New building - Comms room recommendations

[Jamie Hancock]

Hi all,

We are in the process of planning for a new development in a city center. As you can imagine, space is at a premium. When I have designed networks for new developments in the past, I've always specified one cab per floor for various reasons such as, cable length and future expansion, not to mention the issues that come with running cables vertically between floors.

I believe I'm going to experience push back from the project team for the little amount of space my network design requires so, I was wondering if you guys do this same, i.e. a comms room on each floor of a building? If so, what are your reasons for doing so, if not, what did you do instead?

Kind regards,

Jamie.

[Leo Laohoo]

We have comms cabinet per floor. If the floor is >80 long then TWO cabinets per floor.
12-pair (6 core) multi-mode OM4 connecting each floor to the main distribution floor.

[Collin Clark]

We get this all the time. What we have done is list the minimum equipment required in a closet (HVAC, conduits, switches, PDU's, patch panels, everything) and then lay it out in Visio. Make sure to account for things like ladder racks, 36" clearance (or whatever code is in your area). Once you do all that you will know the minimum size room you need. Then lay that room onto the overall floor plan. Then using Leo's number you'll know how many closets per floor you need. I get that they will complain, but there is a limitation of cable distance and there is nothing we can do about that. Give them the data and let them figure it out. It's either that or they don't get a functional network. 

HTH

FYI: Here's a couple of things to watch out for/suggest:

- Get a 36" door

-Make sure they account for water dispersion from the A/C unit

-Be sure to give them BTU's and power requirements

-Overhead lighting (should be two rows, one on either side of the rack)