Cabling requirements for a new primary school classroom

[Michael Molamphy]

Hi Folks,

Could really do with some advice on this one.  My wife's primary school is having a new classroom added and the contractors have asked what they need in terms of cabling for computers/projectors etc.  Obviously there should be network points/power points at the teacher's desk but I would be interested to hear how people suggest you should arrange the other computers and associated equipment.

Any advice really appreciated.


Michael Molamphy 

[Brendan Kehoe]

> Could really do with some advice on this one. My wife's primary
> school is having a new classroom added and the contractors have asked
> what they need in terms of cabling for computers/projectors etc.
> Obviously there should be network points/power points at the teacher's
> desk but I would be interested to hear how people suggest you should
> arrange the other computers and associated equipment.

What I've discovered we've needed and wished was done already:

* a network port on either end of the classroom, since they'll find
need for computers somewhere else; you can string CAT5 cable from
that to wherever you want to put the switch/hub, but having to go
all the way around the room is a real pain :). The other benefit
is if your school has a wireless access point set up, you've got
an alternative if for whatever reason the signal isn't able to
push itself into the new classroom.
* dual power points in opposite positions of every wall; we use ~10
laptops with jr & sr infants and have to use long extension cables
to be able to get them all plugged in, but if we had more points
it'd be much easier
* if you can, have a single power point installed in the ceiling
approx 10 feet back from the wall, since ceiling-mounted
projectors are becoming more and more popular (in place of one on
the floor with worries of children touching the hot lens or
tripping over the wires)

Hope this helps,
B
Dalkey School Project NS
an Educate Together school

[Denis Dolan]

Good afternoon I have just seen your e-mail and reply so far which is
excellent advice. However there is no substitute for someone to do
physical survey. IT Security is also an issue to considered.
As a commercial organisation we would be happy to do for you a free
survey. As we already supply IWB & Projectors at the most competative
prices in Ireland.
Regards
Denis

[KL]

Hi Michael,

When the network was being designed for our school extension we were
told that all cabling would have to conform to the TGD 004 standard.
It may be an idea to pass this on to your cabling contractors if this
is a 'stand-alone' cabling project that does not have to go back to
the DES for final approval before it goes ahead (as ours did).

TGD 004:
http://www.ncte.ie/documents/networking/Requirements_Cabling_Networking.doc

Trunking was placed inside the walls when the extension was being
built so that all network cabling would run inside the walls and not
through external trunking or dado rails in the classrooms. At the
time we were entitled to install 5 network points and 5 sets of double
sockets in each classroom and 2 sets in each resource room. The idea
behind this was to get ready for an era when there would be multiple
computers in each class (emmm ..... we're not quite there yet
though!!!).

The DES wanted to install a bank of 5 points in a row at the front of
each class, but as there wasn't enough room for a bank of 5 computers
together and a whiteboard at the front of the class the design now has
two points positioned at the front and three at the back.

Also the new extension has an acoustic ceiling that cannot support the
weight of a projector mounted to the ceiling - ideally the planning of
the classroom should include an allowance for the installation of a
projector - short throw or ceiling-mounted.

Best of Luck.
- Kieran L.

On Mar 6, 10:26 am, Michael Molamphy <michael.molam...@gmail.com>
wrote:

[Andreas Kusch]

We got a power point for a data projectors fitted in the ceiling of our new school (2 years ago, at our own cost!). Only regret is, that it's always on stand-by and I can't turn it off completetely without having to lift the ceiling tile. We are a Green School, but that is asking too much in my book. From an energy consumption point of view there should be a switch somewhere within reach.
 
Andreas
(Castleknock ETNS)

 

---

Date: Fri, 6 Mar 2009 10:26:22 +0000
Subject: [CESI List] Cabling requirements for a new primary school classroom
From: michael....@gmail.com
To: cesi...@googlegroups.com

[Joseph Molloy]

Hi Michael,

 

The NCTE advise the fitting of 5 network sockets to each classroom and the appropriate electrical points. I will send her images of the new extension in my primary school if she wants to see how they look.

 

There is network acces at both ends of the classrooms, twin socket at the teacher's area and a panel of sockets and power outlets in a dado rail at the opposite end,  IWB with ultra short throw digital projectors and two built-in redundancy network cables lying coiled in the false ceiling. We also have MIMO high speed wireless access in the general purpose room. This can be extended through access points throughout the school if the nedd arises.

 

I am having the old stand mounted IWBs and floor mounted digital projectors fitted to the walls and ceilings respectively in the nesxt week or two.

 

The only thing I did not cost for was blinds - a major oversight! This is a major consideration in some classrooms as the light cast by the sun as it tracks from east to west in the couse of the day. Yes I know the sun stays where it is - we do all the donkey work!

 

I am a certified 3COM  network installer (1995) and a Microsoft Certified Sysyems Engineer. (1998). I stay current with all developments and I am an IT advisor to several non-profit organisations.

Joe Molloy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://lwww.slua.com

jfmo...@slua.com

2009/3/6 Michael Molamphy <michael....@gmail.com>

[luke]

Can I recommend using Cat-6 or Cat-5e for network cabling as it will
future proof the installation and cost increase is almost zero over
standard Cat-5. Cat-6 is the backward compatible with Cat-5 and is
standard for Gigabit Ethernet. The school should also consider
providing an extra Ethernet socket for a wireless hub in the
classroom.


Regards,
Luke M Curley
www.edware.ie