Architectural and Engineering Design Standards

Telecommunications Design 9

TELECOMMUNICATIONS DESIGN

1. Space Design: Telecommunications Room (TR)

Telecommunications Rooms are generally considered to be floor-serving spaces that provide a connection point

between backbone and horizontal infrastructures. Telecommunication Rooms shall provide an environmentally

suitable and secure area for installing communication cables, cross-connect fields, relay racks, wall-mounted

hardware, and active telecommunications electronic equipment.

Because of the increased demand for desktop automation, voice and data integration, desk-to-desk information

exchange, and integration of other building systems into the structured cabling system, a dedicated

Telecommunications Room (TR) is necessary.

ARCHITECTURAL REQUIREMENTS:

A. Location

1. In order to minimize the horizontal cable lengths, locate the TR as close as possible to the center
   of, the area it is intended to serve.


2. The furthest area served with telecommunications cabling shall not exceed 295 feet (90m).


3. There shall be at least one TR per floor. TR’s in a multi-floor building shall be stacked vertically.


4. There shall be a minimum of one TR per 10,000 square feet of office, clinic, and inpatient units
   served. If the area served by a TR is larger than 10,000 square feet, the TR shall be increased in
   size as necessary.


5. Locate TRs away from mechanical chases to avoid pathway congestion.


6. Rooms shall not be placed directly under bathrooms, kitchens or other water sources.


7. Each TR shall have uninterrupted access that does not interfere with normal business activities.
   Access to the room shall be direct from corridors and shall not be via conference rooms, break
   room areas, etc.

B. Size

1. Every newly constructed TR shall be a minimum of 12’ x 20’ with continuous floor space serving a
   maximum area of 20,000 square feet. In some instances, the TR may be larger in order to serve
   the intended area. Consult HCIS on sizing of rooms serving areas larger than 20,000 square feet.

C. Accessibility

1. A door entering a TR shall always swing outside of the room and into a common corridor so that
   valuable wall space can be utilized to mount special systems.


2. Doors shall be fully opening (180 degrees), lockable, equipped with card access and be at least 40”
   
   
   • 42” in width.
   
   
   
   

D. Ceiling Height

1. The minimum ceiling height should be 8.5 feet above finished floor. Consideration should be given
   to having a 10-foot height.


2. To permit maximum flexibility and accessibility of cabling pathways, suspended ceilings shall not be
   permitted in TR’s.


3. When a ceiling distribution system is used, design TRs with adequate pathways or openings
   through beams and other obstructions into the accessible ceiling space.


4. The ceiling finish should minimize dust and be light colored to enhance the room lighting.

E. Wall Construction, Floor Covering, and Room Finishes

1. To avoid dust and static electricity, the TR floor shall be treated with sheet vinyl, off white or VCT.


2. All walls shall be constructed to the deck.

November 1, 2016