Low Voltage Scope Checklist for General Contractors: Tenant Improvements and New Construction

On an office build-out or tenant improvement, the low voltage scope covers data and fiber cabling, the network rack, Wi-Fi, security cameras, access control, paging and AV cabling. Most coordination problems come from the same few gaps: nobody owns the backboxes, the door hardware schedule and the access control scope do not match, or the maglock release is not worked out with the fire alarm contractor. This checklist is for general contractors and project managers in Boise, Meridian and the rest of the Treasure Valley who want the low voltage scope written down before the walls close.

1. Scope by trade: who usually carries what

Trade splits are not fixed. They change with the contract, the specification and who the owner already has relationships with. Use this table as a starting point for the scope letter, and settle every "varies" line in writing before bids come back.

For a longer explanation of where line voltage stops and low voltage starts, see our low voltage contractor vs. electrician guide.

2. What to send for a bid

• The full drawing set: architectural floor plans, reflected ceiling plans, electrical sheets and any technology or low voltage sheets.
• The door hardware schedule, with each electrified opening marked.
• The specification sections for communications and electronic safety and security, if the project has them.
• The owner's device list or standards: drop counts per room, camera platform, access control platform, Wi-Fi requirements.
• The schedule, with rough-in, ceiling close-in, paint and turnover dates.
• A draft scope letter that says who furnishes and who installs each item in the table above.
• Whether the job is occupied, after-hours only, or has building access rules.

Ask every bidder to price the same scope, and ask for clarifications and exclusions in writing. A low number that excludes backboxes, firestopping or door hardware installation just moves that work to another line in your budget.

3. Rough-in checklist

Before framing inspection

• Outlet, camera, access point, reader and speaker locations marked on the walls and ceilings.
• Backboxes or low voltage brackets set at every outlet and device location.
• Conduit stubs to accessible ceilings in hard-lid areas, with pull strings.
• Door frames ordered with the right preps: strike cutouts, power transfer hinges or raceway, door position switch preps.
• Sleeves through rated walls located and sized for the cable count plus spare.
• Network room location, rack position, backboard and receptacles confirmed.

Before ceiling close-in or drywall

• Horizontal cable pulled to every location and supported on J-hooks or tray, not laid on the ceiling grid.
• Plenum-rated cable in air-handling spaces; separation kept from line-voltage wiring and light fixtures.
• Lock power, reader, REX and door position cable pulled to each controlled door.
• Fiber and backbone cable pulled between network rooms.
• Penetrations through rated walls firestopped.
• Any required low voltage inspection completed before cover.

4. Trim-out checklist

• Jacks and faceplates terminated after paint; patch panels terminated and dressed in the rack.
• Every cable run tested and labeled at both ends to match the plan.
• Fiber terminated and loss-tested.
• Cameras, access points, readers, speakers and intercoms mounted and aimed.
• Electric strikes, maglocks, REX devices and door position switches installed and tested with the door hardware.
• Switches, firewall, Wi-Fi, camera recording and door schedules configured.
• Maglock release tested with the fire alarm contractor present.
• Punch list walked with the GC and the owner's IT contact.

5. Coordination and inspections

Maglocks and the fire alarm. A maglock holds the door with power, so it has to release on fire alarm activation and on loss of power, and building code requires a way for people to exit without special knowledge. That usually means a motion request-to-exit sensor plus a push-to-exit button, wired so lock power drops when the fire alarm activates. The fire alarm contractor provides the relay, the access control installer wires the lock power through it, and the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) decides what is acceptable. Get the release points agreed before rough-in. An electric strike with mechanical free egress from the inside often avoids most of this.

Power-limited circuits. Data, camera, access control and paging cabling runs on power-limited circuits covered by NEC Article 725 (Class 2 and Class 3) and the 800-series communications articles. Those cables stay out of raceways and boxes with line-voltage conductors unless separated by a barrier, and cable jackets must be rated for the space they run in. The electrician's receptacles and circuits for the rack and power supplies are line-voltage work.

Permits and inspections. Whether low voltage work needs its own permit and inspection, and when, depends on the jurisdiction and the type of system. Ask the AHJ at the start so the low voltage inspection fits the cover schedule.

6. Closeout deliverables

• Tested and labeled cable: every copper run and fiber strand tested, labeled at both ends.
• Test results: a result for each copper run and each fiber strand, matched to the labels.
• As-builts: drawings showing outlet and device locations, rack layout and backbone routes as installed.
• Device list: cameras, access points, readers, controllers and door hardware with locations, model numbers and network addresses.
• Admin access: credentials for switches, firewall, camera system and access control handed to the owner.

More detail on cable types, network rooms and PoE budgets is in our commercial low voltage field guide.

How XXL IT Services works with general contractors

XXL IT Services is a commercial low voltage contractor based in Meridian, Idaho, in business since 2006. We are BBB Accredited with an A+ rating, and BBB lists us under Low Voltage Contractors. We work for general contractors on new construction and tenant improvements across Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Eagle, Kuna, Caldwell, Star, Garden City and Middleton.

• Our own crew pulls the copper and runs the fiber; fiber is done in-house.
• We build the network rack and install switches, firewalls and Wi-Fi. We are a certified UniFi installer.
• We install security cameras on UniFi Protect, and the crew mounts them.
• We install access control on UniFi Access and PDK, including electric strikes, maglocks and request-to-exit devices. We are not a locksmith; mechanical keys stay with the owner's locksmith.
• We also install biometric readers, video intercoms, paging speakers and AV cabling, and handle trenching and conduit for site runs.
• Every cable run is tested, labeled and documented. See our structured cabling page for details.

Send plans and scope to [email protected] or call (208) 328-4500. For Meridian projects, see our Meridian low voltage contractor page.

Frequently asked questions