Application
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to safely install, maintain and modify customer premises communications cabling according to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) ‘open’ Cabling Provider Rules for small installations connected to sockets, and larger commercial and industry installations involving many lines, multi-pair cables, backbone cabling, multi-story buildings and advanced termination modules and distributors.
It applies to individuals who provide services in telephony, carrier modems or multiplexers, private modems or data systems operating over a category one or two twisted pair metallic customer cable in a specific customer location. Individuals may install, maintain or modify new cable or upgrade cable capacity either, indoor, external, underground or aerial cabling on private and public property for an existing network or subsystem, or cabling infrastructure for convergence to next generation networks (NGNs).
Licensing, legislative, regulatory and certification requirements apply to telecommunications systems. All customer cabling work in the telecommunications, fire, security and data industries must be performed by a registered cabler. All cablers are required to register with an ACMA accredited registrar.
Where aerial and underground cabling are used to supply services to the public, the specialist competencies as indicated in the ACMA Cabling Provider Rules – Pathways to cabling registration publication must be attained to undertake that work.
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1 Plan open cabling work | 1.1 Identify building infrastructure that places critical constraints on cabling 1.2 Apply organisational strategies to manage other infrastructure in relation to cabling 1.3 Notify appropriate personnel of identified safety hazards at cabling worksite |
2 Manage remote power feed | 2.1 Identify and avoid risks posed by contact with remote power feeding services when performing cabling activity 2.2 Make site safe by identifying remote power feeding services that operate at above telecommunications network voltage (TNV) inside customer premises |
3 Install and modify cable support, earthing and termination infrastructure | 3.1 Install fixings and cable support structures of adequate strength, safely and aligned with the environment according to manufacturer and customer specifications 3.2 Secure catenary supports to building structure and tension, as required, to ensure cable weight can be carried in operating conditions with interference and safety segregation maintained according to current Australian Standards 3.3 Install protective earthing of metal work to industry standards, as required 3.4 Inspect installed support structure to ensure cable will not be exposed to damage during installation and general operation 3.5 Position terminating equipment and fixing according to industry codes of practice, standards and customer requirements 3.6 Inspect back-mount and outlet layout for compliance to manufacturer specifications, and allow adequate work space for ease of access and avoid overlaying 3.7 Segregate incoming and outgoing cables for ease of access and avoid overlaying |
4 Install cables and earth wires | 4.1 Install cables according to manufacturer specifications, including tension and bending stress requirements 4.2 Identify and avoid sources of possible damage to cable, including hot pipes, sharp edges, cable burn, kinks, crushing or stretching 4.3 Allow sufficient excess at cable ends to facilitate termination 4.4 Label telecommunication outlet ends of cable uniquely to match identifier at originating location 4.5 Place and secure cable to maintain safety and interference segregation according to legislative and industry standards 4.6 Install cable fasteners with correct tension, and trim or fit them flush to prevent cable sheath damage, transmission impairment or risk of personal damage 4.7 Use appropriate aerial cable installation techniques associated with supported catenaries in external environment to meet minimum above ground clearances and segregation from hazardous electrical services, according to current Australian Standards 4.8 Use appropriate underground cable installation techniques associated with minimum depth of cover and segregation from hazardous electrical and other services, according to current Australian Standards 4.9 Identify issues surrounding underground cables (excluding blown fibre tube systems) to incorporate a blocking agent within the cable to prevent the ingress of water 4.10 Install over-voltage protection devices to all cable pairs according to current Australian Standards, as required, to suppress voltage surges with the over-voltage devices connected to protective earth 4.11 Conduct a visual inspection to verify telecommunications reference conductor (TRC) / communications earthing system (CES)/earth wire insulation is protected against damage and is segregated according to relevant industry, legislative and Australian Standards |
5 Terminate and test cables and earth wires | 5.1 Remove cable sheath to allow for correct termination length without damage to underlying conductors and their insulation 5.2 Install terminating modules to different telecommunications cables according to manufacturer specifications, and cable pairs neatly and sequentially fan for termination 5.3 Terminate conductors according to recommended colour code sequence using appropriate termination tools according to manufacturer specifications 5.4 Earth cable shield, as required, according to manufacturer specifications, relevant industry codes of practice and current Australian Standards 5.5 Conduct visual inspection to confirm termination colour code sequence has been followed prior to end-to-end testing of wire and pair termination integrity 5.6 Terminate earth wires with connectors recommended by manufacturer according to industry codes of practice and current Australian Standards 5.7 Ensure earth wire continuity throughout and observe interface requirements with electrical systems 5.8 Test earthing installation for continuity and conductive resistance according to industry standards 5.9 Confirm compatibility of alterations with existing systems and test new work both in isolation and when integrated with existing systems 5.10 Conduct testing of installed cable continuity after termination |
6 Inspect cable route to ensure correct separations | 6.1 Inspect separations along the entirety of the cable route and rectify separations that do not comply with regulations 6.2 Install barriers to achieve separations where sufficient spatial separation cannot be met |
7 Evaluate earthing needs for cable systems on customer premises | 7.1 Locate existing earthing systems in customer premises and analyse earthing needs of cable products 7.2 Calculate upper and lower limits of resistance for a variety of cable system earths using relevant cable characteristics |
8 Label earthing systems | 8.1 Identify label requirements for telecommunications earthing systems 8.2 Attach label to earthing systems according to industry regulations |
9 Create or update cable plans and records | 9.1 Document installation details on record sheets and plans, and store according to customer requirements 9.2 Label cable pairs clearly as required to provide an accurate identification according to manufacturer specifications, industry standards and customer requirements 9.3 Record cabling details in cable pair record books to provide an accurate record, according to industry codes of practice and current Australian Standards 9.4 Complete telecommunications cabling advice (TCA) forms |
10 Monitor work activity | 10.1 Supervise unregistered cablers undertaking work in line with scope of own role and organisational procedures 10.2 Ensure installation and maintenance activity comply with legislative requirements and industry standards for safety and network integrity |
Foundation Skills
This section describes those language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills that are essential to performance, but not explicit in the performance criteria.
Skill | Description |
Reading | Recognises the structures and distinguishing features of a range of familiar text types |
Writing | Sequences writing to produce cohesive text and uses layout consistent with text type |
Oral Communication | Demonstrates awareness of choices for register, especially in situations that are familiar |
Numeracy | Interprets and comprehends whole and familiar or routine fractions, decimals and percentages when measuring and preparing cables for installation |
Navigate the world of work | Takes personal responsibility for adherence to legal/regulatory responsibilities relevant to own work context, and draws attention to any issues that may affect self or others |
Get the work done | Implements actions as per plan, making slight adjustments if necessary, and addressing some unexpected issues Automatically implements standard procedures for routine decisions in response to familiar problems |
Sectors
Telecommunications – Cabling