Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1347119
April/May/June 2021 I 53 FIGURE 3: A Category 6A (Cat 6A) UTP cable, featuring a discontinuous foil construction, used to connect and power all devices. ENSURING A ROBUST DIGITAL BUILDING ARCHITECTURE While collaboration was key to meeting the "PoE of Everything" goal, achieving a fully integrated intel- ligent building also requires the right digital architecture capable of supporting all connected IP-and PoE-enabled devices, regardless of transmission speed or remote powering level. Deploying a single cabling system was also key to eliminating multiple cable types and easing the implementation of new devices and technologies. "Every networked device in the facility is powered via PoE and connected via category 6A (Cat 6A) cabling. We even specified Cat 6A for the building automation system even though it did not require that level of perfor- mance. It was more about having one cabling type for the entire building to better support future moves, adds and changes," says Mobach. The Cat 6A unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) system selected for the network infrastructure included cable with a discontinuous foil construction that enabled easy installation and a smaller cable diameter, while providing superior 10 Gb/s transmission performance and improved heat dissipation for PoE (Figure 3). The network infrastructure was used to connect and power all devices, including: • Lighting nodes and architectural fixtures • Emergency lighting systems • Wireless access points (WAPs) • Security surveillance cameras • Door access control devices • Audiovisual displays and equipment • Sound masking systems • Public safety and cellular distributed antenna systems • Electro-chromatic glass • Vending machines and cafeteria point-of-sale systems • Electric vehicle charging stations and smart parking devices • HVAC, elevator control, and other building automation devices Several of the devices were also connected using field-terminated plugs in a modular plug terminated link (MPTL) configuration that allowed for quick connections directly into the devices. An MPTL configuration is now recognized within TIA and BICSI standards as an option for connecting devices wherever the use of an outlet and patch cord is not feasible (Figure 4). FIGURE 4: Field-terminated plugs were utilized for custom-length quick direct connections into devices using an MPTL configuration.