Repeat After Me

“Clients should never be allowed to install their own patch cords.” -- P.L., BICSI RCDD, RTPM, OSP associate project engineer

This reader-submitted photo shows what condition gradually befell one of the intermediate distribution frames (IDF) of a large U.S. university system - located, ironically enough, in a closet inside the campuses’ engineering school building.

“For years, the [engineering dept.] was allowed to enter our closets and run their own patch cords to their department switches,” writes P.L., the university’s resident BICSI RCDD, RTPM, OSP associate project engineer. “This photo shows the results of this decision.” In addition to his maxim as quoted above, the technician clarifies, “We recently took back all of our closets in this building, replaced all of the voice/data cable with Category 6A cable, and changed the locks on our doors.”