DIVISION 17- COMMUNICATIONS

Section 17225 – Main Distribution Frame (MDF)

1. GENERAL

1.01 RELATED DOCUMENTS

A. This section is hereby made a part of Sections of Division 16 and Division 17 as

fully as if repeated in each Section therein.

1.02 SUMMARY

A. This Section includes the cable management, connecting devices, related equipment,
racks and information pertaining to mounting and installation, to be used for high-speed
data transmission, security, media management systems, and voice systems.

2. MDF ROOM

A. Provide a 4' x 8' x ¾" thick AC-grade or better fire-retardant plywood for telephone switch
and voice cross-connect system.

B. Mount patch panels, terminal strips, and other connecting hardware on backboards,
except as otherwise indicated.

C. Terminate data backbone cables at patch panel.

D. Terminate voice cables on cross-connect system.

E. Provide three distribution racks with the vertical organizers for LAN/WAN equipment.

F. Provide overhead ladder racks for cabling within MDF room.

G. Provide telephone one (1) 3-inch conduit with 100PR/200PR telephone cables from the
telephone demarc to the MDF and (1) 2-inch conduit with 100PR/200PR from the MDF
room to the existing PBX switch. If switch and Netpop are collocated, only one (1) 2-inch
conduit with 200 PR telephone cable shall be installed. Contractor shall train and
terminate the telephone cables at both ends on 110 blocks. The Contractor shall provide
all required blocks and a Telco panel box (capable of housing blocks and terminations) at
the existing PBX location (when located other than at the MDF).

H. The minimum MDF space requirement is 10’ x 15’or equal square footage area (see
AutoCAD drawings. Space will provide adequate space requirements by Federal, State,
and City of Chicago codes.

2.01 RACKS

A. All racks used in MDF rooms or telecommunications closets shall be 7' tall, aluminum or
steel floor-mounted and have mounting rails for standard 19" equipment.

B. All racks shall meet the ANSI/EIA 310-D standard and include the universal 1/2" to 5/8”
hole pattern drilled on the front and rear.

C. All racks shall be properly grounded and bonded in accordance with ANSI/TIA/EIA-607.
A minimum 6 AWG green conductor shall be used for grounding.

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 D. Provide up to three (3) vertical racks with horizontal (ladder type) cable trays connecting
all the racks. A horizontal cable tray shall connect the telecommunications and 4' x 8' x
¾" thick AC-grade or better fire-retardant plywood with the vertical racks.

E. Double-sided vertical cable management sections shall be provided for each rack.
Vertical management sections may be integrated into the rack design or attached
separately. Vertical management sections shall be provided for both sides of each
individual rack. If more than one rack is installed in a row, a single vertical management
section may be used to adjoin two racks with G3000 (or approved equal) for power
requirements. (See AutoCAD drawings).

2.02 PRODUCT

A. Distribution Racks and Ladder racks:

1. AMP, Inc. 8. Nordex

2. AVAYA Communications 9. Ortronics

3. Chatsworth 10. Panduit

4. Homaco 11. Pass & Seymour Network Wiring

5. Hubell Premise Wiring, Inc. 12. Superior Modular Products

6. Leviton Mfg. Co., Inc.; Telecom Division 13. Thomas & Betts

7. Molex 14. Or Approved Equivalents

B. Distribution racks will be of same type as existing racks installed.

C. Wiremold and vertical organizers will attach to existing rack and additional racks installed
to meet contract documents. (See AutoCAD drawings)

D. Architect/Engineer of Record will determine to re-locate existing rack or MDF location if

now suitable CPS Standards or local City Codes.

2.03 DISTRIBUTION RACK INSTALLATION

A. Racks shall be securely mounted to the floor and ladder style racks.

1. Fasten rack base plate by installing finder washers, lag bolts, masonry anchors,
or a combination thereof as required due to flooring conditions.

2. Racks or components shall not be installed to obstruct access to any new or

existing equipment, or to infringe on any Code-required clearances.

3. Adequate room shall be provided, and sufficient work space around the Rack(s)
shall be available to access, to add, or remove Electronic equipment, wire, and
cable without removing any obstructions.

4. Racks will be installed in compliance with CPS infrastructure Standards AutoCAD

drawings and/or Contract documents.

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 5. Provide all labor, material and equipment necessary to perform all the work
involved with the Chicago Public Schools work as indicated on the drawings, as
specified herein, per contract specifications and/or prints, or as otherwise
required for a complete job at the Chicago Public Schools.

6. Apparatus, appliance, material or Work not shown on Contract Drawings, but

mentioned in the Specifications, or vice versa, or any incidental accessories
necessary to make the Work complete and ready for operation, even though not
specified or shown on the Contract Drawings, shall be furnished and installed
without additional expense to CPS.

7. Should there be any discrepancies or a question of intent, refer the matter to the
Architect/Engineer and Office of Technology Service (OTS) for a decision before
ordering any equipment, materials or before starting any related Work.

8. Furnish, erect, install, connect, clean, adjust, test and condition all manufactured
articles, materials and equipment, and place in service in accordance with the
manufacturer's directions and recommendations except as otherwise indicated in
the Contract Documents.

2.04 LADDER RACK INSTALLATION

A. The system shall include aluminum, ladder-type cable tray, with straight sections, vertical
bends, horizontal bends, crosses, tees, drop-outs, connectors, fittings, hangers, supports,
hardware and all necessary appurtenances required to provide a complete system as
outlined in the Contract Documents for support of the cable and wire indicated. All items
shall be provided as part of this Contract.
B. The ladder rack system shall conform to NEMA standard VE-1, ASTM, UL and applicable
Code requirements for the use intended.

C. Attach ladder racks directly on top of the vertical racks. Secure with required hardware in
compliance to manufactures specifications.

D. Ladder racks will be securely fastened to walls and provide continuous connection
between Racks and the fire retardant plywood (see. CAD Drawings).

E. Ladder rack shall be twelve inches (12") wide with rungs spaced six inches (6"to 12”) on
center with nominal one and a half inch (1 ½”) or two (2") high rails.

F. The entire installation shall comply with all applicable Code requirements and the
manufacturer's standard printed instructions.

G. Exact placement of ladder racks shall be determined in the field by the Contractor with
the Construction Manager's prior review and approval.

H. Ladder racks or components shall not be installed to obstruct access to any new or
existing equipment, or to infringe on any Code-required clearances. Ladder rack shall
not penetrate any fire-rated walls or floors except as permitted by Section 14-20-200 of
the Chicago Electrical Code.

I. Adequate headroom shall be provided, and sufficient work space around the ladder rack
shall be available to access the cable ladder rack to add or remove wire and cable
without removing any obstructions.

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2.05 SUPPORTS

A. Provide supports of type and spacing required by Code and recommended by the cable
ladder rack manufacturer.

B. Supports for the ladder rack shall be completely independent from supports of any other
material or equipment. Ladder rack shall not be supported from or rest on any panels or
similar items.

C. Supports shall be secured to the building structure with suitable anchors and shall not be
supported from suspended ceiling supporting systems.

D. Method of supports shall be subject to prior approval of the Architect/Engineer and

Construction Manager.

3. GROUNDING

3.01 GROUNDING AND BONDING

A. Provide separate copper grounding conductors to each rack from the equipment bus bar
located on the equipment bus bar kit.

B. Provide suitable ground clamps to bond each section of rack to the ground conductor,
and to the cable Ladder rack.

C. Grounding conductors shall be of sizes required by Code, and shall be connected to

comply with all applicable requirements.

D. Ladder rack shall NOT be used as an equipment grounding conductor.

E. Equipment ground bus will be connected to the MDF Panel equipment Ground Bar only.

F. Equipment ground bus kit specification:

1. Solid copper ground bar ¼” thick for wall and Backboard mounting.

2. Provide 4” standoff from backboard, kit consists from:

a. 1- Bus-bar ¼ inch thick

b. 2- Stand-off brackets and assembly screws
c. 2- Isolators

3.02 CABLING

A. Main Distribution Frame: The Main Distribution Frame (MDF) is a dedicated and secured
room within the school that will host a major portion of the network equipment. A
minimum of three (3) equipment racks shall be provided in the MDF, which shall support:

1. Wide area network (WAN) access equipment.

2. A majority of the local area network (LAN) equipment including the router,
switching, file servers and uninterruptible power systems (UPS).

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 3. Termination of fiber cabling from concentrators, IDF(s), and future media system
Category 5e/coax cable.

4. Termination of voice cabling from Teachers Stations, Administrative,

Administrator Outlets and each Concentrator 24 pair Category 5e Voice cable
shall be made to 110 Block(s) to be installed next to the Telecommunications
Switch on the ¾" thick, 4' x 8' fire-treated plywood AC-grade or better backboard.

B. Each MDF shall have 4 different cross connect systems:

a. Fiber Shelf (Data).

b. 110 cross connect system (Voice).

c. Fiber, Category 5e, Coax (media system).

d. Coax (CCTV).

1. Fiber Shelf:

a. The horizontal fiber cables from the Concentrators shall terminate to

Lightguide Shelf Termination (LST) on Rack #2. The Certified Installer
shall determine the number of LST’s. Fiber jumper cordage shall be
used to connect the LST to the Networking products. All fiber-optic
strands must be terminated and tested. Fiber connector shall be type
SC.

2. Voice system:

a. Each Yellow Category 5e voice cables from the Teacher and

Administrative stations shall terminate on the 110 blocks mounted on the
¾" thick, 4' x 8' fire-retardant plywood AC-grade or better, next to the
Telecommunications Switch in the MDF room.

b. Each Concentrator 24 pair Category 5e Voice cable shall be terminated

to 110 Block(s) (separate sets of 110 blocks other than the individual
yellow Cat5e cables) to be installed next to the Telecommunications
Switch on the ¾" thick, 4' x 8' fire-treated plywood AC-grade or better
backboard.

3. Media system:

a. The Gray 4 PR Category 5e UTP cables shall be terminated to modular

patch(s) panels to be located on Rack #3. The number of modular patch
panel / ports will be determined by the Certified Installer. Provide one (1)
Coax RG-6, cellular polyethylene dielectric, foil braid shield, No. 18 AGW
solid copper-cover-steel conductor, and PVC jacket from the MDF F-
Type connector patch panel to the MMTV F-Type connector. In case two
separate buildings belonging to the same school are to be
interconnected, one of the two buildings will have an IDF installed in it
while the other building will have an MDF. From the IDF, provide two (2)
RG-11 Coaxial cable, cellular polyethylene dielectric, bare-copper braid
shield with 95 percent minimum shield factor, No. 14 AGW solid bare-
conductor, and PVC jacket to the MDF distribution Rack #3.

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 4. CCTV: Coaxial cable shall be terminated on the F-Type patch panels located on
Rack #3 or CCTV enclosure per Contract Documents.

5. Cable: Provide Cable TV (1) 2-inch conduit with RG-11 Coax from the cable
companies service entrance to the MMTV patch panel with proper
amount of pull boxes.

3.03 INTERMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION FACILITY RACKS

A. In some situation a IDF room maybe required for multiple facilities (Annexes, Additions,
Modular Units), schools with four (4) or more stories, and/or schools with square footage
where cabling to a IDF’(s) becomes more cost effective. Note:

1. Electrical distribution, Electronic components, Ties (Cabling) between MDF and

IDF(s), A/C, Telecommunication, Security CCTV, Media Management systems,
and facilities space requirements must be taken into consideration. It is the
responsibility of the Architect/Engineer of record to establish specifications in
compliance with CPS Infrastructure Standards. Each situation requiring IDF
installation maybe addressed with Office of Technology Service Project
Managers prior to bid. Architect/Engineer of Record will correct any installation
not in compliance with the CPS Infrastructure Standards with no additional cost
to Chicago Public Schools.

B. Provide up to three (3) vertical racks with horizontal (ladder type) cable trays connecting
all the racks. A horizontal cable tray shall connect the telecommunications 4' x 8' x ¾"
thick fire-retardant plywood with the vertical racks.

C. Vertical Organizer and surface metal raceways shall be installed per the Contract
Drawings. The determined front side of the racks shall have four (4) dedicated isolated
grounded duplex receptacles in each surface metal raceway. The rear (back) side of the
racks shall have eight (8) dedicated isolated grounded duplex receptacles and one (1)
dedicated simplex receptacle in each surface metal raceway.

D. The minimum IDF space requirement is 6’ x 8’, 8’ x 12’, and/or 10’ x 15’. Space will
provide adequate space requirements by Federal, State, and City of Chicago codes.

E. Conduit and/or metal raceway will connect between each IDF to MDF for each system
requiring connectivity.

F. From the each IDF, provide two (2) RG-11 Coaxial cable to the MDF distribution Rack #3.

G. Provide two (2) six strand fiber cables between MDF and IDF(s).

H. Provide one hundred (100), or two hundred (200) multi-paired telephone cable between
MDF and IDF(s) as required, with 25% capacity for growth. Provide installation in 2”
conduit with proper sweep elbows.

4. ENVIROMENTIAL

4.01 MDF/IDF ENVIROMENTIAL

A. If the telecommunications closet is used to house active components, a temperature

range of 64 to 75 degrees F. should be maintained the (18 to 24 degrees C.) with a
relative humidity range of 30 to 55 percent If the space does not contain active
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 components, a temperature of 50 degrees F. to 95 degrees F. should be maintained (10
degrees C. to 35 degrees C.) with a maximum relative humidity of 85 percent.

Ref. NEC Article 645.2, NFPA 75-1999 Standard for protection of Electronic
Computer/Data Processing Equipment, Chapter 8, 8-1 to 8-1.3., 2000 BICSI TDM
Manual, 9th edition

B. Because these rooms often must be cooled/ventilated 24 hours a day, seven days a
week, it may require its own separate HVAC system that is not on a time clock seasonal
cycle.

C. No HVAC units will be powered off of any Isolated Ground Panels (Computer
Panels).

5. ELECTRICAL

5.01 MDF/IDF ELECTRICAL REQUIREMENTS

A. Provide six isolated ground dedicated 20 amp circuits for duplex receptacles on Wiremold
series 3000 raceway attached to the vertical sides of MDF racks as shown on the
standard drawings. Receptacles shall be limited to a maximum of four per dedicated 20
amp isolated circuit, and shall be alternately wired. Neutral is to be #10 wire. Four (4) IG
receptacles per surface metal raceway section shall be provided on the designated front
of racks. Eight (8) IG receptacles per surface metal raceway section shall be provided on
the designated rear (back) of racks. (AutoCAD Drawings).

B. Provide two isolated ground, dedicated, 20 amp circuits for each single IG receptacle
installed on the Wiremold series 3000 raceway or approved equal (as noted in 1.4.E.4.a)
for UPS systems. Neutral is to be #10 wire.

C. Circuits are to be alternated as shown or noted on the Infrastructure Standards Drawings.

D. Two (2) quad IG duplex receptacles will be mounted on plywood, each quad will
connected to one (1) twenty amp dedicated isolated circuit per quad. (See AutoCAD
Drawings)

E. Narrow MDF configuration require six isolated ground dedicated 20 amp circuits for
duplex receptacles on Wiremold series 3000 raceway attached to the vertical side of
MDF racks as shown on the standard drawings (next to wall) on each rack between a
double sided vertical organizer and the rack.. Receptacles shall be limited to a maximum
of four per dedicated 20 amp isolated circuit, and shall be alternately wired. Neutral is to
be #10 wire. Four (4) IG receptacles per surface metal raceway section shall be provided
on the designated front of racks. Eight (8) IG receptacles per surface metal raceway
section shall be provided on the designated rear (back) of racks. (AutoCAD Drawings).

F. Panelboards will in compliance with Section16472.

G. All branch circuit panelboards supplying voice and data system circuits shall be supplied
from a separate breaker in main switchboard or from a separate distribution panel
supplied by its own feeder breaker in the main switchboard for computer systems only.

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 H. All voice and data system distribution panelboards fed from the main switchboard or step-
down transformer shall be provided with transient voltage surge protection as noted in
section 16680 TVSS.

I. The isolated ground conductor system shall be kept separate from the receptacle or
branch circuit equipment ground conductor up to the main switchboard ground bus. The
isolated ground conductor and equipment ground conductor shall be connected only at
the main switchboard or at the separately derived system.

J. Shielded step-down transformers, if used, shall be specifically designed for non-linear

loads and shall have a K-factor of 13 or will be an NEMA TP-1 Energy Efficient
Transformer.

6. TELECOMMUNICATION

6.01 TELECOMMUNICATION INSTALLATION

A. Each Yellow Category 5e voice cables from the Teacher and Administrative stations shall
terminate on the 110 blocks mounted on the ¾" thick, 4' x 8' fire-retardant plywood AC-
grade or better with at least two coats of flame retardant paint, next to the
Telecommunications Switch in the MDF room.

B. Each Concentrator 24 pair Category 5e Voice cable shall be terminated to 110 Block(s)
(separate sets of 110 blocks other than the individual yellow Cat5e cables) to be
installed next to the Telecommunications Switch on the ¾" thick, 4' x 8' fire-treated
plywood AC-grade or better backboard with at least two coats of flame retardant paint.

C. Provide telephone (1) 3-inch conduit with 100PR/200PR telephone cables from the
telephone demarc to the MDF and (1) 2-inch conduit from the MDF room to the existing
PBX switch. Provide and install Telco cabinet for cross 110 or 66 blocks (size
accordingly to accommodate all connections. If switch and netPOP are co-located, only
one (1) 3-inch conduit with 200 PR telephone cable shall be installed. Contractor shall
train and terminate the telephone cables at both ends on 110 blocks. The Contractor
shall provide all required blocks.

D. Provide Cable TV (1) 2-inch conduit with RG-11 Coax from the cable companies service
entrance to the MMTV patch panel with proper amount of pull boxes.

END Section 17225

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