introduction & design cable pathways

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& Confidential ©

2002 Anixter In

c.2P0008X0

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�Second level

�Third level

�Fourth level

�Fifth level

Pathways design

Jeffrey Lam RCDD

Locationoverhead vs underfloor

Types of pathwaysEnclosed

Conduits and trunkings

Open

Cable trays / J-hooks & Triangle hooks

Design Case studyStar vs Bus topology

Cable pathwaysCable pathwaysCable pathwaysCable pathways

Design of Cable pathwaysDo not overload cable pathways

Choose shortest route

Avoid split levels

consider possible obstructions (beams, ductwork, etc)

Allow for spare capacityBIG is good but at expense of asethetics & routing space

Provide a concrete kerb for vertical runs

Always maintain bend radius

Always maintain minimum height.


Installation of Cable pathwaysGround all pathways

Maintain electrical continuity

Smoothen all cuts and rough edges.

Paint over exposed parts with zinc paint

esp, for powder coated types

Firestop all penetrations across fire compartments

Always use custom made parts, not modified ones

Never use as a walkway

Use cable ties to bundle cable & secure cables onto pathways


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�Second level

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Type of pathways

Supported Supported vsvs Suspended systemsSuspended systems

Supported Systems

more time consuming to install.

More material costs

More asethetically pleasing

More stress on cables

Less potential for growth

Covered solutions

•Trunkings / Conduits

Open solutions

•Cable trays

•Cable ladders

•Wire baskets

Suspended Systems

faster to install.

Cheaper.

Less asethetically pleasing

More stress on cables

Less potential for growth

•J-hooks

•Cantenrary Wires

•Triangle hooks

•Cable clips

Overview of open systems

�Wire Mesh Cable Tray

�Ladder Rack

�Solid Side Cable Tray

�Center Rail Cable Tray

�J- Hooks

Cable may also be placed in conduit, under raised floors or in trenched floor ducts.

Overview of Open pathways solutions

�Maximum Strength

�Indoor or outdoor use

�Solid Sides are extruded or roll

formed channel

�Rung, solid or ventilated bottom

(rung shown)

�May be aluminum, steel, stainless

steel, fiberglass

�Fabricated intersections,

mechanical splices

Solid Side Cable Tray

Commonly used

with electrical

cables

�Maximum Strength

�Reduced number of fittings, supports and components versus solid side cable trays.

�Rungs may exit the bottom or the side of “rail” and the “rail” may double as a tray divider.

�Combination splice and intersection end hardware.

Center Rail Cable Tray

�Medium strength

�Used for low voltage communications cables (horizontal distribution outside the TR & under raised floors)

�Made from steel wire welded into a grid work

�Flexible, field-fabricated intersections

Wire Mesh Cable Tray

�Medium strength

�Used for low voltage communications cables (overhead/over rack distribution in the ER/TR)

�Made from tubular or solid steel bar welded into a ladder-like structure

�Field- and factory-fabricated intersections

Ladder Rack (Cable Runway)

�Minimum Strength

�Used for low voltage communications cables

�Attach to threaded rod, beams or wires with specialized fasteners

�Up to 16 each 4-pair UTP cables may be supported in a cable hook that is attached to drop ceiling grid wires

J-Hooks

TypicalTypical Cable Cable RunwayRunway InstallationInstallation

Mounted overhead and

attached to racks in the

telecommunications closet

and equipment room.

Ensures that an appropriate

cable pathway exists among

rack-mounted cross connect

equipment.

Vertical wall mounting to support

backbone cabling.

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�Second level

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Data Center

top or bottom entry

Overhead Overhead vsvs underfloorunderfloor

��asetheticsasethetics

��lighting levellighting level

��ease of access for changesease of access for changes

��cables wastagecables wastage

Top entry vs bottom entry


Cables, cables everywhere . Look, ma! No trays.

Is everything alright??? Clean, and tidy.

No hidden spiders

Light is partially blocked Clean & bright

Is this patch panel C13 or G18?

I cannot see properly.Great working environment!



“wasted cable”

requires a vertical pathway

“optimal length”

no need for a vertical pathway


Which is easier to make moves, adds and changes?


�Which is better?

� How often do I need to make moves, adds & changes?

� How much cables will I be routing?

�Will there be a lot of work at the racks?

� Do I need to save cables?

� Is there a riser for dropping cables?


NEMA Metal Cable Tray Installation Guidelines

download from the website

http://www.nema.org/stds/ve2.cfm

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�Second level

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Pathways Design

Datacenter case study

C

R

A

U

C

R

A

U

C

R

A

U

C

R

A

U

racksracks

racksracks

Elect.

Elect.

Comms.Comms.

FM200 cylindersFM200 cylinders

BatteriesBatteries

UPSUPS UPSUPS UPSUPS UPSUPS

Reserved for future racksReserved for future racksReserved for future racks

Operating ConsoleOperating Console

Datacenter Design

Route cables from

Comms riser to

racks.

Each rack requires 4

cables

2 designs

�Bus design

�Star design

C

R

A

U

C

R

A

U

C

R

A

U

C

R

A

U

racksracks

racksracks

Elect.

Elect.

Comms.Comms.


BatteriesBatteries


Reserved for future racksReserved for future racks


Bus Design I

� easy access to

main branch.

�more cables at

start of sub- branch

�larger sub-branch

�main branch

contains cables

from cables from

different rows.

3232 2828 2424 2020 1616 1212 88 44

C

R

A

U

C

R

A

U

C

R

A

U

C

R

A

U

racksracks

racksracks

Elect.

Elect.

Comms.Comms.


BatteriesBatteries




Bus Design II

� less cables in the

sub-branch

�smaller sub-

branch

�racks pose

obstruction to

adding cables onto

main branch

1616 1212 88 44161612128844

C

R

A

U

C

R

A

U

C

R

A

U

C

R

A

U

Elect.

Elect.

Comms.Comms.


BatteriesBatteries



Bus Design III

� smaller sub-

branch

�no obstruction to

main branch

�main branch still

contains cables

from cables from

different rows.

C

R

A

U

C

R

A

U

C

R

A

U

C

R

A

U

racksracks

racksracks

Elect.

Elect.

Comms.Comms.


BatteriesBatteries




Bus Design

� main branch uses

different parts from

branch

3232

9696

6464

3232

3232

3232

C

R

A

U

C

R

A

U

C

R

A

U

C

R

A

U

racksracks

racksracks

Elect.

Elect.

Comms.Comms.


BatteriesBatteries




Star Design I

� no main branch,

cables from

different rows

separate.

�Easier

identification of

cables

�more expensive

�uses same items

�difficult to route

cables from one

branch to another

32323232

3232

3232

3232

3232

C

R

A

U

C

R

A

U

C

R

A

U

C

R

A

U

racksracks

racksracks

Elect.

Elect.

Comms.Comms.


BatteriesBatteries




•Star Design II

problem solved!

�but poses a

problem in

identifying

cables if not

properly managed

�Select Cable Runway by

width to match the type and

quantity of cable that the cable

runway must support.

�CPI provides fill tables for

cable runway that will help

designers select the correct

runway size.

Selecting Cable Runway - Cable Fill

1,2121,89424”

1,0101,57820”

9091,42118”

7581,18415”

60694712”

50578910”

4557109”

3034746”

2533955”

2023164”

Cat 6Cat 5eWidth

Cat 5e is .220” OD.

Cat 6 is .275” OD.

�To determine cable fill

without a fill table, divide the

usable area of cable runway

by the cross-sectional area of

the cable media and reduce by

50%.

�Cable fill must not exceed

6” in depth.

Selecting Cable Runway – Cable Fill

For Example:

• 12” Wide Cable Tray –

Area = 12” x 6”

Area = 72 sq. in.

• .25” Diameter Cable –

Area = 3.1416 x (.125”)2

Area =.049 sq. in.

• Cable Fill Quantity –

Area Tray/Area Cable x 50%

(72 sq. in./.049 sq. in.) x .50

735 Cables

�Elevate runway at least 3”

above racks or cabinets so that

cables can exit properly over a

Radius Drop.

�Support cable runway on the

wall, from the ceiling or on the

tops of racks and cabinets.

Installation Practices

�Supports cable runway every

5’ of span and within 2’ of any

splice or intersection.

�Also, leave 12” of clearance

above cable runway to provide

easy access to cables.


�If multiple tiers of Cable

Runway are installed, leave 12”

of clearance in between cable

runway for easy access to

cables.


Proprietary

& Confidential ©

2002 Anixter In

c.2P0008X0



�Second level

�Third level

�Fourth level

�Fifth level

Pathways Installations

best practices

Suspended systemsSuspended systems

Cable clips

Triangle hooks

J-hooks

Supported systems - overhead

Supported systems -

Open systems

Cable tray

Wire baskets

Cable ladders

Supported systems - overhead

Supported systems -

covered systems

Conduits

Ductings

Fiber Ducting

Supported systems - Underfloor

Supported systems -

Underfloor

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& Confidential ©

2002 Anixter In

c.2P0008X0



�Second level

�Third level

�Fourth level

�Fifth level

THANK YOU!

Jeffrey Lam RCDD

+65 97849870

[email protected]

introduction & design cable pathways

Technology