BICSI
STANDARDS
PRICELESS
CONTENT AT A
ROLLED-BACK
PRICE
72 I ICT TODAY
If the AV design uses Category cable or connects
to any network switches (including HDBaseT), then all
the cable and supporting hardware should be installed
by the Division 27 cabling contractor. This may occur
by having the AV installer subcontract the structured
cabling contractor for installation. This helps retain consistency
among the structured cabling. It also allows the
same system warranty to apply to the structured cabling
dedicated to simulation as the other building cables.
At a minimum, consider having the station cables for
the AV system meet the Division 27 specifications, even
if installed by a different contractor. This will allow the
owner to make moves, adds, and changes (MACs)
without requiring different materials.
MORE CABLING CONSIDERATIONS
Additional cabling considerations include using color
coding to denote the different networks to which the
cabling connects. This is extremely helpful to the simulation
technical staff as long as it remains accurate. Unfortunately,
over time, color coding might not be followed,
thereby negating its value. Labeling differences show the
user which jacks are connected to the standard network
and which are connected to the simulation network. The
ICT designer must work with the owner to implement
identification methods that will not be undone during
the first MAC because they are unclear or too complex.
BICSI’s International Standards Program
is a globally renowned, ANSI-accredited
standards development organization, and our
best practices-based standards documents
discuss the design, installation, and integration
of information and communications technology
(ICT) systems. Available standards include:
• Educational Facilities
• Building Information
Modeling (BIM)
• Healthcare Institutions
• Distributed Antenna
Systems (DAS)
• Intelligent Buildings
• Wireless LAN
BICSI Standards
is celebrating its
Silver Anniversary
with special pricing
of these documents.
Visit bicsi.org/standards
for pricing and to order today.
Unique jack types may be beneficial in simulation
areas, not because the traffic requires it, but because
in some scenarios, simulation devices are subject
to moving and a standard RJ45 plug may risk coming
unplugged or function poorly due to the strain to which
it could be subjected. A jack with a locking, ruggedized
design may keep failure at an outlet or patch cord from
occurring. It would clearly give a visual indication
of a non-typical network connection.
The flexibility of cabling should meet the flexibility
of the simulation space. Some simulation spaces are fitted
out with overhead grids to which power, network, and
other simulated utilities are attached. These may benefit
from the use of cable reels that are able to be relocated
as the simulated scenarios require different configurations.
When cable reels are required, use care to select
a reel matching the cable type. Consider that the
/standards