Stay connected with the latest industry news and views

Getting Power + Data Where You Need It

8 February 2022

Different tenancies present different opportunities for running power and data. Some methods are more challenging than others. Some not-so-unique examples of challenges include; running cables through concrete floors, masonry walls, in the middle of the room and under carpet. But we have our ways of making things work, keeping it convenient AND making it look great.

We’re going to go through some methods of providing power and data to exactly where you need it. There are more options than you think!

Chasing Floors:

Polished concrete is such a hardy material, and it’s so on-trend at the moment. To run cables under-foot we will need to ‘chase’ (bury into), by cutting into the concrete floor, making a crevice that the cables can be run through. Since the flooring will be exposed, we also need to make sure that it looks schmick!

Chasing floors can reduce the integrity of a concrete structure, particularly if it is a suspended slab. Therefore, pre-planning is essential. It will often involve scanning the slab by an engineer, to ensure no critical areas are damaged.

Safety considerations include:

• Dust created from chasing, sometimes releasing silica, which can cause silicosis.
• Noise/vibration: often if there are workers in the building already, this sort of work will need to be done on weekends or out of hours, which incurs additional costs.
• The operation of dangerous machinery. The chasing machine has diamond blades, and is extremely sharp and strong. Our team are trained and well-equipped to handle these sorts of tools.
• Other trades in the area. It’s so important for our workers to protect themselves, as well as the other trades working on site. Access to the site will need to be restricted.

We mark out the areas that we are chasing, and then using a chasing machine, we cut out the marked areas. We use a hand-held cutting tool that has a diamond blade that cuts directly into the concrete. And of course, very powerful tools require appropriate PPE; including dust masks, eye protection, hearing protection and gloves. We will have access to a vacuum attachment, which helps with dust extraction.

The waste between the two cuts is removed by a chisel. It takes some time, but it starts to become neat after a while.

The finished floor box will appear as a recessed box, with a subtle channel running from it to the power source. It sits neatly in the concrete with the cables run through conduit which is encapsulated in concrete.

Core Hole Drilling

Core Hole Drilling is another way that cables can be run from one spot to another. Cable can be run from one area, down through the slab, and then back up again where required, in a ‘U’ shape. Because we will be drilling straight through a slab, it can cause more stress to the integrity of a concrete slab as opposed to chasing. If you are unable to chase and ducting isn’t an option, it’s something we can do as well!

Here’s how it works:

• The slab will need to be inspected and scanned by an engineer before any drilling can occur.
• We will need to work with Building Managers, who will liaise with their tenants. Often, tenants with exposed ceilings will not wish to have their side of the slab drilled into.
• For a small hole, we can use our own hammer drills with a concrete bit, but for larger holes (requiring more cable to run through), a specialised core hole machine is required. It is therefore very noisy and can cause vibrations throughout the building. This will mean planning out-of-hours access to minimise impact to other tenants in the building.

Considerations include:

• Substantial additional costs due to the need for an engineer and specialised equipment.
• Noise and vibrations, the possible need to complete it out-of-hours.
• Safety concerns; dust, silica, exhaust fumes, other trades in the area, damage to the slab, manual handling.

Wall Chasing:

If you think existing masonry walls look like they’d be impossible to run cables down, you’d be… almost correct. There are a few ways we can get around it, by chasing or conduit. Chasing is definitely the neatest method, It is pretty much the same process as floor chasing, but vertical! This method is used often in heritage buildings, which are usually built with solid walls.

The safety concerns are similar to floor chasing as well, however there is less stress on the structural integrity of a concrete or brick wall as opposed to a slab, so we won’t often be required to scan it.

Once the space has been cut out, we will then run the cables through a conduit and secure it in the crevice. It may be necessary to fill it with a filler, or with concrete.

Wall Conduit:

Conduit work is a little different. It doesn’t require any cutting or chiseling, and is a much more cost-effective way to run cables than wall chasing. Wall conduit is not recessed into the wall, rather it sits on top of the wall. It’s a more simple process, but does require pre-planning, as we want it to look as neat and as invisible as possible.

A PVC channel which encases the cables is screwed to concrete or brick walls, running from the power source to the socket outlet.

Getting Power and Data to Desks

Speed Ramps:

Speed ramps are a great solution where core drilling, floor and wall chasing are not options. They look pretty much as they sound; the cables are run through a speed ‘hump’ that sits under carpet. As cables are quite small, the height of the speed humps is fairly undetectable, particularly when furniture has all been moved in.

They are also very easy to alter. Works on speed ramps can be done even when construction has finished, making them a very convenient option.

Usually the only concerns are if they are visible, or if they are in a high traffic area. Pre-planning to avoid this is definitely ideal. This option is also very cost-effective, as it is a quick and relatively easy solution that doesn’t alter the integrity of the slab at all.

UmbiIlcals:

Umbilicals are a great option when running power to desks in the middle of a room. They provide a way to run power and data from the roof, directly down to the desk. An Umbilical is a plastic ‘spine’-looking contraption that encases the cables inside. This option is great when you don’t have the option, or simply don’t want to run cables under-foot.

After they are installed, they are then softwired, and cables are arranged neatly under the desks, providing power and data to computers, printers, etc.

Ceiling tiles can offer many convenient ways to run cables, due to their ‘temporary’, and adjustable nature. It’s very easy to install Umbilicals from these ceilings.

It can also be done on exposed ceilings, these are usually run from cable trays.

Cable Trays:

We’ve previously written about Cable Trays, an interesting way to get cables to run overhead for exposed ceilings. Click here to find out more.

Floor Boxes:

Another relevant topic we’ve covered off already is Floor Boxes, click here. This blog illustrates how we run cables from the wall to the middle of the room under carpet with no speed ramp. Usually this will be used for Board/Meeting rooms and some office desks.

We’d love to help you choose the best solution for your space. If you have questions on what might work best for your next project, you can see there are so many options! We’re here to help you find the best and most cost-effective solution for providing power and data where you need it.