ELV & It Technology Services

22/06/2025

30/05/2025

A Structured Cabling System (SCS) is a standardized approach to building and maintaining a comprehensive telecommunications infrastructure. It includes all the physical components (like cables, patch panels, and connectors) and the design standards that ensure reliable and scalable communication for data, voice, and video signals in a building or campus.

🔧 Key Components of a Structured Cabling System

🔹 Entrance Facility (EF): Where the external service provider’s network connects to the building. Includes cables, network demarcation points, and grounding.

🔹 Equipment Room (ER): Centralized space for housing core networking equipment like servers, switches, and routers.

🔹 Telecommunications Room (TR) or Closet (TC): Intermediate distribution point between the main equipment room and individual work areas.

🔹 Backbone Cabling (Vertical Cabling): Connects different equipment rooms and telecommunications rooms.

🚫 Runs between floors (vertical) or across buildings.

🔸 Horizontal Cabling: Connects the telecommunications room to individual workstations or outlets. Usually limited to 90 meters of cable length.

🔸 Work Area (WA): Includes the end-user's equipment and the outlets connected by horizontal cabling.

🔸 Patch Panels and Cords: Facilitate flexible connections between cabling and networking devices.

📐 Standards and Guidelines

✔️ TIA/EIA-568: Defines commercial building cabling standards.

✔️ ISO/IEC 11801: International standard for generic cabling for customer premises.

✔️ ANSI/TIA-606: Standard for labeling and administration.

✅ Benefits of Structured Cabling

Scalability: Easy to expand and adapt as network needs grow.

Reduced Downtime: Easier to isolate and fix problems.

Improved Aesthetics and Organization: Clean cabling reduces clutter and confusion.

Future-Proofing: Supports upgrades with minimal infrastructure changes.

Enhanced Performance: Maintains high signal quality and speeds.



19/05/2025

Fiber splicing is the process of joining two optical fibers together to create a continuous optical path for light signals. It's a critical technique in fiber optic networks, used in telecommunications, internet infrastructure, and other systems that require high-speed data transmission.

Types of Fiber Splicing
There are two main types of fiber splicing:

1. Fusion Splicing
Method: The ends of two fibers are precisely aligned and then fused together using an electric arc.

Advantages:

Very low splice loss (typically < 0.1 dB)

High reliability and strength

Tools Used:

Fusion splicer machine

Fiber cleaver

Stripping tools

Cleaning materials (alcohol, wipes)

Applications: Backbone and long-haul networks

2. Mechanical Splicing
Method: Fibers are aligned and held together by a mechanical splice device.

Advantages:

No need for expensive fusion splicer

Quick and easy for temporary or emergency splices

Disadvantages:

Higher loss (typically 0.3 dB or more)

Less durable than fusion splices

Tools Used:

Mechanical splice kit

Cleaver

Stripping and cleaning tools

Steps in Fusion Splicing
Preparation: Strip protective coatings from fiber ends.

Cleaning: Clean fiber with isopropyl alcohol.

Cleaving: Precisely cut the fiber ends using a cleaver.

Alignment: Place fibers in the splicer, which automatically aligns them.

Fusion: Electric arc fuses the fibers.

Protection: Apply a splice protector (heat-shrink tube or sleeve).

Common Uses of Fiber Splicing
Fiber to the Home (FTTH)

Data centers

Undersea fiber cables

Industrial networks

Cable TV infrastructure

08/05/2025

📡Fiber splicing between an FDH (Fiber Distribution Hub) and an ODF (Optical Distribution Frame) is a critical part of setting up or expanding a fiber optic network, especially in FTTx (Fiber to the x) deployments like FTTH (Fiber to the Home). Here's a clear breakdown of the process and components involved:

🔧 Definitions
✔️ FDH (Fiber Distribution Hub):
Outdoor cabinet that serves as a central point where feeder fibers from the central office are connected to distribution fibers going to individual subscribers.
✔️ Typically used in GPON networks.
ODF (Optical Distribution Frame):
Indoor rack or cabinet used to terminate, organize, and interconnect fiber optic cables.
Found in data centers, central offices, or telecom rooms.
🔗 Fiber Splicing Process Between FDH and ODF
⭕ 1. Preparation
Identify the feeder cable running from the ODF (central office or exchange).
Identify the distribution cable leading to the FDH (toward subscribers).
Clean, strip, and prepare both fiber ends.
⭕ 2. Splicing Options
There are two main types of splicing:
Fusion Splicing (most common):
Melts fibers together for low-loss, permanent connections.
Requires a fusion splicer and proper fiber alignment.
Mechanical Splicing (less common):
Aligns fibers inside a splice holder without melting.
Easier, but higher insertion loss.
⭕ 3. Splice Enclosures / Trays
Use a splice tray or enclosure to protect the spliced fibers.
Each splice is carefully laid into the tray and secured to avoid movement or damage.
⭕ 4. Labeling & Documentation
Each fiber splice should be documented, labeled with its route, port number, and any test results (like OTDR loss).
Update network management system (NMS) records accordingly.
⭕ 5. Testing
Perform OTDR (Optical Time Domain Reflectometer) testing to verify splice quality and overall fiber link performance.
Use power meters to check insertion loss.

01/05/2025

Solar System Settings

01/05/2025

HIKEVISION CCTV NVR Setting

01/05/2025

28/04/2025

Fire Alarm Systems – A Full Guide for MEP Engineers!

Note: The rest of the content is in the first comment.

A fire alarm system is a critical pillar in any building’s life safety design — protecting people, property, and business continuity.
Here’s your complete overview in an engineered way:

⸻

🧠 1️⃣ What is a Fire Alarm System?

A system that detects, alerts, supervises, and controls building conditions in case of fire or emergency.

⸻

🏢 2️⃣ Main Components:

🔹 FACU (Fire Alarm Control Unit) ➡️ The brain of the system.
🔹 Initiating Devices ➡️ Sensors (Smoke, Heat, Waterflow, Pull Stations).
🔹 Notification Appliances ➡️ Horns, Speakers, Strobes.
🔹 Control Outputs ➡️ Door release, elevator recall, smoke control.
🔹 Power Supplies ➡️ Main AC, Batteries, Emergency Generators.
🔹 Communication Systems ➡️ Supervisory signal transmission off-site.

⸻

🔥 3️⃣ Fire Alarm Signals:

🚨 Alarm ➡️ Immediate threat! Smoke, heat, or manual pull triggers evacuation.
⚙️ Supervisory ➡️ Issue in fire protection systems (e.g., closed valve).
⚡ Trouble ➡️ Fault in system wiring, devices, or power supply.

⸻

🔍 4️⃣ Detection Devices:

🔹 Smoke Detectors ➡️ Ionization, Photoelectric, Beam type.
🔹 Heat Detectors ➡️ Fixed Temperature, Rate-of-Rise, Restorable.
🔹 Carbon Monoxide Detectors ➡️ Detect deadly CO gases.
🔹 Waterflow & Pressure Switches ➡️ For sprinkler system monitoring.

⸻

🛠️ 5️⃣ Notification Devices:

🔔 Horn ➡️ Audible tones only.
📢 Speaker ➡️ Voice announcements + tones.
💡 Strobe ➡️ Visual flashing lights for visibility.

Public Mode 🔊: Evacuates all occupants.
Private Mode 🔒: Alerts only designated personnel (e.g., hospitals).

⸻

🖥️ 6️⃣ Initiating Circuits:

🔹 IDC (Initiating Device Circuit) ➡️ Conventional systems — multiple devices share same circuit (zone-based).
🔹 SLC (Signaling Line Circuit) ➡️ Addressable systems — each device has its unique address!

⸻

🏛️ 7️⃣ Emergency Control Functions:

🏢 Elevator Recall & Shutdown ➡️ Direct elevators away from fire floors.
🚪 Automatic Door Closers ➡️ Shut fire-rated doors.
🌪️ Smoke Control Systems ➡️ Exhaust smoke and maintain safe evacuation paths.

⸻

🔋 8️⃣ Power Supply Strategy:

🔌 Primary ➡️ AC Mains.
🔋 Secondary ➡️ Batteries (24h standby + 5 min alarm) or Generator backup.

Pro Tip: Even with generators, backup batteries are mandatory to cover startup time!

⸻

🌍 9️⃣ Off-Premises Communication:

📡 Supervising Stations monitor fire alarm signals 24/7 and dispatch help.

Types:
🏢 Central Station | 🏫 Proprietary Station | 🛰️ Remote Supervising Station

⸻

📏 1️⃣0️⃣ Design Tips for MEP Engineers:

✅ Design zones to easily locate alarms.
✅ Always separate power and signal cabling.
✅ Ensure sufficient sound pressure levels per occupancy type.
✅ Always apply redundancy for power and communication.
✅ Follow NFPA 72® standards strictly.