Some elements of the below may be superceded. Consult the Director, Network Services, Information Systems and Technology, for interpretation.
Executive summary
Draft policy governing the installation and maintenance of low voltage cabling.
Aspects of cabling policy that have been well addressed are listed below.
- General understanding that sound cabling practices make sense and that a document outlining these practices is important.
- A University of Waterloo cabling records database has been created.
- Agreement that training is needed and that BICSI(Building Industry Consulting Service International) is the current training process of choice.
- e.g. there are now two (2) BICSI RCDD's (Registered Communications Distribution Designer) and two (2) BICSI registered Installers on campus. Information Systems & Technology (IST) is looking into having an 'in house' BICSI training session if the numbers warrant.
- An educational process has started.
- IST and Panduit Canada put on a three (3) day training session attended by approximately twenty (20) university staff members.
- IST has arranged for a cable tester representative to come on campus and explain the product and the reasons why testing is so critical in today's high speed networks.
- IST will arrange for a cable manufacturer technical representative to come on campus and go over the manufacturing process and reason why the cable is made the way it is.
- Cooperative cabling installations.
- IST has worked with both Science and Arts in this area.
Issues still under development are:
- Deviations from University of Waterloo standards. (e.g. teaching lab cabling)
- The mechanism for resolving deviations
- The approval of such deviations
- The consequences for non-compliance to the standards.
- The Record keeping process is still being refined.
- How records are sent to IST and how IST presents these records.
- Specifics as to labeling and identification.
- The cabling design approval process.
Areas of cabling policy that are under development and may require management direction:
- Structure. We have not fully explored the issue of who may pull cable on campus. We have discussed the qualifications required of the cable installers. Unresolved is the question of how many installing organizations will be allowed and who may approve the addition of more installing groups. Specifically, may departments set up installation groups? May research groups? Who will administer membership?