Construction National

Don’t let poor signal derail your project: including mobile signal boosters in tenders

If you’re in the process of tendering for a commercial construction project and want to make sure that the end result provides future tenants with a strong mobile signal across the area, you should be aware that there are steps you can take to prioritise this from the start. Planning for the need of a should be done from the early planning stage of your project, this allows relevant cables to be laid in advance of any finished walls or ceilings. Allowing contractors to not just complete cable runs when it’s cheaper to do so, but he will already be running cables in trays without obstructions, fire walls or other impediments to cable runs.

Early planning ensures that the mobile signal booster system will have good access points, being able to provide 100% coverage across the project area. If the mobile booster system is fitted at a later stage a number of costly issues can occur, such as getting cables to areas where the ceilings are plastered, or no hatches of ceiling tiles being available.

How Early Can I Install A Signal Booster on a Commercial Project?

A signal booster system can be installed during the build stage of a commercial project. New modern builds use high quality building materials, such as insulation and metal framing, which essentially work as a faraday cage for mobile signal. Typically, construction workers on site don’t notice these issues until walls and ceiling are in place, this is when the signal drops and they are no longer able to make or receive calls. Considering the inclusion of a mobile system at the development and build stage of your project means that you can integrate the system into the project costs and negate the issue early on. Fitting the system during the build will allow for a clean, hassle free installation.

What Results Can I Expect a System is Required Later in the Project? 

Fitting a mobile signal system later on in the project can still give close to 100% coverage as installers can use existing cable routes, hatches and risers. The installation team will install an amplifier on the roof, and cable from there into the building where the network unit will be installed. This amplifier will then be connected to a series of signal splitters, frequency combiners and LMR400 cables to antennas situated around the building. While it is still possible to achieve excellent coverage, the installation can be a little trickier if ceilings and walls are already closed up.

Fireproofing is typically completed before a mobile booster is installed, if it is not considered at the early stages of your commercial project.. If the fireproofing is already in place, we can still proceed with the installation. Should it be necessary to penetrate the fireproofing to run cables, our Mobile Signal Solutions team will reinstate it and ensure the updates are reflected on the plans. In most cases, no further action is required by building management, although inspections and verification can be arranged if needed.

What Do I Need to Know About A Signal Booster System on a Completed Build?

If a project is already completed to the stage that painting, tiling and furnishings are in place, installation of a mobile signal booster can be more difficult, and more costly. This is especially true for private homes, as the installation team would have to run cable outside the building using the underside of downpipes.

For older homes and period mansions, often the cables can be run from one end of the attic or loft to the other, with a panel antenna pointed downwards, which can penetrate timber floors and allow signal to move to different parts of the building. 

In a modern home, that is finished to a very high standard, retrofitting a booster can cause many challenges; however our team will work to find a solution. Typically this would be achieved using a powerful amplifier which can be used in larger buildings, and boosted from a small number of central antennas. These amplifiers would provide a strong enough signal to pass through the home into the most important rooms, like the kitchen and living areas or offices, along with some of the less critical areas like bedrooms. 

What Steps do I Take to Get a Quote for my Commercial Tender Project?

Reach out to the Mobile Signal Solutions team, we can work with you to provide you with a quote and specifications for a booster system in your tender document. Our experienced mobile booster installation team have worked across the UK on a range of project types, and can also work with you to find a solution to fit a system retroactively if needed.

Our team can conduct a thorough survey, recommend the necessary equipment for a mobile signal booster system, and assist your team in obtaining quotes from multiple suppliers. This allows for a phased installation during the ongoing construction process. We can provide detailed designs and cost estimates for incorporating a cellular mobile signal booster into your project, using architectural plans and data from an on-site signal scan to identify available network

For further information visit mobilesignalsolutions.co.uk