Each year our team completes several office moves for companies and firms of varying sizes. In this article, we share some network and voice cabling tips for your next office move.

General Recommendations

Mark port locations specifically

Not all cabling companies apply an attentive effort to verify port locations. Changes after port installation quickly lead to budget over-runs.

For instance, request that a port is installed not only “next to the counter in a copy room” but also with “floor height placement 1 ft. from the end of the counter.”

Install a minimum of 2 ports per plate

This cabling rule-of-thumb covers additional devices at each location such as phones or printers.

Most of the cabling cost accounts for labor (not material), so installing 2 ports per plate doesn’t add much to the budget. It can even save you money and headaches later.

Cabling for Cubicles

Include power in the design process

Power is usually provided via poles from the ceiling or whips from the wall. There will be a two-stage installation, where furniture is installed and where electricians return to complete cabling.

While both drawing plans and finalizing them, ask architects and furniture teams about power as part of the design process.
Since data cabling for cubicles is similar to electrical, ensure your low voltage/data cabling team coordinates with furniture installers.

Cabling for Conference Rooms

Think about the future

Even if a floor port or outlet may be covered, install presentable floor ports or outlets.

For instance, installing a new conference table later may reveal a hole in the floor where cables hide for a previously covered floor port.

In the long run, it’s more cost-effective and easier to run cabling and conduit during a build-out instead of making modifications later.

The Art of a Successful Office Move