BICSI recently announced that the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) now requires BICSI Registered Communications Distribution Designers (RCDDs) to perform and stamp all telecommunications designs for VA projects. The requirement is written into the VA’s recently published Telecommunications and Special Telecommunications Design Manual (TDM). The portion of the TDM containing the requirement is shown below (highlighting done by cablinginstall.com).
When announcing the VA’s RCDD requirement, BICSI said, “Telecommunications design is vitally important to the effective functioning of today’s healthcare facilities. As such, the VA has moved all telecommunications chapters from the VA Electrical Design Manual into an entirely new manual [the TDM].”
Additionally, BICSI pointed out, the VA’s TDM cites 10 BICSI manuals and standards in its specifications, including the Telecommunications Distribution Methods Manual (TDMM); the Outside Plant Design Reference Manual (OSPDRM); ANSI/BICSI 002, Data Center Design and Implementation Best Practices; and ANSI/BICSI 004, Information Technology Systems Design and Implementation Best Practices for Healthcare Institutions and Facilities.
BICSI president Brian Ensign commented, “It is great to see that the VA now requires RCDDs on their telecom designs. An RCDD’s knowledge of industry standards and accurate design should speed the review and approval of project telecommunications documents, and avoid preventable errors in VA construction. In addition, having an RCDD working on the design will help to futureproof the designs for years to come.”