Dennis Mazaris, PerfectSite
Problem
You are required to service jack #127. When you get to the telecommunications closet (TC), you easily identify the jack by its marking on the block; however, as you rummage through the closet, you cannot find the floorplan that indicates where on the floor the jack is located. You go out to the floor and start a fishing expedition, looking for the jack by checking the numbers on all the jacks.
Solution
Tape the floorplan of your structured cabling system to a piece of clear Plexiglas and secure it to the wall of the TC. Doing this will provide for quick, permanent identification of the system and will protect the floorplan from being damaged or misplaced.
Procedure
1) Purchase a piece of clear Plexiglas that is slightly larger than your floorplan. You can purchase the Plexiglas in a pre-cut sheet, have it cut to the appropriate size at the hardware store, or cut it to size yourself.
2) Drill a hole in each corner of the Plexiglas.
3)Tape the floorplan, face out, to the side of the Plexiglas that will face the wall.
4) Use screws to secure the Plexiglas and the floorplan to a wall in the TC. Make sure it can easily be seen when the technician enters the TC.
You may find it worthwhile to tape a note to the floorplan, asking technicians to indicate on the Plexiglas where cables have been added. These markings will keep the floorplan current with all additions. When appropriate, you can take the Plexiglas off the wall and transfer the marks to the floorplan, and then clean and remount the Plexiglas.
Also, tape your business card, with your logo and telephone number, to the Plexiglas along with the floorplan. This will ensure that anyone with questions will know whom to call.
Once mounted to the wall, the Plexiglas can be marked to indicate cable additions.
Mounting your floorplan to a wall in the telecom-munications closet, behind a piece of Plexiglas, will ensure that it is not misplaced or damaged.
Dennis Mazaris, registered communications distribution designer (rcdd), is the principal consultant for PerfectSite (Sterling, VA), a consulting firm specializing in premises cabling management and design.