RCDD qualifications becoming highly sought after - local training available
16 June 2004
News
The RCDD (Registered Communications Distribution Designer) is a qualification that is much sought after. RCDD training was started by BICSI (Building Industries Consulting Services International) in the '80s, and currently, there are about 7000 RCDDs globally.
Candidates for the RCDD qualification (from left): Wayne Momsen, Cabling for Africa; Dewald Booysen, Dimension Data Advanced Infrastructure; Iain Ure, Datanet; Hennie Faurie, FCE; Roger Crighton, Datanet
Eugene Botes, an RCDD/LAN BICSI master instructor, says that the course consists of attending a 6-day Designing Telecommunications Distribution Systems course plus a 4-day Review course. There is a 7 week break between the two, during which time students are expected to do a minimum of 100 hours self-study. The course manual, called TDMM or Telecommunications Distribution Methods Manual, covers all aspects of data and voice communications. It includes design requirements for telecommunication rooms, equipment rooms, grounding and bonding requirements, firestopping, wireless networks and even how to install cabling in marinas.
The exam consists of 280 multiple choice questions and the interesting thing is that all students write their own unique exam. The questions come from a database of 1100 questions and are randomly selected by a PC. People that fail can re-write and will get a complete new exam with new questions. The pass mark is high at 78%, and there is no human influence in marking the papers as the answer sheet is scanned in electronically against the student's exam number. Globally the pass rate is around 40%, so the 50% achieved in South Africa is remarkable, says Botes.
According to Botes, in other parts of the world, 40-60% of tenders that come out require that the company be a BICSI member and that the voice/data system be project-managed and signed off by an RCDD. This process has already started to happen in this country too, and as the RCDD numbers grow, we can expect to see it happening more often, he adds.
Botes is licensed to offer these courses through BICSI ( www.bicsi.org) and is the only BICSI master instructor in the Middle East and Africa. BICSI's membership in South Africa has been growing steadily - two years ago it was less than 10 members and now it stands at almost 60, says Botes. In that time RCDD growth has gone from 2 to 12, with a few more now expected after the exams in June.
The next course will be held from 5-10 July. For more information contact Eugene Botes, 012 654 4297, 082 854 1505, [email protected]
Further reading:
Rooibos heads to space
News
A South African scientific initiative linking agriculture and space research has officially launched today with the Rooibos in Space programme at Parklands College’s Innovation Centre in Cape Town.
Read more...
From the editor's desk: Local can be international
Technews Publishing
Editor's Choice News
Welcome to the July 2026 issue of
Dataweek. As you can see from this introduction,
Dataweek’s regular editor, Peter Howells, is on extended leave and I am filling the void in his editor’s column – hopefully without being too boring.
Read more...
Landis+Gyr EMEA introduces new company name: EYKON
News
EYKON is the new company name of Landis+Gyr EMEA, formerly part of the Landis+Gyr Group. The company supports electricity, gas, water and thermal utilities in managing increasingly complex networks, improving operational efficiency and enabling more sustainable use of resources.
Read more...
Yamaha Robotics will show visitors to EFX
Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services News
Yamaha Robotics will show visitors to EFX 2026, the Expo for Electronics Manufacturing, in Stuttgart from 6-8 October 2026, how advanced surface-mount automation helps companies grow their business and increase productivity.
Read more...
From the editor's desk: The art of measuring the truth
Technews Publishing
Editor's Choice News
All electronic measurements are a lie. The trick is making the lie as small as possible.
Read more...
TSE has relocated
News
The Technology Station in Electronics (TSE) has entered a new chapter with its relocation from the CSIR campus to TUT-owned building at Ditsela Place in Hatfield.
Read more...
Innovative MyLegrand app
RS South Africa
News
Legrand SA is set to launch the MyLegrand mobile application, a digital platform designed to strengthen engagement across its professional network.
Read more...
Kulani Energy acquires critical assets from Optipower
News
Kulani Energy preserves engineering, procurement, and construction capability and positions a wholly women-owned firm at the forefront of South Africa’s grid expansion.
Read more...
From Cape Town to Johannesburg
News
Würth Elektronik South Africa has taken a significant step forward with its recent relocation from Cape Town to Johannesburg, marking a new phase of growth and ambition for the company.
Read more...
Lesley Havenga: Building partnerships for Africa’s electronics future
Editor's Choice News
As Würth Electronik expands its footprint across South Africa and the broader sub-Saharan region, Havenga’s blend of manufacturing expertise, supply chain knowledge, and people-centred leadership appears well suited to the task.
Read more...
printer friendly version