Why wired points make sense in Perth homes
Wi-Fi struggles through masonry, and in a spread-out house the back bedroom or the study off the patio is where it usually drops out. A cable doesn't care how many walls are in the way.
Perth's suburbs are mostly separate houses. In the City of Wanneroo, 92.1% of occupied homes were separate houses at the 2021 Census, so cable runs tend to be long, and they go through the roof to get from one end of the house to the other.
What's different about cabling a Perth home
Through the roof, with the power off
Under WA's workplace safety rules, the electrical installation has to be de-energised by a competent person before anyone works in the roof space, solar included. Plan for the house to be off while the runs go in.
Getting down a brick wall
Solid masonry is harder to drop a cable through than a stud wall, so the electrician may need to chase the wall or use a neat surface duct. Ask what it will look like before they start.
What WA counts as licensed
WA's licensing regulations exempt work on communications and computer equipment, but not its power supply circuits above 50 volts AC. The data cable is one thing; the power point beside it is licensed electrical work.
Units and apartments
In Fremantle, 27.4% of occupied homes were flats or apartments in 2021. In a unit, check with your strata company before anyone drills into shared walls or ceilings.
What a good Perth data quote spells out
- Each point, which room it's in and how many cables go to it.
- Where the cables meet, ideally near where the internet comes into the house.
- A power point beside every data point, done under an electrical contractor's licence.
- How long the house will be off while they're in the roof, and how solar is isolated.
- How cable gets down brick walls, and what any duct will look like.
- Testing and labelling for every run.
- The Electrical Safety Certificate for the power side, and the contractor's EC number.
Our take
We'd put a wired point at every desk and behind the main TV, each with a power point beside it, and run them all back to wherever the internet arrives. In a brick house, we'd do it during a renovation if one's coming, while ceilings and walls are already open. And we'd ask for every run to be tested and labelled, so you know which cable is which years from now.
Want a specialist to sort it?
Tell us the job and your postcode. We match the licence-checked local electrician who does this kind of work, and they call you. No ring-around, and your number goes to them alone.