Overview 4
OVERVIEW
- Purpose
This document has been prepared in order to educate and assist those in a design role for the University of Iowa
Hospitals and Clinics. The goal is to adequately serve and support patient care systems installed throughout our
facilities utilizing this as the published standard. This document is not intended to be exhaustive however it shall
be considered authoritative in all areas that it addresses. These standards shall be applied to all renovations and
new construction projects as it relates to technology design.
The term ‘telecommunications’, as used in this guideline, shall refer to the transmission of all forms of information
(e.g., voice, data, video, security, audio, industrial, building control). Telecommunications equipment used to
support these wide varieties of systems rely on effective building infrastructure. This infrastructure encompasses
spaces, pathways, cables, connecting hardware, and a high quality bonding and grounding system.
It is expected that this document shall be primarily used by architects, engineers, and planners.
- Referenced Standards, Codes and Additional Guidelines
These guidelines are based on a combination of preferred methods by the Hospital in addition to well-known
published standards, codes and guidelines.
- Building Industry Consultant Services International (BICSI)
o Telecommunications Distribution Methods Manual (TDMM)
o Data Center Design and Implantation Best Practices ANSI/BICSI 002-2014
- Electronics Industry Association/Telecommunications Industry Association (EIA/TIA)
o Commercial Building Telecommunications Infrastructure Standard - TIA-568
o Telecommunications Pathways and Spaces - TIA-569
o Administration Standard for Telecommunications Infrastructure - TIA-606
o Telecommunications Bonding and Grounding - TIA-607
o Telecommunications Infrastructure Standard for Data Centers - TIA-942
- National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
o National Electric Code - NFPA 70
o National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code - NFPA 72
o Health Care Facilities Code – NFPA 99
o National Life Safety Code - NFPA 101
- Underwriter’s Laboratories (UL)
o Standards for Hospital Signaling and Nurse Call Equipment – UL 1069
- Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO)
- Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG)
The purpose of a standard is to ensure a minimum level of performance. Codes often reference numerous safety
standards to assure the minimum safety requirements of a given material or components are met. It is the intent
that there shall be no published design guideline herein that shall conflict with life safety requirements.
November 1, 2016
