TECHNOLOGY
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J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8
Avoid the Wiring Trap
In-building wiring is essential for the stable internet access all residents demand. Sound
strategy and planning can help asset managers, operators and developers avoid the
worst wiring pitfalls.
By Andrew Marshall / Campus Technologies Inc.
O
wners rarely think much about the
low-voltage wiring in their properties
once they've been built and residents
have moved in. Why should they? e wiring
works, and it's invisible.
If the properties were all built in the last
few years and built to the correct specifications,
there may not be much to worry about.
However, older properties, or even newer
properties built to unknown and possibly
subpar specifications and standards, could be a
cause for concern. In fact, they could be ticking
time bombs – a six-figure problem per property.
WHY WORRY ABOUT WIRING?
Even in a wireless-centric student living
community, the wired network is an essential
component. It's the workhorse that delivers
data to connected gaming consoles, TVs and
streaming devices in each unit; to the wireless
access points that deliver wireless signals; and
increasingly to closed-circuit TV and access
control systems as well.
e wiring used in most buildings is
unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) wiring,
sometimes referred to as Category or Cat 6 (or
its predecessors, Cat 5 and Cat 5E).
Why is it a problem? When properties are
built, UTP wiring is an easy, common target
for value engineering, aka saving money.
Using lower-grade or no-brand components,
using unqualified installers, not following an
appropriate specification – all these things
may save money in the short term, but in the
longer term, they can and will cause problems.
Even low-voltage wiring that hasn't been value
engineered may not have been built to an
adequate standard.
In some cases, the wiring infrastructure may
just be too old – some properties were wired
15 to 20 years ago, and the wiring isn't up to
the job. In others, the wiring is fit for purpose,
Figure 1: A student apartment wall jack after several
years of painting and repairs