Don't know why, but have only just spotted this thread
I think over the course of the input here, you've more or less covered it. Just my own thoughts though ......... Equipment Cable Pressure (ECP) racks are designed to pressurise the E-side cables to the Cabinet only. If the Exchange area doesn't have any cabinets, then there will still be a certain section of cable leaving the Exchange that will still be under pressure, and where this then connects to what I'll call the D-side cables, there will be an 'Air block' fitted.
D-side cables are not 'under pressure' (unlike the engineering fraternity
), but are grease filled to keep out moisture as much as possible.
The actual compressor can be fitted anywhere within the Exchange, but the read-out dials will be in an equipment room in order to be easily read. The compressors generally have two 'beds', so that whilst one is drying the other is dormant. When they change over 'beds' you know about it, as it's like being stood next to an Articulated Tractor Unit when he applies his air-brakes ....... loud !!!!
I think it was Kitz who mentioned a dark dingy room underneath the Exchange ?? This is called the Cable Chamber and is where all the cables entering the Exchange are neatly formed and presented onto the Main Distribution Frame (MDF) in a neat and orederly fashion. You can imagine how many cables enter our Exchanges, even the smaller ones.
Somebody else commented about pressure gauges in Cabinets (c6em I think ?), which was true. Part of our undertakings when working in a Cabinet, was to view the gauges and report them to the 'Pressure gang' if they were low. They should 'alarm' automatically but hey !! Nowadays they've been replaced by some yellow sealed boxes that I can only assume are telemetry-style devices?? I've no idea how they work or if my observations are correct.
Finally, B*Cat, your memory is damned impressive pal !! You're correct about my dealings with a re-sited ECP rack and the subsequent disaster that ensued. Not my finest hour I can assure you.