GUIDE 02

Power and data before furniture

A workstation plan is only workable when power and data can reach it. Trace the path early, then coordinate the details with the people responsible for the building systems.

A practical planning guide from Miramar Office Furniture

Commercial benching workstations with power access at the worksurface
Power at the point of work starts with a coordinated route from the building source to the furniture.

Do not wait until the furniture layout is finished to ask how the stations will be powered. The feed location can change the orientation, size and cost of the plan.

Find the building source first

Power may come from a floor box, wall outlet, poke-through, ceiling feed or another approved connection point. Data may follow the same general route or a separate one. Mark what exists, what is planned and what still needs confirmation.

The furniture team can explain how a furniture system distributes power and data. A qualified electrician, technology contractor and the project design team confirm the building connection, capacity and code requirements.

Power and data coordination path A four-step diagram showing the building source, furniture entry point, internal furniture route and user connection locations. 01 02 03 04 BUILDING SOURCE FURNITURE ENTRY INTERNAL ROUTE USER ACCESS Floor, wall or ceiling Approved connection Through the system Power and data COORDINATE THE FULL PATH BEFORE APPROVAL
The furniture route is one part of the system. The electrical and technology teams confirm the building work that feeds it.

Choose the furniture entry point

Once the source is known, determine where power and data enter the furniture. That entry point should work with the workstation orientation and avoid an exposed cord crossing a circulation path. A layout that rotates ninety degrees may need a completely different feed strategy.

Map the route through the furniture

Different systems route cables through beams, raceways, bases, spines or under-surface channels. The exact method depends on the product. Ask these questions before approving the order:

  • Where does the building feed connect to the furniture?
  • How does power travel from station to station?
  • Where do employees plug in?
  • How will data cables enter and exit the system?
  • Can the layout support future changes without rebuilding the entire run?
Open office with rows of benching workstations and organized cable access
A clean open-office layout depends on the parts you see and the coordinated cable path you do not.

Coordinate data, IT and user equipment

Data requirements vary. Some projects rely heavily on wireless networks, while others need wired connections at every station. Phone systems, monitors, docking stations, desktop computers and shared equipment all affect the count and location of connections.

Ask IT to define its requirements early. The answer should come before the final furniture plan, not after installation has started.

Keep the furniture plan and electrical plan together

When the workstation layout changes, the power and data plan may need to change with it. Use the same dated furniture plan across the furniture, electrical, technology and construction teams. A simple revision note is better than letting two different layouts circulate.

Power and data planning checklist

  • Existing and planned building feed locations
  • Furniture entry point for each workstation run
  • Power and data count at each user position
  • IT requirements for wired and wireless connections
  • Monitor, docking and desktop equipment needs
  • Electrician and technology-contractor coordination
  • Current furniture-plan revision shared by every team
  • Allowance for expected changes or growth
Project note

This guide is for early furniture planning. The project architect, engineers, contractors, property team and local authorities confirm the requirements that apply to the building and scope.

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Keep planning

GUIDE 01How to read an office floor plan GUIDE 04The installation-readiness checklist

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