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The Problem Of Unused Cabling

Posted by Hemos on from the wonderfully-old-copper dept.

Makarand writes "Technological advances constantly render functional cable obsolete by demanding data transfers at higher rates which older cabling cannot support. New cables that support higher data rates are laid right over older wires. The old wires are simply left in place and abandoned. This interesting article talks about the problems caused by abandoned cabling. According to an estimate several billion feet of abandoned cable lies unused in the plenum spaces of buildings that allow air to circulate creating a fire hazard. Also, very few firms currently worry about removing cabling when they move out of a building."

4 of 271 comments (clear)

  1. Fish by Stile+65 · · Score: 5, Informative

    I've used old cabling to fish through the new cabling. I'm lazy like that.

    --
    I claim first use of "Error No. 0B" - or "No. 0B error." It'll be the new ID 10T!
  2. Re:Cutting cabling by sjlutz · · Score: 5, Informative

    The standard practice is to recover assets when leaving a building. Just like a company takes it's servers, desktop computers, chairs, and desks, it also takes the relatively expensive network hook up equipment. This generally means the patch panels and the network racks. One rack, 6 or 7ft high, entirely populated with patch panels could easily have cost $4,000.

    Now, in some cases, people are jerks and do not take the time to cut the wires as close to the patch panels as possible. I have seen some cut where the wires enter the room (ussually through the ceiling). This makes re-using the wires impossible since there isn't enough left to do the hookups.

  3. Fire Codes by shepd · · Score: 5, Informative

    Any place with a decent set of fire codes, and people who are actually following them, shouldn't be worrying. FT-5/Plenum cable is simply not a danger.

    Now, if residential "wood burns faster so who cares" FT-1 vinyl cable is used, you get what you pay for. That being said, if the fire inspector ever sees that stuff, you'll probably be looking at a really juicy fine.

    --
    If you could be told what you can see or read, then it follows that you could be told what to say or think - BoC
  4. Re:Cost to remove? by mlush · · Score: 5, Informative
    Wonder how much it would cost to remove and recover the metals in unused cables, and would it be offset by the sale of the metal?

    Labour costs aside. I'd guess that (data) cabling is a pretty unattractive source of metals. Tons plastic would have to be burned to get to a useful amount of metal. Burning plastic produces all sorts of nasty compounds, which would have to be scrubbed from the emissions significantly boosting the costs.