Imagine you’re remodeling your kitchen.
You install new countertops, modern appliances, and fixtures, but decide to keep the old electrical wiring and plumbing hidden behind the walls.
It might save you money today, but when those old systems start failing, you’ll be tearing the kitchen apart all over again.
The same principle applies when you’re renovating or moving into a new office.
Unless the building is brand new, there’s a good chance it’s still wired with older network cables like Cat5 or Cat5e. While they may still work, they’re not designed to support today’s business demands.
As a business owner, you already have countless decisions to make during a remodel, and network cabling is easy to overlook. In some cases, contractors may keep the existing wiring or install older cables to reduce costs.
That’s why it’s important to involve your IT provider early in the remodeling process. A small investment in the right infrastructure now can save you significant time, money, and headaches for years to come.
Your Network Is the Foundation of Your Business
Network wiring is the invisible foundation of your business operations. They quietly connect your computers, printers, phones, Wi-Fi access points, security cameras, meeting rooms, and cloud applications.
While everyone is focused on the visible parts of the renovation, network cables, which are a small fraction of a remodeling budget, are often overlooked.
However, not replacing outdated wiring can be a major mistake.
When the cabling isn’t designed for modern technology, everything else struggles to perform.
Cat6 has effectively replaced Cat5e as the industry-recommended baseline for all new commercial construction projects and major remodels.
Choosing the right standards now prevents immediate network issues, ensures building code compliance, and future-proofs your facility for the next decade of technology.
This blog provides business owners, project managers, and facility decision-makers with a clear understanding of the technical and safety standards required during a commercial office remodel or new construction project.
Why Upgrade to Cat6?
Many offices use Cat5 or Cat5e cabling as this was the technology available at the time.
But today’s workplaces demand much more from their networks.
Cloud applications, Microsoft Teams meetings, large file transfers, IP phones, security cameras, and dozens of connected devices all compete for bandwidth throughout the day.
Installing a Cat6 cable will give you:
- Significantly Faster Speeds: Your current Cat5/Cat5e cable is like a one-lane highway. It maxes out at 1 Gigabit speed. Cat6 is like a ten-lane highway – it can handle speeds up to 10 Gigabits. It can carry far more traffic, faster, without creating bottlenecks.
- Less Interruption: Cat6 cables are built with improved insulation that helps block electrical interference. This means fewer interruptions, more reliable video calls, and more stable network connections.
- Future-Proof: Upgrading while the walls are open during a remodel means you won’t have to tear things apart again in a few years when office technology demands more data.
Where Cables Run: The Plenum Space
Commercial buildings feature unique architectural elements that heavily dictate the type of materials allowed inside them.
The open, hidden area above drop-ceilings or beneath raised floors is called the “plenum.” In most commercial offices, this space functions as an open-air duct to circulate the air for your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.
Almost all office infrastructure, including computer networks, telephone systems, IP security cameras, access control, and audio-visual wiring, passes through this plenum space.
That creates an important safety consideration.
Fire Safety and Compliance
Standard network cable is coated in cheap PVC plastic. If a fire breaks out, PVC burns quickly and releases thick, highly toxic, blinding smoke.
Because the plenum space circulates air throughout the entire office, those toxic fumes can spread rapidly into every room.
For this reason, local building and fire codes strictly require Plenum-Rated Cable (CMP) in these spaces.
CMP cable is manufactured with a special fire-resistant jacket that:
- Resists burning
- Produces far less smoke
- Releases significantly fewer toxic gases
It’s designed to protect both your building and the people inside it.
Standard wall cable (marked as CMR) is legally prohibited in these ceiling spaces.
Recommended Cat6 Cable Specifications
To ensure your project passes local building inspections and successfully meets modern performance standards, ensure your procurement team or contractor sources cable matching these exact specifications:
- Category: Cat6 UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair)
- Fire Safety Rating: CMP (Plenum Rated)
- Conductor Material: 100% Solid Pure Bare Copper (23 AWG).
Warning: Avoid cheap “CCA” (Copper-Clad Aluminum) cables. They break easily during installation, fail standard network certification tests, tend to overheat, and violate National Electrical Codes. - Independent Compliance: Ensure the packaging displays UL Listed or ETL Verified marks, proving the product has been independently tested to meet fire safety and speed benchmarks.
Powering More Than Just Data: PoE Compatibility
Modern network cables do more than carry information.
Technologies such as Power over Ethernet (PoE) allow network cables to power devices like:
- Wi-Fi access points
- IP telephones
- Security cameras
- Access control systems
Using bare copper Cat6 ensures these devices receive safe, reliable power without overheating or compromising performance.
Network Performance ≠ Internet Speed
Upgrading to Cat6 wiring builds a 10-Gigabit-capable foundation, but the cable alone will not instantly boost your network speeds. Your overall network is only as fast as its slowest component.
To achieve maximum speeds, your Internet service provider plan, network switches, routers, and computers must also support these higher speeds.
Think back to the kitchen example.
Your switches, routers, and computers are like your appliances. If you’re working within a budget, you can replace them one at a time as your business grows.
The network cabling is like the electrical wiring and plumbing behind the walls. If they are upgraded during the remodeling, they will support any new appliances or fixtures.
By installing Cat6, you ensure the wiring itself doesn’t become the limitation, and you’ll have a reliable foundation that can support future technology.
Why Renovation Time Is the Right Time
Installing network cables isn’t the most expensive part of the job. Opening walls and ceilings and restoring them back to normal is.
Once construction is complete, replacing network cabling becomes significantly more disruptive and costly.
That’s why IT professionals always recommend installing the best technical infrastructure while everything is already exposed.
It’s a relatively small investment that can save thousands in future labour costs.
Installing Cat6 today means you’re investing in a network that’s faster, safer, more reliable, and ready for the future.
Relocating or remodeling? Contact an MSP
You already have enough to think about without worrying about cable standards, fire regulations, and network design.
That’s where a Managed Service Provider (MSP) can help.
At Gravity IT Solutions, we work alongside businesses, contractors, and project managers to ensure your office is built on the right IT foundation from day one.
From assessing your existing infrastructure to recommending the correct materials and overseeing installation, we’ll help make sure nothing gets overlooked.
Build an office that’s ready for the future.
