Cabling Design, Standards, Codes and Definitions

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is a non-profit organization whose membership is made up of over 1,400 private companies and government organizations. ANSI facilitates the development of national standards by accrediting the procedures of the organizations that develop the standards. In order to gain ANSI approval, the document must be developed by a cross-section of both manufacturers and end users. ANSI is also a founding member of the ISO.
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is an organization of many national specifications bodies from over 160 countries and is based in Geneva, Switzerland. The ISO standards are developed by the people that need them, through a consensus process. They ensure that products and services are safe, reliable and of good quality (ISO Org., 2015). Each ISO member is the principal standards organization in its country. The members propose the new standards, participate in their development and provide support in collaboration with ISO Central Secretariat for nearly 3.280 technical groups that actually develop the standards.
The Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) represents a wide variety of electronics manufacturers in the United States and abroad. It was developed to ensure the equipment of different manufacturers was compatible and interchangeable. In 2007, the EIA announced that it would be dissolved and formally ceased to exist on February 11, 2011. It continues to live on in the merger of one of its previous sectors, the ECA, and the National Electronic Distributors Association (NEDA) to form the Electronic Components Industry Association. Now, these industry standards that are developed here carry the “EIA Standards” trademark and developed in accordance with, and accredited by, ANSI.
The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) is the leading trade organization that represents the global information and communications technology industry through standards development, policy initiatives, business opportunities, market intelligence and networking events (TIA Corp, 2015). Its membership consists of over 1,100 telecom and electronics companies that provide services, materials, and products throughout the world. TIA has many different committees, or divisions, that will develop certain specifications and may work with other committees to contribute to a single specification.
The Insulated Cable Engineers Association (ICEA) develops cable standards for the electric power, control, and telecom industries. It seeks to ensure safe, economical, and efficient cable systems utilizing proven state-of-the-art materials and concepts. The ICEA plays a very important role in the ANSI/TIA standards for cabling infrastructure. TIA references ICEA specification many times for fiber and copper cables to specify design, physical performance and construction for cables. ICEA has four semi-autonomous sections: the Power, Control and Instrumentation, Portable, and Communications Cable. They also have two active major Committees: the Telecom Wire and Cable Standards and Utility Power Cable Standards.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is the world leader on fire prevention and safety, and helps to protect people property, and the environment from fire damage. They do this by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education. NFPA develops, publishes, and disseminates more than 300 consensus codes and standards intended to minimize the possibility and effects of fire and other risks (NFPA Org., 2015). NFPA is responsible for developing and publishing the National Electrical Code (NEC), which has two sections related to cabling: Articles 725 and 800.
The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) helps to promote the standardization of cables, power wires and electrical components. The specifications created and NEMA encourage interoperability between products by different manufacturers. NEMA consists of over 400 member companies that manufacture products that generate, transmit, distribute and control electricity.
The FCC (Federal Communication Commission) was developed by the U.S. government to regulate electrical-communication systems originating in the U.S. This includes communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable. They are the primary authority for communications laws, regulations and innovations. The FCC maintains regulations relating to premises cabling and equipment covered in FCC Part 68.
The Underwriters Laboratories (UL) certifies, validates, tests, inspects, audits, advises and educates and provides the knowledge and expertise to help customers navigate growing complexities across the supply chain from compliance and regulatory issues to trade challenges and market access. UL is not directly involved with cabling specifications, it tests cable manufacturers’ products to ensure their safety.
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) promotes international standards and cooperation among its membership on all matters relating to electronics, electricity and technology. Millions of devices that contain electronics, and use or produce electricity, rely on IEC international standards and Conformity Assessment Systems to perform, fit and work safely together.
The IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) is the world’s largest professional association for the advancement of technology. IEEE and its members inspire a global community through its highly cited publications, conferences, technology standards, and professional and educational activities. They have over 1000 standards in development and over 800 currently active, including the 10Base-x and 802.x specifications that we use every day.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is an agency created by the U.S. Congress to promote U.S. innovation and development of new technology, improving quality and reliability, and encouraging scientific discovery. It uses four programs to carry out its mission: the NIST Laboratories, the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership, the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program, and the Advanced Technology Program. NIST’s efforts are not directly related to cabling and data specifications, but they contribute to the specs and development of the technology based on them.
The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) is a specialized agency that allocates global radio spectrum and satellite orbits, develop the technical standards that ensure networks technologies seamlessly interconnect, and strive to improve access to information and communication technologies to underserved communities world-wide (ITU Corp., 2015). The ITU studies technical and operations issues relating to telecommunications and makes recommendations on implementing standardized approaches to telecommunications.
The CSA Group, or CSA International, is the largest standards organization in Canada. They work with other SDOs around the world as a key contributor to international standards activities. They have more than 8,000 members world-wide and is the functional equivalent of the UL. Some common standards that the CSA has published include: CSA-T524 (Residential Wiring), CSA-T527 (Bonding and Grounding for Telecom), CSA-T528 (Telecom Administration Standard for Commercial Buildings), and CSA-T529 (Design Guidelines for Telecom Wiring Systems in Commercial Buildings).
The IP/MPLS Forum, now known as the Broadband Forum, develops broadband packet networking specifications addressing interoperability, architecture and management. When IP/MPLS merged with Broadband Forum, they combined their expertise to focus on solutions that addressed the network as a whole and not its individual core or access technologies and architectures. Among its specifications that it has developed and published include the LAN Emulation over ATM and ATM Physical Medium Dependent Interface Specification for 155Mbps over twisted –pair cable.
The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) is an independent standards organization that deals with telecommunications, broadcasting and other electronic communications networks and services. Although it was initially founded to serve European needs, it has a global perspective and works with different types of organizations all over the world. Its membership consists of more than 700 member organizations from 64 countries and five continents (ETSI Org., 2015).
The Building Industry Consulting Services International (BICSI) helps with the development and design for information technology systems, such as the ANSI/EIA/TIA 568B structured cabling system standard. BICSI offers many professional certification programs such as the RCDD, or the Registered Communications Distribution Designer. A person with a RCDD certification has demonstrated competence and expertise in the design, implementation, and integration of telecommunications systems and infrastructure.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is dedicated to making sure that the workplaces in the U.S. are the safest in the world by enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance. A division of the Department of Labor, it passes laws design to protect employees from many types of job hazards. OSHA has adopted many parts from the NEC giving those adopted portions of the NEC legal status.

Works Cited
ETSI Org. (2015). About ETSI. Retrieved from etsi.org: http://www.etsi.org/about
ISO Org. (2015). About Us. Retrieved from iso.org: http://www.iso.org/iso/home/about.htm
ITU Corp. (2015). About ITU. Retrieved from itu.int: http://www.itu.int/en/Pages/default.aspx
NFPA Org. (2015). About NFPA. Retrieved from nfpa.org: http://www.nfpa.org/about-nfpa
TIA Corp. (2015). About TIA. Retrieved from tiaonline.org: http://www.tiaonline.org/about/