Wire & Cable Management
Options & Smart Planning!
Infloor Wire & Cable Management Solutions
Cellular and cellular deck systems combine separate wire and cable channels in a single, unified infloor raceway that is encased in the concrete pour. If a building is of steel frame construction, a cellular deck system serves as part of the steel reinforcement for the slab, as well as a wire and cable management system. Both systems offer moderate to high capacity and options to meet all service density requirements. In order to maximize the benefits of these systems, close coordination is required between the owner, architect, electrical engineer, and structural engineer. Not only is this good design practice, but in the case of infloor distribution systems the specification channels themselves can differ. Deck systems are considered structural components and are specified through Division 5, while other infloor systems are specified through Division 16 (electrical). Infloor distribution products specified in multiple divisions should be coordinated with one another to ensure compatibility.
Underfloor duct systems offer support and security for power and data/communications wiring in reinforced concrete and steel construction. These duct systems have been employed with great success for decades and, although cabling has increased in volume and complexity, properly designed systems can accommodate even the most complex power, voice, data, and other wiring and cabling.
Available in a variety of sizes and configurations, underfloor duct systems provide separate channels for power and data/communications systems. Junction boxes facilitate cable pulling and allow cabling to be added or upgraded. Users access single points of service for workstations through low profile or flush service activations, which may be located anywhere along the duct run.
Trenchduct is a variant of infloor duct. The duct is set into concrete, but the removable cover is flush with the floor, providing ease of access and lay-in installation capability. Trenchduct is used in high-capacity applications and as a feeder system for other infloor wire and cable management systems.
Floor boxes are ideal for low-density, low-churn applications, and for providing cost-effective wire and cable management in open space areas. Single and multiple gang boxes are available. If the application is on-grade, a cast iron floor box or an approved on-grade stamped steel floor box may be needed. If the application is above-grade, a stamped steel or nonmetallic floor box may be appropriate. Floor boxes are available in both shallow and deep versions with a wide array of round and rectangular covers.
Poke-thru devices offer a high degree of design flexibility for open office space, since their placement is not constrained by partitions or by the grid pattern. Poke-thru devices are installed in core-drilled holes that enable wires and cabling to penetrate from plenum space below through the concrete slab. The only limitations are the presence of major structural components such as beams, and the rare instances where there is no available plenum space (since poke-thru devices require plenum access, they cannot be used in slab-on-grade applications). The UL fire resistance directory details the standard for poke-thru specifications as a "minimum of 2' on-center and not more than 1 insert per 65 sq. ft. of floor area in each span."
In general, poke-thru systems are most advantageous in structures where low churn rates are anticipated or where churn does not result in physical alterations. Among commonly installed wire and cable management systems, poke-thru devices typically have low initial installation cost. However, the cost to add or relocate a device is relatively high because of the need to drill a new hole, purchase a new device, and open the plenum space for installation.
Raised floor systems are sometimes the most cost-effective solution, especially when the highest levels of capacity and flexibility are required. With workstations requiring more voice and data services than ever, raised floors are no longer confined to computer rooms. Low-profile floors have significantly reduced the vertical space requirement for these systems. In addition to providing the physical space for wires and cables, raised floors provide the added advantage of convenient access to power and data/communications outlets that are housed in raised floor boxes.
In order to maximize the flexibility and cost benefits of raised floors, many designers are now also specifying manufactured wiring systems. A manufactured wiring system consists of factory-assembled connectors and modular cable assemblies that connect raised floor boxes to electrical and data/communications systems. If a box must be relocated it is a simple matter to unplug the cable set, move the box to a new floor cut-out, and plug the cable set back in. An estimated 45 to 55 percent of raised floor systems now employ a manufactured wiring system instead of conduit.
