Rescinded [2020-11-02] - TBITS 06.9: Canadian Open Systems Application Criteria (COSAC), Telecommunications wiring system in Government-Owned and leased buildings - Implementation Criteria

This standard establishes the minimum requirements governing the telecommunications wiring system used to provision voice, data, and video in government-owned and leased buildings (hereinafter called 'federal buildings').

The standard provides a uniform, integrated approach to voice, data, and video telecommunications wiring (or 'cabling') in all buildings occupied by federal government departments and agencies. Its implementation will provide an advantageous return on investment , maximize the timeliness of the management and administration of moves, additions and changes of government personnel in the workplace, and reduce incremental and costly physical additions to the cable plant over its lifetime.

This standard is mandatory for all new federal buildings, and for retrofits of existing ones. It prescribes requirements that provide a uniform, integrated approach to voice, data, and video telecommunications wiring within federal buildings, and between them in the case of campus environments. Additionally, installations must conform to the Canadian Electrical Code, the National Building Code, and Provincial Building Codes as appropriate.

With the exception of a number of restrictions and enhancements to better suit government requirements, the following standards shall be used in the design, installation, management and administration of telecommunications wiring systems in government-owned and leased buildings:

• Canadian Standards Association standard CAN/CSA T529-95: "Telecommunications Cabling Systems in Commercial Buildings";
• Canadian Standards Association standard CAN/CSA-T528-93: "Design Guidelines for Administration of Telecommunications Infrastructure in Commercial Buildings";
• Canadian Standards Association standard CAN/CSA-T530-M90: "Building Facilities, Design Guidelines for Telecommunications";
• Canadian Standards Association standard CAN/CSA-T527: "Grounding and Bonding for Telecommunications in Commercial Buildings";

Restrictions and enhancements are described in detail in Section 3, Specifications, of the companion COSAC Profile. Of significance is that this standard recognizes only two telecommunications media types: unshielded twisted pair cable, and optical fibre cable.

Unless expressly forbidden by local regulations which may take precedence over federal ones, this standard is applicable throughout Canada.

This standard will assist departments and agencies in establishing a clear preference for non-proprietary, standards-based telecommunications wiring or cabling products and services in government-owned and leased buildings.

The provisions of the standard are effective immediately upon publication.

Bob Boucher

National Library of Canada

Alain Dutrisac

House of Commons (Sergeant-at-Arms)

Steve Hiltz

Transport Canada

Arnie Murray

Department of National Defence

Raymond Perrin

Public Works & Government Services Canada

Judith Prindiville

National Archives Canada

Gilles Ravignat

Agriculture & Agrifood Canada

Dan Rice

Statistics Canada Robert Scott House of Commons (ISD)

Raymond Siew

Human Resources Development Canada

Joe Van Beek

Government Telecommunications & Informatics Services

This publication, and other TBITS:

• By Category
• By TBITS Number