Broadband Applications & Construction Manual - Public - CommScope

Multiple Story MDUs/Inside the Building
Multiple Dwelling Units (MDUs) 10.6
Inside the Residence
Unless you are able to share a conduit or routing with telecommunications wiring (you cannot run in the same
conduit as electrical wiring unless the conduit is of the divided type), you may have to use a central hallway as
your route. The challenge is to make the installation as unobtrusive as possible.
Hallway Installation with Raceway
The wall/ceiling joint offers a good route for interior installation. If there is a crown molding, carefully remove it
(see page 9.8 for helpful hints). Starting from the riser, lay out the amount of cable needed to reach the apartment
entry point. Calculate the amount of cable you’ll need inside the apartment and double it; this will help prevent
coming up short inside and the possible reinstallation of the whole cable length. Cut the cable.
At the riser, drill a hole for the cable to enter the hallway. Bring the cable and run it through the hole into the
hallway and then back to the apartment. Use methods described on page 9.4 to position the entry point correctly.
Use a stud finder to make sure you are drilling into a wall cavity. If possible, fish the cable down to the outlet location.
Review Section 9 for details.
Once all the cables have been run, replace the crown molding or use wiremold to cover the cables.
Drop Ceilings/Plenums
Cable can easily be laid on top of a suspended ceiling. However, the ceiling might be used as a plenum space
(used for handling air for HVAC). If that is the case, you MUST either place the cable in metal conduit OR use a
plenum-rated cable. See section 11/Commercial installation for details.