New Hanover County Information Technology Department	Issued:  2/1/02
	Policy Number:  9-01
Subject:  NHC Cabling Infrastructure Policy

PURPOSE AND SCOPE:

This document establishes policy and procedure for the acquisition, installation, and maintenance of data and telecommunications cabling. This document applies to all NHC Departments and Agencies.

CHANGE SUMMARY:

None; this is the first issue of this document.

POLICY:

The design of every county facility must adequately consider the requirements for data and telecommunications cabling infrastructure. The plans for new building construction and building modifications shall include provisions for cabling entrance, telecommunication risers and closets, cabling raceways, and outlets (horizontal cabling) that comply with current NHC specifications given in references below.

The cabling infrastructure should use technology that conforms to national standards, will have a useful life span, have sufficient capacity for growth, and is appropriate for the anticipated trends in technology to serve the County’s business.

PROCEDURE:

Engineering and Property Management:

The Engineering Department and the Property Management Department will ensure that cabling infrastructure requirements and specifications are included in the plans for all construction projects. Construction plans must be submitted to the Information Technology Department for review prior to release for bid or construction.

Information Technology:

The Information Technology Department prepares cabling infrastructure specifications for application to new construction projects and renovations of existing buildings. These specifications are listed in the REFERENCES  below.

The Information Technology Department reviews all construction plans to ensure that requirements are identified and specifications for cabling infrastructure are properly applied. An Information Technology Department representative is appointed to assist the construction Project Manager (Engineering or Property Management) with the preparation of requirements and specifications, the review of the construction plans, the monitoring of construction and system installation, and the final acceptance of cabling systems.

Other County Departments:

Each County department that will occupy a new or modified building will appoint a representative who reviews office layouts with the Information Technology Department representative so that outlets are properly located appropriate to office information technologies (computers, telephones, facsimile machines, network printers, copy machines, conference equipment, etc).

NOTE: Information technology does not normally include security systems, intercom systems, etc., unless such systems connect to the local area network or telephone system.

Requests for changes to existing cabling systems are made to the Information Technology Department. Departments which have their own Information Systems staff may arrange for additional cable installations as long as existing standards are observed.  

REFERENCES:

Cabling Equipment Room and Riser Specification

Cabling Cat 5e Universal Specification

CHANGE HISTORY:

Version	Date	Author	Comments
A		DRoss	Original Document