Commissioning the Building's Information Technology (IT) Infrastructure's Physical Layer

摘要

High performance copper and fiber optic communication cables go through an extensive design process and are manufactured to high tolerances with multiple quality control points during manufacture to guarantee performance. As performance goes up the installation methods and field testing become increasingly critical. However, what really happens in the field? Who becomes responsible to make sure the customer gets what was designed and paid for during and after construction? Commissioning is that quality control process. The presentation will define the commissioning process (Cx), market drivers and industry best practices. Next, how do we apply the fundamental requirements of commissioning to the IT physical layer infrastructure? Cable and connectivity manufacturers offer many levels of warranty programs. How do these programs fit into the commissioning process? Is commissioning friend or foe? We will conclude with some examples of field documents and case studies. Commissioning (Cx) is a process to provide a quality control methodology to ensure that the installed building cabling and technology systems utilizing high performance cables are verified through documentation, field inspections and testing, to ensure proper performance. Building commissioning roots are in with the HVAC industry. Originally considered the "guys" who made sure the air conditioning worked, today commissioning has evolved to become an integral part of the design and construction process. Recently, government mandates such as the US Green Building Council (USGBC ) LEED ® certification program and the General Services Agency (GSA) require commissioning to strengthen the relationship between sustainability and performance. Today's buildings contain multiple cabling and technology systems that are more complex and intricate than just five years ago. These systems must be coordinated and integrated to work together to provide a functional and safe building environment. The main backbone of these building systems has become the Internet Protocol (IP) and IP enabled devices. No longer just part of an Information Technology (IT) data communication platform converged communication systems now include HVAC, lighting, security, surveillance, AV, process control, mobile communication, wireless and facility management. The physical layer components, especially cabling, must be properly designed, installed, tested and maintained to ensure efficient building operation and system integration.