Code Compliance
 According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), while it is required that structured cabling systems conform to requirements of codes, like the National Electrical Code, for the protection and safety of the public, it is important that installers, designers and IT professionals consider both industry performance standards and the NEC or a local code when determining the structured cabling system needs of a commercial building. Designing and installing to performance standards, like those published by the Telecommunications Industry Association (TAI), is becoming increasing important because it provides end-users with the assurance that their structured cabling systems will perform to maximum capacity.
As the code is enforced across the country, building owners and tenants could face thousands of dollars in additional cost to remove and dispose of the abandoned cables and to tag and manage the remaining cable plant in their riser and communications area and ensure that tenants install proper cables to meet the building requirements for fire and safety of their other tenants. |
NEC
The NEC is the most widely adopted electrical code in the United States. It is considered by many to be a benchmark for minimum safety requirements. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has served as the NEC sponsor since 1911. The code mandates proper installation and what material must be used to ensure end-user safety.
Other code enforcement outlets include, American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for use in city or regional electrical code requirements put forth by local Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) in the interest of public safety. AHJs may require that the NEC be adhered to in every way or they may require more stringent legislation for their respective regions. Proper investigation into local legislation is always recommended. |
TIA Standards
TIA standards help ensure a minimum level of performance for a cabling component or an entire system. Demonstrating compliance to these performance standards is not mandatory by law, as is the case with electrical codes. These standards are recommendations. Application of these recommendations can greatly improve system performance, including bandwidth, insertion loss, near-end cross talk (NEXT), return loss (RL) and equal level end cross talk (ELFEXT). It is common today to find cabling system performance verification requirements in building contracts because end-users demand the latest and greatest technologies. TIA standards have become the foundation upon which structured cabling systems and products that make them possible are based. TIA standards most applicable to structured cabling systems are:
- ANS/TIA 568-B, Commercial Building Telecommunications Cabling Standard;
- ANS/TIA 569-A, Commercial Building Standard for Pathways and Spaces;
- ANS/TIA 570-A, Residential Telecommunications Cabling Standard;
- ANS/TIA 606-A, Administration Standard for Telecommunications Infrastructure of Commercial Buildings;
- ANS/TIA 607, Commercial Building Grounding and Bonding Requirements for Telecommunications, and;
- ANS/TIA 758, Customer Owned Outside Plant
- ANS/TIA 606-A, Administration Standard for Telecommunications Infrastructure of Commercial Buildings (facility management)
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