Project Team Leader: Lee Funnell

Introduction

The segregation of mains power cabling and telecommunications cabling containing metallic structural and/or signalling elements requires the consideration of safety, protection and electromagnetic interference. These aspects are addressed by different national standards and this document seeks to consolidate the requirements and recommendations of those standards within a simple reference document.

It is not uncommon for aspects of the segregation requirements to be in conflict with the needs of the building infrastructure due to lack of space or competing demands for the available space. As a result the installer of the telecommunications and/or mains power cabling is unable to comply with the published standards, despite those standards being a contractual and/or legal requirement.

This Telecommunications Infrastructure Advisory Board SID contains interpretation of published standards covering the planning and installation of telecommunication cabling infrastructures, explains the consolidated requirements and recommendations in relation to segregation of telecommunications and mains power cabling and provides:
users with guidance in relation to sizing of pathways and spaces and long-term management of
cabling within them;
consultants with guidance in relation to the location and construction of pathways and pathway
(cable management) systems;
installers with the ability to identify any potential or actual non-compliance with the published
standards and act accordingly.

The specific standards subject to interpretation within the document are BS 6701:2004 and BS EN 50174-2:2001 in combination with BIP 0007 (published by BSI and available free-of-charge to FIA and ECA members).

This document provides interpretation of published standards which is intended to be submitted to checking and endorsement by the BSI Technical Committee, or equivalent, responsible for the production of the standards that are subject to TIA-B interpretation.”

Scope

This Telecommunications Infrastructure Advisory Board SID contains interpretation of the following published standards covering segregation of mains power cabling and telecommunications cabling containing metallic structural and/or signalling elements:
BS 6701:2004;
BS EN 50174-2;
BS BIP 0007.

Project Team Leader: Tim Oldershaw

Introduction

The earthing of telecommunications infrastructures is handled in a number of standards, all of which are applicable in the United Kingdom, but most of these address the topic from a specific viewpoint and can appear contradictory.

With regard to the earthing of cabinets/frames/racks containing, or intended to contain, telecommunications equipment and cabling, installers need to have clear guidance based on accurate interpretation of these standards which is endorsed by the relevant standard bodies.

This Telecommunications Infrastructure Advisory Board SID contains interpretation of published standards covering the earthing arrangements for cabinets/frames/racks containing, or intended to contain, telecommunications equipment and cabling:
explains the circumstances under which earthing is required;
provides guidance to the minimum requirements for protective earth conductors;
allows users, consultants and installers to identify any potential or actual non-compliance with
the published standards and act accordingly.

The specific standards subject to interpretation within the document are BS 6701:2004,
BS EN 50174-1:2001 and BS EN 50174-2 in combination with BIP 0007 (published by BSI and available free-of-charge to FIA and ECA members) together with electrical system standards
HD 60364-5-54 and BS 7671.

This document provides interpretation of published standards which is intended to be submitted to checking and endorsement by the BSI Technical Committee, or equivalent, responsible for the production of the standards that are subject to TIA-B interpretation.”

Scope

This Telecommunications Infrastructure Advisory Board SID contains interpretation of published standards covering the earthing arrangements for telecommunication cabling infrastructures,

This Telecommunications Infrastructure Advisory Board SID contains interpretation of the following published standards covering earthing arrangements of cabinets/frames/racks containing, or intended to contain, telecommunications equipment and cabling:
BS 6701:2004;
BS EN 50174-1;
BS EN 50174-2;
BS EN 50310:2006
HD 60364-5-54;
BS 7671:2001;
BS BIP 0007.

Project Team Leader: Steve Smith

Introduction

Wireless network installations are prevalent with WiFi ‘zones’ in almost every public space. Corporate and public sector organisations are growing increasingly dependent on their wireless networks to support and enhance their operation and/or to provide services to their customers and clients by providing a range of services including Internet access, Voice over IP services, manufacturing process monitoring, IP CCTV and alarms. Radio frequency identification (RFID) tags are also being used via wireless networks to track stock, assets, vital medical equipment in hospitals, and even children within the confines of a campus.

With personal safety and business operation at risk it is vitally important for wireless networks to be stable and reliable. In contrast, many potential users deem wireless networks to be too unreliable and insecure - often the result of past bad experience. Also, recent controversy regarding exposure to radio frequency emissions has caused concern for some, and in some instances has led to networks being shut down as a safety precaution. How can the same wireless networks deployed to protect human life and enhance many businesses cause such fear and concern regarding safety, security and reliability for others?

Wireless network problems are generally due to a combination of lack of planning, inadequate or non-existent RF survey and poor installation - factors that also affect the safety of the installation. Wireless networks are inherently more complex than fixed media networks, so care and attention to detail is essential to achieve a stable and reliable installation.

This Telecommunications Infrastructure Advisory Board SID contains interpretation of published standards covering best and safe practice for wireless network installation in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands. Aspects of wireless installation to be addressed include planning, survey, physical installation, configuration, power management, channel allocation, security and maintenance.

The SID takes account of the European Directive 2004/40/EC and provides:
users with the confidence to know when their installation has been installed effectively;
consultants with the information required to specify a wireless installation and to verify the
installation against the relevant standards;
installers with a guide through the relevant standards to enable them to install wireless networks
safely, effectively and efficiently and to protect them from potential future litigation.

The specific standards subject to interpretation within the document are:
BS 6701:2004;
EN 300 328, 301 893 and 300 440;
IEEE 802.11 standards family;
ISO/IEC TR 24704.

This document provides interpretation of published standards which is intended to be submitted to checking and endorsement by the BSI Technical Committee, or equivalent, responsible for the production of the standards that are subject to TIA-B interpretation.”

Scope

This Telecommunications Infrastructure Advisory Board SID contains interpretation of the following published standards:
BS6701:2004;
EN 300 328, 301 893 and 300 440;
IEEE 802.11 standards family;
ISO/IEC TR 24704.

The SID will cover best and safe practice for wireless network installation in the 2.4GHz and
5GHz frequency bands including the following topics:
planning - applicable standards and key parameters for surveys and installation;
surveying - strategies to meet design objectives and standards compliance including selection of
antennae for internal and external networks;
physical installation - access points, antennae, inter-building bridge links, mesh radio installations,
antennae poles, masts and guying;
configuration - safe working and standards compliance in the following areas:
power management;
channel allocation;
security;
maintenance - techniques for initial benchmarking, operational monitoring and preventive
maintenance procedures.

Project Team Leader: Mike Gilmore

Introduction

Three bodies are primarily responsible for the production of standards for the design and implementation of telecommunications infrastructure. These bodies operate to serve the needs of European, international and North American industry but the geographical usage of the standards they produce is not restricted. It is not uncommon to see North American standards referenced in infrastructure contracts in the UK and European standards are often referenced in Africa and Asia.

The role of telecommunications infrastructure standards within contracts is to ensure that minimum requirements are met. However, technical, commercial and even legal problems result from injudicious application of standards including:
the referencing of multiple standards that cover the same topic;
the mixing of regional standards for different aspects of infrastructure implementation process
(e.g. design, installation and testing);
the risk of conflict with national and local regulations;
a lack of understanding of conformance to the standards.

This Infrastructure Advisory Note (IAN) contains guidance relating to the application of standards within telecommunications infrastructure contracts for the United Kingdom and provides:
specifiers with templates for viable alternative routes of specification which allow the widest range of
standards-based implementations within a national standards/regulatory framework;
installers with tools to minimise risk in the face of poorly defined requirements.

This IAN is targeted at implementations of telecommunications infrastructure within the United Kingdom but provides information relevant in other countries.

Extensions to this IAN, or additional IANs, may be produced to provide guidance to specific market sectors such as healthcare and education.

Scope

This Infrastructure Advisory Note (IAN) contains guidance relating to the application of standards within telecommunications infrastructure contracts for the United Kingdom and provides:
templates for viable alternative routes of specification which allow the widest range of
standards-based implementations within a national standards/regulatory framework;
tools to minimise risk in the face of poorly defined requirements.

This IAN is targeted at implementations of telecommunications infrastructure within the United Kingdom but provides information relevant in other countries.

Project Team Leader: Peter Lythgoe

Introduction

A call for a report on the “Carbon Footprint of Telecommunication Infrastructures” was considered at the inaugural meeting of the TIA-B in September 2007; and was agreed to be worthy of an Infrastructure Advisory Note. This support was a reflection of the acceptance of those present that telecommunication infrastructures have a considerable impact upon the environment (27 million tons from the Internet alone).

It can not be denied that the topic represents a considerable investigation. Whilst certainly addressing the impact of the construction and operation of telecommunications infrastructures and the cabling media used, the task could also take into account the beneficial redundancy introduced into other carbon footprints of alternative communication methods e.g. digital newspapers vs. newsprint).

This Infrastructure Advisory Board IAN contains information, recommendations and guidance relating to the “carbon footprint” of telecommunication infrastructures and provides:
users of such infrastructures with the information on the impact and guidance on how best to
minimise that impact by the appropriate selection of operational and maintenance methods;
consultants with the information to enable more considered decisions to be taken and guidance
given to users and operators on design and topology;
installers with a guide to best practices that will serve to reduce the impact of construction and
installation;
Government agencies with the information enabling legislative decision-making where appropriate.

Scope

This Infrastructure Advisory Note (IAN) contains information, recommendations and guidance relating to the “carbon footprint” of telecommunication infrastructures and provides:
information on the impact of the “carbon footprint”;
guidance on the reduction of the “carbon footprint” including;
product selection;
best practices within construction and installation;
appropriate selection of operational and maintenance methods.