ELECTRICAL SERVICES Cable management for education D
For educational environments, the specification of cable management systems must take into account a range of requirements. Here, Alan Goode, business development manager (specification) at Marshall-Tufflex outlines what must be considered and how these needs can be met
espite the importance of
cable management systems for containing, routing and protecting
the electrical and data infrastructure within school, college and university buildings, it can be tempting to select the lowest cost option, especially when budgets are under pressure. Choosing the right product requires a number of physical, technical and regulatory factors to be considered.
Cable separation and protection
One of the most fundamental factors to consider is the type and quantity of cables that need to be contained. It is essential to ensure that there is sufficient space within the trunking for the required cables. There is a risk of overheating when too many cables are routed in the same trunking. The Wiring Regulations state that the cables should not occupy more than 45% of the space within the conduit or trunking. This can be calculated by taking the cross-sectional area of each cable (including the insulation), adding these together and comparing the total to the stated space within the trunking. Furthermore, it is important to look at how different types of cable, such as power and data can be separated, as detailed in the BS EN 50174 standard for cabling installation. Cable management systems with three separate compartments, and which can also be subdivided further, make this process easier. Also, looking for a product that has individual covers on each of the main sections will help ensure ease of access when required. It is also vital to ensure that the trunking is suitable for the type of data cable. For example, with higher speed internet connections now commonplace, educational organisations increasingly
require Cat-7 cables for ethernet connections to deliver the speed and bandwidth. However, the internal structure of trunking must comply with the Cat-7 requirements to prevent loss of data capacity. The product information provided by the manufacturer should detail the type of data cable it is suitable for.
Durability
The nature of a busy educational environment is such that cable trunking products need to be suitably robust to withstand general wear and tear as well as accidental and intentional damage. In general use areas of the buildings, including classrooms, study areas, corridors and staff spaces, high quality PVC-U trunking products offer an excellent option. These provide a balance of the durability required to minimise the costs of maintenance and repairs, and the cost effectiveness to ensure budgetary constraints can be met. For areas where there is a greater risk of damage, such as workshops, it may be advisable to select aluminium or steel trunking. While these products generally have a higher initial cost, the greater impact resistance means fewer repairs and replacements throughout the life of the building. Manufacturers that offer a comprehensive range of systems may be able to offer the same trunking profiles in different materials, allowing consistency throughout the building.
Hygiene
While more common in healthcare environments, cable management systems with anti-microbial properties may be valuable in educational facilities. With a large number of students and staff moving around the building every day, any common contact areas, which includes wall and bench mounted trunking, are potential areas for virus and bacteria transmission. One of the
most effective forms of continual anti-microbial protection is silver ion-based treatment. Available on certain PVC-U and ABS products, the silver ions manufactured into the surface disrupts the key cell functions of bacteria and prevents them from reproducing. This has been proven to reduce the bacteria surviving on the surface by 99.9% and has been shown to be effective against Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) and Escherichia coli (E. coli). When combined with an effective cleaning regime, this can protect those using the building from the risks of bacteria spreading. However, it is important to look for a product where the silver ion formulation has been added to the material during manufacture, rather than applied to the surface post-production. If coated trunking is scratched or damaged, which is very common in busy education environments, this will leave areas where the bacteria can survive and multiply. In contrast, where the silver ions are integral in the material it delivers a more reliable and long-lasting protection as damage to the surface does not reduce its effectiveness. In addition, the products should be manufactured to ISO 22196:2011 standard and be compliant with the European Biocidal Products Directive (BPD).
Part M compliance
It is also important to ensure that cable management systems comply with the requirements of Approved Document M (Part M) of the Building Regulations, which concerns access to and use of buildings. To ensure that those with impaired vision can easily locate key elements – such as electrical sockets and switches – accessory boxes and plates should be specified in colours that contrast with the trunking.
20 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER NOVEMBER 2023
Sustainability
There is increasing pressure to reduce the environmental impact of public sector buildings including schools and colleges. Additionally, addressing the environmental impact of buildings is a socially and ethically important issue for many educational organisations. For example, Universities UK reports that 96% of its member universities have established carbon reduction strategies and 82% publicly report their carbon reduction figures. Therefore, more sustainable
product choices in every area is essential. Through ongoing product development, there are now PVC-U cable management systems available that are manufactured using more than 50% recycled plastic. In fact, for some white trunking products and bases, this can be as much as 80-100%. Aluminium is also 100% recyclable with no loss in quality. Despite the growth in the use of
recycled materials, there is still a misconception that this results in a lower quality product. In reality, the quality of the material and quality control processes put in place by the manufacturer are more important factors as there are many low-quality systems manufactured from virgin materials. Selecting products from a trusted supplier that has robust quality assurance processes in place will help ensure the required durability and longevity are achieved.
Selecting the right cable management systems for educational premises requires a range of factors to be evaluated to ensure it is suitable for the environment, meets the technical requirements, minimises the cost of repair and maintenance and reduces the environmental impact. Working with a manufacturer who can offer a wide portfolio of solutions can help ensure the most appropriate option is chosen for all areas of the site.
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