Cabling is installed once and then lived with for years. That makes what you decide *before* the work far more important than the installation itself. Here is what is worth clarifying before you ask for a quote.
1. Count ports, not people
"Thirty staff" does not translate into a cable count. In practice, PCs, printers, IP phones, wireless APs, CCTV and meeting-room equipment each take a port. Budgeting two ports per desk and counting meeting rooms and shared areas separately is the safer starting point.
2. Spare runs are much cheaper up front
The bulk of cabling cost is labour and access, not cable. Reopening ceilings and removing trunking later costs far more than pulling a few extra runs at the outset. If expansion is at all likely, it belongs in the initial scope.
3. Separate the copper and fibre segments
- UTP (Cat.6 or above) — horizontal runs within a floor, to user devices
- Fibre — inter-floor backbone, runs beyond 100 m, links to separate buildings
UTP is not guaranteed beyond 100 m. Inter-floor and building-to-building links should be fibre as a matter of course.
4. Fix the rack location and power first
Cable routes and lengths cannot be calculated until the rack (comms room) location is settled. What to check:
- Space for the rack, plus clearance around it
- Dedicated power and earthing
- Ventilation or cooling — a sealed storeroom significantly shortens equipment life
- Whether a UPS is required
5. Confirm building constraints early
Leased buildings often require the landlord's prior approval for opening ceilings, core drilling and work in common areas. Some restrict work to nights or weekends. This is usually the largest variable in the schedule.
6. Ask for labelling and as-built drawings
When the work is finished, get port labelling and cabling drawings. If nobody knows which port goes where, tracing a fault later costs hours before any actual work begins. It is the most reliable way to reduce future maintenance cost.
NS&NET handles network design, cabling installation and subsequent maintenance as one engagement. If an office move or expansion calls for new cabling, we can start with a site survey.