Moving business space requires more planning than simply hiring a moving company to haul office furniture, computers, and other odds and ends. Truthfully, that is the least of your concerns. Swiftly relocating phone systems and the running of data cabling takes precedence, for the longer these vital elements are not operational, the more time and money your business can lose. Therefore, a seamless network transfer should be on the top of your list if you are in charge of moving your business. There are some important things to keep in mind as you plan, questions you should ask yourself and have answers for before the transition day arrives.
In order to make the transition as seamless as possible, follow these basic guidelines: 1. Plan the network switch with your provider well in advance. 2. Be familiar with the structural layout of your new space. 3. Know the cabling requirements of the new space. 4. Calculate the number of voice and data drops needed in the new space. 5. Determine if you will be using your existing phone system.
Plan the network switch with your provider well in advance. This is perhaps the most important step in the transition planning. You will want to check with your telecommunications provider about their policy, but it is common for firms to require 45 days of notice for the installation of a phone system. If you are 60 days out from the move, contact your provider now to give yourself some room for error. The sooner you plan, the smoother the transition will be, and the fewer problems will arise.
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.
Does it require plenum or non-plenum cabling? Plenum space houses circulation systems for heating, air-conditioning and ventilation, and often is positioned above a drop ceiling. If your data cabling will run in the same space, you?ll need plenum-rated cable with either a PVC or FEP fire-retardant jacket to guard against fire. Plenum-rated cable is more costly than non-plenum cable, but code requires it.
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.
Determine if you will be using your existing phone system. Your cable installer may be equipped to transfer your existing phone system, in which case it would be included in the bid. In the event that the installer cannot do the job, a subcontractor can do the work. If your phone system is technologically sound and up-to-date, there is no reason why you need to purchase another one. Simply have it relocated as well. In either case, consult your cable installer about the matter.
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.
In order to make the transition as seamless as possible, follow these basic guidelines: 1. Plan the network switch with your provider well in advance. 2. Be familiar with the structural layout of your new space. 3. Know the cabling requirements of the new space. 4. Calculate the number of voice and data drops needed in the new space. 5. Determine if you will be using your existing phone system.
Plan the network switch with your provider well in advance. This is perhaps the most important step in the transition planning. You will want to check with your telecommunications provider about their policy, but it is common for firms to require 45 days of notice for the installation of a phone system. If you are 60 days out from the move, contact your provider now to give yourself some room for error. The sooner you plan, the smoother the transition will be, and the fewer problems will arise.
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.
Does it require plenum or non-plenum cabling? Plenum space houses circulation systems for heating, air-conditioning and ventilation, and often is positioned above a drop ceiling. If your data cabling will run in the same space, you?ll need plenum-rated cable with either a PVC or FEP fire-retardant jacket to guard against fire. Plenum-rated cable is more costly than non-plenum cable, but code requires it.
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.
Determine if you will be using your existing phone system. Your cable installer may be equipped to transfer your existing phone system, in which case it would be included in the bid. In the event that the installer cannot do the job, a subcontractor can do the work. If your phone system is technologically sound and up-to-date, there is no reason why you need to purchase another one. Simply have it relocated as well. In either case, consult your cable installer about the matter.
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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and data cabling.