10 Things to Ask Before Hiring a Structured Cabling Installer in Utah

Did you know that between 50% to 70% of network downtime can be traced back to poor cabling infrastructure? That’s why choosing the right partner for your structured cabling installation is critical—not just for today, but for the long-term scalability and performance of your network. If you’re looking to upgrade or install a new structured cabling system in Utah, take a moment to read our Checklist: 10 Things to Ask Before Hiring a Structured Cabling Installer in Utah.

Key Takeaways:

• Ask for certifications to ensure industry-standard and Utah-specific compliance.

• Always check local references and inspect past work.

• Choose plenum-rated cables when required by Utah building codes.

• Design for scalability—extra drops and conduit space are smart investments.

• Demand cable testing and certification reports.

• Look for clean cable management and ANSI-compliant labeling.

• Make sure your installer provides a labor and materials warranty.

• Ask how they’ll minimize business disruption.

• Check their experience in your specific industry.

• Insist on complete documentation post-install.

Why Asking the Right Questions Matters

Hiring the wrong cabling installer can lead to a messy and inefficient cabling system that’s not up to code, hard to maintain, and expensive to scale. Poor planning, shortcuts, and non-compliant materials could cost you thousands in rework, downtime, or network instability.

In Utah, building codes and environmental conditions (such as dry air and fluctuating temperatures) may affect how cables are routed, grounded, and shielded. Local regulations and permitting processes may also vary by municipality, making local experience essential.

Structured cabling is the backbone of your IT operations. It’s not just about plugging in wires, it’s about designing a reliable, scalable foundation that supports voice, data, and video communications. So before signing any contracts, arm yourself with the right questions to ensure your installer is up to the task.

10 Key Questions to Ask a Structured Cabling Installer in Utah

1. Are You Certified in Industry Standards (e.g., BICSI, TIA/EIA)?

Certifications show the installer understands the latest in structured cabling components and compliance standards. Look for credentials such as BICSI (Building Industry Consulting Service International), TIA (Telecommunications Industry Association), and EIA (Electronic Industries Alliance). In Utah, also ask if they are familiar with state and local codes. If they say, “We’ve done this for years” but can’t show credentials, consider it a red flag.

2. Can You Provide References or Examples of Past Work in Utah?

Ask for photos or walkthroughs of completed jobs in your area. Look for clean structured cable routes with well-bundled cables, minimal visible slack, and cables terminated cleanly at patch panels. Well-organized racks should have logical port grouping, secured cabling pathways, and appropriate ventilation. Labeling should follow a consistent and legible standard—ideally ANSI/TIA-606—so each cable can be easily identified. These visual indicators speak volumes about the installer’s attention to detail and professionalism.

3. What Type of Cables Do You Use, and Are They Plenum-Rated if Needed?

Plenum-rated cables are required in air-handling spaces due to fire safety. A good installer should explain when to use plenum vs. riser-rated cables and how it relates to Utah’s building codes, which may vary by county. They should also be familiar with the appropriate category of twisted-pair cables such as Cat5e, Cat6, and Cat6a, depending on your bandwidth and distance requirements. For high-performance needs, fiber optic cabling might also be necessary. Ask if they use shielded vs. unshielded cable types, especially if your environment is prone to electromagnetic interference (EMI), which can be common near heavy machinery or electrical systems.

4. How Do You Plan for Future Expansion and Scalability?

Your cabling infrastructure should be designed with growth in mind. Installers should plan for extra drops, leave slack in cables, and allocate room in conduits or trays for future needs—especially important in Utah’s fast-growing business districts. They should also consider implementing modular patch panels and high-capacity cable trays to easily accommodate additions. Future-proofing might also include preparing for higher cable categories (like Cat6a or Cat7) and integrating wireless access point (WAP) drops in ceilings to support the increasing demand for wireless connectivity.

5. Do You Test and Certify Each Cable After Installation?

Testing is more than just checking if it “works.” It involves verifying that each cable meets the performance standards set by TIA/EIA for bandwidth, signal loss, and cross-talk. Ask for PDF results from cable certifiers—such as Fluke Networks or similar devices—that generate detailed test reports, including pass/fail status, length, attenuation, and wiremap. These ensure your structured cabling system meets performance thresholds for data transmission and can support high-speed applications like VoIP and video conferencing. Reliable documentation is also key for compliance in commercial Utah buildings, supporting future audits, moves, adds, and changes (MACs), and providing peace of mind for IT teams managing the infrastructure.

6. How Do You Handle Cable Management and Labeling?

Neatness counts. Ask if they follow ANSI/TIA-606 standards for labeling, which dictate consistent identifiers for cables, racks, patch panels, and outlets. Properly labeled IT cabling—including using machine-printed, durable labels placed at both ends of each cable—saves hours during maintenance, upgrades, and troubleshooting. For example, a clearly labeled patch panel lets technicians instantly identify where a specific port leads without manual tracing. This is especially crucial in Utah, where many tech companies operate in fast-paced, multi-tenant office parks with limited IT staffing. Color-coded cables, clearly documented labeling schemes, and logically grouped cable bundles further streamline IT operations and reduce errors.

7. Do You Offer a Warranty on Labor and Materials?

A reliable installer should back their work. Typical industry warranties range from 1 to 25 years, depending on the components of structured cabling and manufacturer partnerships. In Utah, this is especially important due to dry climates that can affect material longevity.

8. How Will You Minimize Disruption to Our Business During Installation?

A professional team will schedule around your business hours, maintain a clean worksite, and prioritize safety. For example, in a hospital environment, installers should be able to work in sterile areas without interfering with medical operations, possibly during off-hours or weekends. In schools, coordination around class schedules or summer breaks is key to avoiding disruptions. In retail, where foot traffic and sales cannot be compromised, phased installations during low-traffic hours ensure business continuity. This kind of planning and adaptability is crucial in Utah’s thriving healthcare, education, and retail sectors where uptime is critical and interruptions can lead to lost revenue or compliance issues.

9. What’s Your Experience with Our Office Type or Industry?

Different industries have unique needs. An experienced Utah-based installer will anticipate those nuances—whether it’s HIPAA compliance in healthcare facilities or special grounding needs in manufacturing. We’ve already covered how installations can be executed with minimal disruption in sectors like healthcare, retail, and education. But it’s equally important to know that 1Wire handles every industry and business size—from small professional offices to large corporate campuses. For example, law firms often require discrete cable routing to maintain confidentiality and a polished aesthetic, while call centers demand high-density cabling layouts to support dozens or hundreds of simultaneous workstations with maximum uptime. Our team is equipped to meet those needs with precision and professionalism.

10. Do You Provide a Network Diagram or Documentation Post-Install?

Thorough documentation, including jack locations, rack layouts, and a full cabling system map, is invaluable. It supports audits, troubleshooting, and future upgrades—especially in Utah businesses that are scaling quickly. This documentation can shave hours off the timeline of future IT projects by allowing new teams or vendors to quickly understand the network layout. For instance, expansion efforts that require adding new devices or reconfiguring existing ones can be executed faster when port locations and cable paths are clearly labeled and mapped. Execution timelines vary by project size, but well-documented installs typically cut implementation times by up to 30%. Additionally, future-proofed documentation—such as labeling unused ports and noting spare capacity in conduits or racks—enables easier scaling and budgeting for growth without the need for extensive re-surveys or infrastructure overhauls.

FAQs

What are the 6 components of structured cabling?

The six components include entrance facilities, equipment rooms, backbone cabling, telecommunications rooms, horizontal cabling, and work area components.

Why is plenum-rated cable important in Utah?

Plenum cables are designed to reduce toxic smoke and fire spread in air-handling spaces. They’re often required by building codes in Utah’s commercial buildings.

How long does a structured cabling installation usually take?

It depends on the size and complexity of the site, but small to mid-sized Utah offices typically take 1–3 days.

Is structured cabling better than traditional point-to-point wiring?

Yes, structured cabling offers better scalability, easier management, and fewer errors compared to point-to-point methods.