Compare angled and flat faceplates against cord direction, front and rear clearance, mounting dimensions and module fit, then record the selected format and quantity for each outlet.
Start with the physical constraint, not the product name
Most outlet mistakes in fit-out projects are dimensional, not electrical. Before picking a catalogue item, walk the wall and note four things: what the cable pathway enters (back box, trunking or open surface), how far furniture or a door swing sits from the wall, whether the outlet faces a desk edge or a shelf, and how many cables will terminate there now and later.
That walk-through decides most of the choice between a flat 86 × 86 mm dual port faceplate and the 45 degree angled network faceplate, which the catalogue lists in 86 × 86 mm with one- or two-port options.
Selection worksheet
Copy this table into your project brief and fill it in per room. Keep one line per outlet, not one per product type, so the count you send to a supplier reflects positions, not guesses.
| Check | What to record | Why it changes the product choice |
|---|---|---|
| Mounting surface | Flush back box, surface trunking, or exposed wall/bracket | Flush faceplates suit back boxes; surface boxes enclose the termination above the wall |
| Clearance | Distance to desk, shelf, cabinet or door arc | Angled ports reduce how far cords project from the wall plane |
| Ports now | 1 or 2 terminated positions | Single- and dual-port formats exist in the 86 mm faceplate family |
| Ports later | Spare positions to leave blank | A two-port plate with one blank may cost less than a second site visit |
| Regional format | UK-style or other requested outlet standard | The UK style single port data faceplate is listed separately in the catalogue |
| Module supply | Whether keystone modules come from you, the installer or the supplier | Blank boxes and plates need modules confirmed separately |
| Label and finish | Numbering scheme, colour, visible branding | Affects marking at handover, not the port count |
When an angled plate earns its place
An angled outlet may help align a patch cord with its planned route. Check the actual connector, boot and cord direction on a sample, together with the cable manufacturer bend requirements. The faceplate angle does not itself prove adequate strain relief or acceptable bend radius.
Flat plates remain the better choice where the outlet sits in a chasing or trunking depth that an angled body would foul, where faceplates must be flush for a clean visual line in a client-facing area, or where the installer simply has more clearance in front than behind. Neither format is universally better; the constraint decides.
Compatibility checks before you order
- Measure the opening. An 86 × 86 mm plate is a format, not a guarantee that a particular back box, screw pitch and module can all be used together. Check the drawing or sample.
- Confirm the module family. The catalogue format separates plates from modules. Ask whether the keystone modules you intend to snap in are from the same system and fit the aperture.
- Confirm shutter or dust-cover presence if shutters are required by the client standard, rather than assuming they are included.
- Check cord direction against cable bend rules. A 45-degree exit helps only if the patch cord then runs in the direction the outlet was designed for.
- Confirm certification and test-report requirements with your installer and client. The catalogue summary here does not state independently verified ratings, test results or certifications, so obtain those from the supplier's current documentation before specifying a performance class.
Surface boxes in the same decision
If the cable arrives on the surface and no recessed box exists, do not force a flush plate. Use the single port keystone surface mount box for a single position, or the dual port surface mount box where two positions share a run. Both catalogue entries describe blank ABS enclosures with separate base and cover; the module supply must be confirmed separately.
As a planning check, place surface boxes where they will not be used as a shelf, and route incoming cable into the box with enough slack for a re-termination. Surface enclosures are exposed to furniture moves in a way recessed plates are not.
A simple handover checklist
- Outlet schedule matches the drawing, line by line.
- Photo of each plate or box in place, with label visible.
- Port map states which physical position serves which desk point.
- Spare blanks recorded so the next fit-out knows where capacity exists.
- Confirmed product family, module type and any test documentation on file.
If several rooms are identical, specify one format consistently and vary only port count. Mixed flat and angled plates in one open area tends to cause confusion during moves, adds and changes.
Confirm the complete outlet combination
The right outlet is the one that fits the wall opening, gives the patch cord a safe bend, and can be re-terminated without moving furniture. Fill in the worksheet per position, confirm module compatibility in writing, and order the mixture of angled plates, flat plates and surface boxes the schedule actually calls for.
Qixiang product catalogues; confirm current model drawings and installation requirements before ordering.