Private School Expansion

This was a two-story addition to a private school in Land O' Lakes — new construction including a production studio for audio, video, and media work, plus classrooms. TSS worked directly for Itasca Construction on everything except the security camera install. The customer provided the cameras, their own team configured them, and TSS just handled the physical mounting.

About 300 cables total. What makes this project stand out is the color-coded jack system. Different colored jacks for data drops, security cameras, and WAPs throughout the building. When IT walks up to a wall plate or patch panel, they can identify the port type instantly without tracing anything. It's a small detail that saves real time over the life of the building.

TSS also handled the full fire alarm scope on this project. The EC ran conduit to all device locations, then TSS wired every device and installed them. We coordinated with the Authority Having Jurisdiction for final fire alarm inspection and worked through the state elevator inspection process as well. Fire alarm work on new construction has a specific sequence — devices go in, the system gets programmed, the AHJ inspects, and the elevator interface gets signed off by the state. Miss a step or do them out of order and you're waiting weeks for a re-inspection.

We also assisted the AV contractor by running wiring for lights and speakers on scaffold in the production studio. The studio is a complex cabling environment because structured cabling, fire alarm, security, and AV all converge in the same spaces. Keeping those systems organized in the ceiling and walls required planning that started at rough-in, not at trim.

About 300 cables throughout the two-story addition. The structured cabling covers classrooms, offices, wireless access points, and security camera locations. Color-coded jacks run throughout — one color for data, another for cameras, another for WAPs. That visual identification system is something most installers skip, but it makes a measurable difference for the school's IT staff who maintain the network after we leave.

The fire alarm system was a full TSS scope. The EC ran conduit to every device location, and TSS handled everything from there — pulling wire, mounting devices, wiring initiating and notification circuits, and coordinating the AHJ inspection. The state elevator inspection was part of the fire alarm sign-off process as well.

Composite cable for security cameras runs throughout both floors. TSS mounted the customer-provided cameras but did not configure them — the school's team handled that side. In the production studio, we assisted the AV contractor by running wiring for lights and speakers on scaffold. When four different low-voltage and AV systems share the same ceiling space, coordination at rough-in determines whether trim-out goes smoothly or turns into a mess.

Itasca Construction ran this job as GC, and they kept coordination tight. TSS was on-site alongside the EC, plumber, HVAC, and AV contractor. New construction gives you the advantage of planning pathways before walls close up, but only if the GC manages the sequence correctly. Itasca did.

Fire partition ratings changed mid-project. Some walls that were originally standard partitions got re-rated during construction, which meant TSS had to go back and install firesleeves and proper firestopping where we'd already made penetrations. That kind of change order happens on new construction more often than most people expect. You deal with it and move on.

Weather delays pushed the overall schedule. The production studio was the most complex space to cable because structured cabling, fire alarm, security, and AV all had to share the ceiling and wall cavities. We planned our rough-in pathways at the beginning of the project specifically so the four systems wouldn't conflict at trim-out. That planning paid off when it came time to close walls and ceilings.

All structured cabling drops were tested to TIA channel specifications. The fire alarm system went through a full functional test before the AHJ inspection — every device verified for correct operation, every circuit tested for supervision and alarm.

The AHJ inspected the fire alarm system and approved it. The state elevator inspection followed and was signed off. Documentation for the fire alarm system, structured cabling test results, and as-built drawings were delivered to Itasca Construction and the school at project closeout.

TSS ran a crew of 3-4 on this project depending on the phase. Rough-in required the full team for cable pulls and fire alarm conduit work. Trim-out and device installation could run leaner. All W2 employees, OSHA trained, and the lead installer is trained on fire alarm system installation and inspection requirements.

Having one crew handle both the structured cabling and fire alarm meant no finger-pointing between trades when wall penetrations or ceiling space conflicts came up. One crew, one responsibility, one standard of work.

ANSI/TIA-568 on all structured cabling. NFPA 72 governs the fire alarm installation — circuit design, device placement, wiring methods, and inspection requirements. NEC compliance throughout, including updated firestopping where partition ratings changed during construction.

BICSI best practices for cable routing and support. AHJ requirements for fire alarm final inspection and acceptance. State elevator inspection requirements for the fire alarm elevator interface. Applicable building codes for new construction in Pasco County. OSHA safety requirements for all work including scaffold operations in the production studio.