ACRS eConnect – SPRING 2019

Oct 1, 2019 | News | 0 comments

INSIDE THIS ISSUE – SEPTEMBER 2019

  • NECA Training and Apprenticeships Centre (Chullora) – officially opened 9 September 2019
  • Integrate 2019
  • Has your ACRS registration lapsed?
  • Smart wiring or wi-fi
  • Home Wiring Essentials update
  • Wi-fi and CCTV connections
  • ACMA exemptions from having to comply with customer cabling
  • Who do I contact if I see non-compliant cabling work?
  • ACMA takes action against Telco
  • Useful links

FIRST CLASS TRAINING FACILITY OPENS FOR SYDNEY APPRENTICES

The National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA) Training and Apprenticeships Centre of Excellence in Chullora will be used to train first-year electrical apprentices.

Thousands of young people are set to benefit after the National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA) Training and Apprenticeships Centre of Excellence in Chullora was officially opened today by Deputy Premier John Barilaro.

“This is a first-class training facility and a testament to the hard work of NECA. This Centre will make a significant contribution towards boosting the skills capability of thousands of young people,” Mr Barilaro said.

“What I have seen today is hugely encouraging as we look to get more people into Vocational Education and Training to address ongoing skills shortages.”

Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education Geoff Lee said the specialist facility will be used to train first year electrician apprentices, with the majority of the organisations’ 550 NSW-based apprentices to commence studying there over the next two years.

“Equipped with the latest electro technology materials and tools, the Centre of Excellence is well positioned to become one of the best of its kind in Australia,” Mr Lee said.

“I’m pleased to see NECA helping to ensure electrical apprentices in NSW have access to a high-quality learning environment where they can develop skills that are increasingly in demand.”

NSW’s infrastructure boom is just one factor that has contributed to a shortage of electricians, which the Centre will help to address.

The Centre is expected to grow to include nearly 500 apprentices and 1300 post-trade per learners each year. In total, 7000 apprentices and tradespeople will receive electrotechnology training there over the next five years.

Suresh Manickam, CEO of NECA said it is a proud moment for everyone at NECA to be joined by the Deputy Premier as we officially open the Centre of Excellence.

“What’s important is that young people understand the excellent training they receive as part of an electrical apprenticeship, as well as the well-paid and rewarding career they can expect when they qualify.

“We encourage young people, their parents and carers, and teachers and education professionals to visit the facilities to learn about an electrical apprenticeship and the fantastic career that follows.”

The centre is expected to grow each year to include 500 apprentices and post-trade learners. Over the next five years, 7000 apprentices and tradespeople will receive electrotechnology training at the centre.

Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education Geoff Lee said the specialist facility will be equipped with the latest electrotechnology materials and tools.

“The Centre of Excellence is well-positioned to become one of the best of its kind in Australia”, Mr Lee said.

NSW’s infrastructure boom is just one factor that has contributed to a shortage of electricians, which the centre will help to address.

Find out about the training available at NECA

www.necatraining.com.au/

Published 12th September, 2019 in Education

Integrate 2019

ACRS and NECA would like to thank all of those who attended Integrate 2019 at the Melbourne Convention centre last month.

ACRS together with fellow registrars were happy to participate on the Australian Registered Cablers stand.

Integrate saw over 6,700 visitors come through the doors across the 3 day show.

There was a large attendance of end users from different sectors including, retails, education and government.

The event bought together industry speakers, networking events, education programs and global product launches. We had more interaction with foot traffic and having more people manning the ARC stand, made it easier to spend more time with the individuals.

There were quite a few cablers/AV/Security Specialists and business owners who expressed interest in our GTO offerings, in particular taking on Telecommunication Trainees.

If you could not make it this year, Integrate will be back bigger and better next year 19 – 21 August 2020 at the ICC Sydney.

HAS YOUR ACRS REGISTRATION LAPSED?

If your ACRS registration has lapsed, do not panic.

Call the friendly team at ACRS on 1300 667771 or email enquiries@acrs.com.au who will be pleased to assist you in reinstating your registration.

Remember – evidence of carrying a current registration card confirms you have completed the training and gained the professional experience to deliver the work to the customer’s expectations.

Smart wiring or wi-fi

Netflix, YouTube, Spotify. These are all services a lot of us use every day. They also account for a huge portion of internet use. Smart TVs now connect wirelessly to access these services, but with such a huge uptake over a short period of time, it makes you wonder what else could be in store.

The ‘internet of things’ is evolving, connecting many smart devices such as our fridges, lighting and air-conditioners to help us communicate, stay safe and improve efficiency – both at home and at work. Additionally, artificial intelligence is starting to influence decision-making and make life’s little challenges that bit easier. Thanks Siri.

How does this impact on home building? Everything we connect seems to do so seamlessly over wi-fi, leading some to think they can continue to add new technologies with ease as they become available.

However, we don’t know how the internet will change, how good the graphics on our games will be and how many photos our friends will bombard us with on Facebook. Wi-fi technology might catch up, but when we bombard the network with lots of devices streaming large amounts of data it can struggle.

There are options to upgrade your wi-fi system to provide better coverage and security, and to help penetrate our typically Western Australian brick walls and concrete slabs, but to genuinely overcome the issues, smart wiring can be a real value-add in a home.

Smart wiring currently uses Category 6 data cabling, which not only supports volume and speed, but can be used in other ways. Many new smart devices use extra low-voltage DC power that can be transferred through the data cable, and it can provide transfer of signals like HDMI high-definition video from one room to another. Smart wiring in fixed devices can ensure quality of connection and provide flexibility for future uses.

So when you are looking at your new home or renovation, consider what your data needs will be now and think of the many possibilities for the future. Planning your smart wiring with your builder early in the process can ensure you get the internet you need in a practical and affordable way.

A combination of smart wiring and good wi-fi will provide a reliable and convenient network that can help keep your home at the edge of technological advances.

How does this impact on home building? Everything we connect seems to do so seamlessly over wi-fi, leading some to think they can continue to add new technologies with ease as they become available.

This article was reproduced from “The Western Australian”.

Stop press, exciting news the Home Wiring Essentials has been updated to reflect the latest in international and national standards. Ok, it is not that exciting but it is important that you are aware of the change. One of the underpinning standards of the Home Wiring Essentials AS/NZS 3080 has been replaced by AS/NZS11801 part 1 to 6. The reason it is now a 6 part standard is because other existing standards have been incorporated into the 11801 series.

In summary the changes that impact on the Home Wiring Essentials are

Old standard New standard
AS/NZS 3080 Information Technology – Generic cabling for customer premises AS/NZS11801.1Information technology generic cabling – general requirements and AS11801.2 Information technology – generic cabling for customer premises – Office premises
AS/NSZ ISO/IEC 15018 Information technology – generic cabling for homes AS/NZS11801.1Information technology generic cabling – general requirements and AS11801.4 Information technology – generic cabling for customer premises – Single tenant homes

Under the revised standard you can now use Cat 7 cabling for the distribution of broadcast services instead of coax cabling. The key is the maximum channel length of a Broadcast outlet using Cat 7 cable is 73M unlike coax which is 25M. This is not to be confused with the channel length to a standard telecommunications outlet which is still 100m.

To get the latest version of the Home Wiring Essentials go to http://registeredcablers.com.au/industry/smart-wired/

Wi-fi and CCTV connections

Systems being connected via Wi-Fi/3G/4G still have to be installed by a Registered cabler, noting reference to Telecommunications Act 1997.

Reference to Cabling Provider Rules CCTV cables that include CCTV cables must be installed by Registered cabler.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) have mandated, through the Telecommunications Cabling Provider Rules 2014 (the CPR’s), that any installation/maintenance/repair work being undertaken on fixed or concealed telecommunications customer cabling must be undertaken by a suitably registered cabler in accord with the Communications Alliance industry standard AS/CA S009:2013 Installation requirements for Customer Cabling (Wiring Rules).

Note:  a person who is not a suitably registered cabler can undertake telecommunications customer cabling work provided that s/he is being directly supervised by a suitably registered cabler whilst undertaking such work.

Telecommunications customer cabling is any telecommunications cabling located on the customers side of the carriers network boundary that  is connected, or is intended to be connected, to a telecommunications network.  This includes, but is not limited to, telecommunications cabling associated with network (LAN) cables, telephone cables, fire alarm cables, CCTV cables etc. and also includes cabling associated with telecommunications customer equipment including devices like ADSL modems, routers, network switches, telephone handsets (analogue and digital) etc.

Connected to a telecommunications network includes connection by any means including a direct or indirect connection via other items of equipment or even connecting wirelessly (e.g. via Wi-Fi or a 3G/4G modem).

Please refer to section 7 of the Telecommunications Act 1997 which includes the following definition,

connected , in relation to:

(a) a telecommunications network; or

(b) a facility; or

(c) customer cabling; or

(d) customer equipment;

includes connection otherwise than by means of physical contact, for example, a connection by means of radiocommunication.

The Cat 5 or Cat 6 cables that are being used to connect the smart meters to a 4G modem are connected to the telecommunications network (by radiocommunications – the 4G connection) and therefore these Cat 5 or Cat 6 cables are telecommunications customer cables.

Given this, these cables must be installed by a suitably registered cabler. As this would appear to be occurring in a commercial building, the cablers would have to hold an open registration and almost certainly a structured cabling competency.

EXEMPTIONS FROM HAVING TO COMPLY WITH CUSTOMER CABLING ARRANGEMENTS

These requirements are mandated by the Telecommunications Cabling Provider Rules 2014 , section 1.6 states,

Application of the Rules

These Rules apply to any person who:

(a) performs any of the types of cabling work specified in Part 2 (open, restricted, or lift);

(b) supervises the performance of any of the types of cabling work specified in Part 2;

(c) applies to be accredited as a registrar in accordance with accreditation procedures specified in Schedule 5; and

(d) is accredited as a registrar in accordance with accreditation procedures specified in Schedule 5.

There are certain exemptions from having to comply with the cabling provider rules – these are included in the Telecommunications (Types of Cabling Work) Declaration 2013 – see Schedule 1.

For example:

i. broadcasters have certain exemptions but it’s not a “blanket” exemption and nonetheless, they are obligated to do certain things such as using line isolation units, or they are required to obtain written consent from the network manager or an ACMA issued permit;

ii. Law enforcement agencies are exempt but only if the cabling work is in relation to a warrant issued under a law of the Commonwealth or a State or Territory;

iii. Defence are exempt but only for customer cabling used for temporary field telecommunications facilities.

The ACMA confirms that, anyone is permitted to do things like plug a telephone into a wall socket or install/remove patch leads at a patch panel but they cannot undertake any work involving fixed or concealed telecommunications customer cables.

Who do I contact if I see non-compliant cabling work?

All communications cabling work must be performed by a registered cabler. If a cabler is registered, they will have a card which proves that they can legally perform cabling work and must be undertaken in accordance with Australian Standard AS/CA S009:2013 Installation requirements for customer cabling (Wiring Rules).

The Wiring Rules define the technical requirements for the installation or repair of cabling that is connected to a telecommunications network.

The Wiring Rules cover cabling practice sufficient to ensure that the installation or normal use of the cabling does not expose cablers or customers to any dangers and/or adversely affect the telecommunications network.

The ACMA does not regulate quality of work.

If you are unhappy with cabling work completed in your home or office, you should:

1. contact the Australian business or cabling provider and

2. if a resolution cannot be reached, contact the Australian Communications and Media Authority (the ACMA). The ACMA can only act if the cabler is not appropriately registered or if the wiring rules have been breached.

You can also refer the matter to the office of consumer affairs or fair trading in your state or territory.

Any complaints about a cabler or cabling work should be reported to the ACMA.

Please use this form if you wish to lodge a complaint about:

  • an unregistered cabler who is performing cabling work; or
  • non-compliant work that has been performed by a registered cabler.

ACMA takes action against Sydney-based telco Infinity Telecom

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has taken action against Sydney-based telco Infinity Telecom for breaching industry rules requiring them to have mandatory information for consumers available on their website.

The ACMA has issued a remedial direction to the telco to amend its website following an investigation that found it lacked required information on NBN plans, financial hardship assistance and complaints handling.

Telcos face fines of up to $10 million if they fail to carry out the requirements of a remedial direction.

ACMA Authority member Fiona Cameron said this action should serve as a warning across the industry.

‘Just because you aren’t a big provider, doesn’t mean you don’t have to take your obligations seriously,’ Ms Cameron said.

‘These consumer safeguards are there to protect the community and all telcos need to play by the rules, irrespective of the size of the business.’

The ACMA was particularly concerned Infinity Telecom had failed to comply with rules requiring it to make available to consumers online a Financial Hardship Policy and summaries of the key details of plans.

‘It is critical that vulnerable customers experiencing financial hardship are aware of their options,’ Ms Cameron said.

The investigation also found Infinity Telecom failed to:

  • provide summarised information about typical busy period speeds, online usage levels and technical limitations for NBN plans
  • have a complaints handling process on its website.

‘It is unacceptable that any telco neglects to give basic information to consumers to help them choose the right service or make a complaint,’ Ms Cameron said.

The ACMA opened its investigation into Infinity Telecom following a referral from the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman.

This is the eighth time this year that the ACMA has taken enforcement action against a telco for breaching the Consumer Information Standard.

ACMA Media release 30/2019 – 20 September

Useful Links

ACRS www.acrs.com.au
nbn ™ www.nbnco.com.au
ACMA www.acma.gov.au
Dial before you dig www.1100.com.au
A2A and Network Boundary Issues www.telstra.com.au/smartcommunity/mybuilder.html
Communications Alliance www.commsalliance.com.au
Registered Cablers website www.registeredcablers.com.au