For: www.wireville.com
"Heard On The Street" Column
Issue: October 2006
By: Frank Bisbee
September was packed with news. The data center folks gathered in Orlando for AFCOM’s annual Data Center Conference. All of the attendees that we spoke with were pleased with the programs and the value that they extracted from the exhibitors. For information on AFCOM’s upcoming events visit www.afcom.com.
Mid-September the cabling
industry gathered in
Hats off to David Cranmer the
BICSI interim Executive Director. His
team broke records in all areas for this fall conference. Check the BICSI website in the near future
for details on this event.
My
favorites from the conference program
and special presentations:
·
Fluke Networks
presentation (by Adrian Young) and luncheon on 10Gig testing.
·
New products for
residential cabling and connectors by Preformed Line Products, SMP Data, ERICO,
and Hitachi HCM Cable
·
Presentation:
Safety, Firestopping, and getting along with the AHJ (Authority Having
Jurisdiction) by Mike Tobias Sr. – Unique Firestop Products
·
Special
recognition to the presentation by Cynthia Montstream, RCDD/NTS and Dale
Budenski, RCDD for the presentation “What the standards aren’t telling you may
greatly impact your installation – especially 10G”
·
Graybar, Anixter,
Accu-Tech, Rexel, and CSC distributors were all sending a strong message on
convergence. If your focus is limited to
voice and data cabling, you are missing a huge set of valuable offerings with
significant revenue.
·
Copper isn’t
dead, not by a long shot. However, fiber
is outpacing all other types of media in the new cabling applications. Every cabling manufacturer had exciting
products in the fiber optic column. Check out the training opportunities with
·
Wiring for
wireless is HOT. The exploding demand
for Wi-Fi is universal and the cabling opportunities are everywhere.
October brings new
opportunities. The 2006 NECA Show in
October 7-10, 2006. Last years show was wiped out by hurricane
Katrina and this year’s agenda is doubly packed with value. This is a “must do” event for electrical
contractors, and contractors involved in IBS (integrated building systems), and
voice/data/video. The impact of convergence is especially strong in this
sector.
Remember, Safety is too
important to ignore.
But that’s just my opinion….
Frank Bisbee
Editor – HOTS (Heard On The Street) monthly column
Featured on www.wireville.com
Jacksonville, FL
frank@wireville.com
Tel. 904-645-9077
Fax 904-645-9058
RHINO Non-adhesive Tag Fills Labeling Market Void
RHINO, the
industrial division of DYMO Corporation, a NewellRubbermaid company, to
announced the addition of Non-adhesive Tag to its line of label printer
cartridges. This new product was developed to fill a void that currently exists
in non-adhesive labeling applications.
Non-adhesive labels are required in applications that use plastic holders, such
as on distribution panels, electrical wiring, or modular outlets. To date,
non-adhesive labeling products have posed a variety of problems. These labels
are often manufacturer-exclusive and non-interchangeable among components, or
they require a supply of books and cards of individual letters and numbers to
be kept on hand. In some cases, they are on perforated sheets that must be
printed using an office printer or plotter and can result in waste if only a
few labels are needed.
“The problem with most non-adhesive labeling products,” explained Lea Ann
Schmidt, Sr. Product Manager for RHINO, “is that they either require
printing at the office – which is just not feasible for efficient field
installations, or they require many different products be carried into the
field such as various size labels and books of letters and numbers. RHINO
developed its new Non-adhesive Tag cartridges to eliminate both problems.”
New RHINO Non-adhesive Tag cartridges drop into hand-held, electronic RHINO
label printers (RHINO 5000, 3000 and 1000) in the same way that other
adhesive-style label cartridges do. Installers simply enter the label text and
size they need and press “print”. The label information is output on the non-adhesive
tag in the exact size the installer needs, right at the job site. The need for
individual or various size tag inserts is eliminated, saving the installer
space in his toolbox and money in his pocket. As a bonus, RHINO labels make
installations look polished and professional.
Doug Waldal, Global Director of Rhino, added, “The benefit of the new RHINO
Non-adhesive Tag cartridges is that they offer installers more flexibility on
the spot, saving time and reducing labeling inventory levels and costs.
Installers can cut the inserts exactly to the size they need – all from the
same cartridge. And, an installer can print just one or many labels at any
given time. It’s an incredibly flexible solution to a long-standing problem
with non-adhesive labeling applications.”
The new RHINO Non-adhesive Tag cartridges are available in 1/4” (6mm), 3/8”
(9mm), 1/2” (12mm) and 3/4” (19mm) widths, in lengths of 18’ (5.5 meters).
Available in both white and yellow colors, the label material is
constructed of non-adhesive polypropylene, providing excellent durability,
rigidity and printability. RHINO Non-adhesive Tag cartridges work in the RHINO
5000, RHINO 3000 and RHINO 1000 label printers.
RHINO Non-adhesive Tag cartridges retail from $15.99 - $17.99. The RHINO 5000
and RHINO 3000 retail for $149.99 and $99.99 respectively. All are available
now through your local distributor. www.rhinolabeling.com
Certified Communications For All Your Staffing Needs For The Electrical Voice & Data Industry
Certified
Communications is an experienced recruiting firm that is well equipped to
handle any staffing needs. Our mission
is to provide a quality service and contingent work force for the Electrical
and Voice / Data industries. We provide skilled labor at levels of discipline
that will allow the enhancement of your current staff. Through our cost
effective services you will increase profit and productivity, while reaching
project requirements and deadlines. Certified has a proven track record as one
of the most successful staffing and recruiting firms in Texas. We are staffing
specialists in the voice / data and electrical fields. With more than 30 years
of staffing experience, Certified Communications has made a commitment to each
of our clients and employees to remain confidential as well as attentive to all
needs. We are excited about the potential this relationship represents for you
as a client and for Certified as your Partner. We look forward to working
together and we take this responsibility seriously. Our
employment capabilities include but are not limited to:
Cable Installation Techs
(Levels I, II, &III)
Fire Alarm Installer
CCTV Techs
Audio Visual Techs
Electrical Journeyman
Electrical Apprentice
Electrical Helper
Certified Communications is
capable of covering the
Certified Communications Inc
would also like to welcome its newest addition in
As a BICSI Corporate member
Certified has an
NFPA’s Residential Wiring, 2nd Edition
NFPA’s Residential Wiring, 2nd
Edition, by NECA Executive Director for Standards & Safety Brooke Stauffer,
is available through the National Fire Protection Association. Intended as a textbook, this practical guide
provides room-by-room instructions on how to design and install wring systems
for houses, apartments, and condos in accordance with the 2005 National
Electric Code. Reflecting new concerns
with power security, it also has a new chapter on backup generators. Priced at $57, it may be ordered at www.nfpacatalog.org or by calling
1-800-344-3555.
Reprinted with permission of Electrical
Contractor Magazine September 2006 issue – www.ecmag.com
Leviton Acquires Fiber Connect
The Leviton Manufacturing
Company, North America’s largest producer of electrical and electronic wiring
devices and manufacturer of voice and data solutions, today announced its
acquisition of Fiber Connect Incorporated, a Chicago-based provider of
“With this acquisition, our
second fiber optic-related acquisition in less than 24 months, our Voice and
Data division broadens its suite of
“As Fiber Connect reaches its tenth year in
business, we are proud to join Leviton,” stated Ron Berrettini, President and
founder of Fiber Connect. “We can now
better serve our clients with Leviton’s global manufacturing and logistics
capabilities, as well as reach a new set of customers in cooperation with
Leviton’s sales force. As technology
infrastructure evolves, and increases in importance, we will become a global
integration organization.”
“
With this acquisition,
Leviton extends its leading-edge fiber solutions to a wider audience of
distributors, contractors and end-users, with faster delivery, superior design
and increased technical support for Plug-n-Play Fiber and
Fiber Connect is a wholly
owned subsidiary and reports into Leviton’s Voice and Data Division, which is
led by Ross Goldman, Vice President and General Manager.
About Fiber Connect
A data center infrastructure
firm, Fiber Connect provides solutions for the most advanced data centers in
Fortune 1000 companies. Fiber Connect develops and manufactures fiber optic
infrastructure solutions, and provides design, installation, commissioning and
maintenance of data centers. Fiber
Connect's headquarters is located in
About Leviton
Established in
1906, Leviton Manufacturing Company, Inc. is one of the world’s most
diversified electrical manufacturing companies. Leviton has more than thirty
facilities dedicated to engineering, manufacturing and distribution of over
25,000 products for nearly every connectivity need. Leviton’s Voice & Data
division is dedicated to producing complete copper, fiber and wireless network
infrastructure solutions for enterprise, data center, and service provider
applications. www.levitonvoicedata.com
BICSI
Fall Conference Offers Diverse Education, Networking Opportunities
Drawing more than 3,000
information transport systems (ITS) professionals and exhibitors from around
the world dedicated to advancing the ITS industry, the 2006 BICSI Fall
Conference was held September 18-21 at the MGM Grand Conference Center in Las
Vegas.
The conference offered an
unrivaled educational line-up of interactive seminars, presentations, courses
and state-of-the-art exhibits—from the latest developments in wireless network
designs and firestop systems to advances in Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
technology and audio/video applications.
“BICSI always manages to put
on a conference that is world-class,” said Robert Langevin, a registered
communications distribution designer (RCDD). “The information that is presented
is constantly up-to-date and the best available.”
Following several
well-received presentations during the General Session on Tuesday, September
19, conference attendees had the opportunity to design their own schedules on
Wednesday from over 16 various Breakout Session presentations. The morning
session topics included cable sharing, OSP permitting issues, NENP connector
technology, WLAN, shielded and un-shielded cabling, wiring closet cooling
needs, communicating with the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ), and FTTE and
implementation.
The afternoon sessions on
Wednesday featured topics such as in-building Wi-Fi, residential and commercial
wiring opportunities, smoke leakage, Master Format 2004, RFC2544,
laser-optimized fiber, RoHS, and contamination problems and prevention.
The evening closed with the
ever-successful BICSI Reception and Exhibits. “This is one of our better
conferences that we are involved in throughout the year, states Ryan Goard,
RCDD, with General Cable in Castle Rock, Colorado. “Everyone I’ve spoken to has
been very satisfied, and it continually helps us to understand the customers
that visit from other parts of the country and to make adjustments in our
overall business approaches.”
Thursday, January 26, morning
opened with presentations by Gregg Kelley of Lynx Broadband and Richard Reed,
consultant for BICSI Government Relations. Kelley presented “Television on
Twisted Pair Cable,” highlighting the extensive benefits, multiple applications
and relative low cost of such systems versus coaxial installations. Reed
summarized the major efforts taken on BICSI members’ behalf throughout the year
in the governmental relations report.
BICSI Cares, Inc. was at the
conference, collecting contributions from BICSI conference attendees, to donate
100% of the contributions to the Children’s Heart Foundation of Las Vegas. CHF
received a total of $23,500 from BICSI membership and conference attendees.
Originally, the large presentation check was only written for $22,000, but
during the 15-minute break immediately before the presentation, BICSI Cares
collected an additional $1,500.
The closing presentation was
a memorable event. The President George W. Bush impersonator was a funny,
quirky performance that BICSI membership enjoyed before traveling back home to
recuperate from days filled with education, networking, and fun.
TPMA To Offer RCDD Training Program
The Telecommunications
Project Management Association announced a melded Internet, instructor
lead, distance learning, and “on site” test preparation class focused on the
BICSI Registered Communications Distribution Designer (RCDD). TPMA Executive
Director Don Nelson announced the program. Current TPMA Specialty Exams focus
on various Information Technology areas such as;
Premises Networks, Global
Networks, Outside Plant, Wireless, CATV, Security, and Access Control Systems.
The technology Exam is a part
of the Project Management test. “If you are building a wireless system, you
want a PM who has technical knowledge in that field” Nelson said. “Many of our
members find it useful to have additional certifications in a particular
Technology area. The RCDD is
the gold standard in the area of premises distribution and information
transport”.
The TPMA program will
involve;
Self Study
Interactive internet based
modules
Instructor lead distance
learning
Intensive “on site” test
preparation
Group study sessions
The cost of the program is
$1499, which is very cost effective against
Other programs, and
additionally, the travel and living costs are reduced. TPMA offers a free
repeat of the program if a student doesn’t pass the Exam on the first
attempt.
2007 Dates and locations for
the TPMA RCDD Test Prep portion of the program are:
Orlando, FL January 15 to January 18, 2007
Vancouver, BC February 26 to March 1, 2007
Dallas, TX April 9 to April 12, 2007
Las Vegas, NV September 3 to September 6, 2007
Students
can join, and begin the Internet and distance learning classes at any time.
“Suitcase” RCDD Test Prep
classes are also being scheduled.
Fluke Corp. Updates Electrical Measurement Safety Education Video
Flue Corp., a manufacturer of
handheld electric test and measurement technology, has released an updated
version of its Electrical Measurement Safety interactive video aimed at
reducing hazards for people measuring electrical circuits. It may help reduce risk liability for
employers.
Electrical safety compliance
training violations were No. 7 and 10 on the 2005 Top 10 list of the most
frequently cited standards published by the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA).
OSHA regulations include a
six-point plan to minimize potential arc flash danger for personnel that
address issues such as requirements for safety programs, training and use of
appropriate tools for safe working conditions.
The video has been revised to
incorporate the most recent guidelines from the National Fire Protections
Association (NFPA) 70E standard for electrical safety in the workplace, which
specifically addresses arc flash hazards.
Materials also incorporate
safety information from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI),
International Elctrotechnical Conference (IEC), and other safety regulators.
The video includes the
following:
·
Safety video: This 25-minute video dramatizes the hazards of
electrical measurement and explains the precautions that help defend against
arc flashes. It includes the experience
of an electrician almost killed by an arc flash.
·
Test Tool post-test: This quick test
helps electrical professionals determine whether the test tools they are using
meet today’s safety standards.
·
Interview with an arc-blast survivor: This
electrician survived an arc blast and is back on the job, though his recovery
required months of skin grafts. Hear
what happened and what he learned.
·
Safety application notes: Each of these brief notes is designed to serve as the
basis of a safety meeting discussion or as a chapter in the electrical safety
reference library.
The video is available free
of charge on CD through the Fluke Web site, www.fluke.com/safety.
Reprinted with permission of Electrical
Contractor Magazine September 2006 issue – www.ecmag.com
Preformed
Line Products Company Announces Purchase Of Common Shares and Termination Of Controlled Company Status
Preformed Line Products Company (Nasdaq: PLPC - News) today announced that it
has used a portion of its available cash to repurchase 365,311 common shares of
the Company from Barbara P. Ruhlman in a privately negotiated transaction. Mrs.
Ruhlman, the Company's largest shareholder, had determined to diversify her
portfolio for estate planning reasons. Mrs. Ruhlman is a member of the
Company's Board of Directors and the mother of Robert G. Ruhlman and Randall M.
Ruhlman, both of whom are also members of the Board of Directors. Robert G.
Ruhlman is Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
The closing price of the
Company's common shares today on the NASDAQ National Market System was $37.50
per share. The negotiated purchase price per share paid by the Company was
$31.48, a 15% discount from the average closing price of the Company's common
shares over the last 30 calendar days.
The repurchase was approved
by both the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company and the
Company's Board of Directors (with Mrs. Ruhlman abstaining). The Audit
Committee, which is comprised solely of independent directors, acted as a
special committee of the Board of Directors in connection with the review of
the potential transaction with Mrs. Ruhlman. In connection with its review, the
Audit Committee engaged Brown Gibbons Lang & Company to serve as its
financial advisor.
In connection with the
repurchase, the Company's status as a controlled company under the NASDAQ
Corporate Governance Rules was terminated by the Company's shareholders who had
previously formed a group owning over 50% of the Company's outstanding common
shares by entering into a controlled company agreement.
Founded in 1947, Preformed
Line Products is an international designer and manufacturer of products and
systems employed in the construction and maintenance of overhead and
underground networks for energy, communications and broadband network
companies.
Preformed's world
headquarters are in Cleveland, Ohio, and the Company operates three domestic
manufacturing centers located in Rogers, Arkansas, Albemarle, North Carolina,
and Asheville, North Carolina. The Company serves its worldwide market through
international operations in
ACUTA Honors Duke, Florida State Communications Professionals With Top Leadership Awards
Two of the most active and
highly involved members of ACUTA, the Association for Communications Technology
Professionals in Higher Education, have been honored with special awards by the
organization.
Tamara Closs of
Closs was honored with the
Bill D. Morris Award, named for a popular past president. ACUTA gives the
Morris Award to the member who best exemplifies the dedication, vision,
professionalism, and leadership that Morris brought to the organization.
Closs was the 2004-2005 ACUTA
president, has been a director, and has chaired numerous committees. Currently
assistant vice president of communications and systems infrastructure at Duke,
she has been a member of ACUTA since 1990.
Buchanan, recently elected to
the position of director-at-large, received the Ruth A. Michalecki Leadership Award,
recognizing outstanding leadership by a member. In addition to chairing and
serving on a number of important ACUTA committees, Buchanan is also a frequent
speaker at ACUTA events. His educational sessions on customer service are
particularly popular.
Buchanan is known for his
creative and entrepreneurial approaches to developing campus communication
services, and has been a mentor to scores of ACUTA newcomers. He has been an
ACUTA member since 1992.
“No organization can thrive
without the active involvement of volunteers,” said Jeri Semer, executive
director of ACUTA. “Tamara Closs and Buck Buchanan have consistently gone
beyond the call of duty to support ACUTA and its members. Their leadership has
helped us maintain ACUTA’s vitality and relevance.” www.acuta.org
The Best Trade Magazines in the Business – Security & Life Safety Systems Magazine Oct 2006
I come from the old school of
journalism. I’m a member of the Society of Professional Journalists and the
Chicago Headline Club and I often think, and hope, that there are still
journalists out there who believe in ethics, in telling the story truthfully
from all sides. We are story tellers, but we base these accounts on real life,
real people and real quotes.
Fact checking and verifying
information and research is 99 percent of the job. It’s all about making sure
quotes are accurate, names are spelled right, and that’s how the story comes
together and becomes engaging. You have to know about a topic or an industry to
write about it. And, despite what some people might think about journalists, I
often leave out information that might be harmful, such as when I get a
manufacturer or other source to open up and they lend some “not so nice”
comments about a person, place or thing.
It’s a blast being part of Electrical Contractor (EC) and Security and Life Safety Systems
(S&LSS) magazines. We take our professional ethics from journalism and
apply it to these books. EC is one of the oldest continuing published
electrical magazines in the country—started out as Qualified Remodeler. NECA is
such a cool association and the EC staff is the best. John Maisel is the
Publisher and I can’t say enough about him as far as his abilities and his
personality. I helped launch S&LSS
several years ago and it’s been a lot about telling our story—that electrical
contractors are getting involved in low-voltage, security, fire, video and
automated controls—and they are selecting the products to use in these jobs,
not just terminating connections. They are the experts and we want to help them
become even more proficient in these endeavors—through the pages of the
magazines, our Web sites and now, new conferences and educational sessions we
are conducting as part of the International Security Conferences &
Expositions (ISC Expo).
As the editor of SLSS
magazine, I feel our chief goal is to educate the electrical contractors on all
the opportunities in the industry and that people are turning to them for their
expertise. There’s so much excitement in the industry. It’s not just about
burglar alarms with a siren anymore. Fire alarms and life safety, as always,
take precedence. It’s about all the parts and pieces of the building or
residence that can talk to each other and make the premises safer, brighter,
more convenient.
In the security industry, we
began talking about automation in the 80s and even earlier. But now, it’s
really here. Manufacturers don’t base their products on proprietary
technologies. They look for ways to integrate with other products, or partner
with other industries that make sense.
Technology is coming down in
price and we’re at the cusp of adoption by many markets. Residential is hot,
hot, hot! There’s so much that can be accomplished with low-voltage, all the EC
needs is a little imagination and the wherewithal to learn about the discipline
or the ability to hire someone who does (yes, you need information technology
expertise).
EC and S&LSS are here to
help. Together, with you, we are trusted partners in the success of the
electrical contracting industry.
Deborah O’Mara
September 15, 2006
By Deborah L. O’Mara
Editor, Security & Life Safety Systems magazine
Senior Editor, Electrical Contractor magazine
Broadband Growth Continues On Record-Setting Pace
Broadband growth is on a
tear, and according to several studies, shows no signs of slowing up.
According to the
Of the two, DSL performed
slightly better, adding a record 1.66 million subscribers, more than half of
the net growth in the subscribers for the quarter. Cable providers came in at a close second,
with more than 1.4 million new subscribers.
LRG reports that 69 percent
of all
With that kind of demand, broadband
growth is poised to continue on other fronts as well. According to the London-bases Informa
Telecoms & Media, the number of 3.5 G mobile broadband subscribers
worldwide will boom more than ten-fold from 2.5 million in 2006 to more than
300 million in 2011.
Although a lack of compelling
devices and content will restrain growth in the near term, the company predicts
that handsets will mature in 2008, leading to a sharp increase in 3.5 G Handset
sales and subscribers in 2008-2009.
By 2011, 85 percent of 3.5G
devices sold will be handsets. The
remaining 15 percent will be notebooks and PC cards.
By Rick Laezman
Reprinted with permission of Electrical
Contractor Magazine September 2006 issue – www.ecmag.com
NAED Announces 2006-2007 Meeting & Conference Itinerary
This year’s National
Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED) events will help businesses stay
connected with the topics, trends and technology that are currently shaping the
electrical industry. The association offers a variety of meetings and
conferences annually at the local, regional, and national levels, each
featuring opportunities to enhance industry partnerships, professional
development, and overall company profitability.
2006-2007 Meeting &
Conference Schedule:
NAED Regional Conferences focus on the tactical issues and challenges facing
distributors and suppliers in each of NAED’s three regions. Events like the
Opening Session, Peer Networking Groups and the Women in Industry Luncheon
provide networking and best practices. The regional conferences also feature
sessions on topics relevant to the entire channel like this year’s “Pricing for
Profit” and “Task Force Update: Implementing the Supply Chain Report Card.”
-
Eastern Region Conference, Nov. 8 - 11, 2006,
-
Western Region Conference, Jan. 17 - 20, 2007, Las Vegas, Nev. (registration
now open)— Featured Keynote Speaker: Aron Ralston,
an accomplished mountaineer who was pinned by an 800 lb. boulder in
Colorado’s Blue John Canyon and had to make the difficult decision to cut
off his arm or die.
-
South Central Region Conference, Feb. 28 - March 3, 2007, San Diego,
Calif. (registration opens in October)— Featured Keynote
Speaker: The Afterburners Team, made up of top U.S. military
fighter pilots, discuss key risk-assessment, leadership, and communication
principles.
NAED Annual Meeting, May 5
- 9, 2007, Washington, D.C. (registration
opens in December)—is designed to bring together the entire industry,
providing the ideal time for distributors to solidify relationships and plan
strategically with the estimated 225 suppliers in attendance. The Annual
Meeting, to be held at the
NAED Niche Meetings provide the ideal forum for specialized groups and
individuals to address the topics most relevant to their area of the industry.
- AdVenture Electrical Sales & Marketing
Conference, TBD—Distributor
marketing and sales staff are invited to join their colleagues for three
days of strategic planning, sharing best practices, and discovering the
best way to market and sell electrical products.
- Leadership Enhancement and Development (LEAD)
Conference, July 26 - 29,
2007, Chicago, Ill.—Sponsored each summer by NAED’s Your Emerging
Talent (YET) Committee, the event is designed to foster ongoing industry
involvement and professional development among new leaders within the
channel. Participants of the 2007 event, held at the InterContinental
Chicago Hotel, will benefit from the practical insights of industry
experts and valuable networking time with their peers.
NAED Area Marketing
Meetings & Events offer more
centralized opportunities for distributors to network with each other, build
relationships with channel partners, and focus on the needs and issues specific
to their locale.
Titans Stadium,
Lodge of the Four Seasons,
Ballantyne Resort,
- Lake Michigan
Marriott Oakbrook,
To register or receive more
information about these events, contact the NAED Conference Department at (888)
791-2512 or customerservice@naed.org.
Registration is also available for NAED’s annual, regional, LEAD, and AdVenture
Conferences at least three months in advance at www.naed.org under the “Meetings &
Conferences” section.
NAED is the trade association
for the $70+ billion electrical distribution industry. Through networking,
education, research and benchmarking, NAED helps electrical distributors
increase profitability and improve the channel. NAED’s membership represents
approximately 4,100 locations internationally.
www.naed.org.
New Enhancements For OptiFiber® Certifying OTDR Increase Fiber Optic Testing Capabilities In LAN/Campus Networks
Fluke Networks
announced the availability of new test modules and software for its OptiFiber
Certifying OTDR, the company's complete test solution for premises fiber optic
networks. These enhancements increase versatility and convenience for
OptiFiber users, helping ensure the performance of mission critical fiber links
"With the
new test modules and software enhancements OptiFiber is even more powerful than
before," said Harley Lang, product manager. "Users can now test
longer fiber links in campus networks, as well as very short patch cords in
data centers. At the same time, software improvements make some popular
troubleshooting features more accessible and easier to use."
OptiFiber's new
extended range singlemode module offers a 60 km range, shorter dead-zones and
increased dynamic range to support premises, campus, and metro fiber optic
network testing. The modules have a new end-cap design, which features
removable, easy to clean OTDR ports and interchangeable power meter
ports. A visual fault locator is also included for fast visual
identification of fiber breaks or tight bends. These new modules
are available from Fluke Networks as options and in kits, to provide OptiFiber
owners with a wide range of test capabilities. A new line up of
convenient accessories and kits, including hybrid launch fibers, for easier use
with a wider range of connector types, have been added.
Software
enhancements make real-time trace and optical return loss results easier to
view in the field and save for later viewing and documentation purposes,
providing users with added convenience and productivity. Popular
FiberInspector® end-face analysis is now even easier to operate. Free software
downloads are available to current OptiFiber owners via the Fluke Networks
website at www.flukenetworks.com.
Product
availability
The OptiFiber Certifying
OTDR, its accompanying test modules and kits are available for immediate
delivery from Fluke Networks' sales partners worldwide.
About Fluke
Networks
Fluke Networks provides innovative solutions for the installation and
certification, testing, monitoring and analysis of copper, fiber and wireless
networks used by enterprises and telecommunications carriers. The company's
comprehensive line of Network SuperVisiontm Solutions provide network
installers, owners, and maintainers with superior vision, combining speed,
accuracy and ease of use to optimize network performance. Headquartered in
VoiceOne™ Unveils Universal Instant Messaging (IM) Platform For Click4Me.Net Members
VoiceOne(TM)
Communications, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of VoIP, Inc. (OTC Bulletin
Board: VOII), unveiled today its Click4Me.Net Universal Instant Messaging (IM)
Platform that integrates Instant Messaging services from MSN (NASDAQ: MSFT),
Yahoo! (NASDAQ: YHOO), Time Warner-owned (NYSE:
TWX) AOL, and Google's (NASDAQ: GOOG) gTalk.
With
the release of the Click4Me.Net service, for the first time ever Internet users
can send Instant Messages between the four major IM services. All that's
necessary is for a user to sign up for a free Click4Me account, through which
IM communication is made possible between any users of any of the four IM
systems. For instance, gTalk IM users can send Instant Messages to MSN IM
users, or AOL IM users, or Yahoo! IM users - using Click4Me.Net - without
having to use separate Instant Messaging clients for each service. All major IM
clients are supported by Click4Me.Net, including Windows/PC, Mac, Linux, and of
course, cell phones.
VoiceOne
has added this IM integrated functionality to its recently released beta
version of Click4Me.Net, the world's first Web-click calling service that
utilizes VoIP technology for free phone-to-phone calling, and now Instant
Messaging across services. Click4Me.Net
is available for testing on VoiceOne's Virtual Lab at http://Labs.VoiceOne.com -- an open forum
for users to preview, test free of charge, and provide feedback on new IP
communications services developed by VoiceOne.
VoiceOne's
COO and CTO Shawn Lewis commented, "Our Click4Me.Net service enables cross
platform, cross network integration and communication convergence. The idea of
convergence is not only related to 'tele'- communications, but communications
as a whole. This is just the start. We will be introducing additional services
and capabilities that not only will create a universal bridge between all
methods of communication, from telephony, to instant messaging, text messaging
(SMS), and multimedia messaging (MMS), but also add features and services that
go beyond anything now available. The
robust, flexible technology platform created and owned by VoiceOne is making it
all happen," he said.
During
the next few weeks, VoiceOne will be announcing its own Instant Messaging
clients, for PCs, PDAs and standard cell phones, as well as new services
enabling any client of the various services to make and receive phone calls,
send and receive text messaging, virtual file storage and sharing, click-2-call
services integrated with instant messaging, and many other fully integrated
services all built around the company's powerful new all-modes communication
platform.
To
start using the Click4Me.Net service, any person can simply log on and register
(free of any charges or commitments) at http://Labs.VoiceOne.Com
or at www.Click4Me.Net. Members can then review, provide feedback on
the Click4Me service or discuss additional IP communications services with VoIP
Inc.'s development team at http://Labs.VoiceOne.com.
Features
for registered members of Click4Me.Net now include: SMS Text messaging to
users, an online Inbox allowing people to leave messages for one another on the
Click4Me.Net website, email and SMS text notifications of missed calls or new
messages, and now Instant Messaging across popular IM services. Many more expanded and new features will be
added in the coming days and weeks. http://www.voipinc.com.
User’s Guide to The NEC, also
by Brooke Stauffer, is written for technical-vocational school students,
beginning electrical apprentices, and first-year electrical engineering
students. Its 300 pages – which include
more than 200 full-color illustratons, numerous tables and actual Code extract
– provide information about how the NEC is organized and how to use it when
designing and ensatlling electrical construction jobs. To order User’s Guide to the National
Electrical Code, visit www.nfpacatalog.org
or call 1-800-344-3555. This book is
available for $49.50.
Reprinted with permission of Electrical
Contractor Magazine September 2006 issue – www.ecmag.com
Anixter International To Log 3Q Gain On IRS Refunds, Interest
Anixter International Inc.,
distributor of wiring systems, networking products, and fasteners, on Monday
said it will have a gain of $18.1 million, or 41 cents per share, in refunds
and interest in the third quarter after a settlement with the Internal Revenue
Service.
The company also said
interest received in the settlement -- net of taxes -- will be roughly $4.8
million, or 11 cents per share.
Analysts polled by Thomson
Financial forecast profit of $1.03 per share for the company in the third
quarter.
Anixter said the settlement
found it can deduct certain losses on its federal tax returns for 1996 through
1998 due to changes in IRS regulations that became effective in 1996. The
refund associated with the tax issue is about $13.7 million, plus interest.
Shares of Anixter rose 46
cents to $57.51 in morning trading on the New York Stock Exchange. www.anixter.com
Hitachi Receives Rising Star Award For Outstanding Global Distribution Program
Hitachi Global Storage Technologies (
In its inaugural year, the GTDC Rising
Star Awards program is designed to recognize the fastest-growing vendors doing
business through distributors. Winner selections are based on year-over-year
growth reflected by NPD Distributor Track(SM) reporting for the 12 months
ending May 2006. Vendors are required to have sold corresponding products
through IT distributors for a minimum of one year with at least 20 percent
year-over-year sales growth for hardware manufacturers.
"The GTDC member distributors
represent more than $80 billion in annual sales, and it's an honor for us to be
recognized by such an influential organization with real insight into the IT
distributor business arena," said George Silva, senior vice president of
worldwide sales, Hitachi Global Storage Technologies. "As the hard drive
industry prepares itself for continued growth, our distribution partners play
an integral role in helping
"
To learn more about
About The Global Technology Distribution
Council
The Global Technology Distribution Council
(GTDC) is a worldwide industry association dedicated to defining and promoting
the role of wholesale distribution in a successful and healthy information
technology channel. The Council is comprised of the computer industry's top
wholesale distributors dedicated to serving "the channel," a network
of skilled value-added resellers and retail stores focused on providing
hardware, software, and services to businesses and consumers around the globe.
About Hitachi Global Storage Technologies
Hitachi Global Storage Technologies is a
storage technology leader, founded in 2003 through the combination of
With its legacy in hard drive invention,
With more than 30,000+ employees
worldwide,
ANS Becomes Newest Member Of The Corning Total Access ProgramSM (TAP)
Corning Cable Systems, part
of Corning Incorporated’s (NYSE: GLW) Telecommunications segment, announces ANS
Advanced Network Services, LLC as the newest member of the selective Corning
Total Access ProgramSM (TAP).
ANS is a premier provider of
engineering, furnishing, installation, staffing, maintenance and consulting
services. With a commitment to excellence in quality, responsiveness and value,
ANS’ capabilities encompass all inside and outside communications environments,
from the central office to the customer premises. Through the Total Access
Program and its extended warranty, ANS plans to expand its existing service
offerings to current and future customers, quickly responding to their changing
demands while offering the same value that has earned praise from existing
customers.
“We consider
Through its Evolant®
Solutions for Access Networks,
ANS Becomes Newest Member of
offers specialized portfolios
of innovative products and services that enable customers to cost-effectively
deploy fiber in the last mile. For additional information on Corning Cable
Systems, contact a customer service representative at 1-800-743-2675, toll free
in the
NFPA Amends Codes, Includes Electronic Monitoring Of Fire Extinguishers
The National Fire Protection
Association (NFPA) voted to amend NFPA 10 and NFPA 72 to include electronic
monitoring in lieu of mandatory physical 30-day inspections. The ruling went into effect at the beginning
of September.
Strong support for the
acceptance of the technology came from
fire officials, end-users and members of the fire protection
industry. According to the NFPA,
electronically monitored fire extinguishers
allowed under their codes must include the ability to assess proper location ,
access without obstruction and pressurization.
Moreover, the system must
provide record keeping in the form of an electronic event log at the control
panel. Specific changes to NFPA 10
include the addition of a definition of electronic monitoring in Chapter 3 and
specific details in Chapter 7. NFPA 72
included the addition of electronic monitoring definitions to Chapters 3,5 and
6.
Reprinted with permission of Electrical
Contractor Magazine September 2006 issue – www.ecmag.com
the Annual General Meeting of
the members of the Continental Automated Buildings Association (CABA) will be
held at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel and
a) Receiving the financial statements for the year ending
June 30, 2006;
b) Appointing auditors;
c) Electing the CABA Board of Directors;
d) Reviewing CABA Activities 2005-2006: and
e) Receiving an update on CABA’s Strategic Plan including
information on CABA's new Internet Home Alliance Research Council and CABA’s
Intelligent & Integrated Buildings Council activities.
Dated in
September 19, 2005 CABA President & CEO
TED Magazine Articles On Special Pricing Authorizaiton (SPA) Challenges Featured In Textbook “Journalism That Matters”
TED Magazine, the official
publication of the National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED), was
selected for inclusion in a textbook, Journalism that Matters: How
Business-to-Business Editors Change the Industries They Cover. The magazine is
featured in the chapter, Switching the Current on Electrical Rebates, written
by TED Editor Michael Martin.
The book’s editors, Robert
Freedman and Steven Roll, selected the series of articles addressing Special
Pricing Authorizations (SPA) because of the significant impact it had on the
industry.
Freedman said the editors
felt that the magazine shed a spotlight on the product rebate issue and helped
spur the industry to look into and adopt reforms.
“TED magazine created a
neutral forum for testing ideas and also helped keep parties focused on the
long-term goal,” said Freedman. “To be sure, the magazine's relationship with
the association was critical, because it was association resources and the
association's conference that provided the backbone to getting the reforms made,
but the magazine was the information conduit, and thus provided the glue that
kept the effort together for the duration.”
The new book, Journalism that
Matters: How B2B Editors Change the Industries They Cover, is a project of the
American Society of Business Press Editors (ASBPE). It explores how editors of
business-to-business publications drive industry. Conceived as a showcase for
the hard-hitting, results-oriented journalism of many business-to-business
publications, the book digs deep into the genesis of some exceptionally
engrossing stories.
To access a pdf of the book
chapter on TED Magazine, go to
http://www.naed.org/Images/Email/ASPBETEDChapter.pdf.
To access the TED’s articles
on the SPA issue, go to www.naed.org/spa and click on the article link or
follow this direct link.
The book, Journalism that
Matters, is used by journalism students and magazine journalism professionals
and is published by Marion Street Press, Inc. The book’s retail price is $16.95
and is available for purchase at www.marionstreetpress.com. The book was
released July 15, 2006.
TED Magazine is the primary
source of information for the electrical distribution channel across North
America. The publication is dedicated to best practices for the electrical
supply chain. In addition to its print edition, TED Magazine produces up-to-the
minute news at www.tedmag.com. The magazine’s award-winning editorial content
and design is led by Editor Michael Martin, Managing Editor Misty Byers and Art
Director Randi Vincent.
To sign up for NAED's weekly
newsletter, go to www.naed.org and click on "News Room" and then
"Subscribe Newsletters."
Wi-Fi Adoption Gains Momentum In China, VoIP Exports To Top 22 Milllion
The enterprise market from
Wi-Fi technology in China is expected to increase fourfold over the next three
years, with a 45 percent annual growth rate for the market as a whole,
according to a new white paper sponsored by the Wi-Fi Alliance. It is part of a wireless trend that is in
genesis around the world.
Developed by Chinese research
firm Analysys International, the report describes a new wave of Wi-Fi expansion
in China, fueled by increased broadband penetration and less expensive
Wi-Fi-enabled laptops, bringing the technology to homes, offices, and public
places.
The market for non-embedded
Wi-Fi equipment, such as access points and external network cards, is expected
to exceed 10 billion by 2008.
“China is already an
important strategic market for our industry, and we believe it presents a very
attractive growth opportunity in the coming years,” said Frank Hanzlik, Wi-Fi
Alliance managing director. “The
enterprise networking and voice application segments are particular areas of
opportunity, and our Wi-Fi cerified programs help ensure that the Chinese Wi-Fi
users have the very best experience with Wi-Fi devices as adoption becomes more
widespread.”
“More Wi-Fi products will
emerge in 2007, mobile office and mobile entertainment will continue to
develop, and Wi-Fi home user market development will speed up,” said Ealge
Zhang, Analysys international’s vice president of research.
“With it’s affordability,
versatility, and high-data rate, Wi-Fi will continue to be an important part of
the lager wireless ecosystem in China,” said Hanzlik. “Chinese consumers are coming to demand
seamless connectivity on devises ranging from laptops to home entertainment
gear, and Wi-Fi has a major role in keeping all of those devices connected.”
In addition, greater China
manufacturers are expected to produce 29 million voice over Internet protocol
(VoIP) products in 2006, according to China Sourcing Report. Exports are estimated to hit 22.66 million
units-an increase of 14 percent over 2005.
“Telephony solutions are
expected to drive growth in the worldwide VoIP market,” said Mark Saunderson,
report Publisher. “Telephony product
exports for 2006 are forecast to increase 52 percent year-on-year, revolving
around the integration of wireless technologies, lead by Bluetooth and WLAN
[wireless local area networks]. The
convergence of voice and video application is also expected to gain ground this
year. Several companies in Taiwan
already are including VoIP videophones in their product line-ups.”
The report also found that
worldwide subscription for residential VoIP is expected to hit 197.2 million
users by 2010, up from 4.8 million in 2004.
Reprinted with permission of Electrical
Contractor Magazine September 2006 issue – www.ecmag.com
Berk-Tek Hires New Regional Sales Manager
Copper and fiber optic
cabling technology and solutions leader Berk-Tek, a Nexans Company, is pleased
to announce the addition of Beau Gabriel as the new regional sales manager,
central region.
Reporting to Paul Trunk,
senior vice president of sales and marketing, Gabriel is responsible for
establishing and meeting sales goals and objectives through direct sales, reps
and distribution for the central U.S. states. He will work out of his
Schaumburg, IL, office.
“Beau brings a wide variety
of experience in the realm of electronic components,” notes Trunk. “Combining
his technical expertise with his reputable customer relations, he will be an
asset to our sales team.”
Before joining Berk-Tek, Gabriel
spent 10 years at FCI USA, Inc., a manufacturer of
electronic and electrical connectors for automotive, telecom, industrial, data,
consumer and energy markets. Most recently, he was their senior
account/territory manager. He has also held a variety of technical and sales
positions at Andrew Corporation and Cinch. He holds his MBA at Roosevelt
University and a Bachelor’s in Electronics Engineering Technology from DeVry
University in Chicago. www.berktek.com
OFS Offers ROHS-Compliant Products
OFS, designer, manufacturer,
and supplier of leading-edge fiber optic products, announced that it offers
premises cables and optical connectivity products that are fully RoHS
(Restriction of Hazardous Substances) compliant. Also known as Directive 2002/95/EC, the RoHS
initiative originated in the European Union (EU) and restricts the use of six hazardous materials in electrical and electronic products,
a class that includes optical cables, connectors and apparatus. All applicable products sold in the EU market
starting July 1, 2006 must be
RoHS compliant. Similar regulations will
be coming into effect in China in the near future.
“At OFS we integrate
environmental and safety considerations into our corporate activities --
including the design, production, distribution and support of our products,”
said Bill Kloss, President
of the North American FTTx, Cable & Connectivity Divisions at OFS. “We are
also grateful to our suppliers that helped us achieve this goal without
compromising the quality of our portfolio,” Mr. Kloss added.
OFS also offers an extensive
line of low smoke zero halogen (LSOH) premises cordage and cable products that
are compliant not only with the RoHS directive but also with IEC requirements
for smoke density and acid gas generation during combustion.
As a dedicated corporate
citizen, OFS is fully committed to protecting the environment and safety of its
people, its customers, and the communities where it operates.
The company will continue to
offer premises cables and connectivity products that serve specific market
applications, or meet certain customers’ precise requirements.
Ideal Donates Tool Kits To IBEW For Training
Ideal Industries has donated
tool kits to the International Brother hood of Electric Workers (IBEW) for use
at the Nation al Training Institute (NTI), Sponsored by the IBEW and National
Electrical Contractors Association (NECA).
“These kits will help NTI
students and instructors a great deal,” said Harry Ohde, IBEW representative.
Each donated kit features
professional-grade Ideal tools, including conduit benders, screwdrivers,
markers and tape measures.
“the tools we have donated to
help NTI instructors provide students with the hands-on experience they need to
perform their jobs correctly, safely and efficiently,” said Bruce Hartranft,
business unit manger for Ideal. http://www.idealindustries.com/index.htm
NTI courses are offered year
round. Electricians interested in
attending any upcoming NTI Courses should visit www.njatc.org
Reprinted with permission of Electrical
Contractor Magazine September 2006 issue – www.ecmag.com
IMC Networks Announces New Compact SNMP-Manageable Optical Ethernet Demarcation Unit
The new IE-MiniFiberLinX-II
provides Industrial-Grade delivery of transparent LAN services over fiber, with
media conversion, carrier-grade remote management and line-provisioning
capabilities in one compact device.
Foothill Ranch, CA – August
24, 2006 - IMC Networks today announced a new line of “Industrial Ethernet”
grade, SNMP-manageable, optical Ethernet demarcation units in a sturdy, standalone
format, based on its best-selling FiberLinX line of FTTx products. Combining copper-to-fiber conversion, robust
management, advanced VLAN tagging capabilities, extended temperature
performance, plug-and-play operation, miniature size and multiple powering
options, the IE-MiniFiberLinX-II is one of the most versatile fiber optic
devices available on the market today.
Designed for network operators or service providers, the
IE-MiniFiberLinX-II functions as a Network Interface Device (NID), provisioning
point-to-point fiber optic connections and providing a unique management tool
to monitor the entire link between two locations.
“The IE-MiniFiberLinX-II
makes it easier than ever for network operators to deliver affordable, managed
Ethernet services over fiber“, said Jerry Roby, CEO of privately-held IMC
Networks. “We’ve added advanced
management capabilities to lower network operating costs, and the compact,
extended temperature form factor with DC powering option allow installation in
outdoor and other difficult environments.”
With the ability to be
managed as a single entity, the IE-MiniFiberLinX-II allows for remote
configuration and provides vital alerts to network administrators. As a copper-to-fiber media converter, it
allows operators to use lower cost copper switches, rather than expensive
optical switches, to connect to the fiber network.
The IE-MiniFiberLinX-II comes
equipped with one 100 Mbps fiber port for data and management, one 10/100
twisted pair port for customer data, as well as an RS-232 craft port for local
configuration on the unit during installation.
Offering unparalleled
flexibility, the IE-MiniFiberLinX-II supports multiple fiber types including
multi-mode and single-mode as well as single-strand fiber. Versions supporting a full range of Coarse
Wavelength Division Multiplexing (CWDM) wavelengths are also available. www.imcnetworks.com
How Smart Are Intelligent Buildings?
By Abigail Gray
It has been roughly a quarter
of a century since the notion of the “intelligent building” first appeared on
the facility-management horizon. Back then, the term was used broadly: An
“intelligent” building was one with high-tech bells and whistles that elevated
it above the ranks of the common building. Beneath the surface, however,
“intelligent building” didn’t mean anything specific, and often it didn’t mean
much at all.
More recently — within the
past 15 years or so — the notion of building intelligence evolved as some
once-futuristic technologies moved into the real world. The term “intelligent
building” began to be applied more narrowly, referring, in general, to a
building with automation features that offered better control over various
building systems.
Now, building automation
systems of all stripes are commonplace, and the notion of the intelligent
building has undergone yet another transformation. Discussions about building
intelligence extend well beyond building automation to issues such as security,
communication, and environmental monitoring and control, and focus as much on
how facilities use their technology as whether they possess it. The intelligent
building of today not only boasts systems automation and control, but is also
able to generate data and share it among systems to enhance the efficiency and
effectiveness of the whole facility.
“The intelligent building of
today is taking those standalone systems and integrating them,” says Ron
Zimmer, president and CEO, Continental Automated Buildings Association (CABA).
“In an intelligent building
as we defined it 15 years ago, you would never see sharing of data between a
fire system and a security system,” says Frank Spitzer, senior associate, IBI
Group. “You might have seen an HVAC building automation system, but it didn’t
give you the opportunity to turn the HVAC on and off in small sections of the
building based on occupancy. Now all of these essential functions can
communicate with one another and operate based on information received from a
sensor in a room.”
Advances in technology have,
to a large extent, driven this evolution. In the past, many buildings operated
on closed or proprietary systems that could not communicate with one another.
“Developments like LonMark and BACnet were major steps forward,” says Zimmer.
As a result, say experts,
building systems are becoming more interoperable and are allowing more
facilities to reach the next level of building intelligence. “Tremendous
amounts of data can be pulled and shared, and communications devices allow
sharing between systems and even between buildings,” Zimmer says.
The reality of building
intelligence today is very different from what it was in the past, Zimmer says.
“Now we’ve got technology that is much better, at costs that have been reduced
substantially. And we’re looking at quantum leaps forward in the functionality
of the systems and in opportunities for linking them together to improve the
performance of a building as a whole.”
Intelligence Matters
Building-intelligence experts
have a lot to say about the benefits an intelligent building offers — benefits
that contribute to the bottom line.
“I think of the benefits in
terms of several different issues — the efficiency aspect, the cost aspect, the
environmental aspect, the health aspect and the security aspect,” says Jiri
Skopek, director, ECD Energy and Environment Canada Ltd.
From an energy perspective,
the efficiency benefits of building intelligence are familiar to many facility
executives. To cite one common application, a building that knows when and
where it is occupied can limit its own energy use by confining the operation of
power-hungry HVAC and lighting systems to the hours and areas of the building
they are needed. Sensors that provide occupancy data to HVAC and lighting
systems are seeing increasing use for exactly this reason.
Cutting energy use is one
environmental benefit of intelligent buildings. In addition, they can improve
indoor air quality through continual ventilation adjustments and air-quality
monitoring, or maximize daylighting by automating shading systems.
Intelligent Security
Experts draw links between
building intelligence and security.
“A lot of the 9-11 type
concerns have fueled discussion about intelligent buildings,” says Spitzer.
“Now you have surveillance cameras everywhere, but in intelligent buildings
security activities are linked closely with other building functions in ways
that enable you to have a much better understanding of whether there may be
someone in your building who should not be.”
In addition, Spitzer
explains, intelligent buildings’ security operation can be more cost-effective
— one security guard may be able to keep an eye on security functions, see who
is where in the building, lock and unlock doors, and monitor the fire system
from a single location, eliminating the need for a group of security personnel
making rounds.
In the most intelligent
facilities, the moment an employee enters during off-hours, the access control
system informs the building management system who has arrived. By accessing
tenant data, the building management system can adjust temperature and lighting
for the area of the building where that individual works. To further reduce
energy consumption and enhance comfort, it can also increase outdoor airflow to
that area, or open window shades that had been closed to minimize heat gain.
Doors to the area where the employee works can be unlocked automatically while
other doors remain locked, and elevator security configurations can be changed
to allow access to certain floors. Security cameras can be cued if necessary.
And when the employee leaves, the area can return to its secure, low-energy,
off-hours state.
What’s more, says Zimmer,
intelligent buildings are more attractive to prospective tenants, and that
translates to higher retention rates, higher rental rates and higher occupant
satisfaction.
Despite these and other
purported benefits, experts say that many facility executives have not yet
begun to take full advantage of the opportunities intelligent buildings
present. In some cases, that is because existing systems in older buildings do
not permit interoperability, and retrofits are not in the budget. When it comes
to building intelligence, however, experts say a little bit can go a long way.
“A building that has even two
of its systems brought together — say access control and HVAC — could be
considered ‘intelligent,’” says Zimmer. “Does that make it rate a 100 on a
scale of 100? No, but it may be very appropriate given that specific building’s
needs.”
According to Spitzer, a
facility’s intelligence level can be increased by a series of baby steps — not
necessarily a major one-time investment.
“The move to access control —
a card system instead of keys — is one many people are comfortable with, so
they can take that step first and then down the road they may take the next
step to real energy management,” he says. “A lot of people don’t have
confidence in this idea yet or an understanding of how it can help them.”
Help is on the way
Facility executives
interested in taking steps — be they large or small — toward “intelligent
building” status will soon have access to an important resource. CABA has
commissioned development of a Building Intelligence Quotient (BIQ) — an online
rating tool that will enable facility executives at existing facilities, or
engineers involved with new construction, to gauge a building’s intelligence
and identify ways to increase it.
“The BIQ is a way to
determine how well a specific facility is achieving the goals of an intelligent
building,” says Spitzer, who sits on the CABA committee spearheading the
development effort. CABA launched the development of BIQ roughly two years ago.
Process of development
BIQ will provide facility
executives with a numeric score for a facility based on an analysis of a series
of data points related to the building’s use, location, size and features. The
questionnaire that guides the data-entry process is in the final stages of development;
however, it will encompass a long list of issues, including:
·
Demographics
related to the facility’s location, occupancy and use
·
Specifics about
building systems, including training and maintenance practices and the extent
to which systems are automated and integrated
·
The ease with
which new tenants can move in and set up
·
Data-sharing
characteristics
·
Information about
communications systems like the Internet and intranets
·
Capabilities for
tracking and adjusting the indoor environment, including IAQ
·
Capabilities for
using technology in emergency procedures
·
Specifics of the
elevators and other components
·
Emergency power
resources
Using all this information,
the BIQ generates an online report that not only assigns the rating, but also
provides recommendations about ways to improve the score.
“It will amplify the
information by linking users to specific Web sites, so if you don’t use
automated shades, it may recommend that you do so and also give links to more
information about shades and how they work,” says Skopek. “It is certainly not
a replacement for an engineering study, but it is a way to make you aware of
issues you may want to address and help you get started addressing them.”
Skopek and Spitzer, along
with David Katz of Sustainable Energy Solutions, are the members of the BIQ
Consortium, which developed the tool for CABA.
An alpha version of the BIQ
tool was presented to CABA’s Integrated and Intelligent Buildings Council in
June. A beta version of the tool, which reflects feedback from the council,
will be tested by 11 CABA members. “They will answer the questions online for
specific buildings and give us feedback about the tool,” says Katz, project
manager for BIQ. “How easy is it to use? Did we include all the right things?
Were the scores fair?”
Comments from the beta test
will be incorporated into a final version of BIQ.
The initial version of the
tool, which will be overseen by CABA, will target multiunit commercial
buildings, though applications for other market sectors may soon follow.
The process of evaluating a
facility using the BIQ is fairly simple and does not require extensive homework
in advance; a sound knowledge of a facility’s components and characteristics is
all it demands. And, Skopek says, the Web-based nature of the tool will make it
affordable and easily accessible.
Factoring in life-cycle costs
In its current form, the BIQ
is more qualitative than quantitative. It generates ratings and
recommendations, but does not provide payback or cost information related to
the enhancements it suggests. But through linkage with another new,
CABA-developed tool, the BIQ may soon offer facility executives financial
analyses as well. Developed in collaboration with Reed Construction Data and
R.S. Means, CABA’s Life-Cycle Cost Analysis tool will work in tandem with the
BIQ.
“The Life-Cycle Cost Analysis
tool is a set of online cost calculators that will be accessible on the CABA
Web site,” says Rawlson O’Neil King, communications director, CABA. The tool
will provide detailed cost models and life-cycle costs for three types of
buildings — commercial office, educational and government — using the R.S.
Means Construction Cost Index. “The tool is also expected to draw upon
standards determined by the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM)
Subcommittee E06.81 on Building Economics for determining building life cycle
costs,” King says. The tool should be available at the end of November.
“The idea is that someone who
uses the BIQ can then link over to the Life-Cycle Cost Analysis tool and
determine very quickly the benefits in terms of savings and payback of taking
the recommended steps,” says Zimmer.
The primary drawback of a
self-reported Web tool, of course, is that the results are not verifiable. So
to the extent that facility executives hope to leverage their facilities’ BIQs
for favorable financing or leasing purposes, the tool may be only moderately
useful in its current form. Down the road, however, CABA hopes to implement a
verification program whereby trained inspectors corroborate and certify the
results of an online analysis. This may represent an important step toward two
of CABA’s other goals: building a system for measuring building intelligence
that complements other rating systems for facilities, and advocating for an
increased awareness of the operational and environmental impact of
building-intelligence measures.
“We’d like to see greater
emphasis placed on this issue,” says Zimmer. As one example, Zimmer says, CABA
hopes to see the U.S. Green Buildings Council’s Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design (LEED) program increase the number of points facilities
can earn for having energy management systems. It’s a goal that he believes is
well within reach, as the energy-saving benefits of intelligent buildings
continue to speak for themselves.
“Our objective is really to
produce buildings which use less energy, cost less to operate, are safe and
secure, and are healthier, more productive, and more comfortable,” says Skopek.
“Helping educate people about the fact that intelligent buildings really offer
all of that is a big part of our plan.”
Abigail Gray, a contributing edi