Powering the Future: Fault-Managed Power at Cisco Innovation Labs (1)

Powering the Future: Fault-Managed Power Solution at Cisco Innovation Labs

We're thrilled to announce a major milestone for Cisco and the future of intelligent infrastructure: Cisco Innovation Labs Barcelona is now home of a Fault-Managed Power (FMP) deployment powering a Cisco Catalyst network. This deployment marks a transformative step in how power, networking, and sustainability converge in modern buildings. 

What Is Fault-Managed Power? 

Fault-Managed Power (FMP), also known as Class 4 Power under US National Electrical Code, is a next-generation power delivery system that transmits DC power safely over long distances. Unlike traditional power systems, FMP uses a unique "Pulse Current" waveform: power is delivered in short 3-millisecond cycles, with 1 millisecond dedicated to safety checks and 2 milliseconds for power delivery. 

What makes FMP truly groundbreaking? 

• Touch-safe operation: Intelligent monitoring detects faults—such as a person contacting the wire or a line-to-earth short—and halts transmission in milliseconds. 
• Long-distance, high-power delivery: Up to 600W per copper pair over distances up to 2 km, far surpassing the 100-meter limit of traditional Power over Ethernet (PoE). 
• Energy efficiency: By eliminating multiple AC-to-DC conversion stages, FMP improves efficiency by 12–18% and reduces building energy consumption by 10–20%. 

Industry-Wide Possibilities 

FMP unlocks transformative use cases across industries: 

• Smart Buildings & Hospitality: The Sinclair Hotel achieved 30–40% energy savings, while Circa Resort saved $2–3 million in construction costs. 
• Industrial & Warehousing: Mouser Electronics powered a 416,000-square-foot expansion without steel conduits. 
• Indoor Horticulture: Facilities like GreenSeal use FMP for precise, software-controlled lighting and reduced HVAC costs. 
• Data Centers & AI: FMP will be able to support the soaring energy demands of AI workloads (50kW–100kW per rack) with scalable DC architecture. 
• EV Charging: Will simplify deployment and slash installation times. 

Cisco's Unique Role 

Cisco plays a leading role in the FMP ecosystem through its Engineering Alliance with Panduit, providing the intelligent networking layer and the hardware that receives and distributes FMP power: 

• Validated Platforms: The solution is engineered for Cisco Catalyst 9200 and 9300 Series switches, which use DC power supplies to receive FMP and deliver up to 90W of PoE to end devices. 
• Management and Visibility: Power telemetry integrates with Cisco Nexus Dashboard and Catalyst Center, enabling granular monitoring of energy efficiency and sustainability metrics. 
• Standardization: This represents Cisco's first end-to-end DC power distribution solution, bridging IT (networking) and OT (building systems). 
• Leadership: Cisco is a founding member of the FMP Alliance. 

Read the Announcement: Panduit and Cisco Announce Strategic Collaboration to Power the Next Generation of Enterprise Networks and Smart Buildings 

Why Barcelona? Why Now? 

The Cisco Innovation Lab in Barcelona was uniquely positioned to bring this solution to life. Leveraging the strategic Cisco–Panduit alliance, the lab serves as a joint testing ground where engineers from both organizations demonstrate emerging technologies in a controlled, live environment. 

The Barcelona deployment demonstrates real-world capability at scale: 

• Powering a Catalyst 9300 switch via FMP, which simultaneously powers Meraki cameras, Access Points, IIoT devices, and IP phones. 
• A full-stack deployment including Panduit's TrueEdge enclosures, Smart Rack Handles for physical security, and Intelligent PDUs. 
• A clear focus on sustainability, aligning with European leadership in energy efficiency and green building standards. 

Why We're Excited 

FMP isn't just a new power technology—it's a pivotal shift in how we build and operate infrastructure: 

• Sustainability: A key enabler for Net Zero goals, allowing direct integration with DC sources like solar and battery storage. 
• Safety Innovation: "Touch-safe" high-voltage power reduces skillset and protective equipment required to deploy and maintain vs. conventional AC. 
• IT/OT Convergence: The same infrastructure used for data now powers the building itself. 
• End-to-End Telemetry: Combined FMP + PoE solution gives you visibility and control into every appliance on every circuit. 

The Barcelona Innovation Center deployment is more than a proof of concept—it's a glimpse into the future of smart, sustainable, and converged infrastructure. Welcome to the next era of power.