| Back in the dawn of the networking age, cabling | | | | will cost less due to standards compliant is |
| systems were run through offices in an almost ad | | | | another cost factor to consider.) |
| hoc fashion. You needed separate cables for your | | | | Even for existing structures, paying for the |
| phone systems, separate cables for your | | | | upfront cost of a structured cabling system can |
| computer network, and often times, different | | | | make a significant savings down the road; the |
| cables for different sub networks on a system. | | | | amount that can be saved depends largely on |
| Fortunately, the establishing of robust standards | | | | how extensive (and easily accessible) the current |
| has simplified things a fair bit. Even so, laying out a | | | | cabling system is. Particularly, for buildings that |
| building's cabling infrastructure is a challenging | | | | have building management systems that are older |
| technical problem, as more and more systems | | | | than 15 years or so; sheer necessity may make |
| are working on the basic digital infrastructure of | | | | the upgrade pay for itself, as the service |
| IP networks - from telephony to security | | | | providers who access things like the fire alarm |
| systems, safety alarms and energy management | | | | system or security systems may start charging |
| systems in green buildings. | | | | extra on their contracts for the expense of |
| Making a structured cabling system is a | | | | dealing with legacy hardware. |
| commitment to an open architecture with | | | | Additional costs can be cut by routing the traffic |
| standardized layouts and interfaces, and | | | | through one set of digital cabling systems rather |
| standardized media types. It's aimed to be future | | | | than running multiple cables with different voltages |
| proof and compliant for future upgrades. It's also | | | | and requirements through the same cable run |
| estimated that direct, standards based structured | | | | space. In addition to reducing the cable clutter, |
| cabling systems installations save nearly 30 | | | | they also make the job of physically running the |
| percent on the construction and infrastructure | | | | cable out (and replacing it) much simpler, and may |
| layout for a modern building; though this will | | | | help you meet fire code regulations by increasing |
| always have some hemming and hawing | | | | the dead air space in the cable runs. |
| depending on the local costs of labor. | | | | No matter what level of system integration |
| For buildings that expect to have tenants beyond | | | | you're aiming for, a structured cabling system |
| the owning company, a structured cabling system | | | | should be seriously considered as the foundation |
| allows the most flexibility in meeting their needs, | | | | for the total work and the sort of job you want |
| including the ability to respond quickly to sudden | | | | accomplished. There will be restrictions based on |
| upgrade requests. Because most green energy | | | | where you're set up on what can and cannot be |
| management systems require a structured cabling | | | | integrated into the system; local regulations may |
| system to get their maximum benefits, there | | | | require that fire alarm systems be kept separate, |
| exists the potential that the system can pay for | | | | so that a power outage to the networking center |
| itself in reduced energy costs within a few years | | | | doesn't shut the system down. |
| of its installation. (The fact that future upgrades | | | | |