In 2018, a significant network infrastructure project was undertaken at one of the hospitals in Johor. The project, titled "Structured Cabling System (SCS)," was a collaborative effort between our in-house team and an outsourced cabling company. The objective was to restructure and modernize the network cabling system, ensuring compliance with industry standards and improving overall connectivity within the hospital.

The scope of the project included supplying and installing a horizontal cabling sub-system as per ANSI/TIA-568-C.1 standards. Schneider Category 6, 23 AWG Solid Bare Copper, CM-rated Blue Jacket UTP cables were used, concealed in metal trunking or uPVC conduit. The installation followed strict guidelines, ensuring that the containment fill rate did not exceed 40%, and adhering to proper pulling force and bend radius during installation to maintain cable integrity.

One of the critical aspects of the project was the installation of a cabling sub-system at Floor Distributor A. This included deploying Schneider 1U Shuttered Patch Panels, loaded with an integrated rear cable management support bar and individual Schneider Category 6 SL Blue Modular Jacks. The contractor meticulously followed T568B pin-pair assignment, ensuring a maximum pair untwist of only 13 mm using SL termination tools, which is essential for maintaining signal integrity and performance.

At the Equipment Outlet (EO), Schneider Category 6 SL Blue Modular Jacks and Base Boxes were installed. The faceplates were designed to accommodate color jack options, allowing for easy application identification. As with the patch panels, terminations adhered to the T568B pin-pair assignment with a maximum pair untwist of 13 mm using SL termination tools, ensuring a robust and efficient network.

To interconnect network switches at Floor Distributor A, factory-terminated Schneider Category 6 SL UTP CM Blue Patch Cords were installed. The contractor proposed appropriate cable lengths, such as 5 feet, 7 feet, and 10 feet, to maintain optimal cable loops and organization. All patch cords were labeled with self-adhesive labels for easy identification and management.

Similarly, factory-terminated Schneider Category 6 SL UTP CM Blue Patch Cords were used for patching at the Equipment Outlet. As with the network switch interconnects, the appropriate cable lengths were proposed, and all patch cords were labeled accordingly. This approach not only ensured a neat and systematic installation but also facilitated easy maintenance and troubleshooting.

Quality assurance was a key aspect of the project. All outlets, cables, patch panels, and associated components were fully assembled and labeled before field-testing. Any testing performed on incomplete systems was redone upon completion of the work. The Category 6 Permanent Link test was conducted as per ANSI/TIA 568 C.2 standards using a minimum Level III tester. The results were documented in both softcopy (native format) and hardcopy (PDF) and submitted as part of the user acceptance test.

Containment systems were also an essential part of the project. Metal trunking, uPVC conduits, and flexible conduits were supplied and installed along with their respective support structures. The containment system was designed to provide at least 50% spare capacity after the initial cable installation, ensuring future scalability. Additionally, trunkings were installed with a minimum clearance of 300mm from steam or hot water pipes to prevent heat-related cable degradation.

Throughout the project, the installation was carried out by skilled tradesmen who ensured that all work was performed in a neat and professional manner. The adherence to industry standards and best practices guaranteed a high-quality, future-proof structured cabling system that met the hospital's growing connectivity needs.

This successful collaboration between our team and the outsourced cabling company resulted in a well-organized, high-performance network infrastructure that supports the hospital's operational efficiency. By adhering to strict installation standards and best practices, we have laid the foundation for a robust and scalable network, ensuring seamless connectivity for years to come.