was only briefly mentioned for its ability to transmit to this standard over very short distances, leading many people to speculate that the days of copper are numbered.
Look to the future While it is difficult to predict what data traffic speeds will be in the future, it’s safe to say that fibre’s limit is a long way from being reached. It has been suggested that fibre optics will provide up to 90 per cent of the connectivity to support 40 and 100 Gigabit Ethernet data rates. For any contractors looking to install structured cabling,
becoming familiar with fibre is a very good idea, as customers aiming to future-proof their investment will be looking seriously at using it. However, copper has a habit of surprising the doubters,
and there are rumours that copper cable manufactures will attempt an IEEE 40GBASE-T call for interest in 2012. Ken Hodge, chief technology officer at Brand-Rex, comments: ‘Whilst 40 Gigabit Ethernet may today be considered a bridge too far for copper, we don’t have to look too far back in the history of our industry to understand that commercial imperatives drive technology developments in this market.’ In summary, don’t write off copper just yet.
Power ranger One particular reason why the life of copper may be extended is its ability to operate power over Ethernet (PoE). This revolutionary technology integrates data, voice, and power on standard Ethernet infrastructure, providing a range of new options for power distribution. It allows devices such as IP phones, wireless LAN access points,
Fibre connectors
Making this move requires meticulous planning, research and training
Centre of excellence
Power is vital to the successful design, build and operation of today’s data centres, and the M&E engineering sector is a close-knit part of the industry. Shaun Smith, CTO of the Data Centre Alliance (DCA), explains: ‘Electrical engineering for data centre projects is classified as critical systems engineering, where resiliency and redundant design systems are deployed, such as dual pathways and redundant electrical components and systems. Therefore, the control and operation between systems is crucial to ensure that all failure scenarios are accommodated, so that the power remains available.’ Back up generation, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) and fault tolerant switching and control systems are prominent in electrical systems for data centres. Smith adds: ‘Every data centre installer should have a holistic knowledge of how a data centre is put together, with an in-depth knowledge of their specialised engineering discipline, with emphasis on the different types of technology that could be deployed.’ Simon Campbell-Whyte, executive director of the
DCA says there is much to gain from working in this area. He concludes: ‘Assuming the contractor has acquired the relevant skills and expertise, it is important to develop an understanding of what the data centre is and its unique challenges, it is becoming a convergence of a number of traditional industry disciplines into a specialist “new” industry.’
54
ECA Today November 2011
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