A major telecommunications carrier was receiving complaints that their dc power systems were causing corrosion of water and gas utility lines in urban environments. An investigation by our experienced staff determined the corrosion was indeed a result of stray currents from improperly disconnected underground copper telecommunications pairs. Working closely with the carrier, we were able to identify affected areas where utility lines needed to be replaced and recommend improved practices to prevent reoccurrence. The investigation resolved the issue to the satisfaction of all those involved including the municipality, the affected residents, the water and gas utility companies and the carrier.

A supplier of server products was successful in the data center market, but was interested in expansion into markets served by traditional telecommunications companies. In order to satisfy carrier requirements, they needed to develop a line of NEBS compliant servers and storage arrays. The experienced NEBScore team worked with the supplier’s designers, compliance managers and project team and provided training on the unique telecom requirements. The NEBScore staff managed the supplier’s test programs which demonstrated conformance of the new hardware designs to the NEBS requirements and provided reports for distribution to prospective customers. The server company produced a popular line of over a dozen carrier grade servers and storage arrays that had excellent market acceptance over the next decade.

A telecommunications carrier was performing power plant upgrades to its facilities in a major US city. Due to concerns that the dc power and battery strings were a fire hazard, the city fire department was insisting the power room upgrades include the installation of automatic fire suppression systems. The carrier reached out to the experts at NEBScore who were very familiar with the code requirements and the fire protection approaches most suitable to telecom environments. The team inspected and inventoried the power room equipment. They documented the NEBS fire resistance of the rectifiers, cabling and battery plants. They identified the applicable code requirements and exemptions specific to suppression in telecommunications requirement rooms. Finally, they identified several areas of improvements regarding housekeeping and fire stopping to reduce fire risk. They assembled their findings in a series of comprehensive reports emphasizing the low fire hazard of the power rooms and the risks a fire suppression system would have on network reliability. These reports were shared with the city fire officials and based on the reports, they agreed the installations met the current code requirements and the addition of an automatic fire suppression system was not warranted.

Multiple suppliers were developing new optical fiber cable and component manufacturing and assembly facilities. They needed an internal product testing and compliance laboratory. Our engineers worked with them to identify necessary laboratory equipment, commission the equipment, develop operating procedures, train quality staff, collect data, and formulate test results into reports valuable to prospective carrier customers. By developing an internal laboratory resource, the suppliers were able to cost effectively improve product quality and demonstrate to prospective customers that their offerings complied with the Telcordia GR and other industry requirements.

Several suppliers were struggling to meet the isolation requirements for power supply battery return conductors included in GR 1089. After some problematic testing at multiple third-party laboratories, they brought the concern to our engineers. We investigated and gathered input from equipment suppliers, telecommunications carriers and test laboratories to determine if the expected requirements were necessary and realistic. After investigating supplier recent experiences, available alternative standards, and the historic evolution of the current requirements, a more suitable set of requirements for battery return isolation was drafted to address all concerns. Conference calls were held with past GR funders to review the proposed changes and make further edits until a consensus was reached on the new approach. After the collaborative meetings, a new issue of GR 1089 was published containing the improved requirements and tests methods.