D5.

2 Communication and security systems D5 Electrical

- floorplates greater than 10,000 sq. ft. (929 sq. m) may require - All underground bends should have a radius of 40 ft. (12.5 m) or
more than one closet greater.
- with a physical separation from sources of electromagnetic inter- - No more than two 90-degree bends are permitted between man-
ference such as electric closets, switchrooms and mechanical holes/handholds.
spaces. - Provide a sufficient number of 4 in. (10 cm) ducts based on type
- separated from likely sources of flooding and excess humidity. and quantity of cable and at least one empty spare per ductbank.
- provided with lighting and environmental conditions suitable for - Slope the ductbank away from the building and provide steel
continuously operating electronic equipment. sleeves at foundation wall penetrations.
- installed without omit ceilings and (typically) without finished - Consider providing redundant entrance pathways for increased
floors. reliability, security and/or capacity and flexibility.
- provided with vertically aligned sleeves or slots for riser cables. - Size the entrance pathways to accommodate multiple services
- provided with suitable fire rating enclosure and/or fire protection. (voice/data, CATV) and multiple service providers, for which Table
2 can be used as a guide:
- with maximize usable wall space and with plywood and or other
blocking for wall mounted equipment. • Backbone cable pathways

- provided with floor space for rack-mounted equipment and re- - Provide sleeves or slots in vertically-aligned telecommunications
quired service clearances. closets for vertical backbone (riser ) pathways.

- if possible, provided with outward-opening doors to maximize - Interconnect telecommunications closets on the same floor with
usable floor and wall space. horizontal conduit or cable tray.

- may require an access floor, and/or emergency power. - Interconnect entrance rooms and telecommunications equipment
rooms to telecommunications closets on the same floor using con-
Types of communications cable pathways duit or cable tray.
Within the cabling system, the types of communication cable path-
- Consider providing more than one riser per floor for increased
ways include entrance pathways, building backbone pathways, and
reliability, security and/or capacity
building horizontal cable pathways:
- Extend backbone riser pathway to rooftop entrance room.
• Entrance pathways
Ductbank or cable trenches between the property line, service provid-
- Provide fire-stopping to maintain fire rating of all floors and walls
ers’ point(s) of access, or central campus distribution point, and indi-
penetrated by backbone pathways.
vidual buildings. Provide space for service provider’s incoming cables
and/or campus backbone cables between buildings, and access (via - Maintain a minimum bending radius of 40 in. (102 cm) in back-
manholes, handholes or vaults) for cable pulling, maintenance and bone pathways.
additions. For added reliability and security, there may be more than - Backbone conduit may have no more than two 90-degree bends
one entrance pathway to a building or within a campus. between pull boxes or access points.

SERVICES
• Building backbone pathways - Do not use pull boxes in lieu of conduit bends.
Horizontal cable tray, conduit, j-hook supports or delineated path- - Maintain at least a 1 ft. (30 cm) separation between backbone
ways in ceiling voids or under access floor which interconnect the pathways and electrical cables.
entrance room(s), equipment room(s) and telecommunications clos-
ets. Vertical backbone pathways (risers) include sleeves or slots within - Cross electrical cables only at right angles
vertically aligned telecommunications closets, conduit or ladder rack. - Maintain at least 5 in. (13 cm) separation from fluorescent light
fixtures.
• Building horizontal cable pathways
The pathways between telecommunications closets and individual - Avoid horizontal offsets in riser pathways.
work station locations and can include horizontal cable tray, conduit, - Consider using metal conduit or enclosed cable tray in air plenum
j-hook supports or delineated pathways in ceiling voids or under ac- spaces to preclude the need for plenum-rated cable (not appli-
cess floor. Trench headers and cells of cellular deck, and floor duct, cable in all jurisdictions).

D5
surface-mounted raceways and raceways within modular furniture sys-
• Riser pathways can be sized using Table 3 as a guide.
tems may also be used as horizontal pathways. Conduit stub ups, poke-
through fittings, preset and afterset fittings and/or floor boxes complete • Horizontal cable pathways
the transition between horizontal pathway and the work station. - Provide pathways appropriate to the quantity of cable and neces-
Design considerations for communications spaces sity to provide the physical protection/radio frequency shielding.

• Entrance pathways - Maintain a bending radius at least 10 times the diameter of the

TOC - Properly rated cables may be direct buried in a cable trench or

largest cable to be accommodated.
SPECIALTIES

placed in a utility tunnel. - Horizontal conduit may have no more than two 90-degree bends

i -

-
Provided with at least 4 ft. (1.2 m) separation from power and
other utilities in tunnels.
Underground ductbanks are preferred for greater physical protec-
-
-
between pull boxes or access points.
Do not use pull boxes in lieu of conduit bends.
Maintain at least 1 ft. (30 cm) separation between backbone path-
W tion and cable pulling flexibility.
-
ways and electrical cables.
Cross electrical cables only at right angles.
- Conduit or duct should be 4 in. (10 cm) inside diameter and may
be PVC type A, B or C; Fiber Glass, Steel or Multiple Plastic - Maintain at least 5 in. (13 cm) separation from fluorescent light
Duct (MPD) construction. fixtures.

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