Unveiling the 15th Edition of the TDMM: Future-Proofing ICT Infrastructure with Bob Hertling

Ready to revolutionize your understanding of ICT infrastructure? We're thrilled to have Bob Hertling RCDD, OSP, an industry veteran with an impressive 47-year career, guide us through the transformative 15th edition of the Telecommunications Distribution Methods Manual (TDMM). Gain exclusive insights into Bob's journey from the US Coast Guard to major roles in Parsons Corporation and beyond, as he unveils the crucial role the TDMM plays in shaping the future of ICT infrastructure design and installation. Discover how this latest edition impacts industry standards and prepares professionals for the RCDD credential, cementing its status as the go-to manual in the low voltage sector.

Ever wondered how comprehensive industry manuals like the TDMM come to life? Get a behind-the-scenes look at BICSI’s meticulous review and revision process, led by a diverse team of subject matter experts (SMEs) from around the globe. Learn about the significant updates in project management and certification processes in the new edition, and stay ahead with key dates for transitioning from the 14th to the 15th edition of RCDD exams and courses. This episode is your guide to understanding the collaborative efforts that ensure the TDMM remains the authoritative resource in ICT, reflecting the latest technologies and standards.

Chapters

• 0:00 Updates and Significance of TDMM
• 11:01 BICSI Publications Review Process
• 20:45 TDMM 15th Edition Updates and Transition

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

Hey Wiremonkeys, welcome to another episode of let's Talk K-Wing. This time we're talking about the 15th edition TDMM and the processes on how to update it. Technicians, project managers, project foremen estimators, ict personnel, even customers we're connecting at the human level so that we can connect the world. If you're watching this show on YouTube, would you hit the subscribe button and the bell button to be notified when new content is being produced? If you listen to us on one of the audio podcast platforms, would you mind leaving us a five-star rating? Those simple little steps helps us take on the algorithm so we can educate, encourage and enrich the lives of people in the ICT industry.

Speaker 1: 0:54

Thursday night, 6 pm, eastern Standard Time. What are you doing? I do a live stream where you get to ask your favorite RCDD, and you know that's me. Just admit it. I'm your favorite RCDD. And you know that's me, just admit it. I'm your favorite RCDD. Your questions on installation, design, certification, project management, even career path questions. But I can hear you now. But, chuck, I'm driving my truck home at 6 pm on Thursday nights. I know I can't watch. You think I crashed my truck. I record them and they're put on the website so you can access them when it's convenient for you. And finally, while this show is free and will always remain free, if you find value in this content and you would like to help support this show, click on that QR code right there. You can buy me a cup of coffee. You can schedule a 15-minute one-on-one call with me after hours, of course, and we're also always looking for corporate sponsorship as well.

Speaker 1: 1:42

So, as I said in the introduction, you probably heard the news the 15th edition TDMM has come out. What is the TDMM? What's the 15th edition? How do they revise them? What's different between the 15th edition and the 14th edition? How does this affect me if I'm trying to study for my RCD test? Those are all great questions and I've been fielding them for probably the last month and a half. So I finally coordinated with Bixie and got me a subject matter expert to talk about it, and he's a repeat person to come on this show. Welcome back to the show, mr Bob. How are you doing?

Speaker 2: 2:17

my friend. I'm doing fine, Chuck. Thanks for having me.

Speaker 1: 2:20

My pleasure, always a pleasure. It's funny because you feel like my long lost brother, because our career paths are so similar to each other. The only difference is you went into service and I didn't go into service. But my dad was a Marine, which means by default. I was raised like I was in the service. Hey boy, you're old enough to go into the Corps. I said, dad, I just spent 18 years in the Corps, I'm retiring. He didn't think that was too funny. I thought that was rather hilarious, but he didn't think it was funny. But you know that's the way it is. So why don't you give us the introduction for maybe the newer members who might have just logged?

Speaker 2: 3:03

on to the show. Who's Bob Hertling and who is Big C? Okay, I'm Bob Hertling. I have over 47 years experience in the ICT industry, both in the design and the installation of electrical and telecommunications premises and outside plan infrastructure. First, with the US Coast Guard, I was an enlisted telephone technician and then became an electronics officer and then, following the end of my Coast Guard career, I was a senior communications engineer with the Parsons Corporation, which is a major architectural engineering firm. I've been a Bixie member now for over 20 years. I hold both the RCDD and the OSP credentials and I am currently the chair of BICSI's Technical Information and Methods, or as we affectionately call it, the TINM Committee. I also volunteer with BICSI's Standards Program on several other standards and I also assist the Registration and Credential Supervision Committee with writing and reviewing exam questions for the various credential exams. So I also hold a bachelor's degree in telecommunications engineering and management. I'm also a member of NFPA and IEEE and I hold a telecommunications systems contractor license here in my home state of Rhode Island.

Speaker 1: 4:27

See, you're the kind of person, bob, that I think of when I get. Last week I was speaking at an event. I had a class that I gave on codes versus standards, versus best practices, right. And I'm talking to young people in the industry and stuff, and they look at me and they're like, oh, he's a subject matter expert. I'm sorry, I think of people like you. You have 47. I only have 42 years of experience. You do work with the NFPA, you do work with the actual. I don't do work with them. I read them, but I don't do work with them. So you're the kind of person I think of when I think of subject matter experts, and I'm just glad to be able to call you friend and just the fact that I know you. So let's start off with the first question, right? Can you provide us an overview of what is the TDMM, the Telecommunications Distribution Methods Manual? What is that for those who may not know?

Speaker 2: 5:14

what it is.

Speaker 1: 5:15

What is its significance in the low voltage industry?

Speaker 2: 5:20

All right, the TDMM you know right up front. It's Bixie's flagship manual. It's the one we're known best for as an organization. It forms the basis of the training and examinations that support the RCDD credential. It is probably the most recognized publication throughout the world as the definitive authority for design requirements for ICT infrastructure installations. It has been referenced in several codes and I can tell you from my experience in the architectural and engineering industry it appears regularly in many design drawings and specifications as a contractually enforceable reference drawings and specifications as a contractually enforceable reference.

Speaker 1: 6:07

And you know a lot of people. I get a lot of arguments in the low voltage world because you know people do things the way they were trained and they may have been trained by somebody who didn't know better, or they might have just gotten poor training and they don't understand. Well, that's the Bixie way of doing it. That's the way that the Bixie manual say to do it. And you hit the nail right on the head. If it says in the contract documents that your work will meet and or exceed the TDMM, the ANSI standards, you are now contractually obligated to follow those things. And people don't understand that. They just they think well, I don't have to do it that way because you know, whatever, if you vary from the way the TDMM says to do it or the standards say to do it let me know if I'm right or wrong here you better get some signed piece of paper from the customer that says I understand that's in the document, but we don't want it done that way on our job.

Speaker 2: 6:57

Yeah, normally we refer to that in the construction and design industry as requesting a variance from the contract requirements, and you know. One thing to note too is that the TDMM is basically linked to all of the governing codes and standards you know worldwide. So you know it's a compilation of code requirements, standard recommendations and industry best practices. So it doesn't replace the codes and standards but it complements them and provides additional material, you know, for a designer or for an inspector or an installer to be able to perform the work you know, as it's supposed to be done Right.

Speaker 1: 7:43

And you know, one of the one of the best, I think, examples of.

Speaker 1: 7:52

That is the neat and workmanlike manner clause in a code book because that's a very vague description, because my definition of neat and workmanlike could be different from somebody who only has five years experience. So it's always been one of those gotcha things that inspectors used to use on those low-voltage people. And then they put in the and I don't remember which code revision it was, but it's been in a couple revisions now. It says as a fine print note that Neaton Workman-Lake Manor is defined as you know. The work described in the Anzine and Bixie documents, so that you know doesn't make it code. But at least now you know. If you're trying to do that whole randomization and the inspector says that's not neat and working like, you can go back to the documents and say, look, here's the best practice and stuff right. So the TDMM can it be used by both installers and designers in their daily duties?

Speaker 2: 8:39

Oh, absolutely. You know, I consider it an essential reference for both designers and installers, not only in preparing the designs to make sure that they're compliant with the applicable standards and codes, but then also in ensuring that, as the installations are taking place and they're completed, that they're done successfully in accordance with the design documents and, probably most importantly, that you can get you know sign off from both the AHJs as they apply and from the clients themselves.

Speaker 1: 9:22

Yeah, you will find you have less arguments with customers, less arguments with electrical inspectors, less arguments with manufacturers. If you follow the tdmm because that's considered the best practice by the industry and if you follow that, it will solve a lot of the problems for you. Now the the tdmm it's. I've got half of mine sitting back there. Um, uh, the other half is actually in my bedroom. Um, I'm using this for reading material. And now a message from our sponsor.

Speaker 3: 9:44

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Speaker 1: 10:28

So you know, we talk about the process. You put two volumes. I think we're like 2,200 pages, I think somewhere in that ballpark.

Speaker 2: 10:41

What's the process for creating that huge document? You know is a TDM. Okay, there's a process in place. You know that may be invisible to a lot of people, but, like the majority of the Bixie publications, the TDMM is updated on a periodic basis to ensure that the information is current, correct and in alignment with the applicable code standards and industry best practices. Now, once BICSI establishes a particular review cycle for a specific publication, there'll be a team of subject matter experts, or what we refer to as SMEs will be assembled for each chapter. In the case of the TDMM, that was for every chapter and section that's contained within the two volumes, for every chapter and section that's contained within the two volumes. Each of those teams is led up by a chapter section subject matter expert team leader, or, you know, going back to acronyms, you know we call it a SMETL and he or she is responsible for overseeing the review and the revision process for that assigned chapter. At the same time, there's also an overall publications subject matter expert team leader that's assigned and in the case of the TDMM 15th edition, that was me, as chair of the TINM committee, and it's my responsibility to oversee the entire review process.

Speaker 2: 11:59

You know, answer any questions that come up from the SME teams and their respective SMETLs and resolve any issues that may come up.

Speaker 2: 12:08

Because one of the things we pride ourselves on any decisions that we make as far as updates, revisions, are all consensus-based.

Speaker 2: 12:18

It's not one person dictating saying, well, it's going to be this way because I said so. You know, and that's an important consideration, that we have a consensus-based review process. Also, my job as the publications medal is to work with the Bixie publication staff to produce the final finished product. You know, if they have questions as you're doing the final edits and layouts, and that that you know we need to go over, then you know I worked with them and basically, once the finished product is done, then we can consider the review cycle complete. So our SMETLs and SMEs pretty much are all volunteer members of the TINM subcommittee and they represent all facets of the ICT industry, not only, you know, within our region, which is North America, but we attract SMEs from all over the world and that's an important consideration to make sure that you know we're not only just focusing on a specific region within the globe that we're not only just focusing on a specific region within the globe.

Speaker 1: 13:24

Yeah, because Bixie is a global organization and you and I got to hang out for a few minutes at the Bixie Winter Conference and I sat in a few. I love sitting in the committee meetings. I am not a voting member of the committee meetings but I love sitting there so that way I can stay updated and stuff. And there's people, like you said, from all around the globe. And I love the fact that the panel is made up of not just all manufacturers or just all installers, because when you have a good mix you get a better document.

Speaker 1: 13:55

Because you know the manufacturers they're great at coming up with how to manufacture stuff and sell stuff, not so good on how to actually install it in the field and that you know how to terminate that jack underneath a modular furniture desk in the dark. Right, they're not good at the action. So I'm glad that you know to see that those committees are. You know they're a good representation of everybody and you've got customers, end users, you have subject matter experts and you guys even have sometimes cross-representation from like other panels and stuff too. So when you talk about all those, yeah, sometimes when you talk about those, the subject matter experts, right, the people that are volunteering to help create this. Do they have to be a Bixie member, or do they have to be like me, like an RCDD or an NTS or something, just to be able to participate in that committee?

Speaker 2: 14:49

Only as far as being a voting member of the committee. That is the only requirement that we have to be a voting member. You have to be a BICC member in good standing, but to be a subject matter expert you do not need to be a Bixie member and you do not need to be credentialed. You know we've had in the past, on several of the review cycles I've been involved in, we've had people who've given us valuable input that were neither Bixie members nor credentialed. So it's basically the idea is we want to try and get the best pool of individuals possible representing, like I said, all facets of the ICT industry, so we get the best input and the best content that's available to us to create the publications.

Speaker 1: 15:39

I'm glad to hear that because there are a lot of people in the industry who have not yet gotten the RCDD. Yet they may be in the process of studying for it or it might be on their radar. And you know, I teach classes throughout the week and I had somebody just ask me just last week because I always put on my thing. On my thing it says Chuck Bowser, rcdd tech. And during the end of the class, when when I was fielding any final questions, one of the students asked me what's an RCDD? So there are still people out there that don't know that. But that doesn't mean they don't know how to install cabling, how to test cabling. They just haven't been aware of that certification. So I'm kind of glad to hear that. So we just came out with a 15th edition TDdmm. Lots of hard work there and, if I remember right, I think you and a couple of your peers got a the eagle award I think it was for for doing that right.

Speaker 2: 16:29

So 15th edition yes that was. That was for performing the final content alignment. It was myself and three other individuals that were part of the uh the speed pool. We went through the manual, you know, one last time, page by page, to make sure that everything went through the manual. You know, one last time, page by page, to make sure that everything was where it should be. You know, everything was referenced properly, nothing was out of place, and it was a pretty intense effort over a period of about four to five weeks.

Speaker 1: 16:56

Yeah, kudos to you guys because, like I said, I run RCD study groups and I'm in the book all the time and I couldn't even imagine being a part of that process and looking at it and saying, oh no, this really needs to be there, this needs to be there, this is relevant, this isn't relevant, and it's a lot of hard work. So, you know, thank you to you and your peers that did that. So the 15th edition is out. What highlight any new sections or chapters that might have been added to the new 15th edition?

Speaker 2: 17:23

Okay, you know there was quite a bit that was done. I'll just hit some highlights here. We added information on single-pair Ethernet and, as you know, that's a real up-and-coming technology. That's, you know, only really been in place now in the last two to three years. Speed you know 25 and 40 gigabit Ethernet systems that are now, you know, being run over twisted pair copper cabling. We've added information on class four fault managed power systems, another, you know, up and coming technology that's really starting to gain some traction in the industry.

Speaker 2: 18:01

We have updated information on gigabit Ethernet, on fiber optic cabling, information on gigabit Ethernet, on fiber optic cabling, new information and updates for passive optical networks. We updated the information on premise centralized fiber optic cabling and fiber to the office and in general. As much as possible we've tried to add color and pictures where they really help illustrate a point or an item within the manuals. You know, those of you who've been in this industry as long as I have, and like you, chuck, probably remember the days when everything was in black and white in stick people sketches, and you know now that we can use pictures and color graphics. I think that makes you know all the difference in the world in helping to explain the content that goes along with it.

Speaker 1: 18:54

Yes, yeah, most people in our industry, especially at the installation level, the two biggest things to know about them if you ever have to work with them or be a manager of them. Number one they're tactile learners. Right, you can sit there and put them in a class and lecture all day long. They're the real learning habits when you put stuff in their hands. And they're also visually oriented. So, you know, the addition of color and stuff really helps drive that understanding. And for those people who are out there that say well, you know, you know, big C always raises the prices and stuff. It costs more money to print in color than it does in black and white. You're getting a better product, it costs more to print it. So there's why, you know, I hear that all the time you have people complaining about prices and stuff. I'm like well, my, my, usually, my, my usual response is well, knowledge is expensive, right, and the only thing more expensive than knowledge is not having knowledge.

Speaker 3: 19:49

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Speaker 1: 20:45

What are some specific challenges or considerations that were addressed in the newest edition of the TDMM, particularly focused on project management, maybe certification or maybe even industry regulations?

Speaker 2: 21:00

Well, like with any BICSI publication, our main consideration among the volunteers that do these review cycles is reviewing the current applicable codes and standards and then making sure that those are incorporated into that particular publication, in this case the TDMM. The other thing we take a careful look at is what are the new and emerging ICT technologies that are coming out. What are the new and emerging ICT technologies that are coming out and what can be? You know what is basically. You know what's out there, what's being used and how do we address it and make sure that the information is included. And then any industry best practices that we know of that are coming out. You know changes in tools or you know design methodologies or any of that type of information. You know we want to make sure that's incorporated. Obviously you want the information to be correct, current and, you know, reflecting what's actually being done out in the real world.

Speaker 2: 22:04

Now to your question about project management.

Speaker 2: 22:07

We actually took that section of the TDMM and we revamped it quite a bit to show what the designer, not only during the design phase, but you know, as you know, probably there's.

Speaker 2: 22:32

You know most projects. You have a design phase, you have an installation phase and I know in my career, it's very common that the designers are also involved in the installation phase, you know, when it comes to answering questions from the installers and the contractors if changes to the designer required because of obsolescence or the client decides that they want to do something different. So we really tried to focus the information that we you know previously kind of had lumped under project management you know previously kind of had lumped under project management more or less to reflect that, to say, okay, here's what your role as a designer is in supporting project management and execution and there's different parts and different phases with different responsibilities. So I think that was a big improvement over what we've had in the past and, you know, hopefully it makes a little more delineation between project management responsibilities and what the designers' responsibilities are in supporting project management.

Speaker 1: 23:36

Yeah, I haven't gotten to that chapter yet in reading my 15th edition. I'm looking forward to it because I've heard that there was a lot of good changes in that. And one thing I also want to point out too, because I think that a lot of good changes in that and one thing I also want to point out too, because I think that a lot of people miss this, is this isn't a panel of people just coming up with stuff randomly. You guys have to have your fingers on the pulse on what each and every of the standard committees are doing, what the code's doing, and then put all that information in the technical service bulletins and put all that information in a book. And that's like trying to play darts on a dinghy off the coast of Nantucket in five-foot swells.

Speaker 1: 24:17

It's a moving target, to say the least, right. So now that the 15th edition is out right, this new publication at some point people are going to start wanting to take tests on the 15th edition. How's this going to affect those who are currently in the 14th? And you know testing dates, accepted dates, you know how does this whole transition to the new 15th edition? How does it affect that whole certification, credentialing process?

Speaker 2: 24:45

Okay, credentialing process Okay, you know, and Bixie has just stated on their website what the timeline is for the transition between examinations and training for both the 14th and the 15th edition. I'll read it here verbatim it says the Bixie RCDD exam will be based on material from the TDMM 14th or, I'm sorry, from the TDMM 15th edition, beginning 1 August 2024. All RCDD exam applications received by 30 June 2024 will be considered an application for the current exam based on the TDMM 14th edition. All applications received after 1 July 2024 will be considered for the exam that aligns with the TDMM 15th edition. No instructor-led courses based on the TDMM 14th edition will be available after 31 May 2024.

Speaker 1: 25:43

Those are some important dates to know, especially for those who are considering trying to get their RCDD. Yes, how does this affect the? I was down in Tampa like two weeks ago, three weeks ago, meeting with a friend of mine who's from Jacksonville, who's taking one of the design courses. How does this new 15th edition affect the Bixie design classes?

Speaker 2: 26:07

Okay, basically, the Bixie curriculum group, which is responsible for, you know, the training classes and the materials that support them, has been actively involved with our SME team, both during and after the completion of the review cycle for the TDMM 15th edition, of the review cycle for the TDMM 15th edition. So they're actively, or in a lot of cases I think they already have updated the curriculum, the student workbooks, the training outlines and, you know, whatever else is needed to support the material that's now contained in the 15th edition. You know, and additionally, as I mentioned in the opening, the other committee that's heavily involved in this is the Registration and Credentialing Supervision Committee. In writing. The new exams and myself and several, you know, other volunteers within BICSI some of like myself, there are also TINM members have been busy since the winter conference, you know, generating exam questions for the new TDMM 15th edition. So you know it's been a multifaceted effort.

Speaker 2: 27:20

And you know one thing I'd like to point out too that I didn't mention initially. You know people ask well, what drives what I will see on the, the RCDD exam, the one, the number one document that Bixie uses to determine the exam contents and also the training materials and what's taught in the various classes and, at the same time, what we have to address at a minimum within the various you know reference manuals, including the TDMM, is the job task analysis. So there is, you know, basically a set of you know I would I don't want to say standards, but a set of requirements that dictate what A goes into the TDMM at a minimum, as they say, for content, what is presented in the BICC training courses and the curriculums and what a candidate will get tested on when he or she takes the RCDD exam.

Speaker 1: 28:25

All great information. My recommendation for anybody who's tinkering around, thinking about wishing about the RCDD do it now. Don't wait, because every time they come out with a new one it's always updated and there's always more information. So get it done.

Speaker 2: 28:47

I just had a good friend of mine up here in New England who just completed his RCDD a few weeks ago, and when I pointed out to him during the conference that I said you know, if you don't do it now, you're going to have to more or less start from square one. So that was, I think, the little bit of the push he needed to get him across the finish line, but I was happy to see that he passed the exam and got his credential.

Speaker 1: 29:14

Yes, I feel the same way when students in my study group. They get their exams. I feel more excited about them getting their RCDD than when I got mine. I do. I take more pride in that for some reason. So, Mr Bob, thank you so much for coming on the show.

Speaker 2: 29:30

Absolutely Pleasure to be here, chuck, and you know anybody who has any questions about what we do as a committee or any. You know anything that I can answer in my role as chair, you know. Regarding the Bixie publications, you know. Feel free to have your audience reach out to me.

Speaker 1: 29:47

And best way to reach out to you and or Bixie for information would be.

Speaker 2: 29:52

You can reach me. There's a link on the Bixie webpage. You know I have my email addresses on there. You can also reach me through LinkedIn. You know through my page there and you know, like I said, hopefully you know, if somebody wants more information, they're looking. We're always recruiting for subject matter experts, so you know, give me a call or send me an email.

Speaker 1: 30:19

And there's also a wealth of information on Bixie's website, at bixieorg. A wealth of information, yes, and if you're thinking about getting your RCDD, the very first thing you should look up is the RCDD study handbook that's. That'll lay it out for you Everything you need to do and what you need to know and the ways you qualify and what you'd expect. And it's a great resource. Great resource, absolutely.

Speaker 4: 30:42

That's it for this episode of today's podcast. We hope you were able to learn something. Make sure to subscribe so you don't miss out on future content. Also, leave a rating so we can help even more people learn about telecommunications. Until next time, be safe.