• Physical security and protection of the Wi-Fi AP:
As the Wi-Fi infrastructure becomes mission critical
for business data, voice, and operations, physical
security becomes more important. Other concerns
include the protection from the environment in which
the AP is installed (Figures 8 and 9). This includes
weather, impact, and vandalism.
• Sustaining building codes and compliance: National
Electrical Code (NEC) and seismic code compliance
are important considerations when installing wireless
infrastructure in buildings.
• Compliance in healthcare facilities: Healthcare
facilities have their own special requirements for
HIPAA and infection control risk assessment (ICRA)
procedures (Figure 10).
May/June 2019 I 59
Physical Deployment Challenges
of Wi-Fi Access Points
As the requirements for dense wireless AP deployments
continue to rise, there are numerous installation
methods needed. Wireless AP deployments can be
in green spaces, hard lid ceilings and walls, open
ceilings, high ceilings, ceiling tile, plenum spaces,
and outdoors. Designers, architects, and building owners
will likely face challenges with the physical installation
of the wireless APs. Important considerations in
planning for the installation of the APs are essential
for providing a future-ready robust network and include:
• Aesthetics: Many facility owners and architects
prefer to conceal or blend the Wi-Fi APs and cabling
components into the environment, especially in
an architecturally sensitive area. As AP technology
advances, it is apparent that the form factor of the
AP is changing. For example, according to IEEE
802.11ax, APs may have up to 8 transmit/receive
channels that double the number of antennas of
prior generation APs, thereby resulting in larger APs.
The challenge is to provide the desired aesthetically
pleasing appearance without compromising
performance as shown in Figures 6 and 7.
FIGURE 6: Example
of an AP deployment
within an intelligent
building ceiling designed
for aesthetics. The goal
accomplished is to hide the
AP. This installation used
a black mounting bracket
and a black vanity cover
to conceal the AP.
FIGURE 7: Example of
an AP deployment within
a 2 x 2 ceiling structure.
The goal accomplished is
to install the AP in a lowprofile
ceiling mount, while
still using the original tile.
FIGURE 8: Example of a
wireless bollard protecting
wireless components in
a green space location.
FIGURE 9: Example of
a low-profile, impactresistant,
NEMA-4-rated
wireless enclosure in a
public outdoor intelligent
building venue.
FIGURE 10: ICRA
requires that when lifting
or removing ceiling tiles
the negative air pressure
within the work site must
utilize high-efficiency
particulate air (HEPA)
equipped air filtration
units. This is particularly
critical in patient areas
to control the spread of
airborne infectious disease.