However, the diversity of systems that this integration involves also tends to result in a great diversity of deployment scenarios. Devices – and, as a consequence, network cables – routinely get deployed in special scenarios that were not typically associated with an office network, such as:
- Sections of the building that are difficult to reach (rooftops, deep basements). Maintenance is difficult to perform in these sections and often requires privileged access to various areas of the building.
- Areas where they are exposed to adverse weather conditions – rain, extreme heat or extreme cold. Cable sections in these areas are routinely installed in special enclosures, which are not trivial to install correctly.
- Long-distance deployment of IP equipment, such as outdoor CCTV cameras. Fibre optic cables are often a good choice in this scenario, as they can carry greater bandwidths over higher distances, but they do require additional interconnect equipment, and they are not easy to install.
Risks and Challenges
The benefits of an integrated cabling approach seem compelling enough, but clearly things are not so simple — otherwise, everyone would be doing it by now.
What are some of the challenges you can expect in terms of cabling and infrastructure development?
Standards and Building Codes.
One of the most complicated aspects of intelligent building cabling is the fact that, like many emergent technologies, many aspects of intelligent building technologies are not yet standardised or well-understood.
The UK has a complex network of workplace safety laws, construction codes and standards regarding the design, installation and operation of electrical and data networks. There are restrictions about what cables can be used, where they can be placed, what kind of mechanical support they need and so on.
These restrictions are meant to ensure that networks are safe to operate on an everyday basis and that they do not impede rescue operations in case of fire or other disasters.
There are also various industry-specific requirements, such as those regarding the placement of CCTV cameras and other security equipment. Some of them are legally binding.
In contrast, there is hardly any such thing as a standard that tells us how to design intelligent buildings. Industry groups active in the intelligent building arena, such as BICSI, do publish standards pertaining to technologies in intelligent buildings, but that’s as far as it goes.
Navigating this thick web of regulations can be a daunting task, especially since some of them are legally binding, and not complying with them bears legal consequences. This is especially challenging for small companies, which cannot afford to develop and maintain this sort of know-how internally.
Especially for smaller companies, we recommend relying on open, well-understood technologies, at the detriment of proprietary, vendor-specific solutions. The former are usually the result of cross-vendor collaboration, and harmonising them with international standards and legal requirements is an inherent component of such an effort. For the latter, vendors often have no incentive to ensure broad compliance with other standards, and the know-how required to provide a solid and safe installation is hard to come by and expensive.
