Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

A professionally installed Cat6 data point typically costs £75 to £120, including materials, labour, certified testing and documentation. The final price depends on the cable type, the number of outlets, containment, route lengths, building access and whether work must happen outside normal hours. The structured cabling cost guide gives a fuller breakdown.

Yes. One of ACCL’s own engineers visits your premises, inspects the proposed cable routes, comms rooms and existing infrastructure, and talks through access, phasing and timescales. The survey is free and carries no obligation, and it gives us enough information to prepare an accurate, itemised quotation. Book a free site survey.

ACCL prepares a written, itemised quotation based on the building and the agreed scope. It takes account of the risk assessment, method statement, access arrangements and any work needed outside normal hours. Where floor plans give enough information, we can provide a fixed-price proposal within 48 hours.

As early as possible. Cabling brings benefits at any stage, but it costs least and disrupts least when it is part of a wider plan: an office move, a new build, a refit or a technology upgrade. At that point ceilings and floors are often open anyway, so routes can be planned properly instead of worked around later.

It depends on the number of outlets, the cable routes, building access, containment and whether the site must stay fully operational. A small office may take days, while a multi-floor fit-out or a phased live-site project takes longer. ACCL confirms the programme after the survey instead of quoting a generic timescale that may not hold.

Yes. We can schedule installations during evenings, weekends, shutdowns or other agreed windows so the work does not interrupt your business. The survey and quotation identify any access, security or staffing requirements that come with out-of-hours work.

Yes. A project can be split into planned phases, as long as the overall design is agreed at the start. That avoids duplicated containment, mismatched cable types and short-term decisions that make later phases more expensive.

Structured cabling, also called data cabling or network cabling, is a planned system of copper and fibre cables, outlets, patch panels, cabinets and pathways. It carries a building’s data, voice, VoIP, Wi-Fi, CCTV, access control, printers and telephone systems, and it is designed and documented as one system rather than as separate, unplanned cable runs. Data cable is not electrical wiring: it has to be installed and terminated with care to perform over its whole life. Read more about commercial structured cabling.

In practice, yes. IT cabling, data cabling, comms cabling and network cabling all describe the copper and fibre infrastructure that connects computers, switches, access points, phones and cameras. A network cabling installation covers the survey, containment, cable runs, termination, labelling, testing and the documents you keep afterwards.

It is the backbone of every connected system in the building, and it usually outlasts the equipment plugged into it. Installed well and with growth in mind, it keeps moves and changes simple and limits downtime when teams or equipment change. Installed badly, it causes bottlenecks, intermittent faults and extra cost each time the business grows.

Because the system follows cabling standards rather than one manufacturer’s specification, you can use equipment from any supplier. It supports more devices at once, from laptops and phones to printers and personal devices brought in by staff. It lets smart-building systems share one infrastructure, and it leaves room for faster equipment later without pulling new cable.

Common signs are slow or dropping connections, faults that are hard to trace, new equipment that cannot reach its rated speed, and cabinets so crowded that changes are risky. New hardware, faster internet access and more users all put pressure on older cabling, and a bottleneck in the wrong place can take a network down. A survey and a test of the existing links show whether repair, reorganising or replacement makes sense.

A patch cable, also called a patch cord or patch lead, is a short cable that connects two devices or ports. It links a computer to a wall outlet, a patch panel to a switch, or one network device to another in a cabinet. Copper patch leads use RJ45 connectors and come in Cat5e, Cat6 and Cat6a; fibre patch leads use connectors such as LC, SC or ST. They are more flexible than the permanent cabling, so the network can be reconfigured easily.

No. There is no universal scheme that assigns a service to each colour. Many organisations set their own convention, for example one colour for data, one for voice, one for cameras and one for access points. Whatever colours you use should be documented, labelled and applied consistently at both ends of every connection.

Cat6 is a common choice for new general office installations. Cat6a is usually preferred where 10 Gigabit Ethernet is needed over channels up to 100 metres, or where extra performance margin matters. Existing Cat5e may still suit some lower-bandwidth uses. The right choice depends on the applications, route, environment and expected service life. Compare Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6a, Cat7 and Cat8.

The required reaction-to-fire classification depends on the building, the cable route, occupancy and the project’s fire strategy. ACCL selects products and records them to match the agreed specification and the requirements that apply. The rating should be confirmed during design, not picked from a generic rule that ignores the building.

Cat6a, short for Category 6 augmented, is twisted-pair Ethernet cable designed for data rates up to 10 Gbps over channels up to 100 metres. It is a step up from Cat6, which reaches 10 Gbps only over much shorter runs, and it suits busy offices, Wi-Fi access points and anything that needs headroom for future equipment. See when to upgrade an office to Cat6a.

Cat6a supports 10GBASE-T, or 10 Gigabit Ethernet, over a compliant channel up to 100 metres, as well as 1 Gbps and slower speeds. It does not provide 40 Gigabit Ethernet. 25GBASE-T and 40GBASE-T belong to Category 8 cabling over much shorter channels, normally in data centres.

Cat6a uses the RJ45 connector, the standard plug and socket for copper Ethernet. Each of the four pairs is terminated to the T568A or T568B scheme, and the same scheme is used at both ends. Cat6a-rated connectors and careful termination matter: an untwisted pair or the wrong connector can stop the link reaching its full performance, which is why every link is tested after installation.

Shielded Cat6a has a foil or braid layer that protects against electromagnetic interference, so it suits plant rooms, factories and routes near heavy electrical equipment. Unshielded Cat6a is lighter and simpler to install and works well in most offices. Shielded systems must be bonded and earthed correctly to work. Read shielded vs unshielded cabling.

Cat6a costs more than Cat5e or Cat6 because the cable is larger, the components are higher grade and termination takes longer. Installation is usually priced per data point, and the difference narrows once labour, containment and testing are included. For a building expected to run faster equipment over the next decade, the extra margin is often worth it.

Not on its own. Cat6a does not provide a native HDMI connection. Category cabling can form the link for a compatible video-extension system, such as HDBaseT, but that needs a suitable transmitter and receiver at each end. The supported resolution and distance depend on that equipment and the complete installed channel.

Yes. Modern business phones are usually VoIP handsets that connect over Ethernet, often powered by PoE, so they run on the same Cat6a outlets as computers. Cat6a can also carry analogue voice, although it is more than voice alone needs. One cabling system for data and voice keeps moves and changes simple.

Usually not. Cat8 is intended for short, high-speed channels, mainly in data centres. Most office projects are better served by Cat6 or Cat6a, with fibre for backbones, long distances and higher-capacity links between cabinets and floors.

Some electrical contractors employ trained data-cabling specialists, but electrical competence alone does not prove competence in network design, termination and certification. Data cabling has its own standards, test equipment and manufacturer warranty schemes, and a link that powers on can still fail certification. Ask who will design, install, test and document the system, which standards they work to, and whether they hold the test equipment and manufacturer approvals the proposed warranty needs.

ACCL designs and installs commercial cabling to the standards agreed for the project, including ISO/IEC 11801, BS EN 50173, BS EN 50174 and BS 6701 where they apply. The exact standard, cable category, fire classification and test limits should be stated in the project specification and the quotation.

Yes. For a certified installation, each permanent link is tested against the agreed cable category and configuration with suitable certification equipment. The results show passes, failures and the measured performance of each link. Read what Fluke cable certification should include.

The agreed handover pack can include cable certification results, outlet and patch-panel schedules, labels, drawings or route information, and the relevant product and warranty records. ACCL provides Fluke DSX copper reports and OTDR fibre reports within 24 hours of testing.

Yes. Eligible cabling systems installed by ACCL can carry manufacturer-backed system warranties of up to 25 years. The exact warranty depends on the specified products, the approved installation process and successful certification. The quotation states what is covered and any conditions that apply.

Yes, where inspection and testing show that the existing infrastructure suits the intended service. During the survey ACCL identifies what can stay, what should be reorganised or re-terminated, and what needs replacing. Reuse should rest on condition and measured performance, not appearance.

Yes. New cabling can be integrated with the cabinets, switches and fibre you already have, provided they have the capacity, performance and PoE power the new design needs. ACCL checks this during the survey and recommends upgrades only where the existing equipment cannot support the agreed design reliably.

Yes. ACCL installs, splices, tests, certifies and repairs commercial fibre links. For critical fibre emergencies the response time is two to four hours. The engineer locates the fault, completes the repair or splice, tests the link and records the result. See fibre-optic repair.

Yes. We assess coverage needs, access-point positions, interference, backhaul cabling, PoE and switching as one coordinated Wi-Fi project. A survey matters most in multi-floor, high-density or difficult buildings. See wireless installation and support.

Yes. ACCL installs commercial IP CCTV and access control, including the structured cabling that connects cameras, controllers, readers and network equipment. ACCL is SSAIB certified for CCTV and access control. See commercial CCTV installation and commercial access control.

Yes. One ACCL survey can cover several connected systems. Planning them together avoids duplicated cable routes and separate contractors working at cross purposes, and it gives you one coordinated quotation and programme.

A normal camera forms an image from visible light. A thermal imaging camera forms it from infrared radiation, the heat that people, vehicles and equipment give off, so it sees in complete darkness, smoke and light fog.

Thermal cameras add most to an existing CCTV system in dark areas, along perimeters and at night, where a standard camera struggles to pick out a person. They are often used for fence lines, yards, plant rooms and remote sites. See thermal imaging CCTV installation.

Not directly. A thermal camera cannot see moisture inside a wall, but it can show the small temperature differences that water often causes, which points to where a leak may be.

No. Most walls are thick and insulated enough to block the infrared radiation from whatever is on the other side. A thermal camera reads the surface temperature of the wall itself.

A thermal image is a map of temperatures. Warmer areas usually show in warm colours such as red, orange and yellow, and cooler areas in purple, blue and green. Many security cameras use a white-hot or black-hot greyscale instead, which makes people stand out clearly. Read our guide to thermal imaging.

Anything with a heat signature: people, animals and vehicles, as well as gaps in insulation, air leaks, possible water leaks, stud positions, electrical hot spots and overheating equipment.

ACCL works across London, Kent, Surrey and the wider South East from its London and Orpington offices. Projects outside those areas can be considered depending on their scope. Share the site address when you enquire so we can confirm coverage and the best next step.

Look for trained, certified engineers, help with design, and support after handover, such as maintenance and changes. Ask who will survey and install the system, which standards and manufacturers they work with, how every link will be tested, what documents you will receive, what the warranty covers and how faults will be handled. The quotation should set out the scope, exclusions, cable specification, containment, testing and handover.

No. ACCL’s own engineers carry out the surveys and the installation work. That keeps the handover between survey, design and delivery inside one team and gives you a clear line of responsibility from start to finish.