Design Considerations for Telecommunications Pathways and Spaces EIA/TIA 569-C Design Considerations for Telecommunications Pathways and Spaces ELCM 254 ©PRGodin @gmail.com Updated January 2014

EIA/TIA 569-C A communications infrastructure in today’s commercial buildings is essential. All buildings, new and old, must have allowance for this infrastructure. This standard addresses the architectural design elements of cable pathways and dedicated rooms for a telecommunications infrastructure.

Architectural Masterformat The Masterformat is a reference document used by architectural engineers when designing a building. It contains all the vital elements and details of proper building design and construction. The communication infrastructure is part of the Masterformat under Division 27 (since 2004). Other cabling requirements have their own division numbers: Security & safety (28) Electrical (26) Automation (25)

Examples of Pathways & Spaces Telecommunications & Equipment Rooms (called “Distributor Rooms” in this standard) Entrance Facilities Other spaces for access Pathways: Routes for Horizontal & Backbone cabling Pathways for Services

Physical Characteristics Recommendations Backbone and Horizontal pathway systems such as conduit and tray Entrance Facilities characteristics Distributor room space, size, conditions and design

Installation, Safety & Performance Recommendations Backboard installation Electromagnetic Interference Firestop and fire safety Cable management and physical support Other factors that may affect cable performance

Pathways Allowances must me made for the physical routing of communication cabling throughout the building. Image: www.railway-technology.com 7

Cable Pathway Planning Building Pathways: Vertical & Horizontal cable pathways walls, ceiling, plenums, floors Exterior or interior Cable Pathway and Support Structures: Conduit, raceway, tray, duct, sleeves, etc J-Hook, clamps, cable shoes, waterfall, etc

Backbone Pathways Telecommunication Rooms should be stacked vertically and 3, 4-inch conduit or other cable pathways provided between these rooms. Rooms that are not stacked should be connected with a minimum of 4 inch conduit. Firestopping is required between vertically stacked rooms and recommended between other rooms. Cable tray fill should be planned at 25%, not exceed 50%

Cable Trays at over 50% fill According to the photographer, each jacket color represented a different office zone. Image: Jeff Keddy

Vertical Building Elevation Pathways 3rd 2nd 1st B1 TR ER EF Available pathways for communication and grounding cabling Communication Cabling: Connected in a star configuration from the ER, but the cable may be routed through other rooms (see the 568C standard). Ground Cabling: Ring configuration through several rooms, leading to the EF (see the 607B standard)

TIA/EIA 569C Conduit Systems Fill ratio of 40%. (recommendation is less fill/larger conduit) No more than two 90 degree bends

Conduit (continued) Flexible metal tubing is not permitted Section not longer than 30 meters (100ft) install a pull box for greater distances 4” min. should be used underground manholes within first 150 meters no more than 300 meters between manholes Pull Box

Separation: Electrical Equipment & Wiring If metal conduit is used: must be properly grounded if it completely encloses a communication cable there is no minimum distance between it and the power cables If there is no metal conduit: crossing at right angles between the electrical and communication cables is permitted Cables must maintain 2” (50mm) of separation if the electrical cable is a standard 15Amp circuit. Must maintain 5” (250mm) separation from lighting A table is available for other electrical circuit types

Other Pathway Considerations Cables must not be laid on ceiling tiles, and must be supported every 1.5m (5ft). The supports must be dedicated to this function. The standard addresses raised flooring and underfloor ducting and conduit.

Entrance Facilities 16

Entrance Facility (EF) Includes Service Entrance Building Entrance interbuilding backbone alternate entrance antennae entrance pathways The EF consists of a termination field interfacing any outside cabling to the intrabuilding cabling.

Service Entrance A Service Entrance is where outside companies physically bring their services into a building. Electrical (power, ground) Communication (Voice, Video, Data) Alarm (Fire, Security) Wireless equipment connections (antenna) Other services outside of communications (water, gas, etc) There may be more than one Service Entrance facility in a building. 18

Demarcation on Service Entrance The Demarcation (Demarc) is the separation of ownership or responsibility. It is the seperation between the service company’s equipment and the building’s equipment. Telco Bldg Building Cable Telco Cable Demarc Telco Ownership Building Ownership

Entrance Facility Cables and Safety Local fire regulations will dictate termination requirements and fire protection. Recommendation is terminate as close to the entrance as possible. Fire control systems should be implemented. If the cable contains metallic elements it must be lightning protected, even if buried.

Entrance Facilities (Details) Recommendation and Standards: One wall must contain a ¾ inch sheet of plywood, painted white. Must not have a false ceiling. The service entrance pathway is either underground, buried, aerial or tunnel. Access to the area must be restricted but doesn’t need to be a dedicated, enclosed room. Must avoid electrical cable pathways. Must be flood control systems in place.

Entrance Facilities (Details) Recommendation and Standards: Minimum conduit size: Minimum 4” conduit of PVC type B,C, or D or multiple plastic duct or galvanized steel or fiberglass (all with appropriate encasement) No more than 2 - 90° manufactured bends (10 times the diameter of conduit) Drain slope: should not be less than 12” per 100’ Conduit fill varies should not exceed 40%

General Distributor Room Criteria Entrance Facilities, Equipment Rooms and Telecommunications Rooms 23

Sample Telecom Room Design http://www.siemon.com/ 24

Room General Guidelines Must have minimum of one per floor, centrally located Must be placed in areas where they be expanded. Must have a ceiling height of 3m or more. No exterior windows. Should be accessible for large equipment delivery but have limited, secure access (36” X 80” single or double lockable doors). Must have a backboard (¾” plywood, painted white) Room sizing is now contained in the 568C standard but there are recommendations in this standard.

Distributor Rooms General Guidelines There are many additional guidelines addressed specifically in the standards. Factors include: Humidity, temperature, vibration and dust controls Physical access issues, security and fire suppression Lighting and electrical requirements Ceiling height, construction, paint color Must contain protection against: Lightning Water Humidity Fire Spread Tampering

Distributor Room Details Unrelated equipment (plumbing, piping, tubing, ducting, etc) should not be routed through the room. Shall not be used as access to other rooms or facilities. The room shall be dedicated to its primary function and cannot be shared with other functions (for instance, cannot be used as an electrical room).

Sample Telecom Room Image Source: Anixter.com

Equipment Room The Equipment Room is a facility which houses items of more complexity such as: Telephone related equipment such as an MDF (Main Distribution Frame), PBX’s (Private Branch Exchange), secondary voltage protection, and the like. Networking equipment such as switches, hubs, routers, servers, etc., although a separate but connected computer room is usual.

Room Equipment The standard states minimum clearance and working space in front of (3ft) and behind (2ft) racks and cabinets. Cooling methods should be employed. Racks should have adjustable mounting rails. Cable management and power bars should be provided for each cabinet or rack. Number of electrical receptacles is also stated. Provide additional rooms or spaces for service and access providers.

Environmental The standard is specific regarding: Temperature Control (includes altitude adjustments) Humidity Control Lighting (minimum Lux measurements) Dust particulates www.epa.gov 31

Work Area Guidelines The standard addresses Equipment Outlets: Minimum and maximum depths for outlet boxes Standard sizes for furniture outlets Bend Radius requirements on both the inside and outside of the EO.

Conclusion The TIA/EIA 569-C is a structured cabling standard that addresses the physical requirements and design issues for pathways and spaces for cable within a building. Since each building and installation has unique challenges, the standard is frequently used as a guideline and not the rule. END prgodin @ gmail.com