Telecommunications Design Narrative.pdf

VA PROJECT NUMBER

PROJECT NAME

549-21-700 (2302) EHRM Infrastructure Upgrades - Dallas, TX

SUBMITTAL Final Bid Documents

SUBJECT Telecommunications Design Narrative

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TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS

1. GENERAL – Project Overview and Background

A. Project Information:

This project is to upgrade the facility’s infrastructure to support the new Electronic

Health Record Modernization (EHRM) system in accordance with VA OEHRM Site

Infrastructure Requirements for the Dallas VA Medical Center as part of the VA North

Texas Health Care System. The project shall include the following:

• Upgrading facility fiber-optic cabling throughout the buildings to each

Telecommunication Room (TR) or Telecommunication Enclosure (TE).

• Provide redundant fiber-optic cabling ring topology throughout each facility on campus to each TR and TE.

• Provide secondary fiber-optic cabling run to demarcation room from the provider point-of-presence (ISP).

o This will provide the required dual internet service providers to the campus.

• Design or remodel IT closets (Telecommunications Rooms/TRs and

Telecommunications Enclosures/TEs) throughout the facility adhering to the

EHRM guidelines.

o Providing design for new compliant TR’s and TE’s dedicated for OIT equipment.

o Maintain operations in existing TR’s that will continue to function housing

Non-OIT (FMS/BioMed, etc.) equipment after the OIT equipment is housed in the new TR’s.

• Upgrade facility HVAC and electrical distribution systems as required for TR and

TE locations.

• Provide a physical security assessment and upgrades as part of the design.

• Hazardous material assessment and plan of abatement as part of the design

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Buildings within scope of work are as follows:

• 1, 2, 2J, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13, 43, 44, 45, 60, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82, 87, TT46, TT47, TT48, TT49, TT50, TT51, TT52, TT53, TT54, TT55 and (3) buildings at Herzog Campus.

Field conditions have been verified with site surveys prior to this submittal package.

B. Scope of Work

The telecommunications (Divisions 27) scope of work will include the following:

i. Provide a design for redundant fiber-optic connectivity to and within scope of work buildings including but not limited to: buildings 1, 2, 2J, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13, 43, 44, 45, 60, 68, 69, 71, 72, 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82, TT46, TT47, TT48, TT49, TT50, TT51, TT52, TT54, TT55, and 3 buildings at Herzog.

ii. Buildings 1, 2, 2J, 3, 6, 8, 43, 70, 74, and 87 are to be treated as critical buildings. Buildings 60 and 72 are to be treated as essential.

2. TELECOMMUNICATIONS CODES AND STANDARDS

A. ICC/A117.1 Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities (2017)

B. IBC 2021 – International Building Code

C. IEBC 2021 – International Existing Building Code

D. NFPA 70-2023 - National Electrical Code (NEC)

E. NFPA 75-2020 - Standard for the Fire Protection of Information Technological

Equipment

F. NFPA 99-2021 – Health Care Facilities Code

G. NFPA 101-2021 – Life Safety Code

H. VA Office of Information & Technology (OIT) Infrastructure Standards for

Telecommunication Spaces Version 3.1 – July 1, 2021

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I. VA Office of Information & Technology (OIT) Design Guide Templates for

Critical Telecommunication Spaces – December 2018

J. VA PG-18-10 Telecommunications and Special Telecommunications Systems

Design Manual – February 2016

K. VA PSRDM Physical Security and Resiliency Design Manual 2020, 1 June

2023 Revision

L. BICSI and EIA/TIA Standards as defined in VA PG-18-10

3. TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEMOLITION

Demolition of telecommunications work shall include:

A. Existing TR and TE equipment confirmed to have been abandoned, or unnecessary shall be removed, relocated, and/or renovated to ensure EHRM compliance.

i. All existing infrastructure TR and TE (cabling, pathways, backboxes, faceplates, patch panels, switches, etc.) shall remain in place and operational until which time the new TR or TE which serves the original device’s function, has been installed, tested, and accepted.

ii. Equipment within TRs that are not being re-used shall be left functional and in place as to not disturb any Non-OIT systems that may be served by that room.

B. Existing work area outlets utilizing anything less than Category-6A cabling shall be removed or modified in order to utilize Category-6A type cabling.

i. In accordance with design alert 16, cabling density shall not be a

1:1 replacement. Standard density shall be two (2) Category-6A cables, unless otherwise specified on the drawings.

C. All horizontal cabling and their dedicated pathways and/or backboxes that are not utilized after installation of new cabling system.

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i. All existing work area outlets and their supporting infrastructure

(cabling, pathways, backboxes, faceplates, patch panels, switches, etc.) shall remain in place and operational until which time a new work area outlet or other type of data assembly that fulfills the original device’s function, has been installed, tested, and accepted.

D. All spline type cable tray above ceilings to be demolished in order to make room for installation of new compliant 12” x 4” nominally sized cable tray.

4. BUILDING TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS

A. Intra-building ISP backbone between TRs and main distribution areas (MDAs) for buildings within the scope of work shall consist of:

i. 24- -strands of OS1 single-mode cabling per path for all buildings.

1. Single-mode fiber optic cabling only due to requirements of

FAR part 36 – known future conditions of extension to future external data center.

i. All fiber strands shall be terminated using fusion splice, splice cassettes, or LC or MPO type connectors.

ii. Wherever possible, the new fiber backbone within the buildings will use existing pathways.

B. Inter-building OSP backbone between MDAs for buildings within the scope of work shall consist of:

i. 24-strand OS2 indoor/outdoor rated single mode fiber optic cabling per path for all critical and essential buildings.

1. Single-mode fiber optic cabling only due to requirements of

FAR part 36 – known future conditions of extension to future external data center.

i. All fiber optic cabling shall be single-mode type OS2.

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ii. All fiber strands shall be terminated using fusion splices, splice cassettes, or

LC or MPO type connectors.

iii. Wherever possible, the new fiber backbone around the site will use existing pathways.

C. Typical TR configuration:

i. All new telecommunications rooms will be provided with the following. The existing telecommunications rooms shall be updated as required.

ii. These rooms will be equipped with fire-rated plywood backboards on all walls,

(3) floor mounted channel racks overhead wire mesh cable tray for routing of cabling to the racks, and a new telecommunications ground bar (TGB). The

TGB will be tied into the existing telecommunications master ground bar for the building. All new equipment will be grounded and bonded as required by code and VA standards.

iii. New voice and data outlets will be installed in the new and renovated rooms within the scope of work. All cabling will be routed back to new patch panels within the new telecommunications room.

iv. Each new data drop location will consist of designated quantities of blue

Category-6A cables for data. Each cable will be terminated on angled, high-density, 48-port Category-6A patch panels in their designated TR.

v. Existing locations shall be re-used as required to support existing equipment to remain.

vi. Provide and install new fire-rated sleeves in all fire-rated walls along the cable pathways.

vii. Provide and install channel racks for installation of fiber optic patch panels

(Backbone fiber termination), Category-6A patch panels, network switches and any other equipment as required by OIT.

viii. Provide and install two 7’ x 6” wide double-sided vertical wire managers on each rack.

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ix. Provide and install new angled, high-density, 48-port Category-6A patch panels as required per quantity of new cables and spare capacity requirements.

x. Install cable runway from sidewall to sidewall over the channel rack. Install cable runway from front to back of room to provide stability. Connect rack to the cable runway for support and to provide a cable pathway. Use seismically rated butt and junction splice kits.

xi. Provide and install cable waterfalls at rack and cabinet locations to provide a smooth cable transition from the cable runway into the racks.

xii. Ensure that all grounding and bonding is complete. Two screw bonding lugs need to be installed.

xiii. Provide and install new cable sleeves matching the fire rating level for the room in which it is located, for all new cabling. Size as needed for cable quantities.

D. Telecommunications Systems Phasing

i. This project involves working in and re-configuring mostly occupied and active

TRs. In addition, because it is a hospital, most circuits are considered critical and cannot be interrupted at random. Therefore, this work will require careful coordination with both the departments being affected and the hospital IT department. Because of the critical nature of these data circuits, night work will be required in some instances and extra care will need to be taken so as not to create excessive noise, dust, or debris. Flexibility is a must. Work will likely move from department to department without the ability to complete any given department in one shot. Some departments may require numerous trips in order to complete the work. Extreme care must be taken to ensure that no data circuits are disrupted. The contractor will need to be immediately responsive to restore any service interruption due to accidental disconnects/cuts. No system shall be taken offline without prior testing and

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approval. Approval must be requested in writing a minimum of four weeks in advance to proposed shutdown.

5. GENERAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT

A. Cable Raceways, Pathways, Cable Trays, Cable Ducts, Conduits, and Boxes

i. All telecommunications cabling will be Category-6A routed in raceways, cable trays, and penetrations. Voice cabling will be terminated with RJ-45 (8P/8C) jacks and data cabling will be terminated with RJ-45 (8P/8C) jacks.

ii. Minimum raceway size for work area outlets will be 1.25”. Maximum conduit fill will not exceed 40%.

iii. Minimum cable tray size will be 12” wide with 4” high sidewalls. Maximum cable tray fill will not exceed 40%.

iv. The minimum radius of the telecommunication conduit bend shall be in accordance with specification section 27 05 33 – 3.1.C.8

v. J-hooks are acceptable when cable tray and raceways are not compatible with space allowed.

B. Outlets

i. Work area outlets will consist of 4-11/16” SQUARE, 3-5/8” backboxes with single-gang, four, or six-port faceplates. Unused blanks should be filled with spacers while not being used.

ii. In accordance with design alert 16, cabling for existing work area outlets being upgraded to Category-6A shall not be a 1:1 replacement. Standard density for upgraded work area outlets shall be two (2) Category-6A cables, unless otherwise specified on the drawings.

6. GROUNDING AND BONDING

A. Grounding and bonding will be provided in accordance with the NEC, VA PG-

18-10 and EIA/TIA 607 Standards latest additions.

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B. A main telecommunications ground bar (TGB) will be located in the

Telecommunications Room and connected to the main electrical service ground for the building.

C. All metallic raceways, cable trays and basket trays will be grounded and bonded.

D. All equipment racks will be bonded to the TGB with a minimum #6 AWG stranded copper wire.

7. Project Phasing

A. Project shall be phased to eliminate as many disruptions to current health care services provided throughout the existing facility as possible. Construction phasing plans are to be developed by the Contractor and approved by the VA to eliminate disruption entirely or keep required disruptions to the absolute minimum.

B. Emergency egress shall not be compromised during construction. When work is being performed in an emergency egress pathway, alternate routes with signage must be made available.

C. Contractor parking and staging areas have not been identified. Staging for construction materials will be available as close as possible to affected buildings, if necessary, during construction.

D. Contractor is responsible for building demolition, remediation, and construction throughout construction process until the work is accepted by the VA. While on station, contractor shall coordinate with VA COR prior to all construction phasing and staging.

E. Existing TR’s are to remain operational for FMS/BioMed services after construction need to be phased so that there is no interruption of service during construction.

F. Areas with new TR’s shall maintain operations for OIT supported devices/equipment from their existing TR’s equipment until new TR’s and updated horizontal cabling to the devices/equipment has been installed, tested, and accepted.

G. Coordinate all concurrent projects as applicable with VA.

END DIVISION 27