To clarify the status of this Information Standard 32, ICT Cabling, any conflicting information should be governed by reference to the following documents in descending rank order:

1. Australian Government Legislation and Regulations;
2. Queensland Government Legislation and Regulations;
3. Relevant Australian Standards;
4. Relevant International Standards;
5. Information Standard ICT Cabling (IS32);
6. Information Standard ICT Cabling (IS32) Technical Supplement; and
7. Internal Departmental Instructions (n.b. Agencies may develop supplementary instructions which complement these minimum standards and whose purpose is to assist in defining issues specific to their operational requirements).

The Information Standard, ICT Cabling Technical Supplement contains more detailed technical information. The following documentation is used as the basis for all Queensland Government ICT cabling design specifications and for implementation:

AS/NZS 3080 Telecommunications Installations - Integrated Telecommunications Cabling Systems for Commercial Premises

Provides building owners, managers, architects, designers, manufacturers, installers, maintainers and users, with requirements to ensure compatibility with equipment and services and ensure performance of infrastructure to meet present and foreseeable future requirements. Applies to telecommunications cabling of buildings for organisations that are office-oriented.

AS/NZS 3084 - Telecommunications Installations Telecommunications Pathways and Spaces for Commercial Buildings

This Standard has a special relationship to AS/NZS 3084 and recognises the need to standardise both building wiring and architectural provisions of the building into which such wiring systems are installed. Details the 'space' provisions for cabling reticulation and the accommodation provisions for Telecommunications Rooms and Equipment Rooms.

AS/NZS 3085.1 - Telecommunications Installations Administration of Communications Cabling Systems

Provides building owners and managers, and those who are required to meet cabling requirements (eg installers), with a set of basic specifications for identification and recording of components at the time of installation to aid in administration of application, maintenance and reconfiguration (if necessary) of telecommunications cabling infrastructure.

AS/NZS 3086 - Telecommunications Installations Integrated Telecommunications Cabling Systems for Small Office/Home Office Premises

For telecommunications carriers, equipment designers and manufacturers, owners of premises and individuals and companies involved in the sale, installation and maintenance of telecommunications infrastructure and services. Provides advice on components and practices resulting in acceptable and compatible telecommunications facilities for "small office/home office (SOHO)" scenarios in the domestic/residential and light commercial premises, within the scope of this Standard. The Standard describes a premises cabling system intended for connecting one to four exchange lines to various types of customer equipment.

AS/NZS 3087 - Telecommunications Installations Specification for the Testing of Balanced Communication Cabling

References measurement procedures for cabling parameters and requirements for field tester accuracy to measure cabling parameters identified in AS/NZS 3080. Provides uniform definitions and ranges of expected values for the fully installed fixed components (permanent link) and for all components (channel) of the cabling system. Also provides a uniform set of guidelines for the required performance of test equipment specifically manufactured to measure installed cabling systems against these expected values.

SAA HB29 - Telecommunications Cabling Handbook

Supplements AS/NZS 3080 and AS/NZS 3086 with explanatory material, practical details and generally useful information to assist installers. It also includes relevant extracts from the regulatory standard AS/ACIF S009.

CCM - Communications Cabling Manual

Provides essential information to the communications cabling industry. It contains every significant document that Standards Australia produces in the communications cabling field, including those documents detailed above. This document is expected to be used as the reference guide by all licensed ICT cabling installers.

AS 2834 - Computer Accommodation

A guide to requirements for the accommodation of computer equipment. The diversity of equipment configurations possible and the way these alter to meet changing technology, or systems demand, makes it difficult to create a simple, universally applicable standard. Contains many recommendations, which should be fully understood by user and supplier so early agreement can be reached on particular requirements for the specific installation being considered.

In addition to the above, there are a number of mandatory regulatory standards for telecommunications services. These standards are applicable to telecommunications cabling installations and telecommunications hardware.

AS/ACIF S008 specifies the requirements for cabling products such as cables, interconnecting devices, and connecting hardware.

AS/ACIF S009 defines the wiring rules for installation of cable and connecting hardware.

The most significant difference between the AS/ACIF technical standards and the AS30XX series of standards is that the technical standards dictate minimum requirements to ensure a 'safe' installation and compliance is mandatory for all ICT cabling work under the Commonwealth Telecommunications Act 1997. That is, they are concerned with safety issues, not performance issues. Performance requirements are addressed in the AS30XX series and generally require more stringent installation standards.

These reference documents are available to purchase from Standards Australia.

All ICT Cabling work performed on Queensland Government sites must be carried out by a registered contractor with "open" registration. Contractors and Cablers must be registered by one of the Australian Communications Authority (ACA) approved registrars.

On 1 July 2005, the Australian Broadcasting Authority and the Australian Communications Authority merged to become the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). Therefore, please refer to the Australian Communications and Media Authority website for further information.

Refer to the Information Standard 32, ICT Cabling Technical Supplement for further details about accreditation and certification.

Contractual relations between Government and the contractor/vendor are to be formed through one of two mechanisms:

1. Government Information Technology Conditions (GITC)
   
   The Queensland Government is party to a set of common terms and conditions known as the Government Information Technology Conditions (GITC). These conditions are utilised for the procurement of ICT equipment and services. Vendors and contractors are to be signatories to GITC. Further information can be obtained from GITC Services, Department of Public Works, 111 George Street, Brisbane, Phone (07) 3225 1723; or
   
   
2. Contract Compliance with AS2124
   
   There must be compliance with AS2124 where cabling is purchased as part of a major building project involving a prime contractor. The contractor is also to be pre-qualified under the Department of Public Works Pre-qualified Contractor (PQC) Scheme.

Requests for tenders and subsequent contracts for ICT cabling are to be issued separately from any other electrical or building works to companies who have demonstrated expertise in ICT cabling.

Within building contracts, design and provision of ICT building or campus cabling shall be specified separately from electrical and building services and only companies offering demonstrated expertise in the field are to be accepted. In addition, Contractors and Cablers shall be:

• registered under the Australian Communications Authority's based licence registration model;
• accredited installers by the connecting hardware manufacturer for the manufacturer's equipment proposed for installation based on the warranty provisions provided for as part of the supply contract; and
• registered under the GITC provisions or a pre-qualified contractor at the appropriate level in accordance with the Department of Public Works Pre-qualified Contractor (PQC) policy.

Whether the contract is formed under either of the above two mechanisms (GITC or AS2124), the special conditions related to cabling product or services provision (below) are to be incorporated in the contract under "special or general conditions".

To ensure there is well defined custodianship of warranty related issues for both copper and optical fibre based cabling systems, a single cabling system which is certified by a single business organisation is to be used in:

• buildings which, for all intents and purposes, are completely owned or occupied by the Government;
• multiple agency tenancies within the same leased building; and
• single tenancy within a leased building.

Where agencies control campus style sites, such as schools, TAFE colleges, and hospitals, etc, the agency shall adhere to single certified system for each campus site.

The decision to extend a particular vendor product within building or campus or to fully replace it is a difficult issue which needs to be determined with a degree of commonsense, taking into account issues such as lifetime costs and public accountability. For example, it is strongly recommended that limiting offers to specific products are not sought in the following situations:

• the installed cabling infrastructure is over eight years old (i.e. greater than half the life of the cabling infrastructure);
• coverage is less than 10% of the general accommodation floor area of the building (excluding car parking or large storage facilities);
• the existing installation cannot be upgraded to suit the current prescribed standard and future departmental directions; or
• the building is likely to be subject to a significant change of purpose.

Use of structured cabling for other building services is strongly encouraged, where this is technically feasible, and is covered by this Standard. Examples of these services include building management, nurse call, fire and security systems.

As a brief overview, the current performance level requirement for Queensland Government is Class E permanent link, or channel, utilising Category 6 cable and connecting hardware. This is the general recommendation unless compelling reasons exist to use a lower performing category of cable and connecting hardware, such as Category 5. Compliance testing for Class E installations requires a Level III tester as defined by the Standards Australia AS/NZS 3087.

The Information Standard 32, ICT Cabling Technical Supplement must be referred to for full testing requirements and procedures.