🏷️ Low-voltage labelling


Low-voltage cable runs should be clearly labelled at both ends so that they can be easily traced. Give both ends the same label – our labelling scheme is designed to be unambiguous no matter which end you read it from.

  1. General labelling rules
    1. Structured network cables
    2. Other cables
  2. Buildings
    1. Church
    2. Community Centre

General labelling rules

Labels identify a cable run, not a specific end of a cable.

Numbering is usually done by combining a destination prefix, a /, and two-digit zero-padded port number. Where the cable runs from an unexpected location, or is not a twisted pair, additional prefixes (separated with a -) are used to add clarity.

Where multiple prefixes are required, labels are constructed in the order:

  1. Cable type
  2. Source location
  3. Destination location
  4. Port number

Historically, some runs may have been labelled without a / between destination and port. These labels will be corrected when runs are next re-labelled.

Structured network cables

These cables do not need any additional prefix.

Other cables

Other cable types should be prefixed with their type, for example:

  • DMX
  • HDMI
  • SDI
  • XLR

Buildings

Church

Area Prefix Notes
Main church N/A Refer to pillar-based numbering guide below
Tower T Tower floors are numbered:
0: Ground floor
1: Organ
2: Ringing room
3: Clock room
4: Belfry
5: Roof
Front vestry FV  
Back vestry BV  
Altar/sanctuary ALT  

It is assumed cable runs terminate at the tech desk. Where this is not the case, they should additionally be prefixed with their source location:

Source Prefix
Tech desk N/A
Audio cabinet (back vestry) AC

Pillar-based numbering

To simplify locating cables in the main body of the church, we assign them a number based on their nearest pillar and their position north/south.

  • Pillars are numbered beginning from 0, where 0 is at the westernmost wall of the church (by the organ), 1 is the pair of pillars immediately to the east of (in front of) the choir stalls, and so on.
  • The south wall is SW, then pillars are SP (south pillars), NP (north pillars), and finally the north wall is NW.
Examples
  • A network cable running from the tech desk to the organ loft would be T1/01.
  • An SDI cable running from the tech desk to pillar SP2 would be SDI-SP2/01.
  • An XLR cable running from the audio cabinet to the altar would be XLR-AC-ALT/01.

Church audio multicore

Since the church audio multicore is a single coherent bundle of cables, and only carries XLR, it has its own numbering. Multicore channels are given the prefix MC. They do not need an XLR prefix.

Community Centre

Area Prefix Notes
Main Hall MH Sockets are numbered clockwise (looking down) from the stage right stairs.
Smeaton Room SR  
Kitchen KT  
Parish Office PO  
Bar (Front) BF  
Bar (Back) BB  
Stage left STL  
Stage right STR  
Grounds store GS  
Under-stage store US  

It is assumed cable runs terminate at the comms cabinet in the office. Where this is not the case, they should additionally be prefixed with their source location:

Source Prefix
Comms cabinet N/A
‘Tech desk’ ethernet ports (adjacent kitchen hatch) TD
Bar stock cupboard BS

Examples

  • A network cable running from the comms cabinet to a socket located in the stage right stairwell of the Main Hall would be MH/01.
  • A network cable running from the sockets in the Main Hall by the kitchen hatch to a socket located stage left would be TD-STL/01.
  • A network cable running from the bar stock cupboard to an access point in the bar back would be BS-BB/01.
  • A DMX cable running from stage right to an overhead socket stage left would be DMX-STR-STL/01.

Page owner:
Technology Team
Last reviewed:
25 June 2026

© 2026 St Mary's Church, Whitkirk