Holocom vs EMT

Holocom® PDS is a proven NSTISSI 7003-compliant protective distribution system (PDS) solution with hundreds of installations comprising tens of thousands of SIPRNet user drops. Current installations include sites for every branch of the military, CONUS and OCONUS, and other federal agencies requiring the highest levels of network security.

Non-locking PDS, whether it consists of EMT or roll formed square, powder-coated tubing, is distinctly different than the interlocking Holocom PDS. Holocom designed and engineered the Holocom system specifically to improve upon the functional limitations inherent in all non-locking PDS systems.

The benefits of Holocom’s interlocking PDS are notable and described in the following chart:

	HOLOCOM	EMT/PIPE/CONDUIT
Proven PDS with Wide Acceptance	Hundreds of installations. Over 40,000 installed, inspected, certified and operational user drops. All DoD branches, CONUS/OCONUS.	The original PDS and still used at the majority of sites. Sites are upgrading to Holocom enclosures initially and then system wide when lifecycle cost savings are realized.
Total Cost of Ownership*	BEST VALUE: About equal or slightly higher cost compared to EMT for most initial installations. Significantly reduced total cost of ownership for lifecycle of PDS.	About equal or slightly lower cost compared to Holocom for most initial installations. Significantly increased cost for total lifecycle of PDS.
Easy Moves, Adds & Changes (MACs)	YES. Holocom has a modular, installer-friendly, interlocking design allowing users to be moved, added or changed without major disruption to the network and with minimal cost.	NO. Difficulty making changes frequently results in installing a complete new PDS. Totally negates initial cost savings.
Designed for Efficient Installation	Designed by installers for maximum labor efficiency. Fully modular with internal mounting points. Streamlined design. Fewer parts. Cable lay-in capability.	Not designed for labor efficiency. External mounting brackets requiring extensive epoxy for integrity. More parts. Must fish/pull all cables risking degrading cables.
Customer Support	FREE system design with BOM and labor estimate. Free QA training for government. Installation and system design training/certification available.	NONE
Epoxy Waiver**	YES. Army (CONUS) YES. USAF (CONUS after first joint) NO. Navy	NO. Required for all installations.
Aesthetics	Visually appealing	Visually distracting
Visual Inspection After Installation	Only Holocom allows full post-installation inspection of cable & components without bringing down the system. This is a true technical inspection - important in alarmed PDS where alarm faults can be common.	No cable or component inspection except at pull boxes. Greater number of system-mandated secure padlocks increases cost and daily visual inspection time.
100% USA Green Design	YES. Veteran-owned, small business. 100% Made in USA. Reusable system components during moves, adds, and changes decrease carbon footprint and lifecycle cost.	NO. Few parts made in USA. Almost no reuse possible.

Holocom is the industry standard PDS. It is installed for all branches of the US military and is the proven system that offers both patented protection and the flexibility to grow and change as real-world conditions dictate.

Holocom is continually upgrading its system to simplify installation and reduce the total cost of ownership. Recent improvements include manufactured mounting points which eliminate most on-site drilling and raw mounting point corrosion, a redesigned interface sleeve reducing components and simplifying installation, offset connectors that simplify and expedite installation of raceway around columns and other obstacles, user drop boxes with multiple enhancements including a new face plate design eliminating the need for a receptacle box in a box, Secure Mini Dukt™ - a reduced profile cable carrier, and Secure Large Carrier™ for high-density cable count requirements.

A proud veteran-owned small business, Holocom transformed and continues to lead the industry in the design and installation of PDS for securing our nation’s classified networks.

* Size of a project can affect the initial cost of a particular installation, particularly for very small installations if there will never be a need for a move, addition or change.
** Waiver is a complicated issue. The indicated waiver generally is correct, but the issues are subtle and should be approached with caution until all regulations and waivers are read and understood.