Is a cable certifier always required on new cable installations?

We at IDEAL Networks Australia have been taking the time to research what installers are doing with certifiers and we have discovered that most installers overestimate cable certifier usage.

Data cable installers are often overestimating their usage requirements for cable certifiers, and this may be generating extra costs for contractors and installation companies.

Despite the challenge that investing in certifiers can potentially pose to cash flow, installers frequently stated that having more certifiers would make their lives easier. However, this is seemingly based on a misconception that cable certifiers are needed for the majority of customers’ installation needs.

A cable certifier is only an essential test tool on jobs where the job has specifically specified that a certifier or a cable manufacturer warranty is required. IDEAL Networks’ analysis of the work typically carried out by data cable installers showed that manufacturer warranties were typically required in 25 per cent of jobs. Therefore, cable installers may not actually need to invest in more certifiers to improve productivity.

It seems that many cable installers are using certifiers to test and document jobs for their own peace of mind, and to be able to prove performance and quality of their work to customers. Although a certifier is a great tool, if a contractor is only testing for certain activities on Layer 1 of a network, a transmission tester will provide the data required.

75 per cent of the time, where a warranty is not needed, or the job specification does not require a certifier, a cable and network transmission tester, such as IDEAL Networks SignalTEK® CT or SignalTEK® NT, can be used to create comprehensive proof of performance reports to industry recognised standards. This type of tester is easy to use, allowing installers to gather data that is sufficient for their own records, and that can be shared as professional reports with clients.

Importantly, these testers are far more affordable, and, in most organisations, it is feasible for all installers to have their own. So rather than investing in more certifiers, businesses can instead meet their customers’ testing requirements with a mixed fleet. By combining a greater amount of transmission testers, alongside a smaller number of certifiers, such as IDEAL Networks LanTEK® III, businesses could reduce capital expenditure on testers by up to 57 per cent.

To help businesses select the right mix of test equipment for their particular needs, IDEAL Networks and our distributors are here to help.

Visit www.idealnetworks.net