What’s a Wiring Closet?

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A wiring closet is a small room in a building that contains data panels and cabling for computers and other systems. It often has racks or panels for mounting equipment and color-coded cables. The room can also house a wireless router and is typically locked for security.

A wiring closet is a room, often a fairly small room, located in a building for a business or other service that contains much of the data panels and cabling for that location. This is, essentially, the hub of the business or building to which various computers and other systems are connected. Some large multi-story buildings may require a separate room on each floor for wiring, although this depends on the distances between the equipment and the room. A wiring closet can house many different types of connections and cables, including various data cables, video monitoring cables, and cables for security and alarm systems.

While a wiring closet layout is typically chosen and created by an information technology (IT) or networking professional, they often have some characteristics in common. These rooms usually contain a series of racks or panels on which equipment can be mounted, to which various cables are then connected. Cables often run from the wiring closet throughout the rest of the building or floor and connect to computers, video monitors, and other equipment. This can be done through the walls and floors of the building, although some cables may be visible.

A wiring closet often seems overwhelming to many people, especially those without extensive networking or IT training, due to the large number of cables that can be present in such a room. To help alleviate some of this initial confusion, these wires are often color-coded and organized to make the layout easier to understand. This makes it easier for a person who didn’t initially install the electrical cabinet to come in and make repairs or changes as needed. A wireless router or hub can also be located in this room, allowing all network functions to be performed in one location.

While the term “electrical closet” can mean a very small room, these rooms are often designed with enough space for a single table and chair. This allows an IT or networking professional to easily set up a computer and other equipment to perform diagnostics and repairs on the equipment in the room. The data cables running from the panels in this type of room often connect to dozens of computers and can run to various rooms on a single floor of a building. Security and alarm cables also typically plug into a wiring closet, and the room is usually locked, with access granted only to authorized security or network personnel.




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