Network Cabling Training

[nathan]

I'm thinking of getting a couple of our technicians to start network cabling in our schools. It all seems pretty simple, but would any of you recommend any training courses, resources etc?

 

EDIT: Should point out it would only be CAT cabling, we would probably buy pre-terminated fibre cables.

Edited March 9, 2017 by nathan

[HarryMonkey]

Whilst it all seems pretty straightforward, there are a wealth of regulations that need to be looked at ... where you can drill, fireproofing, terminating standards etc. The kit for testing and producing printouts can also be very pricey. If it's not something you're going to be doing a lot of then I would get a local company to do the cabling for you. Failing that, there are City & Guilds courses that are available.

 

Also check out where you stand regarding insurance, if it's not part of your job and you fall off a ladder or injure a colleague or student, where would you stand?

[nathan]

Thanks for the reply. Already checked with HR on the health and Safety side and we are already good to go. I've researched the kit and it doesn't look to bad for the mid level equipment. I will need to look into the regulations regarding fireproofing etc.

 

We were quoted for around £80 a point last time, which to me seems pretty expensive.

[sidewinder]

The kit for testing and producing printouts can also be very pricey.?

 

In 12 years, 2 schools and with countless cabling contractors, I think only once have I received test results. No doubt most would provide them if you ask but honestly, if there's any issue with a point they've installed I get them back in to fix it - which is hardly ever.

 

Edit: speaking for copper here. I do insist on test results for fibre

[paulellam]

They could get accredited with a cable manufacturer, but that would not give them proper cabling installation experience. It may seem pretty simple, but an experienced installer may disagree, if drilling through walls is involved you guys will have to be careful, and are they good with heights etc?

 

£80 a point sounds a lot but it depends on how many in one go, and depends on the length of run etc.

[Edu-IT]

Thanks for the reply. Already checked with HR on the health and Safety side and we are already good to go. I've researched the kit and it doesn't look to bad for the mid level equipment. I will need to look into the regulations regarding fireproofing etc.

 

We were quoted for around £80 a point last time, which to me seems pretty expensive.

Do HR know the school buildings inside out then in terms of Asbestos and such like and whatever else may be in roof spaces? It may be cheaper to do it in house but you need to be confident that your technicians know how to identify potential risks and the process to follow. Also, if they bring the ceiling down / drill through pipes, its on your insurance not the contractors. £80 a socket is quite expensive I'd shop around. Need to think about working at height training etc too.

Edited May 27, 2017 by Edu-IT

[minimoo]

We have a self-employed electrician that does all the electrics. Over summer we had him run in cat5 leads (Whilst wiring electrics next to the new sockets), drill holes in wall etc - and left us with the 100 ends to terminate. That is a rather lucky setup though to have.

 

In terms of fibre - our experience of that was the reverse - we tried running pre-terminated fibre over a few hundred metres - it got caught on part of the run - ended up having a company out to run it without the end on..

[forkies]

We run all copper networking ourselves, we have been on a lot of courses run by our LA which are all health and safety related courses. We have some testing equipment to certify all installs.

I have had quotes this year for cabling installs (we no longer have time for various reasons) and the quotations are costly, the only way to afford it is to have lots of points installed at once cutting the labour cost.

The issue for us, is we end up spending most of the time with the engineers showing them where to run the cabling and checking in, so again costing more man hours. Definitely recommend getting your team running cables for saving costs!

 

Here are some of the courses I can think of:

Asbestos awareness (if pre 2000)

Health and safety building regulations course

Building fire safety course (if separate to above)

Working at heights training

Mobile access tower training

First aid training (never know especially in holidays)

 

As the employer, you also need to do risk assessment and method statements for all the works, I recommend putting together a folder with everything you can think of for cabling and such, so it is all together and reference these when doing installs. Be sure they know how to identify electrics and isolate them.

 

As said above, insurance, but depending on your building it is less likely to end up drilling through pipes if they are exposed rather than in walls. But your building insurance should cover any works you carry out, check with your business manager.

 

Finally, inevitably your team is going to mess up somewhere and make a horrible mess drilling through a wall, so some basic diy repair training to make the finish good.