Wednesday, July 24, 2013

BICSI Releases New Standard on Electronic Safety and Security System Design

Today, BICSI announced the release of its latest standard, ANSI/BICSI 005-2013, Electronic Safety and Security (ESS) System Design and Implementation Best Practices to support the convergence of security and cabling infrastructure.

BICSI, an international association providing the information technology systems industry with information, education and knowledge, took the opportunity to address the growing rate of converging security systems onto the network and its cabling infrastructure. The new standard is one of the first to acknowledge the complexities of security systems and the cabling infrastructure and address both communication and security requirements.

BICSI 005 looks to bridge security and communications by providing security professionals with the requirements and recommendations of a structured cabling infrastructure needed to support today's security systems while providing cabling design professionals with information on different elements within safety and security systems that affect the design. The standard also provides information on the concept of "direct attach" and how it may be used within many forms of ESS systems.

"The protection against risks and threats to life-safety, business and personal assets is and always will be a matter of great importance," said Jerry Bowman, RCDD, NTS, RTPM, CISSP, CPP, CDCDP, BICSI President. "BICSI 005 is a tremendous resource for those working on the design and implementation of electronic safety and security and related infrastructure. This standard, like all BICSI standards, establishes best practices for the supporting infrastructure for a variety of security functions and systems. We truly appreciate the efforts of all the volunteer subject matter experts who contributed to this publication."

More information regarding the BICSI Standards Program and the BICSI 005 standard can be found at www.bicsi.org/.