Unlike a typical commercial building, healthcare facilities must support several different subsystems to operate efficiently. These subsystems demand careful ICT infrastructure design and planning to create a telecommunications room (TR) that can deliver high-bandwidth and resilient low-latency connectivity throughout the entire facility.
Reliable connectivity begins with cable management and pathway, and with more mission-critical data being carried through fiber optic cable, appropriate cable management is a must. And although the fundamentals of cable management have not changed, the structural support components have improved significantly to support sensitive fiber cable.
This is where understanding what to consider as you evaluate cable pathway solutions will help to ensure you select a solution that optimizes signal quality and speed of the network, while ensuring maximum flexibility and easy moves, adds and changes (MACs).
What to Consider for Healthcare Facilities
1. Route
The cable pathway must accommodate irregular transitions and turns common in healthcare settings. Tool-less, adjustable designs allow maximum flexibility to navigate obstacles and changes. Look for solutions that enable seamless rerouting without special tools.2.Support
The pathway should be able to support cables from the ceiling, wall, racks or floor with adequate space support away from sources of electromagnetic interference (EMI).
2. Weight
Provide ample support for cable loads, with capacity to account for future growth. Position the pathway away from sources of electromagnetic interference (EMI) to preserve signal integrity. Use a 50% fill ratio when calculating weight capacity.
3. Bonding and Safety
Consider designs with integrated bonding studs to make installation easier. Is the bond appropriate for the circuits carried per local electrical code? Make sure the pathway is securely supported and bonded.
4. Accessibility and Organization
Isolate the cable pathway from non-technical staff while maintaining accessibility for moves, adds, and changes. Proper cable division and organization at ingress/egress points enables easy tracing and management.
5. Heat Management for High-Power Circuits
High-amperage PoE circuits over 60W can generate significant heat buildup. Follow NFPA-70 and TIA TSB-184-A guidelines to limit cable fill in these areas.
6. Corrosion Resistance
If the cable pathway will be exposed to weather, chemicals, or other environmental factors, choose a corrosion-resistant finish with IEC 61537 Class C8 protection for long-term durability.
Optimize Your Cable Management for Healthcare Facilities
Chatsworth Products (CPI) offers a wide range of innovative, corrosion-resistant, and adjustable cable management solutions designed to support high-performance fiber optic systems while allowing flexibility for future growth.
today to optimize your network’s performance, protect your critical infrastructure, and ensure your facility is ready to meet future demands.
