S 5.4 Documentation on, and marking of, cabling

Initiation responsibility: Head of IT Section; Head of Site/Bldg Technical Service

Implementation responsibility: Site/Bldg Technical Service

Good documentation and clear marking of all cables are required for any protective measure, for maintenance, fault location, repair and for successful checking of cable layout. The quality of such review documentation depends on the completeness, up-to-date status and readability of its contents.

All facts concerning the network must be included in this documentation (also referred to as "master plan"):

• precise type of cable;

• application-oriented marking of the cable(s);

• location of exchanges and distributors, with precise designations;

• precise routing of cables and ducts on the premises (plotting on dimensioned floor plans and location plans);

• dimensioning and allocation of lines;

• allocation plans for all connectors and distributors;

• use of all lines; listing of the network users connected to them;

• technical specifications of connection points;

• danger spots;

• protective measures that are in place and to be reviewed.

Based on this documentation, it must be possible to get an accurate overview of the cabling easily and quickly.

Since, with increasing size of networks, it is not possible to include all information in a single plan, it is advisable to subdivide such information. Actual location information is always to be plotted on full-scale plans. Other information can be listed in tables. An important point is to ensure clear cross-referencing of all listed elements.

To keep the documentation up to date, it must be ensured that the person keeping the documentation is promptly and completely notified of all work carried out on the network.is For instance, consideration might be given to requiring this person's co-signature for the issue of material, for the placing of outside contracts or for allowing access to protected areas.

Since this documentation contains sensitive information, it must be stored safely and access to it must be regulated.

Additional controls:

• Who is responsible for the documentation on cabling?

• Is up-dating of the documentation sufficiently prompt?

• How is the review documentation protected against unauthorised access?