November 1, 1999
HousingZone

Advancements in technology have become rather commonplace in the lives of the American consumer; the past decade’s explosion into digital has exemplified this, as consumers are becoming more and more comfortable interacting with technology at unprecedented levels. But with any new technology, knowledge and awareness are the key to widespread adoption by the consumer.

The latest trend of structured wiring and the idea of living in a "connected home" must also overcome a knowledge gap with consumers if it is going to be as widespread as predicted, and an industry effort called Wiring America’s Homes is trying to bump that public awareness up in consumer’s minds. In essence, some of the world’s leading technology companies are publicly calling for a change in how new homes are being built to ensure that the nation’s new homes are wired to keep pace with the revolution in residential technologies.

Wiring America’s Homes is a consumer educational campaign recently launched by the Home Automation Association, similar to the high-profile "Drink Milk" campaign successfully implemented by the nation’s dairy farmers. Substitute "Drink Milk" with "Get Connected For Living", and the dairy farmers with leading technology companies like IBM, Lucent Technologies and Intel, and you get the idea behind the effort--publicly make consumers aware of future residential technologies and get them to wire their new homes with the future in mind.

"We are asking home builders to help ensure that today’s new homes will not be technologically obsolete at move in, effectively preventing families from realizing the potential value of today’s ‘connected home,’ " explained William Lane, chairman of Wiring America’s Homes.

Along with a public campaign that is expected to include a Website, radio/TV ads, a comprehensive brochure, a toll-free number (888-NEW-WIRE) and other sponsorships to help raise awareness, Wiring America’s Homes also has developed basic wiring standards to give both consumers and builders a checklist to determine if their new home is being built to accommodate the latest in communications, entertainment and security technologies.

In developing the standards, leaders of the effort came to the conclusion that there really is no single wiring solution that encompasses all lifestyle needs, so they have developed a multi-level standards set that seeks to cover each potential level of wiring infrastructure. The levels set are a recommended solution, an upgraded solution, and a minimum solution, all based upon the TIA 570-A approved industry standard.

The proposed recommended solution provides homeowners with a wide range of opportunities not available through traditionally wired homes. It was designed to help ensure optimum access to all existing and future technologies, and as such, should help add real value to the home at resale. The recommended solution includes a distribution box for distribution of voice, data and video signals, as well as wiring that includes two CAT 5 cables, two RG-6 quad shielded coax cables, and one dual CAT 5/dual coax outlet to key rooms in the house. Put into place, the recommended solution allows for simplified, adjustable connections to distribute incoming communication and entertainment services and to control internal networking capabilities in any room.

The minimum solution is similar to the recommended solution, but the minimum wiring standards include only one four-pair UTP CAT 5 cable and one RG-6 coaxial cable to key rooms of the house. While this is a viable system to distribute current voice and data signal, the recommended solution goes much further to ensure future compatibility and data load.

The third level of the standards established by Wiring America’s Homes is the upgraded solution, which focuses on the ability to easily upgrade a wiring system down the road. Upgrade recommendations include the installation of 2-in. PVC piping from the attic to the basement for ease of pulling future wires. Also in the upgraded solution is the implementation of fiber optic cable, which provides maximum bandwidth for current and technological applications.

As Chairman Lane explains, "Builders aren’t in the business of selling technology. We’re trying to build as much flexibility at the outset." The standards set by Wiring America’s Homes allow for consumers and builders to create systems and infrastructure based on their specific needs and desires.

And as Lane also details, the effort is really a push to get consumers to ask for structured wiring when working with builders. "We want consumers to ask builders (about the technology). That’s how it’s going to grow," Lane said.
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