Attachment_M_-_GSA_OFM_Standards_for_Installing_Network_Cabling_in_Electrical_Equipment.pdf

GSA OFM Standards for Installing Network Cabling in Electrical Equipment

GSA PBS FMSP Standards for Installing Network Cabling in Electrical Equipment 1

� The goal of this document is to illustrate requirements that will allow non-electricians to safely troubleshoot network problems associated with or affecting the Advanced Metering System or other devices without requiring a licensed electrician to open electrical enclosures housing high voltage.

� High voltage is defined within this document as any electrical potential exceeding 30 Volts.

� The Contractor must modify all indicated electrical advanced metering locations in such a way as to allow network cables to be unplugged and tested outside of any electrical enclosure housing high voltage. See

Figure 1. Patch cable connected to meter must be rated for 600V.

� The Contractor must relocate any switches and any accompanying IT equipment to the outside of any electrical enclosures housing high voltage. Switches must be mounted inside of an approved enclosure that contains no high voltage, with all cables properly securely/suspended. See Figure 2.

� For outside installations it will be necessary to have the all switches and network cables terminate inside of a

NEMA 3 enclosure. These NEMA 3 enclosures cannot contain high voltage.

� It is not acceptable to run the power cord of a switch or UPS into a cabinet housing high voltage. This is to ensure a switch or UPS can be replaced without requiring an electrician. A separate outlet must be provided outside of the high voltage cabinet. See Figure 3.

� It is permissible to install a standard 120 volt outlet (installed in a single-gang outlet box with a cover) in the switch enclosure to power the switch and any accompanying UPS. The enclosure must be divided into high and low voltage sections with the outlet facing into the low voltage section. The high voltage section must have a separate cover that remains in place when accessing the low voltage side of the enclosure. The high voltage wiring must enter and be contained within the high voltage side of the enclosure. See Figure 2.

� Inside of buildings it may be permissible, at the Building Manager’s discretion, to install an exposed loop of

CAT5/CAT6 cable outside of the switchgear as long as it is properly secured/suspended. All cabling in electrical and mechanical spaces must be in conduit unless otherwise permitted by the Building Manager in writing.

� The Contractor must re-terminate any existing CAT5/CAT6 cables which have RJ45 terminations that do not meet GSA CAT5/CAT6 cabling standards. See Figure 4.

� If a situation occurs where a fiber-optic cable must enter a cabinet housing high voltage, fiber-optic patch cables must be used internally and routed outside of the cabinet to a fiber-optic patch panel where they can be connected to other fiber-optic cables, allowing an IT technician to service the cables external to the high voltage cabinet.

Figure 1: CAT5/CAT6 external disconnect diagram.

GSA PBS FMSP Standards for Installing Network Cabling in Electrical Equipment 2

Figure 2: Switch enclosure with high/low compartments and UPS.

Figure 3: Prohibited configurations.

GSA PBS FMSP Standards for Installing Network Cabling in Electrical Equipment 3

Figure 4: RJ45 diagram showing proper patch cable wire order and jacket clamp.