Installing communication-electronic systems
Overview
This standard identifies the competences you need to install communication - electronic systems, in accordance with approved procedures. You will be required to use appropriate installation publications, orders and specifications to install the various systems, sub-systems or assemblies. You will be expected to position, align and connect communication - electronic systems, subsystems or assemblies in their correct locations, using the specified or appropriate techniques.
Your responsibilities will require you to comply with organisational policy and procedures for the installation activities undertaken, and to report any problems with the installation activities, components or equipment that you cannot personally resolve, or that are outside your permitted authority, to the relevant people. You will be expected to work with minimal supervision, taking personal responsibility for your own actions, and for the quality and accuracy of the work that you carry out.
Your underpinning knowledge will provide a good understanding of your work, and will provide an informed approach to applying installation techniques and procedures. You will understand the communication - electronic systems being installed, and their application, and will know about the installation techniques, tools and methods, in adequate depth to provide a sound basis for carrying out the activities to the required specification.
You will understand the safety precautions required when carrying out installation activities, especially those for ensuring safe isolation of the equipment and for taking the necessary safeguards to protect yourself and others against direct and indirect electric shock. You will be required to demonstrate safe working practices throughout, and will understand the responsibility you owe to yourself and others in the workplace.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
- work safely at all times, complying with health and safety legislation and other relevant regulations, directives and guidelines
- follow all relevant drawings and specifications for the installation being carried out
- use the correct tools and equipment for the installation operations and check that they are in a safe and usable condition
- install, position and secure the equipment and components in accordance with the specification
- ensure that all necessary connections to the equipment are complete
- deal promptly and effectively with problems within your control and report those that cannot be solved
- check that the installation is complete and that all components are free from damage
- complete and store all relevant installation documentation in accordance with organisational requirements
- dispose of waste materials in accordance with safe working practices and approved procedures and leave the work area in a safe condition
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
- the specific safety practices and procedures that you need to observe when installing communication-electronic systems (including any specific legislation, regulations/codes of practice for the activities, equipment or materials)
- the health and safety requirements of the work area where you are carrying out the installation activities, and the responsibility these requirements place on you
- the hazards associated with installing communication - electronic systems, and how to minimise them and reduce any risks
- what constitutes a hazardous voltage and how to recognise victims of electric shock
- how to reduce the risks of a phase to earth shock (such as insulated tools, rubber matting and isolating transformers)
- the personal protective equipment (PPE) that you need to use during the installation activities
- the procedures and precautions to be adopted to eliminate electrostatic discharge (ESD) hazards
- the interpretation of drawings, standards, quality control procedures and specifications used for installation
- the components, communication - electronic systems, subsystems and assemblies to be installed, and their function within the particular communication - electronic systems
- the various mechanical fasteners that will be used, and their method of installation
- the importance of using the specified fasteners for the particular installation, and why you must not substitute others
- what the torque loading requirements are on the fasteners, and what to do if these loadings are exceeded or not achieved
- the quality control procedures to be followed during the installation operations
- procedures for ensuring that you have the correct tools, equipment, components and fasteners for the activities
- the techniques used to position, align, adjust and secure the components of the communication - electronic systems without damage
- methods of lifting, handling and supporting the components/equipment during the installation activities
- why electrical bonding is critical, and why it must be both mechanically and electrically secure
- the procedure for the safe disposal of waste materials
- how to conduct any necessary checks to ensure the system integrity, functionality, accuracy and quality of the installation
- the tools and equipment used in the installation activities, and their calibration/care and control procedures
- why tool/equipment control is critical, and what to do if a tool or piece of equipment is unaccounted for on completion of the activities
- the problems that can occur with the installation operations, and how these can be overcome
- the recording documentation to be completed for the installation activities undertaken
- the extent of your own responsibility and to whom you should report if you have problems that you cannot resolvev
Scope/range
Carry out all of the following during the installation activity:
- obtain and use the correct issue of organisational publications and planning documentation
- adhere to procedures or systems in place for risk assessment, COSHH, personal protective equipment and other relevant safety regulations and procedures to realise a safe system of work
- check the calibration dates of tools and test equipment to be used
- use approved deployment/installation techniques and procedures at all times
- provide and maintain safe access and working arrangements to the work area
- report or take action with regard to any problems that arise
- dispose of waste materials in accordance with safe working practices and approved procedures and leave the work area in a safe condition
Install systems that contain four communication - electronic subsystems or assemblies, at least two of which must be selected from group A:
Note Any of the items below can be identified as a system, subsystem or assembly in its own right
Group A - communication electronic
1. transmitters (such as HF, VHF, UHF, microwave)
2. transceivers (such as HF, VHF, UHF, microwave)
3. receivers (such as HF, VHF, UHF, microwave)
4. signal processing (analogue) (such as radar anti-clutter, comms audio and AGC stages)
5. signal processing (digital) (such as digital MTI, multiplexers, AGC)
6. aerial systems (such as phased arrays, long wire and parabolic reflectors)
7. transmission lines (such as optical fibres, coaxial, baluns, twin wire, waveguide)
8. display systems (such as CRT, plasma, TFT, TV tab, LED)
9. man-machine interface (such as IS/ICT equipment or peripherals: keypads, keyboards, microphones)
10. electro-optical systems (such as cameras, thermal imaging, targeting systems)
11. hydraulic-electrical systems (such as hydraulic motors, HSUs and actuators)
12. cryptographic systems (such as data encryption and de-encryption)
13. built-in test equipment
14. data network systems (such as LANs, WANs)
15. data network interfaces (such as switch, router, bridging networks)
16. any other identifiable electronic system, subsystem or assemblies to LRU level
Group B - associated equipment
17. environmental control systems (such as temperature, humidity, vibration, shock, alarm and protection)
18. electromechanical systems (such as servos, motors, relays, complex switches)
19. power generation systems (such as fixed/transportable AC/DC generators, batteries)
20. power distribution systems (such as single phase/3-phase distribution panels)
21. power supply control systems (such as voltage/current series/shunt regulator/stabiliser)
22. hybrid systems (such as ADC, DAC)
Use all of the following installation methods and techniques:
- levelling and aligning
- earth bonding
- taking ESD precautions
- securing and locking
Make three of the following types of mechanical securing connections:
- threaded fasteners
- locking devices
- screws
- torque load bolts
- quick-release fasteners
Make five of the following types of electrical connection:
- co-axial
- screened
- data cable
- earth bonding points
- PCB header connectors (such as D10)
- quad
- free plugs and sockets
- fibre-optic
Carry out installations which comply with one of the following:
- customer standards and requirements
- Ministry of Defence (MOD)
- organisational standards and requirements
- manufacturers' standards and requirements
- BS, ISO and/or BSEN standards
Check that the installation is complete and that all components are free from damage
Complete and store all relevant installation documentation in accordance with organisational requirements, using one from the following, and pass it to the appropriate people:
- job cards
- specific deployment/installation report
- build records
- organisational-specific documentation
- electronic reports