Not every network cabling job is in an office. Recently our engineers were at AutoFix in Ayr, a busy vehicle bodyshop that has just installed a brand-new Blowtherm spray booth. The booth’s control panel needed to be connected to the workshop network, so we ran a dedicated Cat6 data cable across the building to it – while the team kept working around us.
The job: connecting a paint booth to the network
Modern spray booths aren’t just a box with a fan. They have their own control systems for heating, airflow and drying cycles. Connecting the control panel to the network lets the booth talk to the rest of the business’s systems and gives the booth supplier a way to support it. Wi-Fi isn’t a sensible option for equipment like this. A booth surrounded by steel ducting, cladding and a roof full of steel beams is about the worst place for a wireless signal. A cabled connection is simply more reliable.
The challenge was the route. AutoFix’s workshop is a large, high-roofed industrial unit with vehicles, panels and people moving around all day. We had to get from the network equipment to the booth’s control panel without blocking work bays, without trailing cables across the floor and without getting in the way of the booth’s ducting and gas supply.
How we did it
We ran the cable at high level, following the building’s steelwork and existing cable routes. That kept it well clear of the workshop floor, vehicles and the booth’s hot extraction ducting. From there it drops neatly down to the control panel on the side of the booth, secured along its length so nothing hangs loose.
Working at height in a live workshop takes planning. We worked around AutoFix’s jobs on the day so the business could carry on as normal. Once the cable was terminated, it was tested end to end and labelled, so the next person who needs to trace it knows exactly what it is and where it goes.
Why the cable is purple
You might notice the cable in the photos is purple rather than the usual grey or blue. That’s because we used LSZH (Low Smoke Zero Halogen) Cat6, which in the UK usually comes with a purple sheath. If LSZH cable is caught in a fire, it gives off much less thick smoke and toxic gas than standard PVC cable. In a workshop that stores paints, thinners and solvents, that was the obvious choice.
Five tips for network cabling in a workshop or industrial unit
Whether it’s a bodyshop, garage, warehouse or factory, the same rules apply:
- Get it off the floor. Cables on the floor get driven over, kicked and soaked. Run them at high level or in proper containment.
- Keep data away from power and heat. Keep a sensible gap from mains cables, motors and heaters, and well clear of hot ducts and flues. Interference and heat both cause problems.
- Use the right cable. Cat6 is our standard for most business installs. For long runs or between buildings, fibre may be the better answer. In busy or hazardous environments, consider LSZH.
- Secure it properly. Cable that sags or hangs loose from the roof is a snag hazard and fails early. Use proper fixings along the whole route.
- Test and label everything. An untested cable is a guess. Labelling both ends saves hours of head-scratching when something needs changing later.
Machinery is going online
More and more workshop equipment now expects a network connection. Spray booths, diagnostic equipment, card machines, CCTV, VoIP phones and stock systems all need one. Many industrial units were never cabled with this in mind, so new kit ends up relying on patchy Wi-Fi or a cable thrown across the floor. A few properly installed data points can save a lot of frustration.
Need network cabling in Ayrshire or Glasgow?
STORM 360 installs structured cabling, data cabinets, patch panels, switches and business Wi-Fi for offices, shops, workshops and industrial units across Ayrshire and Glasgow. We’ll survey your site, recommend the right cable for the job and install it neatly, without stopping your business.
See our business network and cabling services →
Book a free site survey: call 01292 264415 or get in touch online.
More than cabling
As well as networks, STORM 360 builds online shops for local businesses. See our Shopify websites, custom apps and features, or take a look at two Shopify sites we’ve built:
- Storm Tech Store – our own tech and accessories shop
- Kylemark Workwear – workwear and PPE, migrated from Magento to Shopify
Thanks to the team at AutoFix, Ayr for having us in.
