Networking & structured cabling
Planning network cabling for a new office
Moving, expanding, or building out an office? Start with the connections your team needs, then plan the cable routes, equipment space, and handover.
Office network cabling is easier to plan when you know where people will work, which devices need connections, and who will manage the finished system. Before requesting an installation quote, put those decisions on a floor plan. A clear scope gives your cabling installer, IT provider, and general contractor a shared starting point.
Whether you are preparing a Phoenix office buildout or relocating elsewhere in Arizona, use this checklist to organize the conversation before work begins.
1. Map devices, not just desks.
Mark workstations, printers, reception equipment, conference room displays, and wireless access points on the layout. Include equipment outside the main work area, such as cameras and door access controllers. These systems may have different connection requirements, but discussing them together helps avoid missed locations.
For each location, note the device, the number of connections needed, and whether the equipment is confirmed or still being selected. Ask your IT provider to confirm network and power requirements. Wireless coverage should also be planned around the layout and how the space will be used.
A useful starting document: a marked-up floor plan with a short device list. If furniture positions are still changing, identify those areas before cable locations are finalized.
2. Choose an equipment location that can be serviced.
Discuss where the internet service enters the building and where the router, switches, patch panels, and any backup power equipment will sit. Ask the property manager about available rooms, access arrangements, and restrictions before selecting a rack location.
The plan should account for power, equipment ventilation requirements, cable entry, and room to work on the installation. Share proposed equipment with the installer so rack space and cable management can be discussed together. Leave a defined allowance for expected growth instead of guessing how much space you might need.
An organized rack also needs a practical maintenance plan: who has access, who manages the equipment, and where connection records will be kept.
3. Agree on the cabling scope before comparing quotes.
A cable count alone does not describe the whole job. Ask each installer to identify outlet locations, cable type, termination hardware, rack work, testing, labeling, and any removal of existing cabling included in the proposal. Your IT requirements should inform cable selection; color and appearance are separate decisions.
Also confirm responsibility for equipment supply and configuration. Installing a cable, configuring a switch, and activating internet service are separate tasks that need named owners in the project plan.
For example, a quote for 24 cable runs may exclude patch cords, switches, or after-hours access. Another may include them. Comparing the same written scope makes those differences visible before you commit.
4. Coordinate installation with the buildout.
Share your move-in date, construction schedule, and any limits on access to the building. Identify work that must happen before ceilings or walls are closed, and coordinate the final device locations with furniture and room layouts.
If the office is occupied, explain which connections must stay available during the work. Agree on any planned downtime with your IT provider and confirm who will check the affected systems afterward. Include time for installation review and corrections before people depend on the new network.
Ask the building team and installer to confirm applicable pathway, access, and building requirements for your specific property. Requirements should be resolved as part of the project scope.
5. Define labels, testing, and handover records.
Agree on an identification scheme that connects each outlet to its patch-panel position. Ask what testing will be performed, which acceptance criteria apply, and what reports you will receive. When certification is specified, have that requirement and its documentation written into the scope.
Keeping test records associated with the correct cable IDs makes later troubleshooting easier. Fluke Networks explains why matching labels and saved test results matters when a link needs to be checked again.
Request a handover package appropriate to the work: outlet and port records, the agreed test reports, an updated layout, and a list of outstanding items. Decide who will store these records and update them when connections change.
BEFORE YOU REQUEST A QUOTE
Your project checklist.
- Property address, floor plan, and available installation access.
- Device locations and connection counts, including future additions.
- Proposed rack location and equipment list.
- IT contact and responsibility for equipment configuration.
- Move-in date, construction milestones, and downtime limits.
- Agreed labeling, testing, and handover expectations.
Bring the plan together.
Semper Fi Solutions provides networking and structured cabling for homes and businesses, with Phoenix metro as our main service area and travel available throughout Arizona. If your project also includes access control, surveillance, or conference room audio/visual, include those systems in the initial discussion.
Send your floor plan, project location, and target schedule, or call 480-349-8758. We can discuss the connections your space needs and the next steps for defining the installation.
DISCUSS YOUR OFFICE PROJECT