| :: The Definition of Backbone Cabling | | | | should use Cat 5e cable or even higher category |
| Backbone cabling may be within one building or | | | | such as Cat 6 and Cat 7. If you anticipate using |
| between buildings on a campus. All wiring between | | | | your wiring system for multiple applications, double |
| telecommunication rooms is called as backbone | | | | or even triple each backbone wiring run. This will |
| cabling. | | | | give you ample room for growth and the ability |
| In many cases, backbone cabling is actually | | | | to rapidly respond to new requirements. |
| between wiring closets on the same floor of a | | | | :: Fire Safety |
| building, but the more typical case is the floor to | | | | Most standard require that all riser cable (cable |
| floor wiring in a multi-floor building. Many call it | | | | that goes vertically between floors) be riser rated |
| vertical cabling in contrast to horizontal cabling. | | | | for its fire and smoking rating. Some even require |
| :: How are backbone wiring implemented? | | | | plenum rated cables. |
| Typically all hubs, concentrators and switches are | | | | But one most important thing is - you must |
| placed in the telecom rooms which serve all | | | | properly install fire-stop material on all openings |
| workstations on that same floor. Backbone wiring | | | | you make between floors, no matter those are |
| then connects the hubs, on to another on | | | | cable ports or direct openings. |
| different floors.o Daisy Chain wiring. In a daisy | | | | If you backbone wiring actually involves |
| chain wiring, the back bone wiring connects from | | | | floor-to-floor cabling in vertical shafts or cable |
| hub to hub to hub. Daisy chain is a good choice | | | | ports, you may need to use special riser cable |
| for Token-Ring topology, since it provides | | | | that has a fire-retardant sheath, certified to meet |
| convenient ring-in and ring-out connections.o Star | | | | NEC low-flame requirements. The NEC requires |
| wiring: In a star wiring, the back bone wiring | | | | that riser cable meet UL flammability tests to be |
| connects all hubs from different floors to a center | | | | used in high-rise buildings. |
| hub. Star wiring is a good choice for Ethernet | | | | :: Grounding requirement |
| which must limits repeater jumps. | | | | When pulling cables between far flung telecom |
| For large buildings, telecom rooms are often | | | | rooms or between floors, electrical grounding and |
| placed in services shaft, one above the other, | | | | bonding requirements must be observed. You can |
| distances between telecom rooms are minimal. | | | | refer to EIA/TIA standards for the proper |
| Thus the backbone wiring from each floor may | | | | practices. |
| be concentrated in a single master telecom room | | | | :: Advantages of fiber optic cable |
| and the number of repeater jumps minimized. | | | | Fiber optic cable provides significant advantages |
| :: How is backbone wiring capacity implemented? | | | | over copper cable. Fiber optic cable is not subject |
| Backbone wiring should be terminated in the same | | | | to electrical or magnetic interference, and thus |
| manner as horizontal cabling. The backbone cabling | | | | may be run in locations, such as elevator shafts |
| should be of same or higher category and type | | | | or alongside power lines. |
| that meets your performance requirements and | | | | In addition, a cabling system may be electrically |
| the safety and fire protection requirements for | | | | isolated between buildings or between floors of |
| your installation. | | | | the same building by using fiber optic cable. |
| For example, for Cat 5e horizontal wiring, you | | | | |