30 Jan Top 5 Things To Start With Your Network Cabling Project

In places like Philadelphia where their architectural style consists of mixing both modern and historical buildings, there are plenty of ways that you can start a network cabling project. How you start though, will be different depending on the current situation of where you’re going to start this project. No place is ever the same so there are a couple of things that you should review before you start a network cabling project.

Here are the top 5 things that can help you start a wiring job:

Scale of Your Network Cabling Project

Starting a network cabling installation will require you to use a little foresight on measuring the scale of the project. A small scale job will be easier to manage and will likely use one project manager to oversee everything and a few safety protocols. A small scale project will mean less effort compared to large scale project because a small scale project can usually be found in offices, homes, and small office buildings. Although they require less effort, there is still effort nonetheless.

For large scale network cabling installations, you will need permits from the company or business saying that you are allowed for doing a installation within their premises. This is to avoid any legal complications that may arise. You will also need a project manager with sub serving administrators to oversee everything from the components, permits, safety protocols, information dissemination, and managerial level processes. A large scale cabling job is no joke and will require a lot of professionalism from the employees & employers and as such, should be treated with the utmost respect when it comes to their procedures.

A large camera job required planning due to the scale.

Type of Network Cabling Project

We’ll mostly be focusing on two types of directions you can go. The first one is the new install and the other is a possible upgrade. The two terms sound fairly similar but are completely different. A new install is less complicated than just an upgrade because the normal procedure of installation proceeds. You inspect the site, measure the project scale, get permits if needed, create safety protocols, receive help from managerial position employees and proceed to installation once preparations are complete. The same goes for network cabling upgrade but the only difference is, you’re replacing available technology so you have a fair background on how things were installed based on past installations.

Installing gives an opportunity for the company to improve their information sharing by creating a new network for their employees and upgrading improves previous installations once the system begins to slow down. You can’t install new network cables if there are existing network cables (you can but that would leave a messy conundrum) and you can’t upgrade network cables if their were no previous network cables installed. Do not forget as well, older wiring that is not being used is typically asked to be removed, as per building Fire Codes. Check with your state or township for that one.

Remember to plan for more time installing wiring for cubes or conference rooms

Safety Measures

Of course, safety is always important. A lot of people will be working under this project and their safety should be top priority. To avoid any bad accidents from innocent bystanders and workers, safety protocols should be set up to avoid as much incidents as possible. Philadelphia, PA is city filled with historical buildings and most of them may be accident prone due to their old age so during installation, be prepared for the worst by using the best equipment and training your employees how to handle themselves in dangerous situations. If you’re trained to face danger, then facing danger will be just like training. Side note, OSHA reports top 2 accidents is falling from a ladder and/or eye injuries. So…..have a sturdy ladder and a pair of eye shields!

Cabling Schematics and Planning

You’re done with measuring the scale, determining what job, and safeties and it’s time to start planning for the runs. You’re probably thinking that everything that has been discussed so far is considered as “planning” and you’re probably right. Yes, all of this is planning up to this point. So maybe I should clarify which type of topic this one is.

This topic will discuss the planning of the schematics of the actual drops or locations of the wiring. Measuring the locations, creating cable paths, the amount of network cables required, and creating networks that will be used. It’s important to create a schematic design for your network cables because even the small scale projects require a level of guaranteed service and creating a schematic is a means of achieving this service. PRO ADVICE: Plan for more drops than needed….down the road printers and more devices can be added easily!

Pre-installation