some of the major manufacturers webs sites (I seem to remember Siemon as having some good stuff). BICSI might also have some good stuff for you.

As Arthur said, the NEC really doesn't address most of the stuff you're looking for. (Though Hal probably has better info than I do) Their primary purpose is safety. What you're concerned about is performance. For that you're going to need to look at the Specs. If you can't find anything, come on back. Somewhere in the basement I've got an old copy of the spec and maybe I can find something.

Good luck,


Sam

I've been searching the NEC book like crazy in regards to restrictions.

It's very simple. If what you are concerned about ain't in Articles 800 on THEN THE CODE HAS NOTHING TO SAY ABOUT IT. If it doesn't say YOU CAN'T do something then you can do whatever you want.

The NEC is only concerned about safety. As long as you keep your cable off the ceiling grid, provide your own supports and use plenum listed cable where required they couldn't give a rat's patoot about the other stuff or even if it works.

Got it?

-Hal

I see what you are saying. They don't care about sagging cables or if they are in a pretzel or even if they are wrapped around florescent lighting.

I'll post some more questions after reading some EIA/TIA stuff.

Thanks a million!

Don't worry about the EIA/TIA stuff either. It carries no regulatory weight. Just run your cable with no knots or kinks and without pulling it so it stretches and it should be fine- as long as you terminate it properly.

I have the feeling that you are not doing something like the NY Stock Exchange here so don't make more out of it than it really is.

-Hal

I just don't want to run into interference problems. Say I ran 3" next to a run for a 110/120 receptacle and 8" is really the right way to do it.

I've been busting my father's b@ls about this project. I figure he knows a bit about running cable but he's a retired voice guy. AT&T all over NYC for about 17 years. No offense to the good ol' voice guys back in the day. They laid the foundation, but alot has happened since 1987 when he retired.

I think what you are missing is the "Codes" are NEC and the "standards" are BICSI. I have yet to see an inspector look at the BICSI "standards" and write someone up for placing J-Hooks to far apart. This is something you follow as part of doing a good (right) job IMO anyways. Like Sam said, you can search the web or go to the manufacturers website for the cabling you are pulling and probably find the spec's for installing their cabling.

Although they are not "codes" that I am forced to follow, I still buy the different manuals from BICSI that lays out how they would like you to or recommend you to install various types of cabling. The newest one purchased from them was the new Information Transport Systems Installation manual. This is an upgraded manual from the Telecommunications Cabling Installations Manual. I try to keep everything here within the "recommendations" of BICSI and use these manuals as a guide.