City of London workplace: 539 warranted Cat 6A links and two-stage Wi-Fi validation
ACCL delivered a complete Molex Category 6A structured cabling system for a workplace fit-out in the City of London, installing 539 warranted links, wireless and CCTV cabling, resilient containment and a rationalised three-cabinet communications room, phased around live construction.
ACCL was appointed by the main fit-out contractor to design and install the passive network infrastructure for a single-floor workplace on behalf of their end client, a financial services firm. The installation combined a substantial Category 6A copper platform with structured containment and an integrated communications room, delivered as part of a wider fit-out running alongside live construction.
The result
The completed infrastructure provided the client with:
- 425 low-level Category 6A data outlets
- 24 high-level wireless access point outlets
- 18 high-level CCTV outlets
- 72 inter-cabinet links across three 24-way connections
- A three-cabinet communications room, rationalised from four cabinets to three
- Full permanent-link testing and certification across every link
- An early handover of the main equipment room ahead of Practical Completion
- Two-stage active Wi-Fi validation confirming coverage in the finished space
- Tested, labelled and documented infrastructure ready for the client’s IT team
Services delivered
Overview
ACCL was appointed by the main fit-out contractor to install and commission a complete structured cabling system for a financial services workplace occupying a single floor of a commercial building in the City of London.
The project required more than a set of data outlets. The workplace depended on a single passive network platform to carry high-speed data, wireless access points, CCTV and the links between the communications cabinets.
ACCL installed a Molex Category 6A system providing 539 warranted links, supported by structured containment and an integrated communications room, all delivered in phases so the work could progress alongside live construction and fit-out activities without holding up the wider programme.
The challenge
A workplace fit-out of this kind brings together several technology systems, trades and building services within one construction programme, and the passive network has to be ready before the active systems can be commissioned.
ACCL had to consider a resilient, clearly documented platform for data, wireless, CCTV and inter-cabinet connectivity, distribution of Category 6A cabling across the floor, wireless access point and CCTV outlet positions at high level, high-density cable routes approaching the communications room, coordination with the main contractor, fit-out contractors and other trades on a changing site, and a phased sequence that kept pace with construction milestones. Early enablement of the client’s IT deployment ahead of overall completion also had to be considered, alongside validation that wireless coverage met expectations once the space was fully fitted out.
In a workplace environment, this underlying infrastructure is a critical part of the fit-out rather than a secondary building service, because the systems that depend on it are needed from the first day of occupation.
Designing a resilient Category 6A platform
At the centre of the project was a Molex PowerCat 6A U/FTP system installed with low-smoke, zero-halogen, Euroclass B2ca-rated cable.
Horizontal links were installed as continuous home runs from Cabinet 003 in the Main Equipment Room to each outlet and terminated to T568B, giving a consistent, fully tested permanent link at every position.
Containment was designed for both protection and resilience. Low-level routes were protected by Jezmatt matting, raising primary cable paths approximately 10 mm above the slab. High-level tray connected the communications room with the workplace, with GOP boxes positioned for accessible device connections, and fire-resistant metallic supports were specified where cable collapse could create a risk.
Project context
Commercial workplaces in the City of London increasingly depend on the network infrastructure hidden behind the finished space. An occupier may never see the structured cabling, communications cabinets or containment, but the systems they rely on every day depend on that infrastructure being correctly designed, installed and tested.
This makes coordination during the fit-out particularly important. Once ceilings, walls, joinery and finishes are complete, changing underlying cable routes becomes considerably more disruptive, so planning the passive network early allows it to become part of the workplace design rather than something accommodated afterwards.
Planning a workplace cabling or Wi-Fi project?
Modern workplaces increasingly need one coordinated infrastructure strategy for data, Wi-Fi and security. ACCL can work with occupiers, fit-out contractors and consultants from the design stage through installation, testing and handover.
Installed network infrastructure
The horizontal cabling was substantial for a single floor, providing structured connectivity for several disciplines from one platform. ACCL installed 425 low-level Category 6A data outlets, 24 high-level wireless access point outlets, 18 high-level CCTV outlets and 72 inter-cabinet links across three 24-way connections, totalling 539 warranted Category 6A links and 18,552 m of cable, all installed and tested.
Bringing data, wireless and CCTV connectivity into one coordinated Category 6A installation created a common physical platform rather than allowing individual systems to develop as disconnected installations.
Phased delivery around a live fit-out
The installation was delivered over a six-month programme, from March to August 2026, planned and executed across multiple phases to align with the client’s construction milestones.
Phasing the work maintained continuity with parallel construction activities, supported critical deadlines and minimised disruption to other trades. ACCL coordinated closely with the main contractor, the client team, fit-out contractors and specialist trades to manage changing site conditions and hand over each area in line with the agreed programme.
Overhead containment and cable routing
Alongside the low-level distribution beneath the raised access floor, high-level tray carried structured cabling across the ceiling void, connecting the communications room with the wider workplace.
Routing cabling overhead in this way kept containment clear of other trades working at floor level during the fit-out, while giving the completed installation a documented, accessible route for future moves, adds and changes.
Early handover of the main equipment room
A defining feature of the project was the sectional completion and early handover of the Main Equipment Room. The communications room was completed and handed over to the client’s IT team nearly two months before formal Practical Completion of the overall project.
Delivering this ahead of the wider fit-out required careful coordination while surrounding construction continued. ACCL managed the environmental and access constraints so the structured cabling and supporting infrastructure could be tested, certified and commissioned early, allowing the client’s IT deployment to begin before the rest of the space was finished.
Wi-Fi design, installation and two-stage validation
ACCL installed the wireless access point infrastructure using client free-issued devices. ACCL was responsible for the physical installation, while ownership and control of the network configuration remained with the client’s IT team.
During design review, ACCL assessed the original Wi-Fi heat map, the proposed access point quantities and their locations. An independent wireless survey showed that additional physical access points and revised locations were required to achieve the intended coverage and performance.
ACCL then carried out a two-stage active survey: an active survey after installation to confirm the predicted outcomes and allow minor location adjustments where required, followed by a second active survey after Practical Completion, once walls, doors, furniture and other fit-out elements were in place, using the client’s live network configuration.
The two-stage process confirmed that the final wireless installation delivered the coverage, performance and end-user experience the client expected, while keeping a clear boundary between the physical installation ACCL provided and the network configuration the client controlled.
Testing, certification and the 25-year warranty
Every installed Category 6A link was tested with calibrated Fluke Networks DSX-8000 analysers to the EN 50173 PL2 Class EA (+PoE) permanent-link limit. Testing covered wire map, length, insertion loss, near-end crosstalk, return loss, propagation delay and delay skew, with the full results included in the handover pack.
539 links were tested and warranted, across 18,552 m of installed and tested cable, carrying a 25-year Molex system warranty registered under WTYIIIEN6097. Testing every permanent link to a recognised limit and registering the manufacturer warranty gives the client documented assurance that the platform performs as designed.
Standards-led delivery and documentation
The installation documentation records alignment with ISO/IEC 11801, the BS EN 50173 and BS EN 50174 series, ISO 30129, ANSI/TIA-606 and EN 50310, with cabinet earthing documented against BS 7671:2018 and the relevant telecommunications bonding requirements.
Cables were labelled at both ends using Brady wraparound labels, and patch panels carried source and destination identifiers. The handover pack included the installation overview, cabinet layout, floor plans, test results, warranty information and technical data sheets, giving the client’s IT team a complete record of the installed infrastructure.
Sustainability and cabinet rationalisation
Sustainability was built into the communications-room design by retaining and reusing the client’s existing network cabinets. ACCL rationalised the arrangement from four cabinets to three, reducing the physical footprint and the associated power requirement.
Three client-supplied 47U cabinets were reused, bayed together, levelled and clearly labelled, with internal cable tray for organised routing, reused client-supplied PDUs and compliant earthing and bonding provisions. The cabinet internals were reorganised to use the available rack space more efficiently and improve airflow management, supporting the operational efficiency of the network devices and creating a more compact, practical communications-room layout.
Technologies used
ACCL’s role
ACCL was appointed by the main fit-out contractor to deliver the structured cabling and supporting infrastructure for the workplace. Our role included:
- Structured cabling design and coordination
- Planning the Category 6A distribution across the floor
- Installing 425 low-level data outlets, 24 wireless access point outlets and 18 CCTV outlets
- Installing 72 inter-cabinet links across three 24-way connections
- Delivering the Main Equipment Room and communications-room infrastructure
- Reusing and rationalising the client’s cabinets from four to three
- Installing structured containment, including matting, tray and fire-resistant supports
- Installing the wireless access point infrastructure using client free-issued devices
- Copper termination to T568B and permanent-link testing with Fluke Networks DSX-8000 analysers
- Labelling, documentation and handover
- Early sectional handover of the communications room ahead of Practical Completion
- A two-stage active Wi-Fi survey to validate coverage
The project demonstrates the value of treating structured cabling, wireless and security cabling as one coordinated infrastructure package delivered around a live construction programme.
A tested foundation for a changing workplace
The significance of the project is not only the 539 warranted links installed, but the way a single Category 6A platform brought data, wireless and CCTV connectivity together and was proven to perform.
Structured containment, consistent labelling, comprehensive permanent-link testing, phased delivery, an early communications-room handover and a 25-year manufacturer warranty created a maintainable foundation for current operations and future change. For a City of London workplace where connectivity underpins daily operations, that documented, warranted foundation is exactly what allows the occupier’s technology to grow without repeated re-cabling.
Related guidance
Foreword by Wayne
Wayne Connors, Managing Director, ACCL“This project was a good example of how much careful sequencing sits behind a workplace fit-out.
We installed 539 warranted Category 6A links across the floor, supporting data, wireless and CCTV from one platform, with 18,552 metres of cable all tested to the permanent-link standard and covered by a 25-year manufacturer warranty.
What made it particularly interesting was the delivery. We handed the main equipment room over to the client’s IT team nearly two months before Practical Completion, so they could get started early while the wider fit-out continued around them.
We also took a two-stage approach to the Wi-Fi. An independent survey showed the original access point plan needed more devices and revised positions, so we validated the coverage once after installation and again after Practical Completion using the live network, with the client keeping control of the network configuration throughout.
Reusing the existing cabinets and rationalising them from four to three reduced the footprint and power demand, which was a straightforward but worthwhile efficiency for the client.”
Frequently asked questions
What did ACCL install on this City of London project?
ACCL installed a complete Molex Category 6A structured cabling system across a single-floor workplace, made up of 539 warranted links: 425 low-level data outlets, 24 wireless access point outlets, 18 CCTV outlets and 72 inter-cabinet links, supported by structured containment and a three-cabinet communications room.
How much cable was installed and tested?
ACCL installed and tested 18,552 metres of Category 6A cable, with every one of the 539 permanent links certified.
Why was Category 6A chosen?
Category 6A supports 10 Gigabit Ethernet across the full 100-metre channel and Power over Ethernet for devices such as wireless access points and CCTV. Combined with low-smoke, zero-halogen, Euroclass B2ca-rated cable, it provides a platform with headroom for current and future workplace technology.
How was the cabling tested and certified?
Every link was tested with calibrated Fluke Networks DSX-8000 analysers to the EN 50173 PL2 Class EA (+PoE) permanent-link limit, covering wire map, length, insertion loss, near-end crosstalk, return loss, propagation delay and delay skew. The full results are included in the handover pack.
What warranty comes with the installation?
The system carries a 25-year Molex system warranty, registered under WTYIIIEN6097, covering the installed Category 6A links.
How long did the project take?
ACCL delivered the installation over a six-month programme from March to August 2026, phased to align with the client’s construction milestones and to minimise disruption to the other trades on site.
Why was the communications room handed over early?
ACCL completed and handed over the Main Equipment Room nearly two months before formal Practical Completion, so the client’s IT team could begin their deployment early while the wider fit-out continued.
How did ACCL confirm the Wi-Fi coverage was right?
A design review and an independent wireless survey showed that additional access points and revised locations were needed. ACCL then carried out a two-stage active survey: one after installation and a second after Practical Completion using the live network.
Who was responsible for the Wi-Fi network configuration?
ACCL installed the wireless access point infrastructure using client free-issued devices and was responsible for the physical installation. Ownership and control of the network configuration remained with the client’s IT team throughout.
Does Wi-Fi still require structured cabling?
Yes. Enterprise wireless access points need a physical network connection back to the cabinet, normally with Power over Ethernet. The quality and positioning of that underlying cabling is an important part of any commercial Wi-Fi deployment.
What made the installation more sustainable?
ACCL retained and reused the client’s existing network cabinets and rationalised the layout from four cabinets to three, reducing the footprint and power requirement, then reorganised the internals to improve rack-space use and airflow.
What standards does the installation align with?
The documentation records alignment with ISO/IEC 11801, the BS EN 50173 and BS EN 50174 series, ISO 30129, ANSI/TIA-606 and EN 50310, with cabinet earthing documented against BS 7671:2018.
Can data, Wi-Fi and CCTV share the same structured cabling platform?
Yes. Modern IP-based wireless and CCTV systems can use structured Category 6A cabling, so their physical connections can be designed and coordinated alongside the wider data infrastructure while remaining part of their respective systems.
Structured cabling for workplace fit-outs
For occupiers, consultants and fit-out contractors planning new workplaces, refurbishments or technology upgrades, involving the structured cabling specialist early helps coordinate the network, wireless and security requirements before construction reaches the stage where changes become difficult or disruptive.
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