Telecommunications Design Standards

Addendum 1:  Housing & Dining Services (HDS) Network responsibilities and requirements
Date: 7/1/2019
Revised:  10/29/2021 by wsd

1. Introduction

This document provides addendums, exceptions and additions to the responsibilities and requirements outlined in the Division of IT/Telecommunications Design Standards which can be found at: https://telecom.colostate.edu/wp–content/uploads/sites/19/2020/09/ACNS–Telecom– Design–Standards_092320.pdf

The following addendum to the above document applies only to buildings and areas that are under the responsibility of HDS Technology Services (HDS-TS) or affect HDS telecommunications infrastructure whether it be for existing facilities, new construction or remodel projects.

HDS-TS shall be consulted and approve of any work associated with the physical network infrastructure, telecommunications rooms, building automation, security cameras, or other devices indicated in the CSU Division of IT/Telecommunications Design Standards within the HDS sites.  This includes installation of any equipment within telecommunications rooms, impacting the physical infrastructure in any way or might increase the risk to the network infrastructure.  References within the Telecommunications Design Standards to “Division of IT/Telecom” are to be assumed to include HDS-TS when referring to HDS sites for design, consultation, and approval.

The following offers addendums to specific sections as indicated by the item number.  Those not listed are agreed to and stand as stated.

1.1 General intent – Paragraph 1

This document provides design specifications for voice, video and data communications infrastructure at Colorado State University (CSU), otherwise referred to as the University.  Housing and Dining Services Technology Services (HDS-TS) is primarily responsible, along with support and collaboration by CSU Division of IT and the office of Telecommunications, for overseeing data/voice/video infrastructure design, construction, installation, operation, maintenance, upgrades and monitoring for Housing Sites.

1.2 Departments Involved in Design Process – Additional Contact

HDS Contacts
Bill Davis (970)491-4734
email: hds_noc@mail.colostate.edu

2. Horizontal Infrastructure

2.14 Invasive Work

Invasive work within HDS sites can also be conducted when buildings are not occupied or are closed, such as during semester breaks.  Exceptions to this must be negotiated with HDS-Housing.

2.15 Scheduling for the pulling of cable

Work within HDS sites must be coordinated and approved with HDS-TS.  Access to HDS sites may be within resident living spaces or work may impact resident academic needs and thus requires additional discussion and communication with HDS-Housing, Conference Event Services (HDS-CES) or HDS staff who work within the HDS site being impacted.

3. Communication Rooms

3.1 General provisions

HDS site server room space, MDF and IDF, shall be dedicated to the telecommunications function and related support facilities. Equipment not related to the support of the telecommunications or Life/Safety functions shall not be installed, passed through, or entered in the telecommunications rooms without review and written approval by HDS-TS and Division of IT/Telecommunications for consideration in the sizing of the space, and environmental requirements

3.2 Main Distribution Frame – MDF

If a floor drain is provided within the room, an automated water alert sensor must be installed.

3.3 Intermediate Distribution Frame – IDF

If a floor drain is provided within the room, an automated water alert sensor must be installed.

7. Network Switches

7.1 General provisions

HDS-TS shall be responsible for specifying the network equipment.

7.2 General switch standards:

  • All switches are to provide PoE+ capability on all ports at all times. PoE+ must be turned off on all ports by default, unless PoE+ is specifically needed.
  • Any switch or router connected to the network must be permitted by CSU Security Policy and approved in writing by HDS-TS.

7.3 MDF switches additional standards

  • Chassis switches must include redundant management modules.

8. Wireless Access Points and Devices

8.1 General provisions

  • New construction or remodel projects shall engage, in design and planning phases, HDS-TS regarding wireless access point (WAP) implementation and shall specify and approve the type, count and location of all WAPs.
  • A professional wireless plan must be created for any new construction or remodel project. This can be completed by HDS-TS or by HDS-TS approval in writing of contracting creation of the wireless plan to a 3rd party professional service as part of the construction contract.

8.2 Wall Mounted Wireless:

  • Wireless AP models used in Wall Mounted locations must be able to meet wall mount orientation specifications. (Refer to the vendor’s AP model mounting bracket specification document.)

10. TV/Video/Audio

10.1 General

  • New construction or remodel projects shall engage, in design and planning phases, HDS-TS regarding Audio/Video (AV) needs and implementation and shall specify and/or approve the hardware needed.
  • A professional Audio/Video (AV) plan must be created for any new construction or remodel project. HDS-TS must approve in writing the AV plan.

12. Classroom Standards

12.15 Network Design

  • General Classrooms within HDS sites are managed by Division of IT Classroom Support Services and are responsible for providing specifications. Network connectivity issues are the responsibility of HDS-TS to resolve.  Contact information is listed in Section 1.2, Table 1.

13. Miscellaneous

13.1 Security and Access to Communication Rooms

  • Physical keys are restricted to a small set of staff: Division of IT/Telecom, HDS-TS, CSUPD and a limited set of Facilities or HDS Facilities staff.
  • Primary access is to be via keyless entry with logging capability
  • Access logs must be automatically generated and provided to HDS-TS for review on a weekly basis and on demand as needed.
  • All access to HDS sites by any personnel must be approved by the Director of Technology Services, or their delegate.
  • Non-university staff must seek pre-approval at least 24-hours prior to needed access, except in cases of emergency response. In the latter case, Technology Services must be notified as soon as possible.

13.3 Building automation provisioning and permanent network solution:

  • Any new or additional building automation or environmental sensors installed in HDS MDF or IDF rooms must be approved in writing by Technology Services for installation design and implementation.
  • Any installation of additional building automation or environmental sensors must take into account the environmental restrictions or limits for overall heat load, other environmental needs (humidity, vibration …) and adequate spacing to provide full access to all equipment.

13.4 Risk assessment and mitigation of impacts to network and computing systems normal operations:

  • Remodeling or new construction projects must review and assess potential impacts to the normal network and computing operations with HDS-TS in the planning/design phase.
  • Risk mitigation and response plans shall be completed to address any significant risks and potential impacts to HDS-TS infrastructure or operations, and shall include assessment and response planning to events that could not be planned for (unknown risks, force majeure, etc.)
  • The risk plan(s) must be approved in writing by HDS-TS Technology Operations Manager or above.
  • In the case that a significant risk is identified, but not fully addressed, acceptance of the additional risk to normal operations must be approved in writing by the Technology Network Operations Manager and the Director of HDS-TS or higher-level authority.
  • A communication plan must be created by the CSU Project Manager that will fully inform the contractor of the risks and mitigation plans. The contractor(s) shall be required to communicate with HDS-TS in accordance with the risk and communications plans and manage the plans with their employees.