BICSI refreshes ICT best practices for smart buildings and premises

On June 2, BICSI announced the release of ANSI/BICSI 007-2020, Information Communication Technology Design and Implementation Practices for Intelligent Buildings and Premises.

The new document is an update to what the trade association bills as "the seminal standard for the design and implementation of ICT infrastructure necessary for all network enabled building systems, including traditional, smart, internet of things (IoT), emerging and everything in between."

The updated edition of the ANSI/BICSI 007 standard includes a 50-page expansion. The new document details requirements, recommendations and professional guidance, as well as the latest methods and trends within intelligent building design.

"As technology rapidly evolves, it is challenging for published standards to keep up," commented John Daniels, CNM, FACHE, FHIMSS, BICSI Executive Director and CEO. Daniels continued, "But this standard, like other BICSI standards, provides a foundational infrastructure framework for network design, application requirements and installation best practices that serve as an industry constant fueling the advanced technology's momentum."

Written by future-ready and forward-thinking subject matter experts with flexibility and longevity in mind, the association notes that ANSI/BICSI 007 ensures that designs are produced even for those system and cabling concepts which have not yet made it to market. As these systems become commonplace, information on reliability, network design and security, and cloud support was also added to the updated standard.

In addition to infrastructure, material for common building systems and powering methods such as Power over Ethernet (PoE) has been reviewed and expanded in the new edition, with the following systems being covered in greater detail:

• Building automation systems (BAS) 

• Building management systems (BMS)

• Energy management systems (EMS)

• Low voltage / PoE Lighting

• Electronic security systems (ESS): 

• Video surveillance

• Access control

• Intrusion detection

• Class N fire alarm

• Intercom, paging and mass notification 

• Sound masking

• Digital signage and wayfinding

• Asset management (RFID)

• Vertical transportation (e.g., elevators)

More information about the ANSI/BICSI 007-2020 standard can be found at www.bicsi.org/007.

The following video presents a step-by-step guide on how to navigate the BICSI website and successfully apply online for a BICSI Credentialing Exam.