The Heart of a Network

Providing an organized communications system capable of expanding for future requirements should be less of a sign of excellence than a bare minimum. Despite that, quality control in the communications installations field can be disappointing sometimes.

A Rat's Nest of Wires

If a panel looked like this in the electrical trade, we'd risk losing our license. Atrocious cable management somewhat lacks thereof-with no support whatsoever. There might be open bays on that rack for future-proofing, but since we can't see through the Gordian knot in front of it, it's safe to assume there isn't. I could imagine a human being walking by, tripping on the tangled cord mass and pulling the entire rack down on top of them. It is a hazard.

A Professional Quality Installation

A picture is worth a thousand words; all are good here: clean cabling runs in a support system throughout the rack and plenty of open bays for future expansion. You can clearly see a lack of dangling, improperly sized patch jumpers from the small holes to the other side. Clear space all around. Everything is secure. Was it that much more work to organize some cables?

You can be a Bicsi-certified technician. You can have years of experience in communications installation and repair. You can install the most excellent structured cable system ever known to man. None of that matters when the job is done, and the keys to the server room get passed to someone trying to fill out a 9-5 workday as quickly as possible. 

Expertise

Working with fiber is its own skill set, with idiosyncrasies not really found in the electrical trade or anywhere else in the communications trade. The tools and methods are exacting, with almost no tolerance for flaws. Traditional electrical and communications wiring methods are very durable by comparison and capable of enduring a certain level of mechanical stress. The actual core of the fiber transport is smaller than the diameter of a single human hair, and splicing fiber together must be perfect. Only a contractor with hands-on experience performing fiber work can be trusted to perform competently.

Safety

Fiber optics operate by sending light through an optical cable-typically glass or plastic. This light is invisible to human sight. If shone directly onto or even reflected into someone's eye, the frequency of light used damages your ability to see. Depending on the intensity and duration of exposure, you could go blind from not wearing the proper PPE when handling a live fiber optic cable. Unfortunately, workplace laser safety and the associated PPE are uncommon among communications contractors. You must utilize a contractor who understands AND is responsible for the protection of working with fiber. First and foremost, always choose a professional who understands the hazards of the work being performed. We fully equip ourselves with the PPE necessary to perform fiber optic work on every job safely.