Unusual possible side job for networking gurus

[kranky]

On the way home from work today, I heard a radio ad for a large local moving company that was aimed at businesses. They made a big deal over how well they deal with computer systems (proper packing, careful transportation, etc.) but the thing that surprised me is that they said they can handle network installs at your new site.

That got me to thinking - it could be a good selling point for a moving company to be able to handle something like that. Most small businesses don't have a networking person, and when they bought their stuff the seller probably installed it. If they move, they either have to pay the original seller to handle it (that would be costly) or try to handle it on their own. That would be pretty scary to a lot of small businesses.

But very few moving companies, if any, could afford to have a full-time person on staff to do it because it just wouldn't come up every day.

I wonder if this wouldn't be a good side job for someone good at networking - make a pitch to smaller moving companies about being available to handle that work when it comes up when people are moving locally. Dismantle at the old site, reinstall at the new. Easy if you know what you're doing, but beyond what most small businesses would be confident doing on their own. Plus, it's a good selling point for the moving company.

 

[martind1]

most of it would be pretty easy, and to be up to code, you usually have to have a professional (electricians, and others) run the cables.

beyond that it should jsut be a minor detail of pluggin everythign back in. maybe little tweeks.

 

[Cheetah8799]

you don't need to be an electrician to run cat5. It is low-voltage. At least here in MN you don't need to be one.

I agree Kranky, that's a good idea. A good entrepreneur could setup deals with multiple small moving companies. That would keep him pretty busy I think. Tricky part is managing the work load. Each company will want you to do work, likely at the same time. So if you are at one job, and you get called by another moving company, what do you do???

 

[buleyb]

Originally posted by: Cheetah8799
you don't need to be an electrician to run cat5. It is low-voltage. At least here in MN you don't need to be one.

I agree Kranky, that's a good idea. A good entrepreneur could setup deals with multiple small moving companies. That would keep him pretty busy I think. Tricky part is managing the work load. Each company will want you to do work, likely at the same time. So if you are at one job, and you get called by another moving company, what do you do???

Sounds like a good idea, but I don't think I'd trust a moving company any more than a certified electrician to install data networks. Although I'm sure there are a fair number of electricians that can do a wonderful job, I've seen nightmare installs from people getting electricians to setup CAT3 or CAT5 systems.


As far as "up to code", I don't know of any places that require licensed people to set it up, but there are many places with firecodes that need to be followed when running any cabling (low voltage or not). Its a pricey fix to rip out cable and replace because you didn't follow local codes. In defense though, a local moving company might be able to learn the local codes for something like this much easier than the business or electrician, because there are typically very few rules to follow, and most are common sense.

 

[martind1]

now, i didnt say have the guy install the networks. just ahve him run the cable to yoru specifications, with his modifcations as neccessary to fit codes.

so basically, this is something tha might just need to be looked into. there are bound to be codes, its jsut a matter if you need the license to do it or not.


another problem: unions. Depending on where you are, this might be a union job. IS this a problem? I dunno. depends on where you are.

 

[Cheetah8799]

I don't know why a union would have any control over a private business, unless the business that is moving is unionized. I suppose if the moving company was unionized then they may be forced to hire union electricians...

I agree about the fire code issue. Where I work we recently had to rip out and re-run about 50+ cat5 cables because they were run through a elevator shaft... The elevator company said to cut them out NOW or else they will shut down the elevator... Fire mashall can do the same thing I suppose.

 

[Hyperfocal]

When our company moved last year, the moving company worked with IT to get the systems moved.

The moving company did not run any cable. what they did do was get a list of all systems and users, label each system, monitor, KB, etc. Then they threw all the systems into huge bins, rolled them onto a truck and drove them to the new location.

Our contractor had run all the cabling and IT had tested the system before anyone had moved in. Once the cubes were in place and labeled, the moving company unloaded the systems from the big bins full of random computers and hooked them up on the appropriate desks.

The movers only needed to know how to plug in cables, keyboards and monitors. It was very low skill.

 

[martind1]

Originally posted by: Cheetah8799
I don't know why a union would have any control over a private business, unless the business that is moving is unionized. I suppose if the moving company was unionized then they may be forced to hire union electricians...

I agree about the fire code issue. Where I work we recently had to rip out and re-run about 50+ cat5 cables because they were run through a elevator shaft... The elevator company said to cut them out NOW or else they will shut down the elevator... Fire mashall can do the same thing I suppose.

because unions ALWAYS put their noses into these types of matters. we have a grocery chain here (victory supermarkets) they are non union. there are at least 2 union sign holders outside 2 years since its moved in.

the movers should not have been plugging ANYTHING into the computers. not their job, if somethign went wrong, im not sure insurance woudl cover that.

 

[MiniDoom]

I was a cable installer a few years ago here in va and not to many union telecomm companies here. I think that really applies for the n.e not the south so much. As far as safety code goes I remember them being somewhat strict(even for low voltage) cable trunks had to be dressed neatly and run above duct work and sprinkler pipe and electrical work or they would fail.

 

[cmetz]

kranky, I've seen this a lot. It's typically done by partnership - the moving company subs to a professional cabling company and just takes a cut for the lead and the sales job. It can be a win-win situation. In all cases, it's important to check out the installer before bringing them in. This is where companies routinely screw up. A good cable guy is really hard to find, there are a ton of mediocre ones out there and a lot of bad ones out there, and few companies know the difference until it's too late. I'd never ever have cabling done through the moving company, but I understand how it can work on the vendor side (again, the moving company and the cable installer both win, it's the customer who might or might not, and that depends on how dilligent they are, really).

rdubbz420, low voltage elements are exempt from most of the NEC and other codes, except in those ways that anything at all would be subjected. For example, the fact that it's cable makes it no more or less special if it's violating the fire code. And the NEC has a lot of places where it says you can't put current carrying near / share certain things with low voltage, in order to prevent LV from unintentionally becoming current carrying. Of course, inspectors can be tough and code or not you have to get their sign-off, so you'd better do a neat and clean job anyway.

And if you're running cables professionally, it's better to have an electrician's license and not actually need it than not have one and have some inspector decide you need one.

 

[buleyb]

Originally posted by: cmetz
rdubbz420, low voltage elements are exempt from most of the NEC and other codes, except in those ways that anything at all would be subjected. For example, the fact that it's cable makes it no more or less special if it's violating the fire code. And the NEC has a lot of places where it says you can't put current carrying near / share certain things with low voltage, in order to prevent LV from unintentionally becoming current carrying. Of course, inspectors can be tough and code or not you have to get their sign-off, so you'd better do a neat and clean job anyway.

The codes I've run into before are not related to electrical wiring codes, but general materials under the fire codes. Plenum vs PVC in many cities for wiring that is above the sprinklers.

 

[Allanv]

this is what i do

my old company was a removals company for commercial, and i am still contracted by then to run cables and server setups and move cabs etc etc


doing it part time but brings in the dosh.

best thing for you is to hook up with a ofice removals company and offer the service

Rem most offices move over a weekend 99% of the time

Regards

Allanv

 

[cmetz]

buleyb, absolutely - doesn't matter what you're putting up ther, cable, pipe, string, foam nerf bats, etc... you have to meet fire code, and nothing's exempt or special in that regards.