Cabling gets clever Computacenter’s Stuart McKay explains why structured cabling holds the key for the next generation of intelligent buildings with integrated environmental controls, sophisticated security systems and unified communication channels

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The contemporary workplace doesn’t just need smarter IT, it needs smarter buildings. Despite the trend towards mobile and remote working, the office is still an essential facet of the corporate landscape.

A building’s facilities – its alarms, security controls, heating, lighting – can add both significant cost and carbon to a company’s operational overhead. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

An integrated and intelligent approach to building management will not only reduce these overheads but also create a more pleasant and productive workplace for employees.

The key to this new era in building design and management lies hidden in the wall, the floor and the ceiling. It might be unsexy and

ubiquitous, but structured cabling is the primary enabler for an intelligent building.

Preparing for the IP influx With reliable and scalable structured cabling in place, businesses can begin their journey to an IP-enabled world. Voice over IP. CCTV over IP. Video over IP. The more applications and services that run over IP, the greater integration and intelligence can be achieved.

To cope with this IP influx, organisations need to ensure they have a robust cabling infrastructure in place. Although Cat 5e and Cat 6 can handle most of today’s IP-based applications, any new buildings should be equipped with cabling that conforms to the latest Cat 6a standard, which boasts a higher 10-gigabit transmission speed.

This increased performance – a considerable jump from the one-gigabit capabilities of Cat 5e and Cat 6 – will be fundamental as more workplace collaboration solutions and cloud services start to demand a greater share of the cabling highway.

To ascertain if there are any barriers to IP and intelligent building adoption, organisations should embark on a cabling audit. For example, Computacenter’s Structured Cabling Current State Assessment helps businesses understand the capabilities and the projected lifetime of their existing cabling infrastructure, so they can plan and budget for the future.

More control, less cost Once the cabling infrastructure has been optimised for IP, organisations can start to link IP applications and building management systems to achieve a more efficient and sustainable workplace.

For example, entry systems for staff can be used to trigger building controls, such as heating and lighting in an individual’s office based on pre-defined preferences. And when that individual leaves, the same controls can be used to ensure that all devices and facilities have been switched off. This not only reduces costs but also carbon emissions.

With poor environmental controls resulting in higher business tax rates on commercial properties, a more intelligent building will not only help preserve the planet but also profitability by helping organisations earn a higher BREEAM rating – and the associated tax concessions.

An intelligent building will also influence staff productivity. With voice, video and data running over the same structured cabling backbone, organisations can take advantage of a number of synergies to improve collaboration and communication. For example, voicemail messages can be automatically converted into ‘wmv’ files and sent to the recipient’s email inbox.

Alternatively, greater intelligence can be injected into a building’s security controls, with an access denial triggering a CCTV camera to zoom in on the attempted point of entry and footage being sent in real-time to facilities managers.

An intelligent building is a more secure building. An intelligent building is a more cost-effective building. An intelligent building is a more sustainable building. An intelligent building is a contemporary workplace.

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