Exhibit_E_-_Towson_University_IT_Infrastructure_Standards.pdf

IT INFRASTRUCTURE

STANDARDS

4/23/2025

TOWSON UNIVERSITY

8000 York Road, Towson, MD 21252

Exhibit E. IT Infrastructure Standards TU-2529 | Towson Run Data Cable Upgrade i

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 OVERVIEW

1.1 PURPOSE

1.2 ORGANIZATION

1.3 GUIDANCE FOR CONSULTANTS

1.4 SCOPE CONFLICTS

1.5 CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENT CONFLICTS

1.6 QUALITY ASSURANCE

1.7 SUBMITTALS

1.8 DOCUMENTS

1.9 APPLICABLE STANDARDS

2 DESIGN STANDARDS

2.1 CONVENTIONS

2.2 OUTSIDE PLANT CABLE

2.3 RISER CABLE

2.4 END-STATION CABLE

2.5 CABLE PATHWAYS & SUPPORTS

2.6 CONDUITS & FIRE STOPPING

2.7 TELECOMMUNICATION ROOMS

2.8 RADIO FREQUENCY EMISSIONS

3 PARTS & MATERIALS

3.1 BACKBOARDS

3.2 CABLE SUPPORTS

3.3 LIU’S AND FIBER-OPTIC CONNECTORS

3.4 HORIZONTAL UTP CABLE

3.5 PATCH PANELS

3.6 110 BLOCKS

3.7 EQUIPMENT RACKS

3.8 FIRE STOPPING

3.9 J-HOOK PATHWAYS

3.10 OUTLET BOXES

3.11 OUTSIDE PLANT CABLE

3.12 POWER RECEPTACLES

3.13 RISER CABLE

3.14 SPLICE CASES

3.15 UNSPECIFIED EQUIPMENT

3.16 VOICE/DATA JACKS AND COVER PLATES

4 PART 4 – EXECUTION

4.1 GENERAL EXECUTION REQUIREMENTS

4.2 UNACCEPTABLE WORK

4.3 COORDINATION WITH OTHER TRADES

4.4 LABELING

ii

4.5 GROUNDING AND BONDING REQUIREMENTS

4.6 TESTING AND INSPECTION

4.7 SYSTEM PERFORMANCE

4.8 FINAL ACCEPTANCE

4.9 AS BUILT DOCUMENTATION

4.10 WARRANTY

5 GLOSSARY OF TERMS

6 CHANGE LOG

Overview 1

1 OVERVIEW

1.1 Purpose

1.1.1 This document describes Towson University’s IT infrastructure standards for its cable plant and its data, telephone, and television network.

1.1.2 This standard references a set of industry standards to which the University’s IT infra-structure must conform and supplements them with University-specific requirements.

1.1.3 The University provides this document to consultants developing construction docu-ments, bidders bidding on cabling projects, and contractors performing cabling work.

1.1.4 For a consultant developing construction documents, it provides the information re-quired to design an IT infrastructure that is consistent with Towson University’s IT infrastructure standards and to integrate that design into construction documents.

1.1.5 For a bidder bidding on a University cabling project that contains or references this document, it defines acceptable materials, execution requirements, and other infor-mation required to develop a bid.

1.1.6 For a contractor executing cabling work, it provides instructions and requirements for performing the work.

1.2 Organization

1.2.1 This document is divided into four parts:

a) Overview

b) Design standards

c) Parts & Materials

d) Execution

1.2.2 Each part is organized into sections and subsections.

1.2.3 Each provision of the standard has a unique identifier to make them easy to reference.

1.3 Guidance for Consultants

1.3.1 This section contains guidance for consultants developing construction documents.

1.3.2 A consultant must understand this document thoroughly.

1.3.3 The design specifications section provides the high-level information a consultant needs to design the IT infrastructure.

1.3.4 Parts & Materials

Overview 2

This document specifies parts and materials by:

a) Performance characteristics.

b) Specific manufacturer and part number.

Parts and materials specified by performance characteristics can be any part by any manufacturer that meets or exceeds the specified performance characteristics except for manufacturers or part numbers expressly prohibited by this document.

Parts and materials specified by manufacturer and part number are specific parts that must be used.

1.3.5 Telecommunication Rooms

This document goes to great length to specify the bare minimum requirements for Telecommunication rooms. Therefore, they must meet the requirements in this document must be met. There is no room for flexibility.

The most common problem and source of frustration for all parties during the development of construction documents is improperly located and sized telecom-munications rooms.

To ensure telecommunication rooms are properly located and sized, the consult-ant must:

a) Ensure telecommunication room requirements are included in the conceptual design document along with programming for all other parts of the building, with worst-case square footage and specific requirements for their location.

b) Ensure that telecommunication room requirements are included in all submissions of the design development documents, that the telecommunication rooms are clearly shown on drawings, and that their size and location meets requirements.

c) Ensure that telecommunication room requirements are met in all submissions during the construction document development.

1.3.6 Frequently Missed Items

Equipment racks, wire management, patch panels, faceplates, and jacks are all specified by manufacturer and part number are frequently missed.

The requirement for penetrations through fire rated structures, particularly the cable count threshold for the use of conduit with fire stopping vs EZ-Path fire barriers, is frequently missed.

The color-coding for category 6 and 6A UTP is frequently missed.

The color-coding and specific part numbers for category 6 and 6A jacks is fre-quently missed.

Overview 3

1.4 Scope Conflicts

1.4.1 This section pertains to projects where the University provides this document to a bidder as part of a bid package or references it in a bid package.

1.4.2 Bidders must bring conflicts between the scope of work and this document to the University’s attention for clarification.

1.4.3 If a bidder fails to bring such conflicts to the University for clarification, this document takes precedence unless the scope of work explicitly states it overrides this document.

1.5 Construction Document Conflicts

1.5.1 This section pertains to projects where a design consultant integrates these standards into construction documents used for bid.

1.5.2 The design consultant is solely responsible for integrating these requirements into the construction documents.

1.5.3 The University’s review of construction document submissions in no way relieves the design consultant of his responsibility to integrate these requirements into the con-struction document.

1.5.4 The design consultant must bring conflicts between this document and the construc-tion documents to the University’s attention for clarification.

1.5.5 If the design consultant fails to bring such conflicts to the University’s attention, this document takes precedence.

1.6 Quality Assurance

1.6.1 The contractor must perform work in accordance with the BISCI Methods Manual.

1.6.2 The contractor must perform work in accordance with the EIA/TIA Building Tele-communications Wiring Standards.

1.6.3 The bidder is responsible for bringing conflicts between this document and the BICSI or EIA/TIA standards to the University for clarification.

1.6.4 If the bidder fails to bring such conflicts to the University for clarification, the more stringent standard applies.

1.7 Submittals

1.7.1 If site conditions prohibit installation as shown on the drawings, the installer must submit the required changes to Towson University for approval prior to installation.

1.7.2 The contractor must submit cut sheets for each part or material required for the pro-ject that this document specifies by performance characteristics for the University’s review and approval prior to ordering.

1.7.3 The contractor must submit all installation procedures that deviate from the manufac-turer’s installation procedures to the University for review and approval prior to ordering.

Overview 4

1.8 Documents

1.8.1 The contractor must accurately record the location of service entrance conduit, termi-nation backboards, outlet boxes, port locations and labeling, cable raceways and basket trays, pull boxes, and equipment boxes on detailed floor plans.

1.8.2 The contractor must document the cable plant and associated equipment in accord-ance with the specifications detailed below.

1.8.3 The contractor must provide test results in Microsoft Excel format for all cables in-stalled.

1.9 Applicable Standards

1.9.1 The University has adopted the standards included in this section and has referenced them rather than repeat them in this document.

1.9.2 In the event of a conflict between these standards, or between these standards and this document, the more stringent standard applies.

1.9.3 TIA/EIA Standard 569 – Commercial Building Standard for Telecommunications Pathways and Spaces

1.9.4 TIA/EIA Standard 568B – Commercial Building Telecommunications Wiring Stand-ard

1.9.5 TIA/EIA Standard 606A – Administration Standard for Telecommunications Infra-structure of Commercial Buildings

1.9.6 TIA/EIA Standard 607 – Commercial Building Grounding and Bonding Require-ments for Telecommunications

1.9.7 National Electric Code

Design Standards 6

2 DESIGN STANDARDS

This section describes the standards a design consultant needs to develop an IT infrastructure that is consistent with the University’s IT infrastructure standards and incorporate that design into con-struction documents suitable for bid.

2.1 Conventions

2.1.1 Throughout this section, the following phrases have the meanings defined here.

2.1.2 The phrase “the consultant must specify” indicates that the consultant must include the information that follows in the construction documents.

2.1.3 The phrase “point of penetration” indicates the point where the outside plant cable emerges into the building, through either an exterior wall or the basement slab, as defined in the NEC.

2.1.4 “Construction documents” refers to all drawings and narrative text a consultant devel-ops for bid.

2.2 Outside Plant Cable

2.2.1 OSP cable consists of single-mode and copper cable.

2.2.2 OSP coaxial cable is not required.

2.2.3 The consultant must consult the Office of Technology Services for the types and counts of OSP cable.

2.2.4 The consultant must specify OSP cable consistent with the performance characteris-tics for OSP cable provided in the Parts & Materials section of this document.

2.3 Riser Cable

2.3.1 Riser cable consists of single mode fiber optic cable, copper cable, and coaxial cable.

2.3.2 The consultant must specify 24 single mode fiber optic cables from the MDF to each

IDF.

2.3.3 The consultant must specify a 25-pair copper cable from the MDF to each IDF.

2.3.4 The consultant must specify one RG6 coaxial cable from the MDF to each IDF.

2.3.5 The consultant must specify riser cable that is consistent with the performance char-acteristics for riser cable provided in the Parts & Materials section of this document.

2.4 End-Station Cable

2.4.1 End-station cables are Category 6 UTP, Category 6A UTP, and RG11 coaxial cable, that extends from a MDF or IDF to an end-station.

Design Standards 7

2.4.2 Cable for data must be orange Category 6 UTP. Installers must terminate data cable with an orange Category 6 jack at the end-station and at the patch panel in the TR.

2.4.3 Cable for analog voice must be grey Category 6 UTP. Installers must terminate analog voice cable with a black Category 6 jack at the end-station and on a 110-punch block in the TR.

2.4.4 Cable for wireless access points must be yellow Category 6A UTP. The installer must terminate wireless access point cable with an RJ-45 at the wireless access point location and on a yellow Category 6A jack at the patch panel in the TR. The installer must provide a 15’ service loop at the wireless access point location.

2.4.5 Cable for surveillance cameras must be green Category 6 UTP. The consultant must specify that the installer must be terminate surveillance camera cable with an RJ-45 at the surveillance camera location and a green Category 6 jack at the patch panel in the TR. The installer must provide a 15’ service loop at the wireless access point location.

2.4.6 The consultant must specify the performance characteristics for end-station cable and terminators provided in the Parts & Materials section of this document.

2.4.7 A standard communication outlet for an office consists of two data jacks.

2.4.8 Each office space must have exactly one standard communications outlet for each desk. Any deviation from this standard must be approved by the University’s Office of Technology Services.

2.4.9 The consultant must offset Communication outlets on adjoining walls such that they are not exactly back-to-back.

2.5 Cable Pathways & Supports

2.5.1 This section describes interior cable pathways and supports.

2.5.2 Cable in all TR’s must be supported by ladder rack.

2.5.3 Cable in all major corridors must be supported by basket tray.

2.5.4 Cable in minor corridors must be supported by j-hooks.

2.5.5 There must be 12 inches of clearance above and to one side of all cable supports.

2.5.6 The consultant must specify cable supports sufficient to satisfy the initial capacity for the project plus a reasonable margin for growth given the potential use of the space it serves.

2.5.7 Installers must not attach cable supports to anything other than the building structure.

2.5.8 Installers must not attach anything to telecommunications cable supports.

Installers must not install anything other than telecommunications cable or low voltage cable spe-cifically approved by the Office of Technology Services in telecommunications cable supports.

2.5.9 Penetrations through fire-rated walls intended to support 8 or fewer cables must use conduit with fire-stopping putty.

2.5.10 Penetrations through fire-rated walls intended to support more than eight cables must use EZ-Path fire barriers.

Design Standards 8

2.5.11 Penetrations through non-fire-rated walls must be conduits or sleeves.

2.5.12 Vertical chases outside of a TR must have:

a) Access panels on each floor.

b) Plywood on each interior wall.

2.5.13 The consultant must include 4 4-inch sleeved core holes inside each stacked TR’s to create an open vertical chase within the stack of TR’s.

2.6 Conduits & Fire Stopping

2.6.1 Conduit sleeves must be four (4) inch trade size minimum with a minimum of three

(3) sleeves to connect the TC’s vertically.

2.6.2 Sleeves must be Rigid Galvanized Steel for penetrations of concrete slabs, concrete walls, and CMU walls.

2.6.3 Sleeves for penetrations of stud walls must be EMT.

2.6.4 All sleeves must be rigidly installed using appropriate fittings and all masonry penetra-tions must be grouted.

2.6.5 Sleeves must project a minimum of six (6) inches beyond wall or floor surface.

2.6.6 All penetrations of fire rated construction must be fire stopped with fire stopping as specified earlier or exceed fire rating of the penetrated material.

2.6.7 Sleeves for penetration of walls and floors must have one hundred percent (100%) spare capacity, and must be fire stopped as per code.

2.6.8 Any section of conduit containing two (2) 90-degree bends, a reverse bend, of having length greater that one hundred (100) feet must have an accessible pull box.

2.6.9 All conduits must have a 3/32-inch polyethylene pull cord appropriately secured at each end and replaced if used.

2.6.10 No oval or square conduit fittings must be permitted.

2.6.11 No screw type fittings must be permitted.

2.6.12 All metallic conduit and raceways must be appropriately grounded as specified in the National Electric Code.

2.6.13 An AWG #6 ground wire will be installed in both vertical risers from the basement to the top floor.

2.6.14 This ground must be attached to the building’s approved grounding point used for the building electrical service at one (1) point only.

2.6.15 A ground bus must be provided in each TC bonded to the communications ground system.

2.6.16 Each floor will be equipped with a center hung cable tray as Manufactured by OBO Bettermann or equivalent from the telecommunications closet, above the suspended ceiling in corridors, to provide an access path to each communications outlet.

Design Standards 9

2.6.17 Three (3) 4” electrical metallic tubing (EMT) conduits will be installed to provide ac-cess to the center hung cable tray from the telecommunications closet.

2.6.18 The center hung cable tray must be installed as low as possible above the suspended ceiling and secured according to the National Electric Code.

2.6.19 If possible, at least 18” clearance above the center hung cable tray.

2.6.20 The telecommunications center hung cable tray should be on the opposite side of the ceiling space from cable ladder racks or other distribution used for electrical service.

2.6.21 Where possible, all 90-degree turns should be made by two (2) 45-degree turns.

2.6.22 Supports and fasteners must be used such that they provide an adequate safety factor.

2.6.23 All conduit/cable trays must be supported from the building structure and not from any other ductwork, pipes, ceiling tiles, or equipment.

2.6.24 All conduits should be a maximum of two (2) inches from any finished plywood wall.

2.6.25 Should ceiling space not allow for cable tray, contractor must install J-hooks, adequate for Category 6 cable, with a span of no greater than 4’ from hanger to hanger.

2.6.26 Where cable tray or conduit is not provided, J-hooks adequate for Category 6 cable must be installed.

2.6.27 The J-hooks must be attachable to a floor slab through the use of a pre-threaded lead insert which is suitable for installation of a 3/8 inch “all-thread” rod in a predrilled ½ inch hole.

2.6.28 The threads of the closure bolt on the pipe hanger must be covered by 3/8-inch cop-per or aluminum tubing to protect the cabling sheaths.

2.6.29 Cables placed in hangers in the plenum ceiling area must be routed high and away from all other electrical and mechanical systems so as to avoid contact with light fix-tures, ventilation ducts, sprinkler systems or plumbing piping, motors, or any other electrical devices.

2.6.30 The cable must not be run in parallel with any high voltage electrical wiring.

2.6.31 The maximum separation between support points for all cabling must be four (4) feet.

2.6.32 Lay in pipe hangers must be installed so as to accommodate maximum distance spac-ing.

2.6.33 Hangers must be installed at directional bend points so as to provide a maximum bend angle of 45 degrees for the supported cabling.

2.6.34 Contractor must install 3/32 inch O.D., 200lb. Strength, polyethylene pulling string in each empty conduit, and appropriately secured at each end.

2.7 Telecommunication Rooms

2.7.1 Locations

The consultant must specify a single MDF on the lowest floor.

Design Standards 10

The consultant must specify one or more IDFs as necessary given the layout of the building.

The consultant must vertically stack all TR’s centrally in the building.

If the building is too wide to allow for a single stack that provides coverage for the entire building, the consultant must design multiple vertical stacks of TR’s.

The consultant must minimize the number of TR’s by serving multiple floors from a single TR where possible.

The consultant must locate TR’s such that telecommunications cable can reach every point in the building with cables no longer than 90 meters run through the designed cable pathways.

If the MDF is located more than 50 feet from the point of penetration, the con-sultant must specify that each OSP conduit must extend to the MDF through RMT, as required by the NEC.

The consultant must design the dimensions of the hub rooms based on an esti-mate of each TR’s capacity and the TR clearance requirements included in this document.

The consultant must specify all of these requirements in writing during the con-ceptual design phase.

The consultant must specify these requirements in writing during design develop-ment.

The consultant must specify each TR during construction document develop-ment.

2.7.2 Dimensions

The consultant must ensure that the dimensions of each TR conforms to the specifications in this section.

The number of racks required for a TR and the clearance requirements for those racks constrain the possible dimensions.

The capacity of a TR determines the required number of racks.

The initial number of data drops in a TR plus its potential for growth over the lifetime of the TR is the TR’s capacity.

The consultant must determine the initial number of data drops for each TR.

The consultant must use the following table to determine the number of racks for each TR.

Design Standards 11

Initial Capacity Growth Potential Capacity # of Racks

<= 192 192 384 1

<= 384 384 768 2

<= 576 576 1,152 3

<= 768 768 1,536 4

The consultant must use 100% as the growth potential for a TR, as described in 2.7.2.6, unless the consultant can demonstrate that an increase or decrease is jus-tified and the University approves the adjustment in writing.

The consultant must assume the footprint for all racks is 3 feet wide by 3 feet 6 inches deep, which includes vertical wire management on both sides of the rack.

The consultant must assume that side-by-side racks have their own vertical wire management on both sides and do not share a common vertical wire manager.

For clarity, side-by-side racks have the footprints shown in the following dia-grams.

Rack

11 sq. ft.

3'-6"

Rack

11 sq. ft.

7'-0"

" Rack

11 sq. ft.

Rack

11 sq. ft.

10'-6"

" Rack

11 sq. ft.

Rack

11 sq. ft.

The consultant must estimate the capacity of each TR as its initial capacity plus an estimate of its potential for growth over the lifetime of the TR.

All racks must have a minimum 3 feet of clearance on the front, back, and one side.

The interior racks within a row of racks only require 3 feet of clearance in the front and back.

The 3 feet of clearance between racks placed one in front of the other, as would be the case for a narrow room, satisfies the clearance requirement for the back of the front rack and the front of the rear rack as illustrated in the following diagram.

15'-0"

7'- 0"

3'-0" 3'-0" 3'-0"

3'- 0"

Rack

11 sq. ft.

6" 6"

Rack

11 sq. ft.

3'- 0"

192 – 384 Day 1 Ports

Design Standards 12

If the room contains interior corners, columns, or other obstructions, the clear-ances apply to those features as well as the walls.

The clearance between a wall and a rack must take wall-mounted equipment into account. If wall mounted equipment such as 110 blocks, electrical circuits, etc., protrude 4” from the wall, the clearance between the rack and the wall must be 3’4”.

Electrical circuits mounted on racks are included the specified rack footprints.

Within these constraints, and the spirit of these constraints, the consultant must configure the room in any size and shape. However, to illustrate the intent, the following diagrams are examples of acceptable rack configurations and room di-mensions.

10'-6"

" Rack

11 sq. ft.

Rack

11 sq. ft.

6"

3'-0"

193 – 384 Day 1 Ports

7'-0"

" Rack

11 sq. ft.

6"

1 – 192 Day 1 Ports

3'-0"

The consultant must decide upon the dimensions of each TR in conjunction with the architect and document them at each submission during conceptual design, design development, and construction document development.

2.7.3 Electrical Requirements

All circuits must be dedicated.

There must be one duplex 15A, 120V circuit with 15-R receptacles placed on the wall to the left or right of the hub room’s entrance.

There must be one quad 15A, 120V, circuit, with 15-R receptacles placed on the back of the right-most rack if racks are in a row or the rear-most rack if racks are one in front of the other.

Design Standards 13

There must be two 20A, 220V, circuits, with a L6-20R receptacle placed on the back of every rack.

There must be one 30A, 220V, circuit with a L6-30R receptacle placed on the back of every rack.

There must be a telecommunications-grounding bar located in each hub room that must be and attached to an earth ground.

All equipment racks must be grounded to the telecommunications-grounding bus bar.

For buildings with one or two TR’s, the University will purchase and install a UPS unit for each rack in each TR.

For buildings with more than two hub rooms, the consultant must select an ap-propriately sized centralized flywheel UPS. This UPS must be in its own room and all circuits in each TR must connect to it either directly or via a sub panel.

All UPS units must be connected to circuits that are on a backup generator with an automatic transfer switch.

Design Standards 14

2.7.4 HVAC

The consultant must specify that TR’s:

Must have sufficient cooling to maintain a maximum temperature of 70º F for the lifetime of the room.

Must not receive heat from the building’s HVAC system during the winter.

Will generate 9,000 BTU/Hr. per rack, and use that figure to determine the TR’s cooling requirements.

2.7.5 Access & Security

The consultant must specify that each TR:

Is accessible directly from a hallway.

Has card-swipe access.

Must not have windows or vents.

Must have doors that swing out.

Must have doors made of solid wood or metal.

2.7.6 Backboards

The consultant must specify:

Backboards on all walls of each TR.

Backboards are as specified in the Parts & Materials section of this document.

2.8 Radio Frequency Emissions

2.8.1 Overview

This section describes the University’s requirements for operating radio frequency emitting equipment on campus.

The requirements are divided into interoperability and approval, and safety re-quirements.

2.8.2 Interoperability & Approval

The University operates a wireless network campus wide, indoor and outdoor, that makes extensive use of the public frequency bands at 2.4 and 5 GHz.

The University operates a public safety radio system at 700 MHz.

Design Standards 15

The University must approve the use of all radio frequency emitting equipment on campus before it is used.

The requestor must provide the University with all relevant information, including but not limited to, frequencies used, output levels, power level predictions, etc., required for the University to make an informed decision.

2.8.3 Safety Requirements

All equipment must comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the FCC, including without limitation, those related to radio frequency emissions and ex-posure.

From time to time, but not more often than once per calendar year, the University may require the owner to perform a radio frequency emissions study sufficient to allow the University to determine whether or not the system is in compliance with applicable FCC rules and regulations related to radio frequency emissions and exposure. The owner must provide that survey at no cost to the University.

Should any such study show levels violating FCC rules or regulations, the owner shall provide a plan for the University’s re view, for controlling access to affected areas, including but not limited to, markers, signage, door locks, rails, and fences, or otherwise cure the FCC violations.

Until such plan is implemented, Licensor may, by written notice to Licensee re-quire Licensee must immediately power down the portion of the equipment causing such violations of FCC rules and/or regulations.

Parts & Materials 16

3 PARTS & MATERIALS

This section contains a list of acceptable parts and materials. The University requires specific manufacturer and part numbers for some parts and materials. The University defines perfor-mance characteristic for all other parts and materials. Any manufacturer/part number meeting the specified performance characteristics is acceptable.

Design consultants must incorporate this information into their construction documents. Bid-ders bidding on a contract must use this information to select materials upon which they will base their bids. Contractors performing work must use this information to order the appro-priate parts and materials.

3.1 Backboards

3.1.1 Backboards must be 3/4 –inch fire resistant plywood with Class A surface.

3.2 Cable Supports

3.2.1 Cable supports for major hallways must be basket-type.

3.2.2 Cable supports for minor hallways must be j-hooks.

3.2.3 Cable supports for TR’s must be ladder rack.

3.2.4 Acceptable Manufacturer: GS Metals or similar.

3.3 LIU’s and Fiber-Optic Connectors

3.3.1 All optical fiber cable must be terminated in fiber termination shelves.

Fiber termination shelves must be Corning Closet Connector Housing CCH- 0#U-FL, were # is the number of rack units. The exact model depends on the number of fiber optic cables intended to be terminated in it.

Panel adapters must be Corning CCH-CP24-A9, LC adapters.

Unicams or pig tails are acceptable.

Cartridges are not acceptable.

Unicam connectors must be 95-200-99-Z.

Any make/manufacturer is acceptable for ping tails.

Parts & Materials 17

3.4 Horizontal UTP Cable

3.4.1 Horizontal distribution cable for data must be plenum rated unshielded twisted pair.

3.4.2 Cable for wireless access points must be yellow category 6A.

3.4.3 Cable for video surveillance cameras must be green category 6.

3.4.4 Cable for analog drops must be grey category 6.

3.4.5 Cable for all other data must be orange category 6 UTP.

3.4.6 The maximum distance for horizontal distribution cable from the telecommunications closet to wall jack must not exceed 90 meters without prior approval from Towson University’s Office of Technology Services.

3.4.7 Acceptable manufacturers are: Berk-Tek, Essex, and Mohawk.

3.5 Patch Panels

All Category 6 and 6A cable must be terminated on 48 port Ortronics HDJ Series 48 Port Unloaded Flat Panel Patch Panel, Ortronics Part OR-PHDHJU48-W (White Version).

Patch panel jacks designated for data or VoIP telephones must be Ortronics Clar-ity Category 6 High Density Jack, T568A/B, Orange, Ortronics Part # OR-

HDJ6-43.

Patch panel jacks designated for wireless access points must be Ortronics Clarity Category 6 High Density Jack, T568A/B, Yellow, Ortronics Part # OR-HDJ6A- 44.

Patch panel jacks designated for security cameras must be Ortronics Clarity Cat-egory 6 High Density Jack, T568A/B, Green, Ortronics Part # OR-HDJ6-45.

OR-HDJ6-43 OR-HDAJ6-44 OR-HDJ6-45

3.6 110 Blocks

3.6.1 All analog lines will be terminated on 110 CAT6 blocks.

Parts & Materials 18

3.7 Equipment Racks

a. Equipment racks must be Mighty Mo 20 Channel Rack, 6.5” Deep Channel, 7’ High, 45RU, Tapped #12-24, Ortronics Part # OR-MM20706-W.

b. Vertical wire management must be Mighty Mo 20 Vertical Wire Managers with a Door, Otronics part #OR-MM20VMD710-W.

c. The contractor must provide four (4) Ortronics Mighy Mo 30 Bend Limiting Clips, Otronics part # OR-MM20BLC-W, per patch panel.

3.8 Fire Stopping

A fire stop system is comprised of: the item or items penetrating the fire rated structure, the opening in the structure and the materials and assembly of the materials used to seal the penetrated structure.

Fire stop systems comprise an effective block for fire, smoke, heat, vapor and pressurized water stream.

All penetrations i.e. riser, slots and sleeves, and cables, through fire-rated building structures (walls and floors) must be sealed with E-Z Path Series 33 Fire Stop Barrier. This requirement applies to through penetrations (complete penetration) and membrane penetrations (through one side of a hollow fire rated structure).

Any penetrating items such as cable tray, raceways and conduit, etc. must use fire stopping pro-tection that must meet NFPA Life Safety Code #101, 6-2.3.6, “Penetrations and Miscellaneous Openings and Fire Barriers” and the NEC 300.21 “Fire Stopping” regulations and standards.

3.9 J-Hook Pathways

1. All J-hook pathways must support cable runs with a maximum spacing specified as not greater than four feet (4’) between J-hooks. Contractor must submit samples and cut sheets on proposed solutions for Towson University approval.

2. Acceptable Product: Caddy Cat J-Hooks

3.10 Outlet Boxes

1. All flush mount electrical J-boxes supporting standard voice/data/video communications must be flush-mounted double-gang galvanized steel boxes with single-gang raised tie co-vers.

2. All surface mounted boxes supporting standard voice/data/video communications must be double-gang Ortronics plastic boxes.

3. Acceptable Manufacturer: Ortronics

Parts & Materials 19

3.11 Outside Plant Cable

3.11.1 Outside Plant Fiber Optic Cable

Fiber Optic Cable Physical Characteristics

Cable Core

Building Interior Air Core

Building Exterior Filled core stable from –40F - +140F

Cable Composition

Building Interior (Station, Plenum)

Flouropolymer Jacket

Building Interior (Station, Non- Ple-num)

PVC Jacket

Building Interior (Riser)

PVC Jacket

Building Exterior (Riser)

Non-metallic dielectric

Cable Strength Maximum pulling tension –600 lb.

Minimum Bend Radii

(<30% man. Pull tension) 10 times cable diameter (>30% max. pull tension) 20 times cable diameter

Fiber Identification Color-coding system adequate to unambiguously iden-tify each fiber. (See As-Built documentation) The words Fiber Optic Cable(s) must be imprinted on cable no more than one meter apart.

3.11.2 Acceptable manufacturer: any

3.12 Power Receptacles

ALL receptacle power for data equipment must be fed from standby power panels which are fed from standby or emergency generators via an automatic transfer switch.

1. Data equipment power must be run using all 10 AWG minimum stranded THHN wire in a ¾” minimum EMT conduit with compression fittings.

2. Required receptacles include 208 volt single phase NEMA L6-20 and / or NEMA L6-30 and 120 volt single phase quad NEMA 5-20 receptacles. All receptacles are to be mounted in a 1910 box. All receptacles must be mounted on the back of the equipment racks only.

Parts & Materials 20

NOTE: Before ordering or installing data power, contact Towson University’s Office of Technol-ogy Services to verify the types of receptacles needed as well as quantities and locations of each type of receptacle.

3.13 Riser Cable

The structured cabling system with LAN equipment in each Main Distribution Frame (MDF) will require one 12-strand 8.3-micron single-mode optical fiber cable for backbone connectivity be-tween the MDF and each Intermediate Distribution Frame (IDF). This cable must be jacketed as appropriate for use in a riser or plenum environment. Backbone optical fiber cable must be colored yellow to denote single-mode fiber.

3.13.1 Copper Riser Cable

1. All UTP riser copper cable supporting voice communications requirements must be stand-ard 24-gauge, paired dual, semi-rigid PVC skin over foamed PE, and must meet the following technical specifications:

DC Resistance: 25.7 Ohms/1000 ft

Gauge: 24 AWG, solid copper conductor, twisted pair

Mutual Capacitance: 15.8 pF/ft

Characteristic Impedance: 650 Ohms @ 1 kHz 105 Ohms @ 1MHz

2. The attenuation of any pair must not exceed the following values:

Frequency (MHz)

Maximum Attenuation (dB per 305 m @ 20 deg. C.) (dB per 1000 ft @ 20 deg. C.)

0.002 0.8

0.008 1.5

0.064 2.8

0.256 4.0

0.512 5.6

0.772 6.7

1.0 7.6

4.0 15.4

8.0 22.3

10.0 25.0

16.0 32.0

3. The characteristic impedance of any pair must meet the following requirements:

Parts & Materials 21

Frequency (MHz) Characteristic Impedance (Ohms.)

0.064 120 +/- 15%

0.128 110 +/- 15%

0.256 105 +/- 15%

>0.772 100 +/- 15%

4. The Near-End Cross talk (NEXT) coupling loss between pairs within a cable must be equal to or greater than the following:

Frequency (MHz) NEXT Loss Worst Pair (dB @ 305 m) (dB @ 1000 ft)

0.150 52

0.772 41

1.576 37

3.15 32

6.3 28

10.0 25

16.0 23

5. Acceptable Manufacturer: Berk-Tek or Ortronics or other approved manufacturer

3.13.2 Fiber Optic Riser Cable

1. All backbone Optical Fiber must be 8.3-micron single-mode fiber.

Core Type: Graded Index

Core Diameter: 8.3 (+/- 6) microns

Core Eccentricity: 1.5% Nominal – 7.5% Max.Core

Ovaity: 4% Nominal – 20% Max

Cladding Diameter: 125 (+/- 2) microns

Cladding Non-Circularity: 2% Maximum

Coating Diameter: 245 (+9/-13) microns

Parts & Materials 22

Refracting Index Delta: 2.0% (+/- .3%)

Numerical Aperture: 0.29

Bandwidth Windows: Dual-850 nm – 3.5 dB

Maximum Attenuation:

850 nm – 3.5 dB 1300 nm – 1.5 dB

Typical Bandwidth:

850 nm – 400 MHz/km 1300 nm – 500 MHz/km

Maximum Field Loss: 0.5 dB

2. All fiber cable used must have the following physical characteristics:

Fiber Optic Cable Physical Characteristics

Cable Core

Building Interior Air Core

Building Exterior Filled core stable from –40F - +140F

Cable Composition

Building Interior (Station, Plenum)

Flouropolymer Jacket

Building Interior (Station, Non- Ple-num)

PVC Jacket

Building Interior (Riser)

PVC Jacket

Building Exterior (Riser)

Non-metallic dielectric

Cable Strength Maximum pulling tension –600 lb.

Minimum Bend Radii

(<30% man. Pull tension) 10 times cable diameter (>30% max. pull tension) 20 times cable diameter

Fiber Identification Color-coding system adequate to unambiguously identify each fiber. (See As-Built documentation) The words Fi-ber Optic Cable(s) must be imprinted on cable no more than one meter apart.

3. Acceptable Manufacturer: Any

3.13.3 Coaxial Riser Cable

RG-11 Quad Shield, 75-Ohm Coaxial Cable, Plenum Rated (Commscope: 22827K or equivalent)

Cable Construction Center Conductor:

18AWG Copper-clad Steel Nom. Dia.: .0641”

Parts & Materials 23

Dielectric:

Foam: FEP Dia. over Dielectric: 0.28” Nom.

Inner Shield:

Foil: Aluminum/Poly Tape Braid: 34 AWG Aluminum, 60% Coverage Nom. Dia.: 0.312”

Outer Shield:

Foil: Aluminum/Poly Tape Braid: 34 AWG Aluminum, 40% Coverage Nom. Dia.: 0.332”

Jacket:

Flame Retardant PVDF Jacket Dia. over Jacket: 0.372” Nom. Jacket Thickness: 0.020”

Electrical Properties:

Capacitance: 16pF/ft Impedance: 76.0 +/- 3.0 Ohms Velocity/Prop.: 84.0% Nom.

Max DC Loop Resistance 3.90 Ohms/1000 Ft. Nom

3.14 Splice Cases

All building entrance Splice Cases must be 3-M type closure and accessories.

3.15 Unspecified Equipment

1. Any item of equipment or material not specifically addressed on the drawings or in this document and required to provide a complete and functional PDS installation must be provided in a level of quality consistent with other specified items. Towson University must retain the right to review and approve all products not specified.

3.16 Voice/Data Jacks and Cover Plates

1. Jacks must be Ortronics TracJack OR-TJ600-23 (light orange) for data drops and Ortronics TracJack OR-TJ600 (white) for analog voice drops.

OR-TJ600-23 OR-TJ600

Parts & Materials 24

2. Faceplates must be white.

3. The “pin-out” wiring assignment for the 4 pair UTP copper cable for data communications at the outlet jack and at the TC connection must be consistent with EIA/TIA T568B. The “pin-out” wiring assignment for the 4 pair UTP copper cable for voice communications will be as specifically stated on Page 22, Station Cabling and Installation.

4. Back to back outlets in the same wall or thru-wall type boxes are not permitted. To max-imize sound control, outlets on opposite sides of a common wall must be offset at least 6 inches.

5. Station outlet boxes must be installed at the same elevation as the other outlets in the room.

As a general guideline. Mount the station outlet boxes as follows: (dimensions are from the finished floor to the center line of unobstructed outlets)

Standard Communications Outlet - 18”

Wall mounted, where wheel chair persons can only approach head-on - 4’0”

6. Video connectors should be “F” type with female connections on each end.

7. Standard Communication Outlet Layout

Standard Outlet w/o Video Standard Outlet w/ Video

8. Acceptable Product: Ortronics TracJack

Execution 26

4 PART 4 – EXECUTION

4.1 General Execution Requirements

The contractor must execute all work in accordance with this document, BISCI, EIA/TIA, NFPA, NEC, and IEEE standards, whichever is most stringent. The requirements listed here highlight specific requirements which the University considers important or otherwise feels it needs to spe-cifically state.

The contractor must:

1. Execute all work in accordance with this document, BISCI, EIA/TIA, NFPA, NEC, and IEEE standards, whichever is most stringent.

2. Install cable system in a manner that provides mechanical integrity for the cabling media and any associated frames and racks and allows for ease of access.

3. Install cable in cable trays, j-hooks, conduits, sleeves, and chases, when such supports exist.

4. Install appropriate carriers to support installed cabling where appropriate support does not exist.

5. Install cable support systems such as J-hooks or other carriers that do not provide contin-uous cable support at intervals no greater than 3 feet.

6. Install cable service loops above ceilings over jack locations.

7. Verify that installation sites are ready to begin work before beginning work.

8. Coordinate their work with Towson University and appropriate trades involved with pro-ject.

9. Verify the locations for ladder racks, equipment racks, patch panels, and wire management with the University’s Office of Technology Services in all IDF and MDF’s prior to begin-ning their installation.

4.2 Unacceptable Work

The University prohibits the following except where specifically indicated in construction drawings or scope of work, or when authorized by the University’s Office of Technology Services in writing prior to execution. Specifically, the contractor must not:

1. Splice copper, coaxial, UTP, or any other telecommunications cable inside a building.

2. Install cable aerially.

Execution 27

3. Attach cable to anything other than the telecommunications cable support system.

4. Attach cable supports to anything other than the building structure.

5. Install cable or cable supports where interferes with the operation or maintenance of any other building systems or components, or impairs access to the same.

6. Lay cable on the ceiling grid, lighting fixtures, or other cables.

7. Attach cable support systems to anything other than the concrete deck

8. Install service loops for cable inside any IDF or MDF.

9. Exceed 25-lbs of pulling tension when installing a four-pair UTP cable.

4.3 Coordination with Other Trades

1. All cable in accessible spaces must be designed and installed for easy access. Cable paths above suspended ceilings, mechanical rooms, closets, etc., must not be blocked or covered in any way that would impede the addition of cable in the future.

4.4 Labeling

Towson University’s labeling standard is based on the 606A labelling standard. As such, it uses specific identifiers, which are defined in this section.

4.4.1 TR ID

A TR ID’s is a two-character identifier, such as “1A”, “2C”, or “3A”, where the characters corre-spond to the floor number and a closet letter that uniquely identifies it on its floor. The contractor must obtain the list of TR ID’s from the Office of Technology Services.

4.4.2 Patch Panel ID

A Patch Panel ID is a single capital letter that uniquely identifies a patch panel within a TR. Patch panel “A” is assigned to the top patch panel in the left-most rack. The other patch panels ID’s are assigned alphabetically, from top to bottom of each rack, then from left-most rack to right-most rack. In cases where racks are one in front of the other, the labels go top to bottom of each rack, then from front-most rack to rear-most rack. The drawing below shows how to assign Patch Panel ID’s.

Execution 28

4.4.3 Patch Panel Jack ID

The Patch Panel Jack ID is a zero-padded two-digit number that uniquely identifies a jack on a patch panel. Patch Panel ID’s are 1-48. Most panels already have jack labelled 1-48. However, if the panel is not labelled, or labelled in another manner, the contractor labels the panels jacks 1-48 with the top row being 1-24 from left to right and the bottom row being 25-48 from left to right.

4.4.4 End Station Jack ID

End Station Jack ID’s identify a specific cable installed in a faceplate at the end station location. It has the following format: AA-BC, where AA is the TR ID, B is the Patch Panel ID, and C is the Patch Panel Jack ID. For example, “1B-C32” indicates the cable goes to the telecommunications room with TR ID “1B” and terminates on patch panel C, on patch panel jack 32.

For horizontal cable, the contractor must:

1) Request labeling instructions from the University’s Office of Technology Services prior to the start of labeling if the construction document or scope of work does not contain label-ing instructions.

2) Request that the University provide the 606A TR ID’s for each telecommunications room prior to beginning work.

3) Affix a label to the left-hand side of each patch panel that contains the patch panel’s Panel

ID.

Execution 29

4) Affix a label containing the Patch Panel Jack ID under each patch panel jack if the patch panel does not already contain Patch Panel Jack ID’s.

5) Affix a label in the label slot on each faceplate that provides the End Station Jack ID for each cable terminated in it.

6) Affix a label with the End Station Jack ID within 4 inches of the end of all end-station cables terminated with an RJ45 on the end-station side.

7) Print all labels with a label making device.

For riser cable, the contractor must:

1. Affix a label containing the Cable ID within 12 inches of:

a. Entering and exiting an LIU.

b. Entering and exiting a splice case.

c. Entering and exiting a conduit, wall or floor penetration, or any other area where the cable disappears from view.

2. Affix an LIU Module Label to the outside of each LIU for each module where the con-tractor terminated a strand of fiber.

4.4.5 Fiber Optic Riser Cables

Each fiber optic riser cable has an identifier of the following form: AA/BB-CC, where AA is the TR ID of the MDF, BB is the TR ID of the IDF, and CC is a zero-padded 2-digit number that makes the label unique. For example, if the first cable run between TR 1A and 2B is 1A/2B-01, the second is 1A/2B-02, etc.

For each cable, the contractor must affix a label containing the cable’s identifier within 12 inches of:

1. Entering an LIU.

2. Entering or leaving a splice case.

3. Entering or exiting a conduit, penetration, or any other area where it disappears from view.

The contractor must also affix labels to the LIU to indicate where the individual strands are termi-nated. These labels must be of the following form:

Module Letter: End Station Jack ID 1.A - End Station Jack ID.B, where A is the first strand number terminated on the module and B is the last.

For example, if a 48-strand cable is terminated in slots A, B, C, and D, the contractor must affix a label to the LIU that looks like this:

Execution 30

A: 1A/2B-01.1–12

B: 1A/2B-01.13-24

C: 1A/2B-01.25-36

D: 1A/2B-01.47-48

4.4.6 Fiber Optic OSP Cables

4.4.7 Copper Cables

4.5 Grounding and Bonding Requirements

The facility must be equipped with a Telecommunications Bonding Backbone (TBB). This back-bone must be used to ground all telecommunications cable shields, equipment, racks, cabinets, raceways, and other associated hardware that has the potential to act as a current carrying conductor.

1. The TBB must be installed independent of the building’s electrical and building ground and must be designed in accordance with the recommendations contained in the ANSI/TIA/EIA-607 Telecommunications Bonding and Grounding Standard.

2. The main entrance facility/equipment room in each building must be equipped with a tel-ecommunications main grounding bus bar (TMGB).

3. Each telecommunications room must be provided with a telecommunications ground bus bar (TGB).

4. The TMGB must be connected to the building electrical entrance grounding facility. The intent of this system is to provide a grounding system that is equal in potential to the build-ing electrical ground system. Therefore, ground loop current potential is minimized between telecommunications equipment and the electrical system to which it is attached.

5. All racks, metallic backboards, cable sheaths, metallic strength members, splice cases, cable trays, etc. entering or residing in the MDF or IDF must be grounded to the respective TGB or TMGB using a minimum #6 AWG stranded copper bonding conductor and compres-sion connectors.

6. All wires used for telecommunications grounding purposes must be identified with a green insulation. Non-insulated wires must be identified at each termination point with a wrap of green tape. All cables and bus bars must be identified and labeled in accordance with the System Documentation Section of this specification.

7. All ladder rack installed in hallways must be grounded and bonded.

Execution 31

4.6 Testing and Inspection

1. Upon completion of the project, Towson University’s OTS Technical Representative will perform a final inspection of the installed cabling system with the Contractor’s Project Foreman. The final inspection will be performed to validate that all horizontal and back-bone cables were installed as defined in the drawing package, and that the installation meets the aesthetic expectations of the Owner.

2. Upon receipt of the test documentation, Towson University reserves the right to perform spot testing of a representative sample of the cabling system to validate test results provided in the test document. Towson University testing will use the same method employed by the contractor, and minor variations will be allowed to account for differences in test equip-ment. If significant discrepancies are found the contractor will be notified for resolution.

3. Prior to acceptance, all “As-Built” and technical documentation must be received and ap-proved by the University. As-built documentation must include the completed and notarized original copy of the Premises Distribution System Registration Document, if ap-plicable. All intra-building and inter-building wiring and equipment, and all site restoration must be installed and completed in accordance with Towson University and industry stand-ards. All wiring and equipment provided and/or installed under this contract must be tested as described under the terms of this contract and must be fully operational. After all work is complete, the Contractor must also provide Towson University with Structured Cabling System Certification for all communications work completed on the project.

4. Testing of all copper wiring must be performed prior to system cutover. 100 percent of the horizontal and rise wiring pairs must be tested for opens, shorts, polarity reversals, transpositions and presence of AC voltage. Voice and data horizontal wiring pairs must be tested from the information outlet to the TC. The Category 6 cable runs for data commu-nications must be tested for conformance to the specifications of EIA/TIA 568B Category

6. Testing must be done with a TIA/EIA TSB-67 UL Certified Level 2 test set. The Cat-egory 6 cable runs for voice communications must be tested for continuity only. Test must include length, mutual capacitance, characteristic impedance, attenuation, and near end and far end cross talk. The contractor, at no charge, must bring any pairs not meeting the requirements of the standard into compliance.

5. Fiber testing must be performed on all fibers in the completed end-to-end system.