Converge IT Siemon

www.siemon.com 1

ConvergeIT™ Technical Solutions Guide

What capabilities can turn your structured cabling system into a critical building asset; one that reducescosts, simplifies application deployment, enhances the workplace experience, and maximizes the poten-tial to qualify for all physical layer and audiovisual innovation technology credits proposed by BICSI’sGreen Building Technology Alliance?

Imagine these scenarios:

1. An employee enters a building with a badge – his work space is illuminated, network access is provided, HVAC adjustments are made, and nighttime power conservation methods are disabled

2. A motion detector is tripped in a secure area – cameras zoom in on the location of the security breach, video feeds are transmitted to multiple locations, audio communication is enabled, operation of classified applications is suspended, and SMStext, e-mail, and IP phone announcements are forwarded to security personnel

3. A fire alarm is activated – emergency lighting and pathway guidance systems are activated, doors to exit paths are unlocked,video and audio feeds are enabled, emergency shutdowns of critical systems are initiated, and status and containment information is forwarded to rescue personnel

4. A training center requires new audio/video services – the upgrade is made by means of a modular RJ-45 style plug and jack connection to the building’s structured zone cabling system and no new cabling needs to be deployed

5. New patient monitoring services must be added to hospital rooms with limited pathway space – 10/100BASE-T is deployed overthe unused pairs of a TERATM category 7A channel, no new cabling needs to be pulled, and less space is consumed by the category 7A channel than by multiple category 5e channels

BRC_Convergence_B.qxd:Rev_B 2/3/10 1:02 PM Page 2

Co

nv

erg

eIT

™

2 www.siemon.com

The ANSI/TIA/EIA-8621 and ISO 164842 series building automation systems standards raised the industry’s awareness of the capabilities ofstructured cabling by specifying planning requirements for the support oflow-voltage, non-telecommunications applications, such as fire alarm, security, audio/video (A/V), and energy management, using modular RJ-45 style connectivity and twisted-pair cabling. Draft standards, such asthose under development by the IEEE 802.1 Audio Video Bridging (AVB)task force, go even further by specifying protocols that ensure high quality audio and video streaming over Ethernet. The advantages of AVBtechnology include potentially lower equipment costs, ease-of-installation, and the ability to network applications that traditionally operated on widely varying and non-compatible platforms. As would beexpected, network equipment manufacturers, such as Broadcom, arerushing to implement the IEEE 802.1 technology in their Ethernetswitches, end-point devices, physical layer devices (PHYs), and software.

In order to be a true building asset, today’s cabling systems must integratea wide range of emerging and future low-voltage building needs, whileensuring optimum quality of service and minimal disruptions, in an efficient and non-wasteful manner. ConvergeIT provides the followingsecure, scaleable, and flexible benefits in the enterprise environment:

Robust and flexible technology: ConvergeIT features Siemon’s entire family of 20-year warranty-backed cabling solutions and eliminatesthe need for proprietary cabling and connectivity. Category 5e, 6, and 6AUTP and F/UTP and category 7A S/FTP media support delivery of all low-voltage building automation and A/V applications, including thosesupported by PoE (Power over Ethernet) and PoE Plus. Multimode andsinglemode optical fiber solutions may be deployed as part of a ConvergeIT solution if prior consideration is given to the need to powerlow-voltage devices.

True network management: ConvergeIT supports low-voltage building automation and A/V systems being linked to the data network resulting in simplified infrastructure management and reduced complex-ity. This also provides a migration path for IP-enabled devices that can bemonitored, accessed, and managed by IT administrators. Device management facilitates initiatives to minimize energy waste (e.g.automatic lighting and HVAC control) and capabilities that can enhancebuilding security and emergency response time (e.g. motion and audiodetection).

ConvergeIT™

A structured cabling solution that is truly abuilding asset must be synergistic, efficient, reliable, and durable.

Siemon’s ConvergeITTM structured cabling solution features proven technology and supportsvoice, data, video, audio, wireless, building automation, security, and other low-voltage applications over one integrated network.

In many cases, a ConvergeIT network can also dramatically reduce the number of unused cablingpairs; thereby reducing the cost of cabling and wireless systems in commercial and residential buildings. ConvergeIT makes any building a greenerbuilding by reducing materials and waste and providing greater control of systems to optimize energy efficiency.

ConvergeIT turns your network cabling infrastructure into a buildingasset!


www.siemon.com

Co

nv

erg

eIT

™

3

Asset control: Converging multiple applicationsover one integrated cabling system enables real-time control of assets and information; a critical component of regulations such as the Sar-banes-Oxley (SOX) Act, the Health Insurance Portabil-ity and Accountability Act (HIPPA), the Real ID Act, theHomeland Security Presidential Directive, ISO 17799code of information security, and the Information Tech-nology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) for informationtechnology management.

Rapid deployment and reduced labor costs:

It is a fact that significant costs and time are associated with using multiple contractors to deployseparate low-voltage cable runs. ConvergeIT reduceslabor costs, construction time, and installation expensesbecause one structured cabling provider installs andservices all low-voltage, voice, and data applications.MAC (moves, adds, and changes) work is significantlysimplified and the redundancy associated with separatepathways is eliminated. In addition, the low-voltage cabling, which was traditionally left unmanaged after theinstallation, is now part of the administered network infrastructure.

Reduced number of unused pairs: Since manylow-voltage applications operate over just one (e.g. CATV or CCTV) or two (e.g. a PoE-enabled camera) pairs, there is a potential for substantial wastein the form of unused pairs when converged networksare deployed. ConvergeIT eliminates this waste by supporting cable sharing; a strategy whereby multiplelow-speed, high-density applications are deployed overone TERA category 7A/class FA channel. This standards-approved strategy can free-up valuablepathway space, provide cost savings, and may be leveraged along with other practices that reduce material and energy waste for green performance credits.

Supports green building initiatives: Strategiesthat decrease labor and deployment times, optimize material utilization, and maximize energy efficiency arekey factors in designing sustainable buildings and obtaining “green” building certification, The GreenBuilding Technology Alliance (GBTA), established byBICSI to develop innovation technology credits for theU.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy andEnvironmental Design (LEED®) certification system, isin the process of developing two to three innovationtechnology credits specifically related to structured cabling infrastructure. The current proposal is one creditfor physical layer technology and another one or twocredits for audiovisual deployment. ConvergeIT supports all areas of structured cabling infrastructureefficiency (e.g. reduced labor and rapid deployment provided by one contractor, support of cable sharingstrategies to reduce the number of unused pairs in aninstallation, intelligent HVAC control, and delivery ofevery audiovisual application) and maximizes the potential to qualify for all innovation technology creditsproposed by the GBTA.


4 www.siemon.com

Co

nv

erg

eIT

™

PlanningDue to the high variability in thenumber and type of low-voltageapplications found in differentend-user environments, it may bedifficult to approximate the number of cabling drops requiredto support a ConvergeIT network.

For planning purposes, table 1 provides an approximation of thecoverage area provided by one 4-pair ConvergeIT channel in a variety of environments. Remember that these coverageareas are typical (based uponstudies evaluated by the TIA TR-42.1 Commercial Building Cabling subcommittee)and do not include the two (2)telecommunications outlets thatshould be provided in each workarea.

- Networkedcomputers and servers

- Analog andVoIP phones

- PBX and Fax

- CATV (lengths may be less than 100meters if amplifiers are not used)

- HDMI, VGA, SVHS, andcomposite/component audio andvideo

- Satellite video signals- IPTV- Off-air or in-house video- In-house broadcast systems, overhead paging, and intercoms- Flat panel LCD computer displays and digital projectors (DVI)- Indoor digital signage

- LAN’s- Scanners and

readers (including RFID)

- HVAC (sensors actua-tors, control panels,etc.)

- Access control (card and biometricreaders)

- Lighting (sensors,control panels, dimmers, switches, etc.)

- Fire alarm systems (detectors, pull stations, control panels, enunciators, etc.)

- Time & attendance- Emergency lighting and pathway guidance

- CCTV (analog and IP-based) camera and monitors- Pan, tilt, zoom and remote

powered devices- Motion detectors- Glass-break and audio detectors

- Air handlers and ventilationequipment

- Oxygen, carbonmonoxide, andother gas sensors

- Temperature andhumidity sensors

- Infrared sensors

1 Voice & Data 2 A/V (Audio & Video) 3 Wireless Devices

4 Building Automation(BAS) HVAC

5 Security 6 Manufacturing

- Telemetry- Patient monitoring and nurse call- Smart blackboard and i-clicker

technology in the classroom- Touch screen systems- Interactive kiosks- Vending machines

7 Other Low Voltage Systems


www.siemon.com

Co

nv

erg

eIT

™

5

Floor Space Use Coverage Area (m2) Considerations

Classroom 25 Coverage area requirements may be centralized for security and access controls. Plan for the

unique low-voltage requirements for each area type (e.g. fire alarm safety system, access control,

and HVAC).

Data Center 25 Coverage area requirements may be centralized for security and access controls (e.g. security

cameras and sensors, access control, and HVAC)..

Hotel 25 Coverage area requirements may vary if low-voltage services have centralized control (e.g. HVAC,

fire alarm safety system, and access control).

Indoor Parking 50 Identify fire, security, carbon monoxide detection and HVAC requirements. Voice connections may be

required for security.

Manufacturing 50 Coverage area size may vary according to manufacturing processes, environment, and building

design (e.g. gas and temperature sensors, fire alarm safety system, access control, and ventilation).

Mechanical Room 5 Determine location of air handlers, chillers, boilers, pumps, fans, compressors, etc. Air handlers will

typically have a higher concentration of low-voltage devices.

Office 25 Coverage area sizes will typically be greater in an open office environment than in a dedicated office

space. Zone cabling is recommended for open office environments (see page 7).

Retail 25 Security requirements (e.g. CCTV, alarm, and access control) may increase the coverage area density

Cable SharingMany applications, such as security cameras, broadcastvideo, and device control, only transmit over one or two pairsof a 4-pair cable. When UTP or F/UTP copper media is deployed to support these applications, multiple unused pairscan contribute to excessive cable congestion, overfilled pathways, and additional cost. This obstacle can be over-come by utilizing the practice of cable sharing in conjunctionwith TERA category 7A/class FA cabling. Because of its fullyshielded construction, the signals on individual category 7Apairs are fully isolated from each other and multiple applications transmitting on just one or two pairs may be runover a TERA category 7A/class FA channel without concernfor interference. In fact, category 7A/class FA media is so robust, that two PoE applications (12.95 W maximum powerdelivered to the each powered device) can be supported overone TERA channel as long as power is delivered using IEEE802.3-2005 Alternative A!

In a typical ConvergeIT environment, a wide range of applications such VoIP (voice over IP), CATV, CCTV, Internet, security cameras, and intercom, which only utilizeone or two pairs for transmission, may be deployed. Assuming that these exact six services are required for a specific network implementation, providing a dedicated 4-pair cable for each low pair count application would require6 outlets at the work area or zone box; leaving a total of 16unused pairs! A more efficient solution would be to implement a cable sharing approach whereby each work areaor zone box would support the 6 services over two TERA category 7A/class FA channels. The recommended configuration of the two TERA outlets is shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1 :Typical ConvergeIT CableSharing Implementation

Table 1.Typical ConvergeIT Converge Area


Co

nv

erg

eIT

™

6 www.siemon.com

Traditional Cabling ApproachA traditional or “home run” structured ConvergeIT cabling design consists of horizontal cable run from the horizontal cross-connect in the telecommunications room (TR) directly to each equipment or work area outlet. If it is a requirement ofthe low-voltage application (e.g. RS-232, RS-442, or RS-485 circuits), multipoint bus and ring cabling topologies are also supported. A multipoint bus configuration allows multiple low-voltage devices to be attached to the same horizontal cablinglink (in this case, an endpoint termination or impedance matching device is typically used). As its name implies, a ring configuration allows two separate horizontal cabling links to be connected between one or more low-voltage devices. Maximum links lengths are limited to 90 meters (295 feet), independent of media, and the design shall comply with the requirements ANSI/TIA-568-C.13 , ISO/IEC 118014 , and applicable building automation standards1,2. Figure 2. shows an example traditional cabling topology where LAN cabling and security cameras are home run back to the TR and HVAC device/controller, access control, fire alarm, and lighting control are supported in a multipoint bus configuration.

The benefits of a traditional ConvergeIT structured cabling design include:

- Ease of deployment in small offices and spaces- Simple to label and administer- Abandoned cable can be quickly identified

LAN Cabling

HVAC Device/Controller

Access Control

Fire Alarm

Security Camera

Lighting

Figure 2 :ConvergeIT Cable SolutionTraditional Cabling Topology


www.siemon.com

Co

nv

erg

eIT

™

7

Zone Cabling ApproachA zoned structured ConvergeIT cabling design consists of horizontal cables run from the horizontal cross-connect in the telecommunications room (TR) to zone boxes serving as consolidation points (CPs). Zone boxes may be located in a raisedfloor, in the ceiling (consideration should be given to plenum requirements), within furniture, or mounted on a wall. Cables arethen patched from the zone box to the equipment and work area outlets. As with traditional topologies, multipoint bus and ringcabling configurations are supported if required by the application. Maximum link lengths and design requirements are also con-sistent with traditional cabling topologies. Figure 3 shows an example zoned cabling topology where horizontal cables are runfrom the TR to zone boxes and then patched to equipment/work area outlets supporting LAN, HVAC control, access control, fire alarm, security cameras, and lighting control devices.

The benefits of a zoned ConvergeIT structured cabling design include:

- Ease of deployment in large office and open office spaces- Facilitates the use of pre-terminated trunking cables for expedited installation- More efficient pathway utilization- Ease of adding new services and upgrading to IP-addressable devices- MAC work costs less and is faster and less disruptive since the cabling from the CP to the TR remains unchanged

(cabling is reconfigured from the CP to the work area only; enabling rapid reorganization of floor space).

LAN Cabling

HVAC Device/Controller

Access Control

Fire Alarm

Security Camera

Lighting

ZB

ZB

Figure 3:ConvergeIT CablingSolution TraditionalCabling Topology

ZB = Zone Box


Co

nv

erg

eIT

™

8 www.siemon.com

Zone Box Location: When deploying a zoned cabling solution, zone boxes shouldbe logically distributed in an open coverage area and shouldbe limited to serving a maximum of 12 equipment or work areaoutlets. Zone boxes shall be located in fully-accessible, fixedlocations such as permanent walls and building columns andshall not be located in obstructed areas. Zone boxes shall notbe installed in furniture that is not secured to the building structure.

TIA TSB-1626 and ISO/IEC 247047 offer guidance on locating wireless access points in ceiling spaces that can beapplied to zone box positioning. This approach supports allConvergeIT applications and may be especially convenient forthe management of installations where cable sharing is usedto support multiple applications operating over TERA category7A/class FA channels. A pattern of circles or grids with an associated coverage area radius can be defined, as shown inFigure 4, with the intention that equipment and work area outlets should be centrally located in their coverage area andzone boxes should be centrally located in their associated coverage area grid. Although the coverage area radius mayrange in size from 3 meters to 30 meters, a coverage area radius of 12 meters is generally recommended as an optimumsize to accommodate most ConvergeIT networks.

Zone BoxCoverage

Area

Wall

r ≤ 12m

Figure 4: Example of Distributed Zone Box Locations

ZU-3 (Zone Unit Enclusure) –User-friendly enclosure designedto house connecting hardwareunder raised flooring systems.

ZU-2 (Zone Unit Enclusure) –User-friendly enclosure designedto house connecting hardwareused in open office cablingsolutions.

ZU-MX24-0515 (24 Port MAX Zone Unit Enclusure) –The 24 port MAX zone unit enclosure is designed to safelyhouse Siemon connecting hardware under raised flooringsystems.

CPEV – Vertical consolidation pointenclosure provides comprehensive cablemanagement features in a secure anddecorative modular enclosure.

ZU-MZ-48 – A highdensity solution ideallyused with raised floorapplications.


www.siemon.com

Co

nv

erg

eIT

™

9

Life Safety and Seperation of Services

Low-voltage communications applications shall be separated from other electrical cabling and services in accordance with the latest applicable local and national code requirements and the local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). In the United States, Article 800 of the National Electrical Code® 11 describes life safety andelectrical safety considerations, including separation requirements, for communications cables including voice,audio, video, data, interactive services, and outside wiring for fire and burglar alarms from the communicationsutility to the customer’s communication equipment. Refer to Article 725 of the National Electrical Code® for information on Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3 remote control, signaling, and power limited circuits.

Low-Voltage Considerations

Table 2.Summary of Maximum Current Capacity and Operating Voltage supported by ConvergeIT Cabling

Characteristics of Low-Voltage Applications Suitable for Operation over Twisted-Pair Cabling

The maximum current capacity and operating voltage of low-voltage applications supported by ConvergeIT cabling are defined in the ANSI/TIA/EIA-8621 and ISO 164842 series building automation systems standards. A summary of the specified maximum operating conditions is provided in table 2. While there are limited πprovisions in these Standards for operation in wet (but, not immersed) environments, ConvergeIT cabling is suitable for installation in dry environments only. Additional information on the current carrying capacity of bundled cables, including guidance for minimizing temperature rise using higher category and screened andshielded cabling, is described in TIA TSB-1848 , the soon-to-be-published ISO/IEC 291259 , and Siemon’s whitepaper entitled, “IEEE 802.3at PoE Plus Operating Efficiency: How to Keep a Hot Application Running Cool” 10.


Co

nv

erg

eIT

™

10 www.siemon.com

Industry RecognitionHere’s what leading low-voltage device and network equipment manufacturers are saying about the Siemon ConvergeIT cabling solution:

"Siemon's ConvergeIT greatly improves the efficiency and flexibility of the structured cabling plant,providing a scalable foundation enabling convergence of a building's systems into a common IPnetwork environment. This helps us deliver to our clients the Johnson Controls® Technology Contracting™ approach of integrated, intelligent, sustainable buildings that have higher perform-ance and productivity with a lower life cycle cost, including lower energy use.”– Hugh Hudson, Director of Business Development, Johnson Controls

“ConvergeIT harmonizes with Cisco’s Internet Business Solutions Group (IBSG)Connected Real Estate Practice, which emphasizes the ability to facilitate intercom-munication and interaction among buildings and digital infrastructures” - Kevin O’Donnell, Executive Consultant, Internet Business Solutions Group, Cisco,United Kingdom

The IP-enabled network device market is growing fast. SiemonConvergeIT networks are ready to support these new andemerging intelligent building technologies.

Building costs are greatest during the operation phase. SiemonConvergeIT networks support device management implementationsthat can significantly improve building energy consumption, security,and emergency response time; thereby reducing operational costsand improving efficiency. In addition, ConvergeIT zoned cabling so-lutions positively impact overall cost and green performance by facil-itating rapid deployment in large coverage areas, efficient pathwaysutilization, ease of system upgrades, adds, moves, and changes,and rapid reorganization of floor space.

“50% of building costs incurred are during the operationphase.”12

“Because operational costs account for nearly 50% of a build-ing’s TCO over an estimated 40-year life span, any means of re-ducing that cost has a consideration impact, By comparison,construction costs only account for 11 percent of TCO.” 12

Operations Alterations Financing Construction

Traditional Cabling ConvergeIT™


www.siemon.com

Co

nv

erg

eIT

™

11

Additional Resources: These following white papers explore specific capabilities of ConvergeIT cabling in detail and can bedownloaded at: www.siemon.com

“Cable Sharing in Commercial Building Environments: Reducing Cost, Simplifying Cable Management and Converging Applications Onto Twisted-Pair Media”, 2007

“IEEE 802.3at PoE Plus Operating Efficiency: How to Keep a Hot Application Running Cool”, 2008

“Cabling Infrastructure and Green Building Initiatives”, 2008

“Getting the Picture - The Benefits of Supporting Video Applications with your IT Infrastructure”, 2009

References:1 ANSI/TIA/EIA-862, “Building Automation Systems Cabling Standard for Commercial Buildings”, 2002

(Note: the next edition of this Standard, proposed ANSI/TIA/EIA-862-A, is currently under development. )2 ISO 16484 Building Automation and Control series, “Part 1 - Building Automation and Control, pending publication”,

“Part 2 – Hardware, 2004”, “Part 3 – Functions, 2005”, “Part 4 – Applications, pending publication”, “Part 5 - DataCommunication Protocol, 2007”, and “Part 6 - Data Communication Conformance Testing, 2009”

3 ANSI/TIA/568-C.1, “Commercial Building Telecommunications Cabling Standard”, 20094 ISO/IEC 11801, 2nd Edition, “Information Technology – Generic cabling for customer premises”, 20025 IEEE 802.3-2005, “IEEE Standard for Information technology - Telecommunications and information exchange

between systems - Local and metropolitan area networks - Specific requirements Part 3: Carrier sense multiple access with collision detection (CSMA/CD) access method and physical layer specifications”, Section Two, Clause33 (incorporates the content of IEEE Std 802.3af-2003), December 2005

6 TIA TSB-162, “Telecommunications Cabling Guidelines for Wireless Access Points”, 20067 ISO/IEC TR 24704, “Information Technology – Premises Cabling for Wireless Access Points”, 20048 TIA TSB-184, “Guidelines for Supporting Power Delivery over Balanced Twisted-Pair Cabling”, 20099 ISO/IEC 29125, “Information technology – Telecommunications cabling guidelines for remote powering of data

terminal equipment”, pending publication10 Siemon, “IEEE 802.3at PoE Plus Operating Efficiency: How to Keep a Hot Application Running Cool”, 200811 National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70®, National Electrical Code®, 200812 Positioning Customers on the Path to Converge”, BICSI NEWS, March/April 2009

In a typical converged network environment, a wide range of applications (e.g. VoIP, CATV, CCTV, Internet, security cameras, automation control systems, and intercom) are deployed that utilize only one or two pairs for transmission.The benefits delivered by a ConvergeIT system, featuring cable sharing and TERA category 7A/class FA cabling include:

- Total number of unused pairs is reduced by up to 70%, - Less materials and waste resulting in a more

environmentally-conscious installation,- Maximum potential to qualify for all physical layer and audiovisual innovation technology credits proposed

by the Green Building Technology Alliance- A realized cost savings of greater than 30%!


CO

NV

ER

GE

IT

www.siemon.com

WORLD WIDE LOCATIONS

THE AMERICASUSA............................................................................(1) 866 474 1197Canada.......................................................................(1) 888 425 6165Columbia - Central and South America Main............(571) 317 2121Argentina....................................................................(54) 11 4706 0697Brasil..........................................................................(55) 11 3831 5552Mexico.......................................................................(52) 55 2881 0438Peru............................................................................(511) 275 1292Venezuela...................................................................(58) 212 992 5884

EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICAUnited Kingdom.........................................................(44) (0) 1932 571771Germany ....................................................................(49) (0) 69 97168 184France .......................................................................(33) 1 46 46 11 85Italy .......................................................................(39) 02 64 672 209

ASIA PACIFICAustralia (Sydney) .....................................................(61) 2 8977 7500Australia (Brisbane) ...................................................(61) 7 3854 1200Australia (Melbourne)................................................(61) 3 9866 5277Southeast Asia ...........................................................(65) 6345 9119 China (Shanghai).......................................................(86) 21 5385 0303China (Beijing) ..........................................................(86) 10 6559 8860China (Guangzhou).........................................................(86) 20 3882 0055China (Chengdu) .......................................................(86) 28 6680 1100India...........................................................................(91) 11 66629661............(91) 11 66629662Japan .........................................................................(81) (3) 5798 5790

© 2

010

Sie

mon

B

RC_C

onve

rgeI

T R

ev. B

2/1

0 (U

S)


Documents

Converge IT Siemon