This document defines the standards used for voice and data wiring in buildings used by MSU departments.  All telecommunications wiring will be performed by the University Information Technology (UIT) or contracts administered by UIT. Throughout the document the word shall is mandatory.  Where the word preferred is used, we would like it done this way and it would be expected in new building construction. The terms cabling and wiring are used interchangeably. For more details about the industry telecommunication standards, which MSU complies with, see the TIA/EIA Commercial Building Telecommunications Cabling Standards as follows:

  1. Commercial Building Telecommunications Cabling 568-B.1-5
  2. Commercial Building Standard for Telecommunications Pathways and Spaces 569-B
  3. Commercial Building Grounding (Earthing) and Bonding Requirements for Telecommunications J-STD-607-A
  4. Customer-owned Outside Plant Telecommunications Infrastructure Standard TIA-758-A


All communication wiring contractors must be a Commscope Uniprise Partner and must register their Commscope wiring installation for the 25 Year Performance Warranty for the copper installations and be a Corning Network Preferred Installers to provide Corning 25-year fiber optic cable warranty.  For a list of certified contractors visit: https://cpp.commscope.com/directory/search?q=montana


The telecommunications network system contains cable, connectors, electronic equipment, and routing materials for MSU provided data services and equipment throughout a building. Data cables are routed together from each individual telecommunications workstation outlet to a telecommunications room within 76 meters (250ft), preferably on the same floor.


All new workstation outlets are either a double-gang box with two (2) Commscope Category 6A four-pair, 24-gauge Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) cables, or a double-gang box with four (4) Commscope Category 6A four-pair, 24 gage Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) cables. Double-gang boxes can have a single gang mud ring attached for a single gang faceplate.  All outlets are terminated and tested to Category 6A standards, pinout T568A. All outlets including Power Over Ethernet (POE) devices (Wireless access points and POE clocks) will be Commscope Category 6A four-pair, 23-gauge Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) cables.


Some existing buildings have older standard cable and equipment, Category 5, 5E, or 6. These will be replaced by the newest standard of cable and equipment when remodeling, renovations, or new construction is done. Therefore, some Telecommunications Rooms will temporarily have a combination of cable and equipment types.


MSU has selected Corning single mode for its fiber optics cable, patch panel and connector standard. All fiber shall be terminated in LCAPC.


MSU has selected Cisco for its data electronic equipment; Aruba Networks for wireless equipment; and APC for telecommunications room UPS equipment. The UPS must be sized appropriately for the equipment load.  Any building with a generator shall have a 30 AMP 220 dedicated outlet tied to the emergency generator and mounted on the Telecommunication Rack. 


The University Information Technology (UIT) Communication Wiring group designs, installs, tests, certifies, and maintains outside plant and inside building cabling, communication outlet equipment, and telecommunication room racks, patch panels, and wire management components.  They also ensure that all NEC (National Electric Code) and Building Code requirements are met regarding wall and ceiling penetration sealing and fire-stopping.


UIT’s Networking group specifies the network equipment and fiber optic termination arrangement for each telecommunication room.  UIT Communication Wiring terminates and tests the fiber optic cable while Networking configures and installs the network switches and installs the necessary fiber patch cables and other accessory equipment to activate the network connections.  Facilities Services electricians or contracted electricians install conduit, raceway, cable trays, j-hooks, electrical and raceway boxes, racks seismic bracing and any other rough-in work required. 


All equipment that will connect to the MSU network, whether hard wired or wireless, needs to meet UIT Networking requirements.


All new MSU buildings shall have a pathway installed for communication infrastructure. If construction connects to the MSU tunnel our pathway shall connect through the tunnel. If the building does use the tunnel a minimum of two trade size four conduits shall be installed for feeding communications cables into all buildings on the MSU campus. Before installation the size and number of conduits must be authorized by UIT. Before network services can be turned on in a new building all copper and fiber optic infrastructure must be installed, terminated and tested.  All test results shall be handed over to the MSU NSG (Network Services Group) and all Telecommunications rooms shall be clean and dust free with the doors on an MSU key lock. Power shall be in place on the racks. At this point MSU NSG can install switches to supply network services.


ATS smart podium locations require a minimum of 6 network cables feeding to the Telecommunication Room. Additional cables and needs to be determined by UIT-ATS.


Aux-IT is responsible for specifying Cat Card reader specifications

 

MSU-Bozeman University Information Technology 
Communication Wiring Design Guidelines
Created: June 20, 2013
Modified: September 1, 2023