I'm looking to write out an SOP for a network installation project involving WAP installs back-hauling to existing telecom rooms/racks. It needs to be standards based, and I've found plenty of info from ANSI/TIA 568C as well as TIA TSB-162-A and UFC-3-580-01 (for DoD). These are all fine and dandy and more or less specify the same things regarding cable length, HZ/VZ cabling, etc. What I'm trying to hunt down is a draft of an installation SOP/Best Practices that can cite the required tools, techniques, and materials an installer should be required to obtain in order to carry out the installation. For example: a drywall saw, fiberglass mesh, spackle, and putty knife should all be things on that list. Also your punch down tool, crimper, utility blade, etc. I don't want to forget anything so I'm hoping somebody can point me to a document that would only need some revisions specific to my project. Thanks in advance.
Network Cable – Installation SOP
cablecablinglayer1
Best Answer
Don't Overspecify the Work to a Professional
Assuming you're using a qualified professional to perform the install, you should be careful not to overspecify things that don't actually matter to you. After all, you are hiring them, in part, because they have innovative and up-to-date capabilities, techniques, and practices that you might not even know (or care) about. For example, discussion about tools that an installer uses is overspecification. You care about the product they produce, not how they produce it, right?
The most common consequence of overspecification that I have seen is that installers turn down your work. I have seen RFP/RFQ/SOW documents that included enough unproductive, irrelevant, unclear, or contradictory details that no installer who looked at it was interested in the work. The professional installers I've worked with don't take second looks at jobs that seem problematic; the first impression you make counts.
You can really get yourself into a bind with documents that overspecify work. If you widely distribute a badly-formulated RFP in your area you can easily burn through all the capable installers in your area.
Things you probably should specify
Things you might specify
Things you should only specify if you have a really good reason for it