Blog · Melbourne · Commercial
Office data cabling in Melbourne: what to sort before a fit-out
Data cabling is one of the first trades into an office fit-out and one of the hardest to fix once the ceiling tiles and plasterboard are back. Get the outlet count, rack position and cable type right on paper first, and the run itself is straightforward. Here is what we ask Melbourne businesses to settle before we start.
1. Count the outlets, then add spares
Walk the floor plan desk by desk. Each workstation usually wants at least one data point, and many offices put two at each desk so a phone, dock or second device does not need a switch under the desk. Then add the points people forget:
- Printers and copiers, and the spot where the next one will go.
- Meeting rooms: the screen, the table and any room booking panel.
- Ceiling Wi-Fi access points (more on those below).
- Reception, kitchen screens and digital signage.
- Security cameras, door access readers and intercoms if they run on the network.
A few spare outlets in each area cost far less during the fit-out than a return visit to open a finished wall. If you lease the space, check the fit-out guide from the building manager too, as many buildings have rules on ceiling access and riser use.
2. Decide where the comms rack lives
Every cable runs back to one point, so the rack location shapes the whole job. A good spot is a small room or cupboard with airflow, a dedicated power circuit, and room to open the rack door and work on it. Keep it away from kitchens, wet areas and anywhere a cleaner will stack boxes in front of it.
Distance matters. A structured cabling link from the patch panel to the wall outlet should stay within 90 metres of cable, so on a large floor the rack needs to sit near the middle, or you plan a second rack. Ask your internet provider where the NBN or fibre lead-in enters the tenancy, because the rack is best placed near it.
3. Cat6 or Cat6A?
Both are common in Melbourne offices. Cat6 handles everyday office networking comfortably and is the usual choice for desks and phones. Cat6A is thicker and costs more, but it is rated for 10 gigabit speeds over the full 100 metre channel, where Cat6 is only rated for 10 gigabit over much shorter runs. It is worth it where you expect faster switches, high-bandwidth Wi-Fi or a long lease.
Plenty of offices mix them: Cat6A to the access points and the rack backbone, Cat6 to the desks. Tell us what the network will run and for how long you expect to be in the space, and we will price it both ways if it is a close call.
4. Plan the Wi-Fi points with the IT provider
Most access points are mounted on the ceiling and powered through the data cable itself (Power over Ethernet), so each one needs its own cable back to the rack and no power point. Positions come from your IT provider or a Wi-Fi survey, not guesswork: walls, glass and lift cores all change coverage. Get the access point locations marked on the plan before the ceiling grid is closed. We run and test the cabling; the network design and switch setup stay with your IT people.
5. Keep data and power apart
Data cable runs beside plenty of electrical work in a fit-out, and the rules require separation between data and power cabling. Running both trades with one contractor makes it easier to plan shared pathways, power for the rack and the outlets at each desk in one go. We handle the electrical side of fit-outs as well, covered on our new builds and fit-outs page.
6. Label everything and get it tested
Every outlet should have a number on the wall plate that matches the patch panel, so the next person can find a fault in minutes. Each run should be terminated and tested before handover, so you know every point is connected and working before the desks arrive. Ask for the test results and keep them with your fit-out documents.
What a real job looks like
For Driza-Bone's offices on Burke Street in the Melbourne CBD, we did the complete data cabling job from start to finish: the cable runs through the ceiling, termination at the rack and outlets, wall plates and testing. Our data cabling work ranges from a handful of new points to a full floor like that one.
Quick answers
Can you add points to an existing office? Yes. Extra outlets, moved desks and rack tidy-ups are common jobs. A floor plan or a few photos of the area and the rack through the quote form is a good start.
Do you do after-hours work? We work 24/7, so ask about after-hours cabling when an office needs to keep trading.
Do I get a price first? Always. You get a price before any work starts, and all our work carries a 2-year workmanship warranty.
Where do you work? Commercial spaces across Melbourne, including the CBD and the south-east, with Dandenong and Braeside among our regular areas.
Planning a fit-out or need more data points? Call 1300 456 367, or fill out a form and we'll get right back to you.