Marmon IEI Demonstrates Next-Generation Infrastructure with Sinclair® Digital

When updating corporate office and lab spaces, traditional AC line-voltage electrical distribution presents significant structural and financial bottlenecks. A conventional design for these spaces would require five to six dedicated 120V branch circuits, over 3,000 feet of 12 AWG copper conductors, 500+ feet of EMT conduit, and dedicated breaker panel positions.

Standard AC installations mandate licensed electricians for every line-voltage pull, conduit bend, and fixture connection, extending project timelines and driving up skilled labor costs. Reconfiguring lighting or media infrastructure with line-voltage systems requires physical rewiring, cutting into drywall, and disrupting building operations. Additionally, traditional electrical subpanels and IT switches consume valuable floor space and require dedicated HVAC cooling, adding ongoing operational overhead.

To address these challenges, Sinclair® Digital engineered an AGILE-CORE® distributed edge architecture adhering to NEC Article 726 (Class 4) standards and BICSI best practices. An AGILE-CORE® Headend Mini housed in a small wall cabinet in the lobby serves as the central hub, which eliminates the need for a dedicated electrical room or subpanel space. Two Class 4 home runs feed distributed BITS™micro ceiling enclosures. One serves the conference room and the other one serves the lobby and lab. Each run pairs Marmon IEI Class 4 16 AWG plenum copper cable for power with an 8-fiber tight-buffered cable for high-speed data.

Because Class 4 Fault-Managed Power continuously monitors the circuit and interrupts power within milliseconds if a fault is detected, the infrastructure operates with complete touch-safety above occupied ceilings. All edge devices plug directly into the local BITS™micro enclosures using standard Cat6 patch cabling. In total, the system unifies 26 LED luminaires (including 2×2 and 2×4 troffers plus decorative pendants), 7 high-power PoE digital signage displays and video conferencing bars, and an array of smart motion sensors and wall dimmers onto a single digital backbone.

The project transitioned from purchase order in January 2026 to full operation in April 2026. Physical installation was completed in just 5 working days, and commissioning finished in 3 days. By substituting Class 4 plenum cabling for line-voltage branch circuits, the installation completely eliminated 500 to 600 feet of EMT conduit and reduced total copper consumption by 35% to 45% by weight. Replacing hardwired electrician labor with low-voltage Cat6 device patching reduced overall installation labor hours by 25% to 40%.

From an energy and facility standpoint, native DC power distribution combined with occupancy dimming and centralized software scheduling is estimated to reduce lighting energy usage by 30% to 40% annually (saving 900 to 1,200 kWh per year). Operating at a day-one connected load of just 1.4 kW (~25% capacity), the system leaves 75% headroom on the transmitter shelf for future Phase 2 expansion without needing additional utility service. Furthermore, any future room reconfigurations can be handled in software or via simple Ethernet patch changes without calling an electrician. Beyond daily operational use, the site now serves as a permanent live demonstration center for contractors, engineers, and enterprise clients evaluating Class 4 FMP and PoE technology.