“Niagara” 1857 Frederic Edwin Church
Although the 2024 Revision is substantially complete there are a number of technical and administrative issues to be resolved before the final version is released for public use. Free access to the most recent edition is linked below.
2027 UPC/UMC CODE DEVELOPMENT TIMELINE
Report on Comments for the 2024 Uniform Plumbing Code
— Leslie (@Hopeleslie1234) August 10, 2024
“The more abundant the information in the world,
the more economics becomes the science of allocating attention.”
— George Gilder
Today we break down the literature for building, maintaining and supporting the computing infrastructure of education communities. We use the term “infotech” gingerly to explain action for a broad span of technologies that encompass enterprise servers and software, wireless and wired networks, campus phone networks, and desktop computers that provide administrative services and career tech video production. The private sector has moved at light speed to respond to the circumstances of the pandemic; so have vertical incumbents evolving their business models to seek conformance revenue in this plasma-hot domain.
Starting 2023 we break down the topic accordingly:
Infotech 100: Survey of the principal standards developing organizations whose catalogs are incorporated by reference into federal and state legislation. Revision cycles.
Infotech 200: Campus computing facilities for research and education
Infotech 300: Communication networks, wired and unwired at the demarcation point; crucial for defining the responsibilities and boundaries between the service provider and the customer.
Infotech 400: System, middleware and application for education and research
We have begun to track case studies of satellite-based internet services to rural and remote schools and community colleges.
Throughout 2025 we will expand our inquiry in this time slot. There are obvious global security issues to enlighten approaches to assuring communication security if, for example, undersea cables are maliciously destroyed.
The literature radiates continually by consortia, open-source, or ad hoc standards-setting domains rather than the private standards system administered by global and standards setting bodies; to wit:
International:
IEC (EN 50600), IET, ISO, ITU
Vocabulary
United States:
Data Center Operations and Maintenance Best Practices
Everywhere else:
3GPP & 3GPP2, Apache Software Foundation, ISTE, OneM2M, Uptime Institute
The ICT domain is huge, replacing physical libraries. The foregoing is a highly curated sample.
We continue to include teaching and learning media standards on our colloquia however it is likely that will break up this topic into at least two related colloquia as 2023 proceeds; with primary focus on the design, construction and maintenance of the physical ICT infrastructure. Much depends upon the interest of our clients, colleagues and other stakeholders. We collaborate closely with the IEEE Education and Healthcare Electrotechnology Committee.
Use the login credentials at the upper right of our home page.
Today we get down in the weeds to examine the point of common coupling between a building and a telecommunication service provider.
Education facilities often require a more diverse approach to designing and implementing ICT systems than that of a typical commercial building. First of all, educational settlements are frequently one building. That means not only does the ICT infrastructure need to meet the varying demands of a specific building, but multiple buildings must all be integrated into one cohesive design.
In an environment of providing multifunctional spaces within one building, it is common to find a combination of commercial, industrial, data center, health care and entertainment environments within just a few buildings; hence our preference for the word “settlements” over the more widely used word “campus”.
ANSI/TIA-568-C series: Telecommunications Cabling Standards. Specifies the requirements for various aspects of structured cabling systems, including cabling components, installation, and testing.
TIA-569-B: Telecommunications Pathways and Spaces. Provides guidelines for the design and installation of pathways and spaces for telecommunications cabling.
TIA-606-B: Administration Standard for Commercial Telecommunications Infrastructure. Specifies administration practices for the telecommunications infrastructure of commercial buildings.
Our inquiry cuts across the catalogs of several other standards developers:
NEC (National Electrical Code). NEC Article 800 specifically addresses the installation of communications circuits and equipment.
ISO/IEC 11801: Information technology — Generic cabling for customer premises. Defines generic telecommunications cabling systems (structured cabling) used for various services, including voice and data.
IEEE 802.3: Ethernet Standards. Defines standards for Ethernet networks, which are commonly used for data communication in buildings.
UL 497: Protectors for Paired Conductor Communications Circuits. Addresses requirements for protectors used to safeguard communications circuits from overvoltage events.
GR-1089-CORE: Electromagnetic Compatibility and Electrical Safety. Published by Telcordia (now part of Ericsson), this standard provides requirements for the electromagnetic compatibility and electrical safety of telecommunications equipment.
FCC Part 68: Connection of Terminal Equipment to the Telephone Network. Outlines the technical requirements for connecting terminal equipment to the public switched telephone network in the United States.
Local building codes and regulations also include requirements for the installation of telecommunication service equipment.
TIA recently collaborated with @CanEmbUSA to host a thought-provoking discussion on Building Trusted Global Networks Together. We left the event feeling confident that through collaboration and innovation, we can unlock the full potential of the connected world! pic.twitter.com/Bei2FeW38X
— TIA (@TIAonline) November 15, 2023
Last update: October 12, 2019
All school districts, colleges, universities and university-affiliated health care systems have significant product, system, firmware and labor resources allocated toward ICT. Risk management departments are attentive to cybersecurity issues. All school districts, colleges, universities and university-affiliated health care systems have significant product, system, firmware and labor resources allocated toward ICT.
The Building Industry Consulting Service International (BICSI) is a professional association supporting the advancement of the ICT community. This community is roughly divided between experts who deal with “outside-plant” systems and “building premise” systems on either side of the ICT demarcation point. BICSI standards cover the wired and wireless spectrum of voice, data, electronic safety & security, project management and audio & video technologies. Its work is divided among several committees:
BICSI Standards Program Technical Subcommittees
BICSI International Standards Program
BICSI has released for public review a new consensus document that supports education industry ICT enterprises: BICSI N1 – Installation Practices for Telecommunications and ICT Cabling and Related Cabling Infrastructure. You may obtain a free electronic copy from: standards@bicsi.org; Jeff Silveira, (813) 903-4712, jsilveira@bicsi.org.
Comments are due November 19th.
You may send comments directly to Jeff (with copy to psa@ansi.org). This commenting opportunity will be referred to IEEE SCC-18 and the IEEE Education & Healthcare Facilities Committee which meets 4 times monthly in American and European time zones and will meet today. CLICK HERE for login information.
Issue: [18-191]
Category: Telecommunications, Electrical, #SmartCampus
Colleagues: Mike Anthony, Jim Harvey, Michael Hiler
Readings:
What is Grounding and Bonding for Telecommunication Systems?
Adhiyamaan College of Engineering
Information and communications technology (ICT) is a fast-moving economic space in which a mix of consensus, consortia and open-source standards form the broad contours of leading practice. ICT standards tend to follow international developments — more so than, say, fire safety standards which are more familiar to education facility leadership. All school districts, colleges, universities and university-affiliated health care systems have significant product, system, firmware and labor resources allocated toward ICT.
The Building Industry Consulting Service International (BICSI) is a professional association supporting the advancement of the ICT community in all markets. This community is roughly divided between experts who deal with “outside-plant” systems and “building premise” systems on either side of the ICT demarcation (or Point-of-Presence). BICSI standards cover the wired and wireless spectrum of voice, data, electronic safety & security, project management and audio & video technologies. Its work is divided among several committees as shown in the landing page of its standards setting enterprise, linked below:
BICSI International Standards Program
The stars on the map above indicate where BICSI Standards are currently in use (CLICK ON IMAGE).
Education communities are stewards of significant information and communication technology infrastructure. Accordingly, we track the development of BICSI 009 Data Center Operations and Maintenance Best Practices. This title provides requirements, recommendations, and best practices for the operation and maintenance of data centers including but not limited to standard operating procedures, emergency operating procedures, maintenance, governance, and management. Those comments are now being integrated into a revised standard to be released as soon as the restrictions of the pandemic are eased. For more information you may communicate directly with Jeff Silveira (jSilveira@bicsi.org)
As of this posting, all BICSI best practice titles are stable and current; though our recent communication with its leadership indicates that BICSI standards setting has been slowed by the pandemic.
A fair amount of content in BICSI standards are inspired by movement in safety concepts of the National Electrical Code; particularly on matters involving wiring, grounding and lightning protection. We maintain all BICSI best practice titles on the standing agenda of our Infotech 200 teleconference. See our CALENDAR for the next online meeting; open to the public. On this topic we collaborate with the IEEE Education & Healthcare Facilities Committee meets four times monthly in European and American time zones; also open to the public.
Issue: [19-30]
Category: Telecommunications, Infotech
Colleagues: Mike Anthony, Jim Harvey, Michael Hiler
LEARN MORE:
Did you know BICSI offers a complete library of our award winning technical manuals and published standards? Available in print or electronic download, this set is a perfect resource for your company. Learn more: https://t.co/fzBA8hqve9 pic.twitter.com/y9duVe0fCG
— BICSI (@BICSI) December 15, 2018
📢 Academic institutions: The time to make a global impact is NOW!
Join the INCITS Executive Board to collaborate with experts worldwide and shape ICT standards. Bridge academia and industry for innovation and excellence.
🔗 https://t.co/G9vknxQY2Y
🔗 https://t.co/lGh8G4eiL4 pic.twitter.com/iM7AVhWxb9— INCITS (@INCITS) January 9, 2025
“A medieval missionary tells that he has found the point where heaven and Earth meet…” CLICK IMAGE
As ANSI’s United States Technical Advisory Group Leader, the International Committee on Information Technology Standards manages public consultations originating from the Geneva partner organizations that coordinate national standards organizations such as ANSI. The IEC develops its consensus titles in relatively smaller parcels which means that public review can be released in batches of 10 to 100 at a time. We see the same tsunami-like releases coming from ISO subcommittees. Hard to keep up with but we try; giving priority to titles incorporated by reference into codes, standards and regulations at the state and federal level. Meaningful information affecting #TotalCostofOwnership of education communities are typically buried deep, deep into best practice literature.
By comparison, most US-based standards setting organizations bundle best practice concepts into chapters and books. The books are big but they move more slowly and, arguably, have been superceded within weeks; a discussion for another colloquium.
A broad overview of INCITS information and communication standards setting is linked below:
Note that the titles are product titles (not interoperability) titles. We generally devote resources to interoperability titles for reasons we explain in our ABOUT.
We collaborate closely with the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, the world’s largest professional organization for the world’s most transformative technologies. Every 12 hours our algorithm picks up commenting opportunities relevant to the business side of the education industry and redirects them to the subject matter experts in the IEEE Education & Healthcare Facilities Committee which meets 4 times monthly in European and American time zones.
This much said, we always encourage direct participation in INCITS standards setting activity and in its administrative role as the US TAG to ISO/IEC Joint Technical Committee 1. CLICK HERE to get started on your own.
The INCITS suite is included on the syllabus of our Infotech and Global See our CALENDAR for the next online meeting; open to everyone.
More
Freely available ISO/IEC JTC1 Standards
The bookwheel, also known as a revolving bookcase, was invented by an Italian scholar and polymath named Agostino Ramelli. Ramelli was born in 1531 in Ponte Tresa, a town in present-day Italy, and he lived during the Renaissance period.
Ramelli’s invention, described in his work titled “Le diverse et artificiose machine del capitano Agostino Ramelli” (The Various and Ingenious Machines of Captain Agostino Ramelli), was published in 1588. This book showcased a collection of 195 mechanical devices.
Ramelli’s work contributed to the growing interest in mechanical inventions during the Renaissance period. His bookwheel design remains a fascinating example of early engineering and ingenuity, highlighting the desire for knowledge and practical solutions in the pursuit of learning and scholarly endeavors.
2026 NEC Articles 645-646-647 Information Technology Equipment, et. al First Draft Report
2026 NEC Articles 645-646-647 Information Technology Equipment, et. al Second Draft Report
“Bookwheel” Early Data Center
The standard of care for wiring safety for data centers — a continually expanding presence in education communities even before the pandemic — is established in National Electrical Code Articles 645 (Information Technology Equipment), Article 646 (Modular Data Centers) and Article 647 (Sensitive Electronic Equipment). You will notice that these articles cover the topic comprehensively and bear the imprint of competing Producer-Interest groups. There are no User-Interest representatives on Code-Making Panel 12 that represent the final fiduciary in education communities even though education communities are one of the largest markets for information and communication technology systems.
The current version of NFPA 70 is linked below:
Transcripts of technical committee action during the 2026 revision (CMP-16) are linked below because they will inform our recommendations for the 2026 National Electrical Code. Keep in mind that the Technical Correlating Committee is moving content around the Code in order to make the NEC easier to use by experts.
CMP-16 First Draft Report | Public Input with Committee Response
The transcripts of technical committee action during the 2023 revision are linked below because they will inform our recommendations for the 2026 National Electrical Code.
Code‐Making Panel 12 Public Input Report
Code-Making Panel 12 Public Comment Report
We will use these in our exploration of what we might propose for improvements in the 2026 revision. Public comment on the First Draft of the 2026 Edition will be received until August 28th.
The issues that have been in play in these articles of the NEC are familiar to veterans of the “food fight” – occupancy classification, cable specifications, fire protection, ventilation, energy consumption, surge protection, licensing of engineers. etc. We look for market-making excesses by opposing stakeholders that seek to limit their risk while raising the (financial) risk to education communities.
We encourage our colleagues to participate in the NFPA code development process directly. We also encourage stakeholders in education communities — students, faculty and staff to join us during any of the teleconferences we co-host with the IEEE Education & Healthcare Facilities Committee 4 times monthly in both European and American time zones. See our CALENDAR for the next online meeting.
NFPA 75: Standard for the Fire Protection of Information Technology Equipment
2024 International Building Code: Special Detailed Requirements Based on Occupancy and Use
2024 International Building Code: Section 304.1 Business Group B
Financial Presentations & Webcasts
Here we shift our perspective 120 degrees to understand the point of view of the Producer interest in the American national standards system (See ANSI Essential Requirements). The title of this post draws from the location of US and European headquarters. We list proposals by a successful electrical manufacturer for discussion during today’s colloquium:
2026 National Electrical Code
CMP-1: short circuit current ratings, connections with copper cladded aluminum conductors, maintenance to be provided by OEM, field markings
CMP-2: reconditioned equipment, receptacles in accessory buildings, GFCI & AFCI protection, outlet placement generally, outlets for outdoor HVAC equipment(1)
(1) Here we would argue that if a pad mount HVAC unit needs service with tools that need AC power once every 5-10 years then the dedicated branch circuit is not needed. Many campuses have on-site, full-time staff that can service outdoor pad mounted HVAC equipment without needing a nearby outlet. One crew — two electricians — will run about $2500 per day to do anything on campus.
CMP-3: No proposals
CMP-4: solar voltaic systems (1)
(1) Seems reasonable – spillover outdoor night time lighting effect upon solar panel charging should be identified.
CMP-5: Administrative changes only
CMP-6: No proposals
CMP-7: Distinction between “repair” and “servicing”
CMP-8: Reconditioned equipment
CMP-9: Reconditioned equipment
CMP-10: Short circuit ratings, service disconnect, disconnect for meters, transformer secondary conductor, secondary conductor taps, surge protective devices, disconnecting means generally, spliced and tap conductors, more metering safety, 1200 ampere threshold for arc reduction technology, reconditioned surge equipment shall not be permitted, switchboard short circuit ratings
CMP-11: Lorem
CMP-12: Lorem
CMP-13: Lorem
Lorem ipsum
Today at the usual hour we review a selection of global building codes and standards that guide best practice for safety, accessibility, and functionality for day care facilities; with special interest in the possibilities for co-locating square footage into the (typically) lavish unused space in higher education facilities.
Use the login credentials at the upper right of our home page.
“Kindergarten” 1885 Johann Sperl
“A Group of Children Playing the Game ‘Oranges and Lemons’ in a Domestic Interior”
Harry Brooker (1848-1940)https://t.co/YpxsSUf8nV pic.twitter.com/kjhgJvYxPs— Standards Michigan (@StandardsMich) February 24, 2025
This facility class has many names but is similar in our approach to them: the settings that provide primary care in a visible, central service. After the chapel, the library, the kitchen and the classroom, the on-campus medical center is a central fixture. These clinics typically provide basic medical services primarily aimed at addressing the immediate health needs of students and sometimes staff. These clinics are often staffed by a nurse or a small team of healthcare professionals such as nurse practitioners or physician assistants.
Access to school-based clinics is often limited to students and staff during school hours. They may not be open during weekends, holidays, or outside of regular school hours.
University of Michigan Health Service: Reproductive Health
University of Vermont: Primary Care at Student Health Services
University of North Dakota Student Health Services
University of Chicago Student Sexual Health
University of California System Abortion Services
During today’s open door session we examine the literature relevant to making this facility class safer, simpler, lower-cost and longer-lasting in the links below, including open public consultation close dates:
New update alert! The 2022 update to the Trademark Assignment Dataset is now available online. Find 1.29 million trademark assignments, involving 2.28 million unique trademark properties issued by the USPTO between March 1952 and January 2023: https://t.co/njrDAbSpwB pic.twitter.com/GkAXrHoQ9T
— USPTO (@uspto) July 13, 2023
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