Server Room Cabling Tips for Installers

Server room cabling requires plenty of accurate measurements, clean routing, and common sense — along with appropriate material handling equipment. Here are some tips to keep in mind when planning server rooms for small firms, data centers, and every business in between.

1. Don’t make any assumptions: Label everything.

With any installation job, there’s a tendency to move quickly. This is particularly true when server room cabling is part of your daily work; it’s reasonable to assume that you’ll remember the colors, directions, or sizes of different cable runs.

Remember: Assumptions lead to extra work. Labeling your runs will only take a few extra seconds, but accurate labeling can prevent hours of frustration down the line.

While every job is different, here are some general concepts to keep in mind:

• Bring extra labeling supplies. If you have to search around for your markers & tape, you’re much more likely to leave something unlabeled.
• Write labels unambiguously. That’s particularly important for permanent labels; if you’re labeling a backbone for a port that other people will need to read, invest in a thermal printer (don’t trust your own handwriting).
• Use hook-and-loop fasteners (Velcro) wherever possible. Only use zip ties for cable that will not move at any point after installation.

If you don’t have a probe handy, you can also use Velcro fasteners to trace cables. Put a loose loop on the cable in question and push it along the cable to find where it terminates. Of course, if you’re working slowly and taking your time, you shouldn’t need to trace cables (but realistically, everyone makes mistakes). 

2. Plan for clean, ergonomic cable pulls.

For smaller jobs, you may be able to procure precisely measured cable. If you’re terminating your own Cat6 or Cat5e cable, however, you’re also pulling that cable — and you shouldn’t feel like you’re fighting against the reel for every pull.

Bending, twisting, and pulling can lead to musculoskeletal injuries. What’s more, if you’re fighting the cable, the cable isn’t coming out of it unscathed; you might not notice any damage until testing (at which point, you’ll have to re-run the same line). 

Solus Group carries ergonomic material handling equipment to help electrical installers save time and material:

Reel Taxi (RT-1424)

For smaller runs, the Reel Taxi ensures ergonomic cable payout and can simplify transportation. Designed for spools with diameters between 12-24 inches, it features locking casters and adjustable rollers with a durable poly coating and closed bearings. 

The Reel Taxi is an excellent option for common server room wiring jobs and has a carrying capacity of 400 pounds. Guards on the interior protect data/Cat 5/Cat 6 cable reels during transport.

Cable Tray Cart (263011283)

For simple transportation without payout, the Cable Tray Cart carries stacks of cable tray boxes up to 33 inches (84 centimeters) high. Removable restraint posts contain the contents during travel.

Ideal for wholesalers, Cable Tray Carts are powder-coated for corrosion resistance and are available in custom sizes, shapes, colors, and capacities.

3. Transport high-volume cable reels together to simplify installation.

If you’re running several types of cable, you should invest in a material handling solution that supports your workflow. The BHS Parallel Reel Payout (PRP) delivers a complete wire handling solution for new installations, and it’s adaptable to the needs of different job sites.

Parallel Reel Payout (PRP)

Designed to simplify cable pulls, the PRP features free-spinning, multi-compartment reels, which can be customized with various reel combinations to hold multiple cables on one master unit.

The four-way fork pocket design allows the unit to be transported via pallet truck or forklift for optimal positioning. Narrow models are available with a shortened base frame to fit through 34" (864 mm) door openings.

Parallel Reel Wagon (PRW)

Move high-volume cable reels easily with the Parallel Reel Payout Wagon. Sized to carry up to 5,000 pounds of product, it features 0.75”, 1”, and 2.5” (19 mm, 25 mm, and 64 mm) arbor holes for a variety of wire gauges.  

The PRW takes the durability of the standard PRP and adds simple mobility: Heavy-duty casters allow the unit to move easily, and an integrated floor lock keeps the unit stable during cable pulls. Available with virtually any combination of reels to meet specific applications, from custom paralleling to long-term storage.

Find Server Room Cabling Solutions for Your Operation

When you can easily move cable reels around your jobsite — and you don’t have to fight your equipment for each inch of every cable pull — you can work more cleanly and efficiently. Solus Group can help you find ergonomic equipment to keep your server room cabling projects on schedule.

View Solus Group’s full selection of wire & cable handling equipment. To discuss solutions with an expert, call (314) 696-0200.