sundance-communications.com/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Cabling Telephones Systems Wiring US Government specs

I've got an electrical contractor that wants me to quote a cable job (phone/data)for a building used by the USMC on Camp Pendleton. He doesn't have any written specs other than the blue prints indicating Cat5e and jack locations.

I know I need to ensure US made products but what other criteria may I need to be aware of? Any specific manufacturers that would be recommended or not recommended?

Time to contact USMC direct and ask where to go for your answers. I'll bet the FIRST requirement is in conduit (probably metallic, not 'smurf') end to end.

I did tell the electrical contractor that he's responsible for all conduits needed. Since I'm not the listed contractor, I'm not sure I'll be able to call them directly without spending a couple of days bouncing around red-tape.

Never know until you try.

Saw this a bit late... Does this electrical contractor have the job or is he just fishing? You should be able to pull a complete set of bid specs off the internet and the e-contractor should be able to provide the bid spec number! All construction jobs on a military installation will have a Resident Officer In Charge Construction. There may be one or several. The base public affairs office should be able to guide you.

100% exactly correct! Every Mil project has written specs, chapter and verse for everything.

Jim
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Speaking from a secure undisclosed location.

I did some work for Army last year, relocating a system into a new office. They guys doing the cabling appearently did not read the spec, and the customer didn't seem to care.
Total half-assed work.

I had to fix probably 50% of the jacks as they miswired them. Also they provided just a 1/4" plywood backboard, mounted crookedly into the drywall with most screws missed the studs.

I've seen some of the best and some of the worst examples of low voltage cabling in government installations.

Army jobs can be a bit of a pain at times so make sure you get the specs and follow every single requirement. The military does have specific requirements on every aspect of communications cabling and they've even written their own manual for data cabling and on many jobs they will have an independent RCDD come in and do quality assurance on the job. Here's a good place to start.

https://www.pendleton.usmc.mil/contracts/

This is the manual that's been used as a reference for many jobs as well as the BICSI TDMM.

https://www.lrl.usace.army.mil/ed2/article.asp?id=1312&MyCategory=212

Most of the cabling I've been privy to on Fort Bragg was spec'd IN THOROUGHLY GROUNDED CONDUIT! No radiated signal, as there 'could be' highly secret data flowing. (I know, I know, CAT5 won't radiate significant signal. Tell the Army that and they'll show you that THEY can steal data off free air CAT5) And yes, a lot of fiber where cat5 would have been entirely adequate under normal conditions.