Structured cabling
- Cat 6 and Cat 6A cable
- Fibre backbone
- Patch panels and leads
- Outlets and faceplates
ASMM / ANZSMM · Communications · NPWC 25 CM
Data and Communications Estimating
Data cabling, outlets, racks and low-voltage systems, measured in metres and numbers
Data and communications scopes are full of small, repeated items: outlets, patch leads, terminations, tests. Counted wrong, they either blow the budget or leave you short on site.
We count every outlet, measure cable and containment, and schedule the racks and testing, giving a clean, auditable communications estimate.
Outlets countedBy type and category
AS/NZS 3080Telecommunications cabling
Racks & panelsScheduled
TestingCertification included
Deliverables
What You Actually Receive
| Deliverable | Format | Detail level |
|---|---|---|
| Data outlets | Excel, No. | By category and location |
| Cabling | Excel, m | Cat 6, Cat 6A and fibre |
| Racks and patch panels | Excel, No. | By size and port count |
| Containment | Excel, m | Tray, conduit and trunking |
| Terminations and testing | Excel, No. | Per cable and certified |
| Priced estimate | Excel + PDF | Supply and installation, with GST on its own line |
Australian Framework
How This Work Fits Into the Australian Standards
Every estimate is structured to the trade sections used for tendering and to the elements used for early cost plans, so one set of quantities serves both.
| Trade section (ASMM / ANZSMM) | Element (NPWC / AIQS) |
|---|---|
| Data, Comm & Intercom Installations | 25 CM Communications Services |
Scope Coverage
Communications Work We Measure
Every outlet and every rack.
Racks & cabinets
- Data racks and cabinets
- Power distribution
- Cable management
- Earthing
Wireless & AV
- WiFi access points
- Audio-visual systems
- Digital signage
- Paging systems
Intercom & nurse call
- Intercom systems
- Nurse call
- Door entry
- Public address
Testing
- Cable certification
- Fibre testing
- Documentation
- As-built records
Our Process
Start a Project →
How We Prepare Your Estimate
Five steps from your drawings to a data and communications number you can defend in a scope review.
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01
Scope review
An estimator reads the communications drawings, rack layouts and the data and communications specification before touching a takeoff tool, and lists every assumption, exclusion and missing item as a query for you to confirm. Nothing is priced on a guess.
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02
Digital measurement
Quantities are measured digitally in Bluebeam Revu, PlanSwift or On-Screen Takeoff, in metric: lineal metres of cable by category, counts of outlets, patch panels and racks, and numbers of terminations. Each measurement sits on a named layer, so the marked-up PDF you receive is a visual audit trail.
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03
Pricing
We price the quantities using current Australian supplier quotes, subcontract rates and published benchmarks such as Rawlinsons, adjusted for your postcode and state. If you give us your own rates or a preferred supplier schedule, we use those.
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04
Senior QA review
Before anything is sent, a second estimator compares the takeoff with the drawings and verifies the measuring rules, deductions, wastage allowances and productivity assumptions.
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05
Delivery
Excel and PDF files reach your inbox within one to two days for standard jobs. One round of changes is included, and we remain available for tender queries and scope questions after the tender.
Tooling
Software We Work In
You do not have to hold a licence for these tools. We do the measuring with them and hand over the results.
Bluebeam Revu
Measuring, marking and comparing drawings on screen.
PlanSwift
Takeoffs made from ready-built assemblies, with quantities you can export.
On-Screen Takeoff
Layer-based measuring on big commercial drawing sets.
Rawlinsons-benchmarked rates
Up-to-date Australian unit rates, compared with supplier and subcontractor quotes.
Microsoft Excel
The final file, set out to match your cost codes and trade sections.
If you use Buildsoft, CostX, Estimate One, Procore or your own template, let us know and we will prepare the file so it imports straight in.
Turnaround & Pricing
Cost and Delivery Time
We quote a fee for each project before starting, in AUD excluding GST. We never bill by the hour, and you are never charged more than the quote.
Small / residential scope
24 hoursSmall offices and shops.
Typical fee A$350 to A$850
Mid-size commercial
24 to 48 hoursCommercial offices and clinics.
Typical fee A$850 to A$1,800
Large / complex
48 to 72 hoursData centres and campuses.
Typical fee A$1,800 to A$3,600
Monthly takeoff package
OngoingA set number of estimates every month, with your jobs placed first in the queue.
Flat monthly rate from A$2,200/mo
Cost vs. Capacity
Why Builders Hand Data & Communications Estimating to Us
A full-time estimator is a salary, super, software seats and training. A data and communications takeoff from us is a per-project cost that only appears when you are actually tendering.
- No software licences. Takeoff and cost-data subscriptions cost thousands of dollars per user each year. With us, you use ours.
- Tender more, more selectively. Most builders do not lose jobs through bad pricing. They lose them because they run out of time to reach enough tenders before closing.
- Site time stays site time. Items get overlooked when estimating at 9pm after a long day on site.
- Independent accuracy check. Even builders with in-house estimators use us to sanity-check large or unfamiliar data and communications scopes before they submit.
- Moves up and down with how busy you are. Five takeoffs in a busy month and none in a slow one. You never carry a fixed cost.
Who We Work With
Made for Anyone Pricing Communications
Data cablers
Outlet and cable takeoffs.
Electrical contractors
Low-voltage packages.
Builders
Allowances.
IT consultants
Cost feedback.
Suppliers
Cable and rack lists.
Developers
Per-unit communications costs.
Sample Output
Sample Line Items
Every estimate has this much detail: quantities tied to elements and measured in metric, never lump sums.
| Item | Unit | Qty | Material | Labour | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cat 6A data outlets | No. | 120 | $ | $ | $ |
| Cat 6A cable | m | 9,600 | $ | $ | $ |
| Patch panels, 48 port | No. | 4 | $ | $ | $ |
| Data racks, 42 RU | No. | 2 | $ | $ | $ |
| Cable certification | No. | 120 | $ | $ | $ |
These example items show only the layout and units. They do not come from a client project.
FAQ
Common Questions
Do you cover fibre?
Yes, backbone and horizontal.
Do you count outlets per room?
Yes.
Do you include testing?
Yes, certification per cable.
Which states and territories do you cover?
Every one. Prices are set for your project postcode and state, so a job in Darwin and a job in Melbourne get their own unit costs instead of one national average.
What does it cost?
A fee is quoted per project, in AUD excluding GST, before any work starts. You approve it in writing first. There is no hourly billing and no invoice larger than the quote.
How fast is turnaround?
Standard scopes ship in 24 to 48 hours. Large packages take 48 to 72 hours. If you are against a closing time, say so when you upload and we will tell you honestly whether we can meet it.
Are my project details kept confidential?
Yes. We keep drawings, specifications and tender figures private, and if you prefer we will sign your NDA before we receive any documents.
Ready to Get Started?
Ready for Your Next Data & Communications Tender?
Send your drawings along with a short note on what the job covers. A fee and delivery date come back the same working day, and the finished estimate follows within one to two days of your approval.