When your business is moving offices, there are more pressing concerns than the physical transportation of desks, computers, and people. Relocating phone systems and data cabling should be a top priority when changing offices and should be planned for well in advance. There is already time lost with the physical move, so don?t add to that expense by improper preparation. Going into the move with a few things firmly in mind will help facilitate a seamless transition.
For as seamless an IT and phone system transfer as possible, note these questions and find answers for them well in advance: 1. How much time do you have before the scheduled transition? 2. What type of structure does the new space provide? 3. Will the cabling run through a plenum space? 4. How many cable drops are required for the new space? 5. Will you use the same phone system or purchase a new one?
How much time do you have before the scheduled move? Undoubtedly, if your business is moving spaces, there is a set date for the move. When you are 60 days out from the transition, make sure you have consulted with your phone provider, giving them notice and scheduling the transfer. Many telecommunications firms demand 45 days notice for all installation jobs, so don?t get caught unawares only two weeks before the move, or there might be a delay which will result in lost time.
What is the structural layout of your new office space? This concerns the ceiling structure mostly. The two basic types are hard cap ceilings and drop ceilings. What type your new office has will help determine the task at hand for your cabling installer. Drop ceilings have a space between the visible ceiling and structural ceiling, allowing for an easier installation for cables.
Know the cabling requirements of the new space. If the data and voice cabling will run adjacent to the circulatory systems for heating, air-conditioning and ventilation, the installer is required to use plenum-rated cable which is sheathed in either a PVC or FEP plastic fire-retardant jacket to safeguard against fire and toxicity. If not, non-plenum cable will suffice. Plenum-rated cable is more expensive, but it is required to be used in plenum spaces.
What is the number of voice/data drops your business needs? A drop is one length of cable connecting a starting point with an end point. The starting point is the server room or wiring station while the end point is an office or work station. Knowing this in advance will help your telecommunications provider with the installation. For every office or work station, one drop each is needed for a computer and a phone line, and don?t forget about the drops for the printers and fax machines.
Will you be using your existing phone system in the new space? If so, your cable installer might be capable of moving your existing phone system, and it would be factored into the cost of the move. Otherwise, a subcontractor will have to be hired to do the work.
Knowing your current bandwidth, your network configuration, your budget, and anticipating your future bandwidth will go a long way in helping you plan for the move. Once your business has moved offices, the cable installer will have to plan for other things like the distance each drop has to run from the server, if the size of your new office requires an intermediate distribution point of IDP, and if special fiber optics or induction-reducing cables are necessary. With solid and accurate planning the transition can go smoothly with few setbacks and minimal down time before you?re operational again.
For as seamless an IT and phone system transfer as possible, note these questions and find answers for them well in advance: 1. How much time do you have before the scheduled transition? 2. What type of structure does the new space provide? 3. Will the cabling run through a plenum space? 4. How many cable drops are required for the new space? 5. Will you use the same phone system or purchase a new one?
How much time do you have before the scheduled move? Undoubtedly, if your business is moving spaces, there is a set date for the move. When you are 60 days out from the transition, make sure you have consulted with your phone provider, giving them notice and scheduling the transfer. Many telecommunications firms demand 45 days notice for all installation jobs, so don?t get caught unawares only two weeks before the move, or there might be a delay which will result in lost time.
What is the structural layout of your new office space? This concerns the ceiling structure mostly. The two basic types are hard cap ceilings and drop ceilings. What type your new office has will help determine the task at hand for your cabling installer. Drop ceilings have a space between the visible ceiling and structural ceiling, allowing for an easier installation for cables.
Know the cabling requirements of the new space. If the data and voice cabling will run adjacent to the circulatory systems for heating, air-conditioning and ventilation, the installer is required to use plenum-rated cable which is sheathed in either a PVC or FEP plastic fire-retardant jacket to safeguard against fire and toxicity. If not, non-plenum cable will suffice. Plenum-rated cable is more expensive, but it is required to be used in plenum spaces.
What is the number of voice/data drops your business needs? A drop is one length of cable connecting a starting point with an end point. The starting point is the server room or wiring station while the end point is an office or work station. Knowing this in advance will help your telecommunications provider with the installation. For every office or work station, one drop each is needed for a computer and a phone line, and don?t forget about the drops for the printers and fax machines.
Will you be using your existing phone system in the new space? If so, your cable installer might be capable of moving your existing phone system, and it would be factored into the cost of the move. Otherwise, a subcontractor will have to be hired to do the work.
Knowing your current bandwidth, your network configuration, your budget, and anticipating your future bandwidth will go a long way in helping you plan for the move. Once your business has moved offices, the cable installer will have to plan for other things like the distance each drop has to run from the server, if the size of your new office requires an intermediate distribution point of IDP, and if special fiber optics or induction-reducing cables are necessary. With solid and accurate planning the transition can go smoothly with few setbacks and minimal down time before you?re operational again.
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