What is the ITS/ETL Independent Field Verification Program?
An independent verification of your installed Structured Cabling System for compliance with the ANSI/TIA-568
requirements and other bid specifications pertaining to your Structured Cabling System.
Who is ITS/ETL?
Intertek Testing Services (ITS) is the largest certification and testing organization in the world, with more than 2 million
annual inspections, certifications, and tests worldwide and is an OSHA-Accredited, nationally recognized testing laboratory, with earnings reported at more than $600 million.
ETL is part of the performance division of ITS specializing in testing and/or administration of third-party certification
programs. ETL is nationally recognized in the structured cabling industry for its "ETL Cable Verification Program."
You will typically notice the mark of "ETL Verified" on the outer jacket of high-performance LAN cables.
What is a field verification partner (FVP)?
To implement this program cost effectively and provide local services to you anywhere in the country, the ITS/ETL field
verification program is made up of a team, strategically chosen as highly qualified independent firms in the structured cabling
industry. These firms are staffed with Registered Communications Distribution Designers (RCDDs), independent to the
cabling installation and manufacturing process.
Concert Technologies helped launch the program at BICSI world headquarters and is the Field Verification Coordinator.
Concert Technologies provides quality assurance to the independent verification of your Structured Cabling System project by reviewing all
documentation and discussing technical aspects of the cabling system with each field verification partner
prior to ITS/ETL approval. Concert Technologies also assists in the coordination and selection processing of each
field verification partner.
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The ETL plaque that signifies that BICSI has been independently verified by ETL to the ANSI/TIA-568 Structured Cabling System standards. |
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Why have your Structured Cabling System independently verified?
Cabling contractors typically have concurrent installations.
In this fast-paced industry, cabling contractors are continuously put under tremendous pressure from numerous concurrent jobs.
You don't want to have your job put anywhere else but the top of the list for skilled labor and quality workmanship. By
having an ITS/ETL Field Verification Partner to institute the program of independent
verification at your installation site, you will be surprised how fast your job moves to the top of that contractor's priority list.
The quality of workmanship increases dramatically because the contractor is aware that an expert in Structured Cabling Systems,
independent of the installation team, is inspecting, testing, and reporting on the work.
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The "Low Bid"
Most federal, state, and local governmental agencies have procurement requirements which mandate that the lowest
compliant bidder receives the award. Into what position does this put the end-user of the Structured Cabling System?
The end-user is left with an unknown installation contractor who hasn't earned trust; and, at the end of the job, the end-user
often finds out why the contractor was the cheapest. When industry standards are not met and the network is in jeopardy,
to whom does an end-user turn?
Having an ITS/ETL Field Verification Partner on your side provides the assurance that an independent, experienced team will be verifying the installation
for compliance to the ANSI/TIA-568 standard. When you specify in your request for proposal (RFP) that
an "ITS/ETL field verification partner will independently verify the installation for compliance to the
ANSI/TIA-568 standard," you can be sure that there will be a thought-out response to your proposal from the
installation contractor. They will be aware at the bidding stage that an ITS/ETL Field Verification Partner will be
verifying the installation for compliance.
Is your installation physically compliant to ANSI/TIA-568 Structured Cabling standard?
There are thousands of Structured Cabling Systems installed each year that do not adhere to the ANSI/TIA-568 installation
and performance standards. Although this lack of compliance may not cause immediate concern at the time of installation and,
most of the time, is over-looked, future ramifications of a poorly installed Structured Cabling System can be devastating on
high-speed transmission over the life-cycle of your network. Here are some examples:
- UTP category 5e cables, exceeding more than .5", untwist in terminated spaces, what about Category 6 Structured Cabling System?
- The horizontal cables have been spliced in the ceiling because the cables
were too short to terminate on connecting hardware.
- Poor quality patch cords that are not Category 6 channel qualified are used.
- Cable jacket abrasion - a sign that the cable could be damaged and a failure
could result if the cable is moved.
- Unused fiber connectors having polarity reversal and not having protected covers
applied to them, subjecting connectors to environmental contaminants.
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Do you know if all cable links have been tested and examined thoroughly upon your Structured Cabling System certification?
Just because you have had the installation contractor supply you permanent link reports does not mean that all cables have
been tested 100%. For the most part, contractors do not intentionally miss cabled locations to save a few dollars on
testing, but mistakes frequently occur. They are especially prevalent in pre-wired locations that are not required to be
plugged in at the time of occupancy, or are in inaccessible areas at the time the testing occurred.
This is why it is so important to have an outside independent source performing the certification of your Structured Cabling System. Taking time to examine each individual test report by an RCDD, as well cross-referencing each test report to
assure the installed location on current floor plans matches with each jack (insert) number, can ensure accuracy. After an
examination of all the test reports, the contractor corrects all locations in question.
Will there be litigation because your Structured Cabling System will not perform?
With an increase in manufacturer warranty programs that offer performance guarantees of anywhere from fifteen years
to life, there will be an increase in litigation. You will need an independent source to provide the installation facts.
Conclusion
As you can see with so much riding on your Structured Cabling System investment, it pays to have an ITS/ETL Field Verification
Partner on your side. Now for the first time in the cabling industry, you will have an expert independently evaluating your site. This
will bring a better quality installation with an attention to details that has been missing before.
Independent verification of your Structured Cabling System has numerous benefits:
- Increases the probability that your Structured Cabling System project will be at the
top of the cabling contractor's list for quality workmanship and allocated resources.
- Assures a more thorough, though-out response to the Request for Proposal and installed
SCS project from the awarded contractor, even when the end user is subjected to the "low bid" requirements.
- Testing above typical auto test functions to ensure more headroom and better quality
links and channels.
- Ensures a thorough examination of test reports by an RCDD.
- Determines whether older Category 5e cabling links are capable of running higher speed
applications such as Gigabit Ethernet.
- Ensures that all copper and fiber pre-wired locations are labeled correctly and will
operate properly when they are eventually brought on-line.
- Provides a third-party proof of performance for cabling system warranty issues.
- Reduces the chance of litigation.
- Provide a third-party proof of performance for litigated issues.
International Structured Cabling System Verification
- ISO/IEC 11801 - The International Standard for Structured Cabling Systems.
- CENELEC EN 50173 - The European Cabling Standard (British Version: BS EN 50173)
Data Communications
Industry observers say up to 20% of the existing Category 5e cabling runs may not support high-speed traffic.
Most of difficulties encountered so far are caused by cabling that was improperly installed and connected.
LAN Times
Experts say that less than one-fifth of all Category 5e installations in the United States adhere to
TIA termination guidelines.
Receive a FREE examination from an ETL Verification Partner through our Contact Us form.
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