Advantages of a Low Voltage Building

1. Operations Technology (OT) Over IP for Improved Health and Wellness, Energy Savings, and ESG Compliance

The emergence and popularity of IP protocols across building systems, implementing protocols such as BACNet IP across different functions is enabling greater communication and simplicity in serving data for control and dashboarding. And the infrastructure is simple and cost effective to deploy as it utilizes the same structured IT cabling system expanded for operations technology.

Emerging are 10BASET1-L networked devices, such as controllers and switch adapters, which utilize the T1-L protocol and optimized with single pair Ethernet cabling and connectivity, such as Panduit 18AWG and 23 AWG single pair Ethernet cabling; Single pair Ethernet extends Ethernet communications up to 1000m and provides up to 55W of power (SPoE).

Smart technology and devices can reduce annual energy consumption by up to 18% for HVAC systems, up to 28% for plugged equipment and up to 33% for lighting¹.

2. Modernizing IT Technology and Amenities for Flexible Work

Flexible work environments are much more common today, with hybrid work (>10% to <100% remote) the most common working arrangement, according to BSRIA data². This type of work arrangement can require a smaller overall footprint for an office and a shift to a hot-desk or hotel environment, but also may include an increase in collaborative meeting spaces to enable teamwork.

Cabling manufacturers are providing new power efficient extended reach Ethernet cabling designed for smart building applications, such as 22AWG UTP PoE cabling available from Panduit. This cabling maximizes power delivered to end devices and is 18% more efficient vs 23 or 24AWG PoE cabling, with Cat 6 performance.

With the increase of collaborative spaces and meeting rooms in the office designers are also turning attention to ensure workers that are mobile across the facility have improved connectivity and bandwidth over WiFi . Designers want ports that can support 1, 2.5 or 5Gbps as standard specification and most have already gone to 10Gbps planning for WiFi 6/6E and  WiFi 7. Low voltage cabling, such as Varimatrix TX6A™ Cat 6A U/UTP cabling available from Panduit, provides both 10GBASE-T data connectivity and next generation PoE.

3. DC Power Infrastructure for Reduced Installation and Operating Costs

A newer concept, Class 4 power or fault managed power systems (FMPS) provides a low-voltage DC power backbone one level up from PoE devices within the smart building. Class 4 power can provide up to 600W per channel (transmitter/receiver) from the equipment room across building spaces, powering the switches providing PoE to both IT and OT spaces.

Class 4 power can be leveraged for many applications:

• In-building wireless
• Outdoor wireless
• Smart building
• GPON
• Digital signage
• Controlled environment agriculture

Class 4 systems are UL certified and recognized in the 2023 National Electric Code for safe power distribution that allows technicians to install with less material, for up to 40% savings on material costs and faster deployment than traditional power. FMPS has advantages over Class 2 low voltage power systems as well, saving up to 60% on cable costs while delivering up to 6 times the power and 30 times the distance.

Closing

As the reimagining of many building spaces to improve their marketability happens now and over the coming years it is clear that low voltage systems will be used by visionary designers across multiple applications within buildings in the IT and OT spaces. These systems can help reduce installation effort and material cost, provide more sustainable building operations with greater cost efficiency, and provide modern amenities and a safer, more comfortable working environment. Count on Panduit and Wesco to bring your design team the latest technology and infrastructure innovations supporting low-voltage buildings.

¹ Smart Buildings: A Deeper Dive into Market Segments- American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy; ACEEE Report, 2017

² BSRIA – Global trends impacting the structured cabling market, September 2023, Lone Hansen, Research Manager of Cabling, BACS and Smart Buildings, 2023