UNCOVERING THE LAYERS
Mark Froggatt , Technical Director at BASEC
depend on the future aspirations of the organisation and the cost of installation .
However , it is always important to bear in mind the cost of having to reinstall at a later date if the infrastructure design is not adequate for growth . Environmental considerations should also be made when installing the cable infrastructure . If an organisation intends to streamline its production processes by implementing data-driven manufacturing equipment , the cables used in these systems will be exposed to more harsh environments to that of an office , for example ; vibration from nearby machinery .
With this in mind , it would be recommended to use cables that have been Mechanical , Ingress , Chemical and Electromagnetic , or MICE , approved .
What are the benefits of ensuring cabling is purchased from a manufacturer which is certified by a third-party approval firm ?
Third-party approval is an assurance that the manufacturer in question has been assessed on an ongoing basis for manufacturing capability and product conformity . This means that a credible and accredited thirdparty has assessed the above and the manufacturer has a clean bill of health on an ongoing basis . Any problems or non-conformities with product or process will be addressed over the course of a three-year certification cycle . Therefore , third-party approval is designed to give end-users piece of mind that the cable has been approved to a high-level of quality from a non-bias organisation , which also gives manufacturers verified proof of their product quality . With more end-users seeing the benefit of thirdparty approvals , it is now the norm for contractors to specify certified product , and as such , more manufacturers are pre-empting this demand and seeking third-party approvals beforehand .
What are the key elements of the cable verification and certification process ?
Typically , cables will have already undergone testing as part of the manufacturer ’ s internal quality control process , verification from a third-party approvals body impartially confirms product quality . At BASEC , the cable will be put through more rigorous testing than that of a manufacturer , to assess the cable limits and ensure it complies with industry standards . Additionally , as part of the approvals process , BASEC accesses the manufacturing plant and processes to measure its capabilities and ensure consistency of production .
What are some of the safety concerns that organisations can sometimes overlook when it comes to cabling and how can these be addressed ?
There is a strong relationship between data cables and fire testing due to their methods of installation and compound make up . Data cables tend to run between rooms , on different floors and therefore are more likely to contribute to fire spread , if one was to occur . Furthermore , they are made up of polyethylene , a highly flammable material .
That paired with their bundling installation method means high volumes of potential fire fuel is concentrated in one place . Therefore , fire testing and Construction Products Regulation CPR classification to enable CE or UKCA marking for transmission cables are a key part of standard policy .
Installation of cables are critical in respect to current rating , this is an influencing factor when it comes to the ability to dissipate heat . Regulatory bodies have recognised this and therefore included installation regulations in all three of the main overarching standards : BS / ISO / IEC 11801 ; BS EN 50173 series ; ANSI / TIA 568 .
What is your recommended best practice advice approach for organisations when it comes to data cable testing ?
When implementing a structured cabling infrastructure , there are several stages to take into consideration on approach :
• Building operation design requirements and intended uses of network
• Networking architectures may also need to be developed to accommodate specific user needs , including the required data rates , channel reach and extended patching
• Selecting the correct cabling infrastructure is key to a successful installation . End-users can undertake assessments of their vendors ’ products or they can engage with an independent third-party
• Transmission line configurations and network implementation will
BASEC IS ALSO INDEPENDENTLY ASSESSED ON AN ONGOING BASIS TO ENSURE THAT THE SERVICES OFFERED ARE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RELEVANT PRACTICES AND INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS . www . intelligentdatacentres . com
67