In the patch-cord management study, there were 1066 brackets or channels (figure 1) implemented in the vertical management system. This equals 8.5 vertical managers per rack, cabinet, etc., of the 124 total inspected at the 20 sites. This was considered adequate vertical management by inspection team.

Vertical management systems were clearly more prone to problems than horizontal ones. The study showed many vertical management systems were incapable of accommodating the amount of cable slack accumulated in the patching system.

Even with larger, more robust vertical managers, the problem of slack accumulation persists due to longer cords than required after routing through the management system. (Achilles heel - Figure 2, 3 & 4).