New construction and tenant fit-out cabling
Cablify carries the low-voltage scope on new buildings and tenant improvements: telecom rooms, pathways, data cabling, access control and camera cabling, worked to the general contractor’s schedule from rough-in to closeout.
- Spec divisions
- 27 Communications, 28 Electronic Safety and Security
- Firestopping
- Tested systems to UL 1479 / ASTM E814
- Inspections
- Rough-in and above-ceiling
- Closeout
- Record drawings and test results
Who does what in the specifications
CSI MasterFormat splits building systems into divisions. Knowing which division a device sits in tells you which contractor carries it.
| Division | Covers | Where it meets our work |
|---|---|---|
| 26 Electrical | Power, lighting, panels and, on many projects, conduit and back boxes | Pathways and boxes for our cable; power for racks, locks and cameras |
| 27 Communications | Structured cabling, telecom rooms, racks, fiber and access point cabling | Our core scope |
| 28 Electronic Safety and Security | Access control, video surveillance and intrusion detection | Cabling and device installation for security systems |
Where low-voltage work lands in the schedule
Each stage has a point after which a mistake costs a wall or a ceiling. These are the stages we plan around.
Preconstruction
Submittals, product data and coordination of telecom room layouts, tray routes and device locations with the other trades.
Rough-in
Sleeves, back boxes, pathways and cable tray before walls close. In many jurisdictions the rough low-voltage inspection comes after framing, fireblocking and firestopping.
Cable pull
Horizontal and backbone cable once pathways and the ceiling grid are in place, labeled as it is pulled.
Above-ceiling inspection
Many building departments inspect wiring above the ceiling, including low-voltage cable, before ceiling tile goes in.
Trim-out
Jacks, faceplates, devices, racks and patch panels after paint and finishes.
Testing and closeout
Every link tested to the specification, then record drawings, test results and labels handed over.
Firestopping is part of the scope
Building codes require cable passing through fire-rated walls and floors to be protected by firestop systems tested to UL 1479 or ASTM E814 and installed as tested. The tested system earns the rating, not any single product in it, so a sealant from one system and a sleeve from another does not pass.
The NEC repeats the rule for communications and fiber cable in Sections 800.26 and 770.26. We install listed systems at our penetrations and record each one on the drawings for the inspector.
Ground-up or tenant improvement
The same trade, two different jobs.
Ground-up buildings
We start with the entrance facility and the telecom rooms on each floor, so the backbone, the risers and the carrier handoff are planned before any horizontal cable. See structured cabling.
Tenant improvements
We start with what the base building already provides: riser space, the landlord’s telecom room and any cable left by the last tenant, which may have to come out. See cable removal.
Radio coverage for first responders is often in the same project. Our commercial real estate page covers the fire code rules.
Common questions
What is the difference between Division 27 and Division 28?
Division 27 covers communications: structured cabling, telecom rooms and fiber. Division 28 covers electronic safety and security: access control, video surveillance and intrusion detection.
When is low voltage installed during construction?
Pathways and boxes go in during rough-in while walls are open. Cable is pulled once pathways and the ceiling grid are in, and devices are trimmed out after finishes.
What is an above-ceiling inspection?
An inspection of the wiring above the ceiling, including low-voltage cable, done before ceiling tile is installed. Fixing a failed item after tile is in costs far more.
What does an RCDD do?
A BICSI Registered Communications Distribution Designer plans and designs telecommunications distribution systems. Some owners require one to approve the design, installation and documentation.
Request a construction cabling quote
Send the project address, the drawings or specifications for Divisions 27 and 28, and the general contractor’s schedule.