Leviton Cat 6A User manual

Cat 6A
Interactive Reference Guide
Cat 6A
Applications
Testing
Product
Overview
Termination
Glossary and
References
Installation

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Cat 6A
uWhere is Cat 6A used? 4
uStandards 6
uNetwork Migration 9
uCopper Cable Terms and Types 10
uRouting and Handling 12
uPathways and Spaces 16
uTelecommunications Rooms 22
uWork Area 27
Installation
uData Centers 33
uWireless Access Points 37
uPower over Ethernet 41
uIT/AV and HDBaseT 47
Applications
uCat 6A Testing 51
Testing
Product Overview
uConnectors 55
uPatch Panels 56
uPatch Cords 57
uPre-Terminated Copper Trunks 58
uTermination Tips 70
u110-Style Patch Panel
Termination Instructions 71
uAtlas-X1 UTP Connector
Termination Instructions 73
uAtlas-X1 Shielded Connector
Termination Instructions 75
Termination
uGlossary 80
uReferences 87
Glossary and References
uSignal Extension 59
uWallplates and Housings 60
uCable Management 65
ueXtreme Connector
Termination Instructions 77
uAXT Testing 52
uAXT Testing Preparation 53
Cat 6A
Applications
Testing
Product
Overview
Termination
Glossary and
References
Installation

Understanding Cat 6A
Cat 6A projects require proper design, planning, products, and installation practices.
Use this guide to gain a better understanding of these requirements to help you eciently
plan, bid, and install a Cat 6A structured cabling system for networks up to 10 gigabit
Ethernet. This guide will also cover the general areas and applications where Cat 6A may
be deployed, and give you an overview of Leviton’s Cat 6A system connectivity.
Cat 6A
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uWhere is Cat 6A used?
uStandards
uNetwork Migration
uCopper Cable Terms and Types
Applications
Testing
Product
Overview
Termination
Glossary and
References
Cat 6A
Installation

Where is Cat 6A used?
Category 6A cabling systems have come a long way since the original “augmented Category 6” standard was
first introduced in 2008. Today, Cat 6A is a popular specification for data center and other enterprise applications.
The move to Cat 6A has been driven by several factors, including support for 10G networks, long-term planning
for workstation areas, Power over Ethernet (PoE) applications, and new wireless access points.
Data Centers
Many data center managers looking to control costs are choosing
Cat 6A twisted pair copper for 10 Gb/s applications, since it is the
most cost-eective option for access layer networking. In fact, the
cost of 10GBASE-T channels is at least 30% lower than alternative
SFP+ channels.
Wireless Applications
More businesses are updating their wireless networks with 802.11ac access points,
capable of delivering up to 6.9 Gb/s. Future standard 802.11ax will support speeds
up to 10 Gb/s. Businesses won’t see the true benefits of these higher speeds without
the right cabling infrastructure; that’s why TIA standards recommend Cat 6A for
horizontal cabling to these wireless access points.
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Cat 6A >
Where is Cat 6A is used?
Applications
Testing
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Overview
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Glossary and
References
Cat 6A
Installation

Power over Ethernet (PoE)
PoE is seeing explosive growth rates, boosted by new applications and standards that expand support to
more devices. Higher current PoE brings important cabling and connectivity considerations while ensuring
utmost performance in the network, and for this reason Cat 6A is recommended for all new installations.
10GBASE-T Networks
Data centers, businesses, government agencies, hospitals, and schools are all looking to 10 Gb/s
networks to meet today’s data demand. Since its introduction in 2008, 10GBASE-T has become
widely adopted around the world. The standard defines 10 Gb/s over twisted-pair up to 100 meters,
with Cat 6A as the required cabling.
HDBaseT Networks
HDBaseT™ is a key technology that enables audio visual signal extension over category cabling to high
definition displays and projectors. It extends HDMI®video and audio, 100BaseT Ethernet, control, and power
up to 100 meters on a single category-rated twisted-pair cable. The HDBaseT Alliance specifies Cat 5e,
Cat 6 UTP, and Cat 6A UTP cabling as supported media types. But these category ratings will deliver varying
performance results, with Cat 6A more capable of supporting higher bandwidth signals such as 4K.
Where is Cat 6A used?
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Cat 6A >
Where is Cat 6A is used?
Applications
Testing
Product
Overview
Termination
Glossary and
References
Cat 6A
Installation

Standards
Cat 6A requirements are addressed in standards from multiple organizations. Regardless
of the standard, all Cat 6A cabling will provide 10 Gb/s data rates, operate at a maximum
frequency of 500 MHz, and have a maximum distance of 100 meters.
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uTIA (Telecommunications Industry Association)
Cat 6A >
Standards
uISO/IEC (International Standards Organization)
uIEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)
Applications
Testing
Product
Overview
Termination
Glossary and
References
Cat 6A
Installation

TIA (Telecommunications Industry Association)
Telecommunications: ANSI/TIA-568.2-D (replaces 568-C.2)
Defines: Performance requirements for Cat 6A channels, permanent links, and components
Data Center:
ANSI/TIA-942-B Telecommunications Infrastructure Standards for Data
Centers specifies the minimum requirements for telecommunications
infrastructure of data centers and computer rooms, including single-tenant
enterprise data centers and multi-tenant Internet hosting data centers.
Note: Cat 6A is recommended for horizontal cable in data centers using 100 ohm balanced
twisted pair.
Health Care Facilities:
ANSI/TIA-1179-A Healthcare Facility Telecommunications Infrastructure
Standard. Category 6A is recommended for new installations (for both
backbone and horizontal copper cabling).
Power over Ethernet:
TIA TSB-184-A Guidelines for Supporting Power Delivery Over Balanced
Twisted-Pair Cabling raises requirements to Category 6A cabling to
better support IEEE 802.3bt four-pair PoE
Wireless Access Points:
TSB-162-A Telecommunications Cabling Guidelines for Wireless
Access Points recommends Cat 6A for horizontal cabling to WAPs
in new installations
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Standards >
TIA (Telecommunications Industry Association)
Cat 6A >
Applications
Testing
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Overview
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Glossary and
References
Cat 6A
Installation

ISO/IEC (International Standards Organization)
Standard: ISO/IEC 11801-1 Information (Technology — Generic Cabling for Customer Premises; Class EASpecification)
Defines: Class EAcabling and component performance requirements for customer premises. ISO equivalent of Cat 6A
Power over Ethernet:
The ISO/IEC 11801-6 Distributed Building Services standard raises cabling requirements
to Category 6A to better support IEEE 802.3bt four-pair PoE
IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)
Standard: IEEE 802.3 an
Defines: Channel performance for 10GBASE-T Ethernet over balanced twisted-pair cabling systems
Standard: IEEE 1911.3
Defines: Protocol for communicating 5Play™ over a single long-distance Local Area Network (LAN) cable.
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Standards >
ISO/IEC (International Standards Organization) and IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)
Cat 6A >
Applications
Testing
Product
Overview
Termination
Glossary and
References
Cat 6A
Installation

1G to 2.5G 2.5G to 5G 5G to 10G 10G to 25G or 40G
Category
Max. Bandwidth
Max. Application Data Rate
Max. Reach
# of Connectors in Channel
Cable Construction
Date Created
5e / 6
100 / 250MHz
1000BASE-T
100m
4
Unshielded
or Shielded
1G 2.5G 5G 10G 25G 40G
1999
5e / 6
100 /250MHz
2.5GBASE-T
100m
4
Unshielded
or Shielded
2016
5e / 6
100 /250MHz
5GBASE-T
100m
4
Unshielded
or Shielded
2016
6A
500MHz
10GBASE-T
100m
4
Unshielded
or Shielded
2006
8
1250MHz
25GBASE-T
30m
2
Shielded
2016
8
2000MHz
40GBASE-T
30m
2
Shielded
2016
Network Migration
Cat 6A is backwards compatible with Cat 6 and 5e, allowing it to support gigabit Ethernet and provide
a seamless migration path to 10 gigabit bandwidth in the future (10GBASE-T). Using Cat 6A in new
installations prevents the need to recable when upgrading to 10 Gb/s, avoiding possible network
disruption and additional project costs in the future. End users and building owners who are planning
for network upgrades or new construction in the near future should consider Cat 6A as a way to extend
the expected life of their cabling systems.
Twisted-Pair Migration Roadmap
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Network Migration
Cat 6A >
Applications
Testing
Product
Overview
Termination
Glossary and
References
Cat 6A
Installation

Copper Cable Terms and Types
U / UTP U / UTP F / UTP U / FTP F / FTP SF / UTP S / FTP
Physical Description
Cable Unshielded Unshielded
with isolation wrap
Foil shielded
with drain wire Unshielded Foil shielded with drain wire
Foil and
braid shielded Braid shielded
Pairs Unshielded Unshielded Unshielded Foil shielded Foil shielded Unshielded Foil shielded
Cross
Section
Typical
Size
0.30 - 0.32 in
(8 mm)
0.265 - 0.30 in
(7 - 8 mm)
0.29 - 0.30 in
(7 - 8 mm)
0.267 - 0.283 in
(7.4 - 8.3 mm)
0.279 - 0.295 in
(7 - 8 mm)
0.29 - 0.325 in
(7.4 - 8.3 mm)
0.232 - 0.315 in
( 7 mm)
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Copper Cable Terms and Types
Cat 6A >
Applications
Testing
Product
Overview
Termination
Glossary and
References
Cat 6A
Installation

Installation
Installation
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uRouting and Handling
uPathways and Spaces
uTelecommunications Rooms
uWork Area
Testing
Product
Overview
Termination
Cat 6A
Glossary and
References
Installation
Applications

Routing and Handling
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uCable Reels
uCable Pulling
uBundling
uBend Radius
uPlacement
uSlack Loops
uPulling Lubricants
Installation >
Routing and Handling
Testing
Product
Overview
Termination
Cat 6A
Glossary and
References
Installation
Applications

Cable Pulling
The maximum pulling tension for a four-pair balanced twisted-pair
cable must not exceed 25 lbf (110N). Exceeding this tension
will result in transmission degradation and may aect the system’s
ability to pass certification testing.
Routing and Handling
Cat 6A cables are larger and heavier than Cat 6 and earlier cables, and they
require modifications to older cable routing and handling techniques.
The following tips will help ensure a smooth installation.
Cable Reels
Typically, Cat 6A cable will come on
reels instead of in pull boxes and will
require racks/carts that can support
their larger size.
Bundling
Use VELCRO®Brand fasteners to secure all cable bundles. VELCRO®
Brand fasteners won’t crush or damage cables like tie wraps can,
and are reusable for moves, adds, and changes.
DON'TDO
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Installation >
Routing and Handling >
Cable Reels, Cable Pulling, and Bundling
Testing
Product
Overview
Termination
Cat 6A
Glossary and
References
Installation
Applications

Bend Radius
To maintain Cat 6A performance, minimum bend radius should be 4x OD
for UTP and shielded cable. This radius is significantly larger than Cat 6
and 5e. For example, Cat 6 cables at 4x OD is 0.904", whereas Cat 6A
is 1.21". Plan carefully to ensure there is sufficient space throughout
cable runs to maintain proper bend radius.
Placement
Leviton approved-partner Cat 6A cable may be placed in the same tray
with Cat 6, 5e, and other category-rated cables. In addition, Leviton
warrants its product performance regardless of whether strict combing
or randomizing dressing methods are used. As with all cable runs, large
or heavy cable bundles should be positioned under other cable to prevent
crushing. Cable trays should be loaded no more than six inches deep.
Follow NEC code for separating power and data cables.
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6
5e
Routing and Handling
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Placement and Bend Radius
Testing
Product
Overview
Termination
Cat 6A
Glossary and
References
Installation
Applications

Slack Loops
TIA recommends storing 10 feet (3.05 m) of extra cable in the telecom room
and 12-18 inches (304-457 mm) above work area installations for re-terminations
and to accommodate moves, adds, and changes. Use an extended or figure-8 loop
configuration to alleviate cable stress. Cable slack in bundled or excessive loops has
been shown to degrade cable performance and is associated with return loss failures.
Plan carefully to ensure there is sucient space and support for heavy Cat 6A cable
slack loops.
Pulling Lubricants
To maintain Cat 6A performance, choose spray or wipe lubricants specifically
designed for data communications cables. Using other lubricants can degrade
performance; the majority of insertion loss failures have been traced back to
the use of general purpose lubricants.
Routing and Handling
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Slack Loops and Pulling Lubricants
Testing
Product
Overview
Termination
Cat 6A
Glossary and
References
Installation
Applications

Pathways and Spaces
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uCable Tray Fill
uConduit Fill
uCable Tray Sizing Example
uStructural and Cable Supports
uFirestopping
uConsolidation Points and Zone Enclosures
uEnsure Shielded Category 6A Integrity
Installation >
Pathways and Spaces
Testing
Product
Overview
Termination
Cat 6A
Glossary and
References
Installation
Applications

CABLE CAPACITY FOR TRAYS AND CONDUIT
CAT 5E CAT 6 CAT 6A
UTP UTP UTP UTP UTP with
Isolation Wrap
Shielded
Average OD 0.185 in
(5 mm)
0.23 in
(6 mm)
0.33 in
(8 mm)
0.3 in
(8 mm)
0.275 in
(7 mm)
0.29 in
(7 mm)
Cable Tray 25% 50% 25% 50% 25% 50% 25% 50% 25% 50% 25% 50%
2" x 6"
(51 x 152 mm) 111 222 72 144 35 70 42 84 50 101 45 90
4" x 8"
(102 x 203 mm) 298 596 192 384 93 186 113 226 134 269 121 242
6" x 20"
(152 x 508 mm) 1116 2232 722 1444 350 700 424 848 505 1010 454 908
Conduit 40% 40% 40% 40% 40% 40%
¾" (19 mm) 6 5 1*1*3 2*
1" (25 mm) 11 83454
1 ¼" (32 mm) 19 14 5687
1 ½" (38 mm) 25 19 810 11 10
*Conduit Fill Ratio NEC Chapter 9: 1 Cable = 53% maximum fill ratio, 2 cables = 31%, 3 or more = 40%
Cable Tray Fill
TIA-569-D recommends 25% fill at initial installation and
up to 50% with unplanned additions. If a single cable tray
will also carry power cables, a physical barrier is required to
comply with the NEC and IEC. Finally, ensure tray support
spacing is sucient to prevent excessive sagging. Consider
solid bottom tray for higher density applications.
Note: A tray at 25% fill looks half-full. A tray at 50% fill looks completely full.
Cable trays should be loaded no more than six inches deep.
Conduit Fill
A maximum conduit fill ratio of 40% is recommended by
TIA-569 standards to accommodate cable bundle bend
radius requirements and allow for future expansion.
Pathways and Spaces
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Pathways and Spaces >
Cable Tray Fill and Conduit Fill
Testing
Product
Overview
Termination
Cat 6A
Glossary and
References
Installation
Applications

Cable Tray Sizing Example
To determine the proper tray size based on 25% fill, use the following calculation
for cable with outer diameter of 0.30 inches (8 mm):
1. Determine cable diameter and total number of cables
0.30" diameter each
100 cables total
(8 mm diameter)
2. Square the cable diameter 0.30 x 0.30 = .09
(8 x 8 = 64)
3. Multiply result by number of cables 0.09 x 100 = 9
(64 x 100 = 6400)
4. Multiply result by 0.785 to factor for cable roundness
This result is the total cross-sectional area of your cables
9 x 0.785 = 7.065 sq in
(6400 x 0.785 = 5024 sq mm)
5. Multiply result by 4 to obtain pathway size at 25% fill 7.065 x 4 = 28.26 sq in
(5024 x 4 = 20096 sq mm)
At 25% fill, a 28 sq in (20096 sq mm) area is needed,
so a standard 4" x 8" (102 x 203 mm) tray would be adequate.
Note: For conduit, size for 40% fill by substituting 2.5 as the multiplier in Step 5
Cable OD2xNo. of cables =y
yx0.785 =z
zx4 =Pathway size at 25% fill
Pathways and Spaces
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Pathways and Spaces >
Cable Tray Sizing Example
Testing
Product
Overview
Termination
Cat 6A
Glossary and
References
Installation
Applications

Structural and Cable Supports
• Stronger anchors and threaded rods are needed to support heavier Cat 6A cable
• Use properly sized J hooks and other supports to accommodate bundle size
• Limit bundles to 50 cables to prevent damage to cables on the bottom
• Do not exceed cable support manufacturer’s recommended capacity
• Space cable supports randomly between 3 and 4 feet (0.9 -1.2 meters) apart to prevent system degradation due to sagging
• Do not use ceiling support wires or other ceiling components to support communications infrastructure
Suspended
Ceiling Space
x
x
x
Firestopping
Cat 6A cables may require larger firewall penetrations. Always follow
applicable national code (e.g. NEC or CEC) or superseding authority-
having jurisdiction (AHJ) codes for firestopping requirements.
Pathways and Spaces
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Installation >
Pathways and Spaces >
Firestopping, Structural and Cable Supports
Testing
Product
Overview
Termination
Cat 6A
Glossary and
References
Installation
Applications

Consolidation Points and Zone Enclosures
TIA standards allow an optional consolidation point (CP) within a
permanent link. A Cat 6A 110 block is Leviton’s standard CP solution.
It has a density that is ⅓ less than Cat 6 110 blocks (64-pair Cat 6A
capacity versus 96-pair for Cat 6 in the same footprint).
Another CP option is to use a patch panel and plug-jack cable
assembly. With this option, only an interconnect (one connection)
may be used in a patch panel CP application. A cross-connect
(two connections with a patch cord) may not be used.
Pathways and Spaces
Permanent Link: 90 m (295.28 ft) max
Horizontal Cable + Connectors + Optional Consolidation Point
Channel: 100 m (328.1 ft) max

Permanent Link +

Patch Cords
Work
Area
Work
Area
Work
Area
Telecom
Room
Telecom
Room
Patch Panel
Plug to Jack Cable Assembly
Minimum of 15 m
110 Block
Telecom
Room
Minimum of 15 m
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Installation >
Pathways and Spaces >
Consolidation Points and Zone Enclosures
Testing
Product
Overview
Termination
Cat 6A
Glossary and
References
Installation
Applications