|  | 8.2 | Planning Structured Cabling: Wiring Closet Specifications
| 8.2.4 | Walls, floors, and ceilings
If there is only one wiring closet in a building, or if the wiring closet serves as the MDF, then the floor on which it is located must be able to bear the load specified by the installation instructions included with the required equipment, with a minimum capability of 4.8 kPA (100 lb/ft²). Where the wiring closet serves as an IDF, the floor must be able to bear a minimum load of 2.4 kPA (50 lb/ft²). Whenever possible, the room should have a raised floor, in order to accommodate incoming horizontal cables that run from the work areas. If this is not possible, then it should have a 30.5 cm ladder rack installed in a configuration designed to support all proposed equipment and cable. Floor coverings should be tile, or some other type of finished surface. This helps control dust, and shields equipment from static electricity. A minimum of two walls should be covered with 20mm A-C plywood that is at least 2.4m high. If the wiring closet serves as the MDF for the building, then the telephone point of presence (POP), may be located inside the room. In such a case, the interior walls of the POP site, behind the PBX, should be covered from floor to ceiling with 20mm plywood, with minimum of 4.6 m of wall space provided for the terminations and related equipment. In addition, fire prevention materials that meet all applicable codes (e.g. fire-rated plywood, fire-retardant paint on all interior walls, etc.) should be used in the construction of the wiring closet. Rooms must not have a dropped, or false, ceiling. Failure to observe this specification could result in an insecure facility, allowing possible unauthorized access.
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