Electrical and Telecom Coordination Has Become Critical Link

Construction projects today rely more than ever on smooth planning and teamwork between the electrical and telecommunications trades in order to build a solid technical infrastructure.

By Keith Misciagna

Today's developers consider advanced telecommunication systems as essential as the electrical backbone in their construction and renovation projects, whether they're residential, retail, commercial, or industrial buildings. The two systems are mutually interdependent, making planning and implementing of this vast technical network critical, and requiring the highest degree of coordination and cooperation among both specialties. Simply put, timing is everything.

Although there is frequent crossover of knowledge in the electrical and telecom fields, it's incorrect to presume that skilled workers experienced in one area are equally proficient in the other. While these two distinct technologies may work simultaneously or in tandem, a mutual respect for each specialty must exist to ensure that each project progresses professionally, competently, and efficiently - and is completed on time and within budget.

Coordination of these distinct, yet interdependent specialties is critical from the earliest planning stages all the way through to the final days of construction. Due to the need for a temporary electrical infrastructure as projects come together, skilled electrical workers are often on-site before any other trade, installing temporary lighting and power for use by fellow craftworkers. The traditional role of the electrician is much like it was a century ago - to lay the core pipework as early as possible, strapping it to the steel skeleton of the building, then bending and installing the conduit. This bending of pipe remains an art form that calls for the hand of skilled electricians. Upon installation, the complex piping not only establishes the electrical operating system, but it also creates much of the telecommunications raceway.

By contrast, telecom workers are frequently among the last trades on the jobsite. These specially trained technicians run the voice, data, and video wiring through raceways, conduits, and floor-cuts previously opened by the electrical team. Before tenants can set up their local area network, the team must properly ground that LAN into the electrical system via a grounding bar, installed by the electricians in close proximity to the telecom center. The skilled telecom team installs the vertical, known as backbone, and the horizontal, known as station cable, as well as all associated racking to support each building's communications requirements. In short, telecom workers concentrate on all the low-voltage premises wiring systems and related equipment that runs over it, while electricians focus on installing the building's power, lighting, and raceways for the entire electrical system.

Perhaps the greatest test for electrical and telecom coordination turns up in high-rise construction projects. As the electrical team installs conduits in each floor, the telecom workers are literally right behind them, installing the voice, data, and video wiring systems. This makes continuous communication and coordination even more essential, as the building extends upward, stage by stage.

The fast-paced evolution of technology in both fields and rising end-user expectations for having the latest, cutting-edge systems have created a market demand for electrical and telecom workers who have successfully collaborated on previous projects. Comprehensive classroom training with an emphasis on the coordination between the two disciplines remains at the core of this success, and unions now offer such programs.

The foundation for traditional electrical training still must emphasize long-established electrical discipline theories, as well as national and local codes for proper electrical system installation. By contrast, the telecom industry has yet to establish a true national code. Today's telecom workers must keep pace with constant changes to the industry's recognized installation practices, outlined in publications such as the EIA/TIA standards.

As technology changes, so do installation practices. Therefore, it is critical for telecom workers to stay abreast of their evolving trade through constant retraining.

It's clear that in this era of ever-changing and evolving technology, dictated by complex system installations and maintenance, electricians and telecommunications workers must work collaboratively. Without a true partnership between these two highly advanced and often dangerous trades, it's the customer and end-users who would suffer from any work stoppages caused by a lack of coordination between the trades. In a world in which "time is money," such stoppages are unacceptable. Instead, by working together, there is no limit to what these interdependent craftworkers can accomplish in creating electricity and telecommunications systems that ground the businesses and buildings where we live and work everyday.

Keith Misciagna is business representative for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 164 of Paramus, N.J.