Continued growth in school computer installations has created significant business opportunities for electrical contractors. We look at several recent installations in Leicestershire.
Government-backed initiatives by local authority education departments to ensure that modern computer facilities are provided for pupils from primary school level upwards, have resulted in a steady growth in demand for new and extended power and data installations. As a result, the opportunities for additional business for contractors and installers has also grown.

While the steady rise in installation demand represents a major business opportunity for the electrical contracting industry, the burgeoning IT sector also brings new challenges. A typical computer room or networked IT installation in a school, college or office will require mains power distribution systems and a data communications system based on latest-technology structured cabling.

Where data communications cables are installed, the overall performance and reliability of the computer network can be degraded by accidental damage or incorrect installation of the cabling. This calls for appropriate containment and protection for the cables. Often, due to the nature of installations in schools, where many of such schemes have to be completed during holidays, the contractor will be required to work within tight time constraints.

The need to provide safe, efficient and cost-effective containment and protection for both mains power and data communications cabling is therefore an important consideration for such installations. Other considerations include whether the system has adequate cabling capacity to allow for possible future expansion, as well as the need for a system that can be installed rapidly and easily.

A major £3.2 million new build and refurbishment programme at Rushley Mead High School in Leicester included the construction of a new technology block and the remodelling and refurbishment of 26 classrooms and two dedicated computer suites.

In order to provide a total cable management system for both data communication and power distribution networks, Mita supplied some 800 metres of two-compartment trunking, Cableline Duo. As well as being compatible with Mita’s own comprehensive ‘Clicline’ range of wiring accessories, the Cableline Duo system will accept wiring accessories from most leading manufacturers. The high capacity trunking will enable the school to expand its networked facilities at a later date with additional cabling, without the need for additional trunking. Ease of installation enabled the project to be completed within a limited time frame.

When Leicester’s Glen Hills Primary undertook a £950 000 extension, the school used Cableline Duo trunking to protect and contain power and data cabling in the new IT room. Although smaller in scope than Rushley Mead, the entire first phase of the installation, which included three-compartment Ambassador DP3 trunking in the library and classrooms and Cableline Duo in the IT room, was completed successfully to deadline during the summer break.

Oadby Manor school used Duo Trunking in an installation designed to update the school’s mains power distribution network to conform to current wiring regulations as well as to install cabling for IT systems.

In addition to providing cable management solutions for schools in Leicester, Mita also supplied cable management products for the local authority’s new and upgraded computer networks at County Hall. A single compartment variant of Consort Trunking was used to contain cabling in an extension to the local area network in order to cope with the large increase in the number of individual workstations used by each department.

Cable management systems can provide an ideal solution for both client and contractor in this expanding business sector. Purpose-designed systems not only simplify initial installations, but also provide the built-in capacity or add-ons for future system upgrades as technologies advance and demand increases.

Clipsal has the right data

Following its success in Australia and Asia, power accessories company Clipsal is making moves into the UK datacomms market, and contractors and wholesalers are top of its list of targets. The firm aims to remove the emphasis from the specialist sector and bring voice and data installations into the mainstream electrical contractor and wholesaler markets. The process began with the formation of Clipsal Datacomms in the UK at the end of 2001. Since then it has been forging links with UK wholesalers, and is now moving towards the contractor market. The firm is about to start the run-out of a national scheme of training courses for electrical contractors. “The basic training is part of the service,” explains Guy Madgwick, general manager of the telecoms division. There will also be an option of more specialist advanced training courses, for which there will be a nominal charge, of probably around £40 for attendance. “The market is ready,” states Madgwick. “There will be a lot of effort to bring this on board.” Clipsal is promoting a two position product line: Clipsal Connect is the economy line targeted at the low-end market, and Clipsal Datacomms Professional is its range of high quality products with additional features, aimed at the mid-to-high-end markets. Products available include solutions for horizontal cabling, passive structured cabling, fibre backbone, wireless, active, enclosure and residential cabling as well as tools and testers. All products are said to exceed Cat 5e/6 specifications.

Product arrivals

The single and multi-mode fibre optic connectors and assemblies in Radiall’s LC Series are suited to high density schemes where space is a key factor. The Emitex range of Cat 5e data cabling products comprises cables, patch panels, outlets, wall boxes, tools and accessories that meet IEC and EN transmission standards. Erico Europa (GB) has launched the CAT 32 CM50 batwing clip. The clip can support low voltage data communications and telecommunication cables and can be fixed directly to concrete or composite floors as well as suspended by rods. The LinkMaster Pro data cable verifier from Ideal features length measurement and functions for testing, mapping and trouble-shooting twisted pair and coax data networks. Krone’s new mixed-media, digital distribution frame can hold a mix of twisted pair and coaxial cables. Sizes vary from two-metre high floor-standing frames to small subracks. Optical Technology Training has introduced a new advanced fibre testing course, intended to help data cabling installers follow the new European testing standard (EN 50346). AX Distribution has stocked parts ranging from telephone extension leads to complex interface cables and adaptors. Wadsworth has extended its Fluke Networks product range with Cat 5/5e/6/7 cable testers. The OMNIScanner2 is designed for Cat 5/5e links and is guaranteed to certify Cat 6, with capability for Cat 7/Class F testing up to 300 MHz. Ortronics has introduced a new floor grommet for power and communications wiring in raised floor environments.

Source

Electrical and Mechanical Contractor