
What you need to know about the AS/NZS 3084:2017 standards update – Telecommunications pathways and spaces for commercial buildings
This Joint Australian/New Zealand Standard was prepared by Joint Technical Committee CT-001, Communications Cabling for Commercial Buildings. The AS/NZS 3084:2017 Telecommunications installations standard specifies practices to assist planners, architects, designers, engineers, builders, installers, maintenance personnel, building owners, managers and users in the planning of physical pathways and spaces in and between buildings to accommodate the equipment and cabling infrastructure necessary for communications.
One of the major updates has been the recommendation to use an optical fibre ducting raceway in Equipment Rooms (ER’s) for routing patch cords. Specifically, optical fibre ducting raceway information can be found in section 4.4.6 (Optical Fibre trunking raceway for patch cords) in the AS/NZS 3084:2017 standard.
When to use an optical fibre ducting raceway:
• The AS/NZS 3084:2017 standard recommends that an overhead optical fibre trunking or ‘raceway’ system be used to protect and support the optical fibre cords. This is one of the main pathways for fibre optic patch cords in equipment rooms, where optical fibre patch connections are required between cabinets.
• Multi-fibre fixed building cable (ruggedized breakout, loose tube or ribbon cable) terminated in fibre optic break out trays should be run on fixed telecommunications cable trays, ducts and the like and not through optical fibre trunking provided for patch connections. Reasons include size, weight, bending radius restrictions, difficulty of accessing patches below and risk of existing patch cord damage during installation.
Optical fibre trunking construction properties:
• Optical fibre trunking shall be of all dielectric halogen free and flame retardant construction with clip on covers and clearly identified by colour and labelling as being for the purpose of running optical fibre cord connections.
Planning Optical Fibre trunking:
• The layout should be designed to complement cable tray or trough for other fixed cabling and not interfere with the expansion of the fixed cabling. In this respect, the optical fibre trunking is typically located under, or adjacent to, cable trays for power and communications.
Optical Fibre Trunking installation:
• Where necessary to meet the earthquake survival requirements of a building (typically classified as Importance Level 3 or Importance Level 4) under the NCC to AS 1170.4 or equivalent New Zealand requirements, trunking should comply with Telecordia Technology standard GR-63 NEBS earthquake shake and vibration test criteria; and be provided with flexible joints and redundant suspension ties.
• The trunking bends and guides should comply with the minimum bending radius criteria for such cords (or non-fixed cables) given in AS/NZS ISO/IEC 14763.2.
• Radius bend drops should be provided at every rack or cabinet position where an optical fibre connection is required: Drops may be inserted by cutting into the side of trunking or provide a radius bend over the top of the side.
It is important that consultants and integrators are aware of the standards update, as it provides guidelines and rules for following best practice. Further information is available in the standard, which includes fill rates, material construction and other installation requirements.
Standards are living documents which reflect progress in science, technology and systems. To maintain their currency, all Standards are periodically reviewed, and new editions are published.
Detailed information about joint Australian/New Zealand Standards can be found by visiting the Standards Web Shop at www.saiglobal.com and looking up the relevant Standard in the online catalogue.
Find out more about the entire WBT ducting raceway solution here.
DATA RACK, FRONT TO BACK DUCT FOR FIBRE CORDS, WITH TRUMPET OUTLETS
DATA RACK, FRONT TO BACK DUCT FOR FIBRE CORDS, WITH TRUMPET OUTLETS
Part Number: TC1279-750KIT
This kit is installed from the front to the rear of a data rack, allowing fibre cords to be fed from front to back of the rack. The duct is supported by two sturdy metal mounting brackets fitted to the front and rear equipment mounting rails on either the left or right hand side; (4 x mounting screws and cage nuts are supplied). This kit occupies 2 RU of mounting space. The mounting brackets hold duct securing (“C”) brackets, which have 65mm of lateral adjustment. A length of 100mm x 50 mm duct carries the cords. It is supplied as a length of 800mm, which can be trimmed to suit the depth of the data rack. One end of the duct is slotted to accept a trumpet secured by a standard joiner. The other, (non-slotted), duct end is accurately cut to length and a trumpet is secured to the cut end of the duct using a slotless joiner.
DATA RACK, FRONT TO BACK DUCT FOR FIBRE CORDS, WITH ELBOW OUTLETS
DATA RACK, FRONT TO BACK DUCT FOR FIBRE CORDS, WITH ELBOW OUTLETS
Part Number: TC1279-536KIT
This 1RU kit is installed from the front to the rear of an equipment rack, allowing fibre cords to be fed from front to back of the rack. The duct is supported by two sturdy metal mounting brackets fitted to the front and rear equipment mounting rails (4 x mounting screws and cage nuts are supplied). The mounting brackets hold duct securing (“C”) brackets, which have a little adjustment. A short length of 30mm x 30mm duct carries the cords. One end of the duct is slotted to accept a 900 down elbow, secured by a standard joiner. The other slotted duct end accepts a 90o horizontal LH or RH elbow.
RACK TOP, DUCT FEEDING KIT, FOR A 1 METRE EQUIPMENT RACK
Part Number: PGTC1279-751KIT
The Duct Kit fits to a 1 metre deep Equipment Rack, and enables optical fibre cords to be fed from the front to rear of rack, either LHS or RHS. Mounting brackets and screws provided
ELBOW, 90 DEGREES, M50 X 1.5
Part Number: TC1279-434
This 90o Elbow is typically used to feed an optical fibre cable into a cabinet, after the cable has “broken-out” into several optical fibres. The Elbow is fastened to the cabinet using an M50 nut, after passing through a clearance hole. The lower end of the Elbow can accept either a 38mm dia cable ; or a Convoluted Tube, which houses the incoming optical fibre cable. The inner radius of the Elbow is 56mm, and the internal diameter is 41.5mm; so the Elbow can typically accept a cable of around 37/38mm dia
MOUNTING CLIP FOR METAL DUCTING FOR AN OVER THE TOP OUTLET
Part Number: TC1279-307S-2
A pair of plastic mounting clips, enables an “Over the Top Outlet” to be located anywhere along a metal duct run. This enables optical fibre cords to leave the duct run at any position along its length, whilst maintaining the MBR at 30mm. The “Over the Top Outlet” allows 2.0mm dia optical fibre cords to “drop-off” the duct run and feed into 100mm x 100mm (FR) plastic duct and components. The “Over the Top Outlet” is Part No: TC1279-307A; and is available separately.
STRAIGHT DUCT LENGTHS
WBTs YellowDuct straight ducting~raceway is available in six sizes with or without covers. Slotted duct/raceway is available in some sizes for vertical drops or applications inside equipment racks to allow cords to exit through the side of the duct. Some sizes are available with hinged covers (hinges included in pack), or clip on covers. All duct sizes come in 2m (6.3′) lengths, and where required, are slotted at each end for simply snapping together with an appropriate joiner. Most other ducting – raceway brands are only available in 6 foot lengths – 10% shorter than Lightpaths.
JOINERS
WBT YellowDuct joiners are used to snap together system components and straight ducting~raceway. They simply snap into the slots in the end of each piece to be joined.
The YellowDuct ducting raceway system has 2 option methods for joining the components together, slotted joiners or slotless joiners:
- Slotted Joiners require the ducting components to have slots on the ends so that it can be properly joined by clicking into place. A slotting tool will be required.
- Slotless joiners require no additional tooling or for slots to be made in the side of the
duct. They only require a screwdriver for installation to tighten the joiner into place
Note: For straight ducting~raceway that has been cut to length, new slots need to be made with a suitable size slotting tool.
VERTICAL ELBOWS
WBT YellowDuct vertical elbows are used to connect horizontal routes at different height, or to allow the fiber path to be raised or lowered to avoid obstacles. Retrofit versions are used where there is existing fiber. They are available with or without covers.