Low Voltage Cabling Checklist for New Office Buildouts in Las Vegas

Why Cabling Timing Matters in Buildouts

The most common mistake in office buildouts is bringing in the cabling contractor too late. Low-voltage cabling is one of the few trades that needs access both before walls are closed and after they are finished — and missing the rough-in window is expensive. Adding drops through finished drywall costs significantly more than running cable in open walls during construction.

In Las Vegas, where tenant improvement projects move quickly in competitive commercial real estate, getting the low-voltage sub on site and coordinated early is a real competitive advantage. Delays in cabling can hold up IT setup and push back your occupancy date.

This checklist is designed to help business owners, property managers, and GCs make sure cabling is coordinated correctly at each phase of the buildout.

Pre-Construction Planning Checklist

The planning phase happens before any walls go up. This is when decisions are easiest to change and cheapest to adjust.

• ✓Identify the network room or IDF closet location on the floor plan
• ✓Determine rack size and equipment that will live in the closet
• ✓Map workstation locations and count ethernet drops per desk
• ✓Identify WiFi access point locations based on coverage zones
• ✓Plan for VoIP phone drops at each workstation if applicable
• ✓Identify security camera positions and pathway back to NVR
• ✓Mark cable pathway routes — through ceilings, walls, and conduit
• ✓Confirm conduit requirements in any concrete or fire-rated walls
• ✓Review plan with GC for trade coordination and scheduling
• ✓Confirm permit requirements for low-voltage work with local jurisdiction

During Construction: Rough-In Phase

Rough-in is the window when walls are open and cables can be pulled cleanly. This is the highest-leverage phase — work done correctly here saves time and cost at every subsequent step.

• ✓Pull cable from each drop location to the network closet before walls close
• ✓Leave service loops at each end — extra cable for termination and any adjustments
• ✓Label both ends of each cable with a consistent identifier at pull time
• ✓Install conduit in any concrete slabs, fire walls, or areas requiring protection
• ✓Coordinate with electrician on separation requirements for data vs. power
• ✓Verify pathway to access points and camera locations is complete before ceiling closure
• ✓Document rough-in locations with photos and a rough port map

Trim-Out and Termination Phase

Trim-out happens after walls are painted and finished, before furniture is moved in. This is when cables get terminated and the infrastructure becomes functional.

• ✓Install wall plates and keystone jacks at each drop location
• ✓Terminate all cables at the patch panel in the network closet
• ✓Mount patch panel, switches, and other hardware in the rack
• ✓Install horizontal and vertical cable management hardware
• ✓Bundle, label, and organize cables in the rack
• ✓Test every run end-to-end with a cable tester
• ✓Label patch panel ports to match wall plate labels
• ✓Install and mount wireless access points at planned locations
• ✓Mount security cameras and connect to NVR

Before You Open: Final Documentation and Testing

Before handing off to your IT team, make sure documentation is complete. This is the step that is most often skipped and most often regretted six months later when a port needs to be traced.

• ✓Verify every run tests clean — no opens, shorts, or crossed pairs
• ✓Confirm port labels at wall plates match patch panel labels
• ✓Create and deliver a port map showing every drop location and its patch panel assignment
• ✓Document any cable runs that were modified from the original plan
• ✓Photograph the finished network closet
• ✓Walk through with IT team and confirm they can identify all ports
• ✓Confirm UPS and power for network equipment is in place
• ✓Test all access points are reachable on the network before configuration