IT and datacoms are becoming a major part of the electrical installation market and as such the ECA sees assisting members in keeping up with the latest innovations and regulations as an essential part of its remit.
To this end the ECA ITEC IT Conferences 2002 are designed to inform contractors of the latest moves within the market. To be held on 17 September and 26 November at the National Motorcycle Museum, Birmingham and the Institute of Directors, London, respectively, the conferences will cost £99 including vat.

They will cover a wide range of topics including:

  • Maintaining a healthy IT system and complying with the law (speaker, Tim Oldershaw of J Brand);
  • A look at automated infrastructure management (Andrew Watson, FIA);
  • Fibre to the desk (Richard Ednay, Optical Technology Training);
  • The paperless installation – browser technology for installers (Mike Gilmore, FIA);
  • IEEE 802.11b wireless LAN technology (Dan Conway, Mayflex);
  • The challenge of new optical fibre technologies (Mike Gilmore, FIA);
  • Small form factor fibre technologies (John Kellow, The Siemon Company).

The ECA has, over the last few years, seen increasing numbers of its members migrating into the datacoms market, with over half of all ECA companies now undertaking structured cabling work. In response to this trend, the Association has embarked on a datacoms project aimed at raising the standards within the structured cabling sector.

Since the introduction of a number of new European standards relating to datacoms, ECA members have enjoyed support and training backed by those who have helped write the standards. The ECA has also undertaken to embark on a project to resolve issues involving competency levels, qualifications, company qualifications and health and safety matters.

These points will be of major interest at the next meeting of the European Telecommunications Services Association (ESTA) where the ECA will represent the UK's telecommunications industry interests. It is expected that some if not all ESTA members will adopt the ECA scheme.

It is envisaged that the project will take over one year to complete, however some of the issues could be resolved during the summer of 2002.

For more information on the ECA ITEC IT conferences or datacoms issues call the ECA on 020 7313 4800.

Source

Electrical and Mechanical Contractor