Structured Cabling Testing – what you should insist on

Why Structured Cabling Testing Is Essential

Top Reasons to Test Your Structured Cabling Installation

• If your cabling has not been tested you won’t know if the installer has:
  1. Terminated the data cabling correctly end to end
  2. Terminated the network cabling correctly in the right methods
  3. Terminated the structured cabling to the correct standards
• Not all cabling terminations are equal. Poor terminations can result in the following:
  1. Slower network speeds (i.e. only running at 100MB instead of 1 Gb)
  2. Interference on the data cable
  3. Interference onto neighbouring data cables
  4. Drop outs (i.e. phone calls drop or lost connection to servers)
• Data Cabling Testing checks that the correct patch panel ports go to the correct data module location. If the system isn’t tested this issue won’t be highlighted by the data cabling installer to rectify. Your system is then unusable from a management perspective
• You have accountability. If or when you receive test results, it shows at a point in time that everything was installed correctly and working to the specified standard. This could possibly eliminate the blame culture later on.
• Testing checks that all the elements of the installation have been installed correctly
  1. Data cabling has been pulled in correctly, away from power, without and kinks and twists
  2. The minimum of exposed cable has been allowed for when terminating
  3. The cable is terminated in the correct format
  4. The modules are good and snugly fitting
  5. Without these steps done correctly the structured cabling link won’t pass

What Structured Cabling Testing Can Reveal

Structured cabling testing is a vital step in ensuring your network infrastructure is reliable, efficient, and compliant with industry standards. It provides insight into both the quality of the installation and the performance of the materials used.

Testing can reveal:

Material Compliance: Not all cables, modules, or patch panels are created equal. Testing confirms whether components meet the specifications required for the intended network speed and application (e.g., Cat6, Cat6A, Cat7).
Installation Quality: Even the highest-grade components can underperform if not installed correctly. Testing identifies issues such as poor terminations, excessive cable lengths, sharp bends, or improper separation from electrical cabling.
Signal Performance: Structured cabling testing measures key parameters like attenuation, crosstalk, return loss, and propagation delay. These results indicate whether the cabling system can support high-speed data transmission without errors or degradation.
Future Readiness: Testing ensures that the cabling infrastructure can support current needs and future upgrades, such as transitioning to faster network speeds or new technologies.

Cable Testing and Certification – Further Information:

Explore our Cable Testing and Certification article for detailed guidance, standards, and insights on structured cabling testing.

About NM Cabling Solutions – Network Cabling Specialists

NM Cabling is a UK-wide provider of structured cabling, electrical installations, and technology integration. We bring over 20 years of experience delivering reliable and standards-compliant network infrastructure for commercial, industrial, and residential environments.

Claim Your Free Site Survey

Not sure where to start? Let us help.
We offer a free, no-obligation site survey to assess your current setup and recommend the best data cabling or electrical solutions tailored to your business needs. Whether you’re planning a new installation or upgrading an existing system, our expert team will provide practical insights and clear advice – completely free of charge.
Simply fill in your details and one of our engineers will be in touch to arrange your on-site assessment.