Skip to content Skip to footer

Standards for verifying AV Cable Performance

The modern workspace is depending on increasingly complex networks for AV data to flow efficiently and seamlessly. Ensuring that this virtual “central nervous system” is functioning in a healthy manner is therefore extremely important.

Unfortunately most businesses and even many AV professional fail to give the AV cabling and distribution systems the attention and maintenance they deserve. While a common part of the problem is not investing in quality cabling, the larger underlying reason for this is an underestimation of the impact it has and a lack of knowledge of AV standards relating to this.

Infocomm (the global AV industry association), says that “an AV system functions as a life form, requiring organized and structured interconnects. And until the whole AV world goes wireless, in an AV system, those interconnect mean cabling.”

To ensure that cabling performance can be verified, they are in the process of prescribing the ANSI/INFOCOMM 10:2013 Audiovisual Systems Performance Verification standard (more here).

Some of the common issues that they recommend we pay greater attention to are:

Bend Radius. It’s important to verify that cables are not bent beyond the recommended bend radius. To test and verify, visually inspect and measure the bend radius of your cables and determine if it satisfies the minimum value.

Labeling. With the amount of cabling used in systems these days, it’s important to implement proper cable identification and organizations. Cables should be given a unique ID and labeled clearly. The labels should also be easily visible, identifiable, accurate, and able to withstand the rigors of time and wear.

Cable Dressing. Your system’s cabling should be neatly organized in the rack – of the correct length, free of joints and splices, properly grouped and organized with Velcro or cable ties, and well-supported as needed.

Termination Stress. Premature cable failure due to stress on terminations can be avoided by using springs, properly tensioned clamps, or cable supports.

Serviceability. Take measures to make sure that servicing access is convenient and does not lead to damage or errors, which can be caused by very short cable lengths, poor access for technicians or due to poor visibility cable disconnection points.

For more information, visit…www.infocomm.org

(Content and Image credits: www.infocomm.org)

Leave a comment

0.0/5