Structured cabling mistakes that cost you for twenty years.

Switches are replaced every few years. Cabling stays in the walls for decades, so errors are expensive to fix.

Common mistakes

• Choosing the cheapest cable. Copper-clad aluminium and low-grade cable fail tests, overheat with power over Ethernet and cannot be certified.
• Too few outlets. Add more than you need today. Desks, phones, cameras, access points and printers multiply.
• No labelling. Unlabelled ports turn every change into a hunt.
• Ignoring distance limits. Permanent links of up to 90 metres plus patch cords keep within the 100-metre channel limit.
• Poor termination and bend radius. Most faults come from workmanship, not cable.
• No testing or certification. Insist on test reports for each link.
• Mixing power and data carelessly. Keep separation from mains cabling.
• Skipping fibre between floors and buildings. Fibre backbones handle growth and electrical isolation.
• No documentation. As-built drawings and a port map are part of the deliverable.

Design for the future

Choose Category 6A for new builds where budgets allow, so cable supports higher speeds and power over Ethernet. Leave space in pathways and racks. Plan for cameras and access points in the ceiling, not just desks.

What to ask for

A cable schedule, test results for every link, labelled panels and outlets, and as-built drawings. These show the work was done properly.