How to Label Network Cables

An unlabeled network is easy to install and slow to service. The next technician has to tone out every run to find which jack lands on which port, and every move or fault turns into a hunt. Knowing how to label network cables properly takes little time during the job: one numbering scheme, a label at both ends of every cable, matching labels on the outlet and the patch panel, and a record that ties them together.

Why both ends of every cable need a label

A label at one end only tells you where a cable starts. The value of labeling comes from being able to stand at either end, read one identifier and know where the other end is without a toner. That is why owner specifications ask for labels at each end of every horizontal cable.

The University of Houston’s communications identification specification, for example, requires each horizontal cable to be labeled at each end, behind the faceplate and on the patch panel, with a cable number that matches the number on the faceplate and the panel. Patch cords are labeled at each end too, with their source and destination.

Choose a cable labeling standard and scheme

The cable labeling standard that owner specifications commonly cite is ANSI/TIA-606. The University of Houston specification, for instance, requires that the labeling scheme meet or exceed ANSI/TIA-606-C. On a commercial project, the owner’s or designer’s specification decides the format; follow it exactly.

On a smaller job with no specification, keep the same idea: an identifier that runs from the general to the specific, so it still makes sense when the network grows. The table compares three common approaches.

Whichever you choose, write it down before the first label is printed, and do not change it halfway through the job.

Patch panel labeling, port numbering and wall plates

Patch panel ports

Patch panel labeling starts with the panels themselves. Give each panel a letter or number by its position in the rack, top to bottom, and label it on the panel face. Then number the ports so that every run has one identifier across the whole rack.

• Continuous numbering. The UH specification numbers additional panels in continuous sequence once the first is full: 1 to 48 on the first panel, 49 to 96 on the next.
• Panel prefix. Alternatively, restart at 1 on each panel and prefix the panel letter, as in A01 to A24, then B01.
• Spare ports. Leave spare ports in the sequence rather than skipping numbers, so the order stays unbroken when they are used.

Route and dress the patch cords afterwards so the labels stay visible; our guide to network rack cable management covers the managers and straps.

Wall plates and outlets

The faceplate is where users and technicians look first, so its label must match the cable behind it and the port at the rack. The UH specification puts the room number at the upper left of the plate and the cable number directly below or next to each jack.

If clients find panel based numbers confusing at the outlet, add the room identifier to the plate as well, rather than renumbering the cable. On a multi gang plate, label each jack, not just the plate. If the cable is terminated to T568A or T568B, record which; see T568A vs T568B for why mixing schemes on one link causes faults, and how to punch down a keystone jack for the termination.

Label materials and placement on the cable

A label has to stay readable as long as the cable is in service. The UH specification sets a useful baseline: labels that meet UL 969 for legibility, defacement, exposure and adhesion, machine printed rather than handwritten, and a clear vinyl wrap over labels applied directly to a cable.

• Self laminating wrap labels print on a white area and wrap a clear tail over the text.
• Heat shrink sleeves slide on before termination and hold up well where cables are handled.
• Flag labels stand off the cable so they can be read in a dense bundle.
• Panel and faceplate inserts sit under a clear cover where the hardware provides one.

Place cable labels close enough to the termination to find easily, but clear of the connector and any boot, and at the same spot on every cable so a bundle reads in a line. Print labels before rough-in where you can, so each run is tagged as it is pulled.

Records, floor plans and test results

A label is only an index; the record is what it points to. The UH specification asks for telecommunications records in a spreadsheet or database, not a PDF, plus scaled drawings showing each outlet’s location and designation and enlarged drawings of the patch panels.

For a typical job, one spreadsheet row per cable is enough: identifier, room, outlet location, rack, panel and port, cable type, termination scheme, test result and date. Mark the identifiers on a floor plan and leave a printed copy in the rack. Name certification or test files with the same identifier, so a failed link can be traced from the report to the wall. The same discipline applies to speaker and control runs; see whole house audio wiring.

Where to find labeling and cable management supplies

The wire and cable management category lists supplies that keep runs supported, bundled and identified, and the wire, cables and connectors division lists the bulk cable, connectors and patch cables that go with them. Choosing the cable itself is covered in Cat6 vs Cat6a.

For pricing and availability, ask your sales representative through the Bursma contact page, or open a Bursma dealer account.

Frequently asked questions