Smart Cabling for Smart Buildings

As a result of COVID and the pandemic, there is a need to protect ourselves and our communities. We create a community with the help of technology that supports people in buildings. Although many commercial buildings are currently “closed”, many facilities must be kept working, regardless of or mainly because of this crisis. Many of these buildings run at least on average or above-average capacity with a high number of occupants. At the same time, some buildings are fully operational but almost empty.

As a result of COVID and the pandemic, there is a need to protect ourselves and our communities. We create a community with the help of technology that supports people in buildings. Although many commercial buildings are currently “closed”, many facilities must be kept working, regardless of or mainly because of this crisis. Many of these buildings run at least on average or above-average capacity with a high number of occupants. At the same time, some buildings are fully operational but almost empty.

Applications in an intelligent building system include:

Access Control
Audio, Video, Multimedia, Broadband
CCTV and CATV
Digital Signage
Elevator Control
Energy Management
Sensors
Actuators and Controls
HVAC Control
Infant Security
Intercom
Medical Gas Alarms Safety System and Displays
Personnel Monitoring
Staff Emergency Alarms
Time and Attendance
Visual Information Display

The above are just among the many applications and intelligent building systems can include. As the intelligent/Smart building systems expand and the Internet of Things (IoT) continues to explode, more devices will require network connectivity. Now the designers and installers should think outside of the box in selecting the appropriate cabling infrastructure to address the application requirements and endpoints specifically.

The standards ISO/IEC11801-6 and EN50173-6 specify the underlying technical conditions for the digital ceiling. TIA-862-B, ANSI/TIA-862-A specifies that the minimum requirements for smart building cabling to support applications and systems that use IP communication while accommodating other protocols are typically used between devices. ISO/IEC 60950 Safety Extra Low Voltage (SELV) standard also needs to be taken into consideration to limit power to 100 W per port (similar to US NEC class 2 circuit).

Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) is available on the market from 2020. A lightweight, slim-line cable with a single twisted pair and small connectors will extend the local data network. SPE enables the use of manufacturer-neutral, inexpensive network technology. By the year 2025, it’s foreseen that there will be over seventy-five billion devices connected to networks around the globe. These can range from sensors to even robots. The intrinsic value for loT and OT is in data collection - specifically, in how this data can help building owners, occupants and operators improve the operational efficiency, enhance user experience and drive better return on investment from these spaces.

Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) is available on the market from 2020. A lightweight, slim-line cable with a single twisted pair and small connectors will extend the local data network. SPE enables the use of manufacturer-neutral, inexpensive network technology. By the year 2025, it’s foreseen that there will be over seventy-five billion devices connected to networks around the globe. These can range from sensors to even robots. The intrinsic value for loT and OT is in data collection - specifically, in how this data can help building owners, occupants and operators improve the operational efficiency, enhance user experience and drive better return on investment from these spaces.