Telecom Platform Deployment Featured Article

NEBS certification remains active through Telcordia (News - Alert), in national and international testing standards that enable environmental compatibility under multiple circumstances. Many other companies offer NEBS testing facilities as well.

Telcordia’s fire test facility has the ability to perform both small scale (component level) and large scale (product level) fire tests on telecommunications equipment and cabling. After these tests are completed, fire ignition and fire spread hazards can then be analyzed and the product can be adjusted accordingly. The facility can look over either new or existing equipment to ensure it will pass the fire resistance requirements contained in the GR-63-CORE.

The fire scenario modeling can take place in order to assist in both basic causes of actual fires and ways to protect against fires. The facility implements modern fire testing technology and oxygen consumption calorimetry, in order to visualize a potential fire hazard.

According to the Telcordia website, the Earthquake, Vibration and Mechanical testing facility performs static and dynamic tests of equipment, frameworks, cable racks, battery stands and earthquake bracing techniques. When testing is completed, the ability of electronic equipment to operate during and after being subjected to earthquake and other vibratory stresses are closely examined.

Multiple tests are performed to make sure the equipment tested has the ability to resist vibratory loads from train and vehicular traffic, demolition activity, rotating machines, and shocks produced by earthquakes, the Telcordia website stated.

External loads are placed on equipment structures for static tests. This allows for strength and stiffness to be shown, which are then used to predict if the equipment structures will be able to survive the effects of an earthquake, while remaining operational.

The Thermal Test Facility ensures that equipment has the ability to still operate, uninterrupted, in a network environment at a high level, even with temperatures that range up to 90 percent.

Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC (News - Alert)) test facilities are used to help determine the causes, effects and control of Electromagnetic Interference and Electrostatic Discharge problems; the protection of networks and equipment against damage from Lightning, Power surges and ac Power Influences; the Bonding and Grounding of equipment, buildings and network facilities; and the development of Electrical Safety criteria, Telcordia’s website stated.

The Mixed Flowing Gas Test Facility and the Hygroscopic Dust Test Facility test the equipment's ability to continue to operate even when exposed to contaminants that are found in densely populated, urban, outdoor environments or in environmentally controlled network facilities.