So we're going to be pre-wiring the units in a condo on the beach in roughly a month. Myself and the guys who haven't done a job like that before had an orientation with one of the contractors and it's mostly common sense. OSHA type stuff...hardhats and safety glasses, ladder safety, don't go where there's red tape, ask before going into yellow tape areas, equipment inspections, first aid procedures, etc.

For those of you who have done jobs like this, do you have any advice? Any teachable moments?

Also, I imagine we'll be wiring the whole unit for network and audio. Is there anything else you think we might be pre-wiring for? (aside from security...my guess is that we'd be able to do wireless security in any unit we went back to for a security install.)

Thanks!

You’ll need insurance certificates (named insured), and there may be a union that thinks that you are invading their turf. In some respects it will seem like you are working for the GC.

I make a point of talking with the project supervisor or building engineer. Here I can assure the “boss” that I’m not a hazard and I can assess how anal the situation might be. I don’t usually have any trouble. I am about to start a job in a condo building and the customer warned me how disagreeable the building engineer could be. I scheduled a meeting with the engineer, we bonded, he was very cooperative, and I don’t expect any trouble.

I’m sure that these points have already been laid out for you, but there are structures that you will not be permitted to penetrate. The GC is not being mean. I’m sure that he knows the building codes better than you. In the job above, I was very concerned with this sort of issue, until I met with the engineer. (There could have been lead and asbestos abatement issues).

Will you need to tie-in to the building’s security? They may have a visitor gateway scheme. These can be very inconvenient, requiring the resident to use a special house phone. You probably will not be allowed to tie into this arrangement, but it always pays to ask.

Make sure that you have a reliable ground for the cable feed. (I like FIOS)

Edit: Some jurisdictions require a permit for low voltage wiring.

Watch out for areas that require plenum rated cabling.

Good call, I've got plenum areas in the above job -- confirmed during my conversation with the engineer. This is one reason why we got along -- I asked all of the right questions up front.

Some GC's can be absolute jerks. On one job, as we were packing up after finishing the pre-wire, the GC suddenly brought up wire type codes, hinting that we would need to re-do everything with code compliant wire. I don't know how many other A/V guys he pulled this stunt on, but we directed him to the compliance markings printed on the wire and left.

In the job I mentioned earlier, it's an almost 100 year old building and I found zipcord in risers.

I had a contract to install central vac in a IHOP. Seems a local firm was the GC for all IHOP locations.

Jumped through the hoops, and did that install.

Next thing I know, I'm going way out of state to don another, and another, and getting paid crazy money to travel to the various locations. None of which were within a 8 hour drive. Usually had to drive to these locations to take supplies, and had to make two trips of course.

Also got a referral to do a system in a medical facility, but that one went south as the plumbing contractor thought they should be doing the job. They went in and sabotaged the job, plumbing firm was fired, plumbers buddy who the GC's super, got fired, and the system was so messed up it couldn't be fixed.

That mess left a sour taste for commercial. Never really wanted another. Although I did get a referral for a retail store sound system that I took on, and it went well.

Keep an eye on your tools, and the wiring you do. If it's on a union job, there are some that will trash your work.

AS TSP suggested, keep an eye on things.You are new. Unless it is posted NOT to use a camera, cover yourself with pictures of your work.
It must be posted not to use one, and not what the GC 'Suggests'.

I do commercial work for a client that is a commercial retail space developer. We do all of their low voltage stuff.

Food or drinks only in designated places. No food or drinks anywhere else. They don't want someone spilling a drink on electric, or making a slip hazard.

No using a cell phone unless in a designated space. Too many people keep falling off buildings because they are checking twitter, facebook, instagram and texting their boo. If you need documentation it needs to be printed, or go to a designated space. We keep all of our notes and documenation on evernote, so we just print everything up beforehand, and every tech on the project gets a copy.

Hardhats, eye protection, and steel toes are a must.

Any ladder over 6' requires a harness. We have one harness that we swap between people. Most work we do can be done with a 6' ladder.

They should give you an OSHA guideline sheet to sign off on. Make sure you read this, because there could be specifics about that project that were not on the last project.

You will have to show proof of Liability insurance with a 5mill umbrella policy. Most of our builders and most buildings we work on require this.

You will also have to submit your Workers Comp insurance to the builder too. This will have to be done every time you WC expires. They need a copy of all subs certificates.

If you have any subs, they will need to submit their WC and Insurance Certificate.

Just a few off the top of my head.

This thread reminds me of a scene from Office Space. The first day you go to jail, kick someones ass or become someones b#$ch. :)

If I'm on site with other trades I like to make new friends. Also, (if the schedule is goofy), ask them if your wiring will get in their way. Make them feel like you care!

On a remodel the other day in a cramped Minneapolis town home area, I pulled in as a guy was coming out of the house. I get out of my van and immediately say "the parking around here sucks!" .... boom, new friend. (some contractors like negativity)

Also, some GCs can be absolute idiots.

Commercial jobs use equipment entirely different from residential jobs, mainly being commercial equipment with 70 volt amplification, as well as being monaural, so... Just for the record, this is not a commercial job. You're doing an MDU job, which is to say multi-dwelling unit. It's still residential, not commercial.

Is this important? If you want DirecTV for such a building, you'll be talking with their MDU division. Their residential division won't handle you, and you'll just get confused if you try to talk to their commercial division or their business division.

A business arrangement that can work well is to work for the owner, not the general contractor, but you have to know the owner. As you may have found with resi projects reigned over by an interior desecrator, anyone who gets in between the owner and the user, such as a general contractor, is likely to mess things up so the end user doesn't get reasonable results. One thing I've seen is one RG6 to every TV position... and nothing else to those positions... in new construction within the last five years. It's what the GC thought was needed AND what the GC was willing to pay for.


Good for you. You knew your craft. He's apparently been able to make life hell for installers who don't know the right products to use. Also, this would be a moment that you could tell the owner about, telling him the GC seemed to be more concerned to bring down a hammer than to get the right thing for the right price for the owner.

Learn the first day who the master, journeyman and apprentice electricians are.

In my experience your interaction with those levels will vary, i.e. know your place, ask before you do, don’t touch their shit (wire, tools, parts, anything). If you need help you don’t go to the apprentice, you ask a journeyman or master. You do not want a journeyman or master thinking you’re bossing around their apprentice.

Show up earlier than them, if possible. It’s already a given stigma that the low voltage guys like to come floating in later than everyone else with their “fancy” khaki pants. Fit in or they can make your time there miserable. Do what they say, respect their stuff and stay out of their way. You’re, in their mind, in a field that is kind of a joke, no formal training or certifications that mean anything.

By the way, I have lost tools to the electricians, but it seems to have been innocent. That is, the electricians finished their work before I did, and they had a junior member (possibly a newish hire) pick up tools that were left around. Being junior, and not having bought the tools himself, he took some of mine. I always disovered this some time after they left, and I'm quite sure this was not intended. It teaches you to keep your tools in a particular area!

If you are anything on a job site like you are on here, I can assure you it was intentional.

Not sure how I missed this tidbit of an odd question. You (your company) doesn’t know the scope of work? I really hope you’re not just showing up and winging it. What we may think you will be wiring could be the complete opposite of what your scope of work dictates. I could say you’ll be pulling CAT6 and fiber everywhere plus conduit for future use. You may be showing up and the GCs plan is a single RG-6 to each room and you’re done. Who’s setting boxes/locations? What box style? Will there be a head-end rack? Will there be a panel at demarc? Will you be running cable for satellite at each unit or a stacked system for the whole building? Good god! Better get the details worked out, now!

Did it make you feel good to write that? Did you think to yourself "if I write and post this, it will make me feel good. I'll show that I'm a better person than I was yesterday. Most importantly, it will give me practice doing something that will make me happier every day.

I'm not saying that I make the right choice of what to say and what attitude to have. But I think both of us can do better.

You'll have to excuse Fins, he has a Dish Network problem.