Virtual Cabling Surveys for Structured Cabling, Electrical, and Associated Services

Lockdown 3.0, is now a month in and our support bubbles have burst and we are working as best we can from home again. While engineering and installation must of course necessarily be undertaken on-premises, we are always looking at ways to minimise project management on site. Therefore, reducing travel, exposure, and meetings for both our team and our range of clients teams. Thus, we have processed a growing number of cabling survey quotations both on-site and virtually. Thus, in some cases planning of installation works without either party being in the building beforehand

What type of surveys are we currently undertaking?

No project is the same so the survey requirements are also unique. Therefore, we try to undertake virtual surveys to minimise contact for all, but we also have the team to still travel and undertake on-site surveys when required. In addition, some quotations are for buildings not yet occupied, and they are handled in a slightly different way also

Therefore, survey and quotation options are

1. On-site standard surveys
2. Virtual walk around surveys
3. Off-site discussions and quotations
4. Budget proposals
5. Tender proposals

What is a Standard Cabling Survey?

As I’m sure you are aware, to get the best picture of a project we like to get to the site and have a good look around. Thus, to ensure we have quoted correctly and allowed for all of your requirements. It's great looking at drawings but there is nothing like coming to look at the building and completing a site survey to get the best view of a project. Furthermore, by completing a site survey, we ensure that you are not going to meet any additional costs towards the end of a project for unseen things. I’m sure many of you have had projects where costs have popped up out of nowhere. Furthermore, this ensures our engineering team is 100% prepared for the upcoming works and has all the information they need to get their job done.

An on-site survey free of charge is always available after a virtual survey sign-off to confirm details. In some cases this is desirable and in others not required

What is a Virtual Cabling Survey?

During the pandemic, reducing our visits to the site from our projects team has been critical for us to remain as safe as possible. Thus, to protect our clients and staff. Hence, the beginning of ‘Virtual Surveys’. Therefore, by using technology we can be situated in our office or working from home and complete our surveys without increasing any one risk. This is within the clients building and avoiding public transport for all

To do this, we use a video call to complete the survey and you (the client) are on your site and can complete a walk-through of the project remotely. Also, we ask the questions we would usually ask on-site and complete our survey notes. Generally, this takes on average around 20 minutes, saving time for you and your team

This allows queries and questions between parties as the virtual cabling survey is undertaken. In general, clarifications can be made in real-time as per a standard cabling survey

So far we have used the following to complete this;

• Microsoft Teams
• Cisco Webex
• Facetime
• Whatsapp
• Zoom

There are many options to complete these calls. Therefore, we can be just as accurate without having to attend the site.

What are my other options for an Off-Site cabling survey?

If your company is also based from home and working remotely, we are still able to provide off-site quotations. Therefore, in this instance, we discuss over video conference or phone call the relevant requirements. This is usually supported by additional documentation on the description of the works required.

The more of the following documentation that is available, the more accurate the quotation will be

• Floor Layouts and Drawings
• Internal and External Building Photos
• Specific Area Photos - i.e communication rooms and cabinets
• Fuse Boards
• Elevations

Our team have a lot of experience in quoting by all three methods so whatever your situation and requirement we will be able to assist in putting together your budgets

What services are available as a virtual survey?

Our full range of services is available to be undertaken as a virtual or off-site survey. However, some services require more information to provide an accurate estimate than others. In all cases, it is dependent on the requirements, building, and availability of supporting documentation.

We have in the past 12 months undertaken off-site surveys and quotations for the following

• Cat5e, cat6, Cat6a, Cat7, and Cat8 cabling
• Fibre Optic Cabling links, internally and externally
• Access Control Systems
• CCTV Camera Systems
• Electrical Installations
• Electrical Testing and PAT Testing
• Audio Visual solutions including televisions and video conferencing
• Video Wall Installations
• Data Centre Cabling Installations

Can you provide a Budget Quotation for a New Building

We have had numerous inquiries where companies have asked for outline costs for buildings that haven't yet moved to. Similarly, as above we discuss remotely the requirements and provide an outline budget based on a set number of assumptions

For example, we have a couple of articles regarding how much to budget for Cat5e and Cat6 cabling. Please click below the read these articles

Article - How Much is Cat5e Cabling?

Article - How Much is Cat6 Cabling?

Virtual Cabling Survey Summary

We have described a few different options for how we can provide a budget for your requirements. Our project team can discuss the best type of survey for your situation and arrange a suitable time for this to be carried out. So, if you need a project completing and are not allowing visitors to your building, we can complete a ‘Virtual Survey’. This will ensure accuracy in your quotation, save time and keep us all safe. Also, we are helping reduce our emissions by not traveling all over the country, saving the environment which is always a positive

Besides those who still require a traditional on-site we have that covered also

For further articles in addition to Virtual Cabling Surveys please visit our Knowledge Center HERE

For a Free Quotation please email sales@nmcabling.co.uk or call 01923 888588

The post Virtual Cabling Survey appeared first on Cabling Solutions.

With the return to work starting to slowly start the requirement need to change. However to ensure social distancing  the current desk layouts for staff are safe is a major consideration. Thus Facilities Managers and IT Managers will need to relocate desks, people and therefore the data cabling and electrical outlets

Social distancing on a greater level with entry and exit into the building and movement throughout the premise is a discussion outside of this article. This is to focus on what options there are for arranging your desks or staff at those desks and what will need to be changed to accommodate it.

The goverment guidelines on working safely during Covid-19 can be found HERE

Social Distancing at the Desk

Guidelines are yet to firmly put in place but the following have been communicated as a consideration for working on a desk layout.

• Ensuring a 2 metre distance while sitting side to side
  1. This may mean employees sitting at every other desk
• Avoiding staff sitting opposite one another
  1. This results in avoiding back to back desks
• Install plastic screens between desks as a protection shield
• Eliminating hot desk usage

Other Desk Options

Several of our clients have had us undertake surveys where the current island desk layouts are to be moved. Consequently all desk layouts are now facing the outer wall.  Furthermore no 2 members of staff are alongside one another or next to each other.

Social Distancing effect on Power and Data outlets

In the above example the island desks were served by floor boxes containing electrical sockets and Cat6 data outlets.

The new layout designed allowed for installing new electrical and data cabling to the outside wall. Thus the desks could use them directly from the wall with no trailing leads. By installing new data cabling and power the old floor boxes could be maintained. Thus allowing for the relocation back to them once social distancing safety measures could be reduced or eliminated.

Data Cabling and Electrical Considerations when using existing desk layouts with fewer people

In the scenario where existing desk layouts are maintained but employees are scattered among those desks the following considerations will need to be thought of.

Will the new seating position have enough power and data?

In an office that is fully staffed and a reduced work force is coming back to the office the desks will probably have enough power and data for the employee requirements.

However when moving staff to other desks areas, especially those that were previously rarely used there may be a lack of power and data.  Thus additional outlets will need to be installed. Even if it is present does the data cabling need patching in correctly. In addition do the power extension blocks need to be installed.

Changing hot desks for permanent use

A large proportion of modern offices set aside desk space for hot desk use. The guidance is to eliminate hot desks due to the increased use of the space by multiple different employees rather than fixed employees

These hot desk areas may now to be used for permanent staff to spread them out. Some hot desk areas are wired for data cabling and electrical the same as a standard desks. Others will have minimal power and no data as they only reply on Wi-Fi.

In these instances new power and data will possibly need to be installed, and data cabling patch leads and electrical extension leads installed also.

Using other areas for new desk arrangements

To separate desks others usually use as desk areas are now being used to locate desks and seat staff.  The following areas have been found to be used on recent surveys

• Training rooms
• Conference / meeting rooms
• Social / canteen areas where these are now closed

In each of the above cases desks will need to be relocated and new power and data cabling (even if temporary) will need to be installed

Upgraded Wi-Fi

One consideration as desks are moved and installed into temporary spaces is that the areas used may not have sufficient Wi-Fi coverage. It may lack coverage for  the number of devices now situated in those areas. Where areas are now more densely used for technology additional structured cabling for Wi-Fi may be required.

Those employees working from home and are phased back into the workspace may also now be using a laptop. As this travels between work and home it may require the use of upgraded Wi-Fi.

Surveys for New Social Distancing Layouts

Surveys are safe to conduct where social distancing can be maintained for both the client and our project management team. However to reduce commuting and travel where possible the majority of surveys and quotations can be undertaken remotely. Generally these can be undertaken with layout drawings and photos of the layout.

An online video conference survey can then be undertaken to confirm details, answer queries and firm up expectations.

The actual installation works will follow the same safety considerations and be undertaken largely when the offices are clear.

For on-site or off site data cabling surveys please contact

sales@nmcabling.co.uk

Tel: 0207 269 4717

For further articles please visit https://www.nmcabling.co.uk/knowledge-centre/

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Structured cabling survey

The majority of our structured cabling survey projects, probably 98-99% of them, are undertaken free of charge.

Indeed, the only time there is a cost associated with a survey is when it includes an element of design. Furthermore, if there is significant travel involved in undertaking that survey. An example would be international travel

An example would be a client of ours requesting a free-of-charge survey in London. However, a survey for their new office in Newcastle would likely incur costs for travel and other expenses.

Another time would be when, rather than a survey, a prospect would require considerable time on the project to not only survey but also design and suggest solutions for an unknown quotation specification. This would then be classed as design rather than a survey.

How long does a structured cabling survey take?

Every project and survey is unique, but a survey usually takes 15-45 minutes, with additional time if required for discussing proposals. The larger the project, the longer the survey time to allow for inspecting all areas and gaining access

How long do I need to wait for a survey?

We aim to attend a survey within 48 business hours of the enquiry and to return a quotation within 48 hours of attending the survey. This can change depending on location, access restrictions and the amount of proposal work required to return the quotation. This, however, is what we aim to achieve in most cases

Our teams are based across several locations in Andover, Hampshire, London, Birmingham and Glasgow. Therefore, we will have a team in various locations to better match the location of your project and survey.

What is involved with a structured cabling survey, and what should you expect

The main parts of an on-site survey are

• Discussions and communication of requirements by the client
• Walk-through of the location to visualise the requirements
• Analysis of drawings
• Queries and confirmation of requirements upon visual survey

The more information that can be provided in advance, the more effective the survey can be. This allows our project team to already pre construction questions before attending the location

Drawings with marked-up data cabling outlets are the most effective part of the survey process and allow for not only helping visualise the project, but also allowing for note-taking and construction of a later project plan and specification for the installation engineers

Drawings are not always readily available. However, these can either be a

• previous PDF floor plan,
• a copy of the fire escape plan which is mounted by the fire exit
• a simply hand-drawn aerial layout.

In the absence of any of these, our project team can draw these at the time of the meeting during the walk-through phase

When will I receive a quotation?

The majority of our quotations are returned within 48 hours of the survey. In some cases, this is even earlier and can be turned around the same day. We do this if the client requires an urgent turnaround.

Some projects are more involved in the creation of the quotation. Therefore, additional time may be needed to collate the equipment and specification pricing. In addition, there may be many areas to analyse and quote for.

In cases where there will be an extended delay in returning your quotation, you will be informed of the expected return date

What happens when I accept a quotation?

When the quotation is accepted, a dedicated project manager is assigned to your project. In the majority of cases will be the same person who undertook the survey. This allows for a consistency of delivery

We aim to start any works within 7 days of quotation acceptance, subject to project requirements and restrictions. However, the majority of projects are started within the time window if requested

The project team will book in the data cabling engineers and arrange for all elements of the project. Those elements of the project will then be confirmed to you to ensure that the requirements haven’t changed and that everybody is working to the same expectations

Once the project is underway, the same project manager will be the point of contact. Thus ensuring that the project runs smoothly. Furthermore, this allows for arranging any changes or amendments throughout the project

Do you offer off-site virtual surveys?

Some projects are suitable, and even necessary, for a pre-project or off-site virtual survey. The following examples are some of the reasons we have had to undertake virtual and off-site surveys

• For projects where the client hasn’t yet taken residence in the building but requires quotations prior to moving in
• A large number of quotations during the Covid-19 pandemic, when office buildings were empty, but quotations were still required
• National roll out our projects where surveys for every location prior to the quotation phase were not possible
• For projects that required a very quick quotation turn around, and the client couldn’t attend the site in time

What do I need for a virtual or off-site survey?

Many of the elements required for an off-site survey are the same as those for an on-site survey. The more information you have, the more accurate the quotation can be.

However, as the visual elements of an on-site survey are lost, the following additional elements greatly assist in preparing a virtual quotation

• Photos of the location
• The routes involved fromthe  cabinet to the location
• Photos showing whether false ceilings or false floors are present
• Photos of existing containment, such as Dado trunking
• Existing data cabinet photos
• An external photo of the building to gauge access and deliveries
• Videos showing similar elements to the photos above
• Specifications of any existing containment or floor boxes
• These vary by manufacturer, so specification sheets help attain pricing

In many cases, we conduct virtual surveys. For peace of mind for both parties, after acceptance of a quotation, a later on-site surveyis undertaken  before starting the project to confirm requirements and ensure the client is happy that everything has been covered

For on-site or off-site data cabling surveys, please contact

sales@nmcabling.co.uk

Tel: 0207 269 4717

For further articles, please visit the Knowledge Centre

The post How much do you charge for a structured cabling survey? Do you offer Free Surveys? appeared first on Cabling Solutions.