Stacked Conduits

[sergeleblanc]

We are estimating the telecommunication cabling on a 45-story condominium building on the ocean. The engineer has a one 1” conduit for the TV, and one 1” conduit for the telephone stacked between the floors going from one condo to an other every 7 floors then the conduit goes back to a telecom room. Isn’t there some where in the code that forbids this due to serviceability of the cabling, or security?

[tom baker]

Not that I am aware of. Your application does not even need raceways unless required by local codes.
However there are recommended standards for that application from BICSI that may not allow it done in the manner specified. Each conduit should be a home run.

[dereckbc]

No code issue with the method. Typically these types of cables will enter the facility in the basement and terminated on a main distribution frame (MDF). Then rise vertically up through each floor called a trunk cable. As they pass through each floor they terminate to a intermediate distribution frame (IDF). From the IDF each circuit is distributed horizontally to each individual unit where required.

BICSI does have practices for this type of cabling but is mostly aimed at telephone central office installation. The BICSI practices are not enforceable by any regulation authority.

[ February 25, 2003, 03:49 PM: Message edited by: dereckbc ]

[tom baker]

BICSI standards are actually more applicable to this than a telco central office. This application would fall under EIA/TIA 570 Residential and Light Commerical Telecommunications cabling. Some state telecommunications regulations reference BICSI, for example Washington State does, but that does not make it enforceable. One of the BICSI standards, EIA/TIA 568, commerical telecommuncations cabling, has been released by as a ANSI/NECA Recommended Standard for $25.00, it normally is over $150. No wonder its become a ANSI/NECA best seller. This standard is well worth the cost. Also the BICSI installation manuals are excellent.

[luke warmwater]

Tom, do you have a link of where to get it? Todd

[dereckbc]

http://www.tiaonline.org/standards/search.cfm?keyword=+568

[ February 25, 2003, 10:46 PM: Message edited by: dereckbc ]

[tom baker]

EIA TIA 568 is only $25 from NECANEIS:
http://www.necanet.org/store/index.cfm?fuseaction=search_results&product_type=12

[dereckbc]

Tom, is that for the whole document or part 2, and does it have the corrections from 568-B.2-2?

If it does, its a steal of a deal. ANSI, BICSI, & TIA wants $300 for the complete 3-part corrected set.

[tom baker]

Derek I don't know exactly what is in the standard, however it has become a best seller for NECA! I feel the EIA/TIA standards are overpriced and you can only get them from Global Engineering Documents.