12 I ICT TODAY
FIGURE 5: A typical zone enclosure.
integrate with commonly used
software systems for room
scheduling, VoIP calling and
soft-codec platforms like Zoom and
Skype. When data is analyzed over
time, statistics on room and
equipment usage can allow for
proactive maintenance and be
enabled to provide specific device
diagnostics to help-desk providers
or IT trouble ticketing systems.
Furthermore, network integrated
AV systems provide a number
of other advantages. They extend
collaboration beyond the office
or building walls. AV solutions
can integrate with other building
systems, such as mass notification,
to provide critical information in
the case of an emergency situation.
They also allow users to display
presentations residing on the
network without the use
of a flash drive.
To empower the convergence
of AV and IT, ICT designers should
consider having the IP/AV
structured cabling installed by the
same contractor as the cabling for
the other systems. If the ICT design
is not thoughtful at producing
a reliable and available solution,
many of the advantages of an IB
can suffer. Even in the scheme of
an IB, it remains fundamental to
provide high quality voice and data.
HOW DOES THE
INTELLIGENCE OF A
BUILDING IMPACT
ICT DESIGN AND SYSTEMS?
An IB connects many previously
siloed yet critical systems. As such,
ICT professionals must be aware of
different requirements for
topology, pathways, telecommunications
room (TR) layout
and device/systems control
locations. Redundancy is more
important in this environment
than when designing traditional
voice and data systems. As a result,
the needs of different systems might
be better met with topologies other
than the hierarchical star used
in telecommunications applications
for the last three decades. Certain
brands of LED lighting, for example,
accommodate a serial bus design.
Power monitoring may require
a ring or bus configuration.
To further complicate matters,
the increasing application of
Power over Ethernet (PoE) devices
mandates that the designer looks
at how devices are powered, in
addition to how they are networked.
It is certainly time to reexamine the
design strategies that have become
ubiquitous in traditional buildings.
The additional building links
required for sensors, control panels
and detectors might be best
provided through a different
topology. For example, the zone
cabling approach allows for easier
and more cost-effective
modifications to the sensor system.
This strategy is encouraged in
ANSI/BICSI 007-2017 for a variety
of reasons. Put simply, zone cabling
distributes connection points, such
as switches and patch bays, in
locations closer to endpoints,
outside of the intermediate
distribution frames (IDFs).
A primary reason is that the cabling
density for IBs is increased due
to present and future sensor
deployment. Thus, the size of zone
coverage areas needs to be reduced.
As with all network drops, when
calculating device density, account
for future growth. There could
be considerable growth in
an intelligent building.
Accessibility, security, and the
environment in which they will
be installed are considerations when
locating zone enclosures (Figure 5).