BACKBONE CABLING

Backbone Distribution Systems

A backbone distribution system is the part of a premises distribution system that

provides connection between telecommunications spaces.
• A backbone distribution system typically provides:
• Building connections between floors in multistory buildings.
• Campus connections in multi-building environments.
• Typically hierarchical star topology
• If requirements for “bus” or “ring” or “redundancy/fault tolerant” configurations are
anticipated, then cabling directly between TRs or TEs is allowed..
Backbone Distribution System
A backbone distribution system may consist of any or all of
the following:
• Provides interconnections between entrance facilities
(EFs),
• access provider (AP) spaces, service provider (SP)
spaces,
• common equipment rooms (CERs),
• common telecommunications rooms (CTRs),
equipment rooms (ERs),
• telecommunications rooms (TRs) and
telecommunications enclosures (TEs)
• No more than two distributors between MC and the
TO
Cross-connects
Main Cross-connect (campus distributor)
• The cross-connect normally located in the (main) equipment room for cross-
connection and interconnection of entrance cables, first level backbone cables,
and equipment cables.
Intermediate cross-connect (building distributor)
• The connection point between a backbone cable that extends from the main
cross-connect (first level backbone] and the backbone cable from the horizontal
cross-connect (second level backbone).
Horizontal cross-connect (floor distributor)
• A group of connectors ( e.g., patch panel, punchdown block) that allow equipment
and backbone cabling to be cross-connected with patch cords or jumpers. Floor
distributor is the international equivalent term for horizontal crossconnect.
Backbone Cable Lengths
• Backbone cabling shall meet the requirements of TIA-568.0-D
• Jumper and patch cord maximum length limitations:
• 20 m (66 ft.) in main cross-connect
• 20 m (66 ft.) in intermediate cross-connect
• 6 m (20 ft.) in telecommunications room
CABLING INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS
• Cable stress caused by suspended cable runs and tightly cinched bundles should be
minimized.
• Cable bindings, which are used to tie multiple cables together, should be irregularly
spaced and should be loosely fitted (easily movable).
• The pulling tension for a 4-pair balanced twisted-pair cable shall not exceed 110 N (25
pound-force) during installation
• For multi-pair cable, manufacturers’ pulling tension guidelines shall be followed
• The minimum inside bend radius, under no-load or load, for a 4-pair balanced twisted-pair
cable shall be four times the cable diameter.
• The minimum bend radius, under no-load or load for a multi-pair cable shall follow the
manufacturer’s guidelines
• Minimum bend radius and maximum pulling tension of fiber varies depending on use and
type of fiber
 Cable lubricants
• There are many cable lubricant to
help pull cable through conduit
and other cable management ,
some examples are shown
Conduits, Trays, Slots, Sleeves, and Ducts

• Three basic types of steel conduit in use are:

• Rigid metal conduit (RMC).

• Intermediate metal conduit (IMC),

• Electrical metallic tubing (EMT).

 Conduits, Trays, Slots, Sleeves, and Ducts
Three basic types of steel conduit in use are:
• Rigid metal conduit (RMC)
• RMC is a threaded metal raceway of circular cross section
with a coupling. Threads on the uncoupled end are covered
by industry color-coded thread protectors, which:
• Protect the threads.
• Keep them clean and sharp.
• Aid in trade size recognition

• RMC is the heaviest-weight and thickest-wall steel conduit.

When galvanized, it typically has a coating of zinc on both
the inside and outside. Galvanized RMC is noncombustible
and can be used indoors, outdoors, underground, concealed,
or exposed
 Conduits, Trays, Slots, Sleeves, and Ducts
IMC is similar to RMC in that it also is a threaded
metal raceway of circular cross section with a
coupling.
Threads on the uncoupled end are covered by
industry color-coded thread protectors, which
protect the threads, keep them clean and sharp,
and aid in trade size recognition.
IMC, however:
• Has a thinner wall thickness than RMC.
• Weighs about one-third less than RMC.
• The outside of steel IMC has a zinc-based coating
 Conduits, Trays, Slots, Sleeves, and Ducts
• EMT, also commonly called thin-wall, is a steel raceway of
circular cross section, which is unthreaded. The outside
corrosion protection is zinc based, and the inside features an
approved corrosion-resistant organic coating
• EMT is the lightest-weight steel conduit manufactured.
• Field workers typically find it easy to alter or reuse EMT.
• Although EMT is made of lighter-walled steel, it provides
substantial physical protection and can be used in most
exposed locations, except where severe physical damage or
hazardous environments are a possibility.
• EMT is available in sizes similar to RMC and IMC.
• EMT is not recommended for use in underground or exterior
applications because of its poor resistance to corrosion.
 Conduits, Trays, Slots, Sleeves, and Ducts
Sleeves or Slots
• Position cable sleeves or slots adjacent to a wall on which the backbone cables can
be supported. Sleeves or slots must not obstruct wall-terminating space (i.e., they
should not be directly above or below the wall space that is to be used for
termination fields).
Conduits, Trays, Slots, Sleeves, and Ducts
• Open Cable Shafts
• Open cable shafts are used when available and where large
quantities of cables are required on a floor that is distant
from the main ER ( e.g., the main ER is in the basement and
a large quantity of circuits are required on the 30th floor).
Building managers normally direct cable shaft use
requirements.
• Elevator Shafts
• Do not locate backbone cable pathways in elevator shafts.
• Cable Trays
• A cable tray can be used as a vertical cable pathway within
shafts or as part of the pathway between vertically aligned
TRs..
BUILDING PATHWAYS

• Shall not be located in elevator shafts.

• Shall be installed in “dry” locations that protect the cables from moisture levels
that are beyond the normal operating range of indoor premises cable
• Slab-on-grade” designs where pathways are installed underground or in concrete
slabs that are in direct contact with earth are considered “wet” locations.
• Firestop should be used or maintained for all penetrations of cable, wires and
pathways.
Firestops
• There are two broad categories of firestops:
• Mechanical: Pre-manufactured elastomeric components shaped to fit around standard
cables, tubes and conduits.
• Non-mechanical: These come in a variety of forms that have the benefit of adapting to
irregular openings and off center penetrating items e.g., putties, caulks, cementitious
materials, intumescent sheets, intumescent wrap strips,silicone foam and pre-
manufactured pillows

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