Network Communications News (NCN) August 2017 | Page 24

CABLE MANAGEMENT & LABELLING
To label, or not to label?
A properly labelled cable management system is crucial; almost every process in a company or
data centre relies on a cabling system, so any disruptions to that system can affect a wide range
of corporate processes, says Richard Cann, Excel Networking’s Technical Services Manager.
A
clearly labelled
system is the
key to minimising
any disruption
and maintaining
infrastructure efficiency. When
choosing a labelling solution, the
options are plentiful:
No labelling – this is not
recommended, and could render
the installation ineffective and
difficult to maintain.
Handwritten labels – although
engineers and end-users would
be able to identify ‘what’s what’
within the cabling system, the risk
of illegibility is high.
UV printed labels – a hard-
wearing choice, with the
possibility of a wide range of
colours and shapes
Laser engraved labels – a
durable, future-proof choice, more
so than UV printed labels, with a
variety of colours and a bespoke
selection of shapes available
24 | August 2017
Everything in a cabling system
has a standard to which it should be
labelled. Approved in April 2012, the
ANSI/TIA labelling standard suggests
that, amongst other things, a
cabling system labelling solution
should be machine generated,
clearly visible on both ends of the
cable and reliable in the face of
legibility, defacement and adhesion.
With this in mind, the adhesive
laser engraved labelling solution
is an increasingly popular choice
within the cabling industry for a
number of reasons:
Flexibility
Laser engraved acrylic labelling
sheets are available in a range of
colour and size options. Whilst
the standards stipulate that
colour coding is optional, this
flexibility can help to create a
comprehensive labelling system,
by differentiating copper and fibre
equipment, for example. With
an endless array of cutting and
adhesion options, laser engraved
labels can be used to identify
every fixed component of the
system from the cables, to the
patch panel to the cabinet and
to the outlet. By developing a
labelling solution from the job
specification during the design
stage of an installation, it is
possible to ensure consistency
throughout a project, creating a
flexible system that maximises
efficiency and complies with
industry standards.