A practical guide for architects, designers, and custom builders specifying smart-home infrastructure before first fix.
What you actually need to specify
- Cabling and power: where cables run, what type, and where power is available.
- Panel and switch locations: where the household will naturally control the home.
- Network infrastructure: rack location, access points, PoE budget, and cabling.
- Integration scope: what the smart-home system is responsible for and what remains with other trades.
- Supplier coordination: who designs, installs, commissions, and supports the system.
Cabling and power
For new builds and major renovations, plan Cat6A structured cabling to TVs, access points, cameras, wall-panel or smart-control locations where required by the selected system, intercoms, and the comms rack. Specify conduit where future cable replacement or expansion is likely.
Provide and install Cat6A structured cabling to all locations marked SH on plans. Terminate at central rack location TR.1 to manufacturer spec. Provide a Cat6A patch panel and managed PoE+ switch with sufficient PoE budget for the final camera, access point, panel, and intercom schedule.
Panel and switch locations
Panels and switches should be placed where people already expect control: entries, kitchens, bedrooms, and living zones. Avoid decorative panel locations that look good on drawings but are awkward in daily use.
Network infrastructure
The network is the foundation. Specify a ventilated rack location, UPS-protected power where appropriate, structured cabling, managed switching, and Wi-Fi access points sized to the home.
Provide dedicated comms rack location TR.1 with ventilated cupboard, 240V GPO on UPS-protected circuit where required, and Cat6A trunks from each Wi-Fi AP location. Provide structured cabling termination, PoE switching, and managed router/firewall installed or configured by the smart-home installer.
Integration scope
Typical smart-home scope can include lighting, covers, climate, CCTV and alarm, access control and intercom, home network, entertainment and AV, and automation scenes. Solar, pool, irrigation, sauna, and specialist mechanical systems should be called out separately unless they are explicitly included.
Smart climate, lighting, and covers can help reduce unnecessary energy use, but quantified savings should not be assumed at specification stage without project-specific data.
Common mistakes
- Bringing the installer in after first fix.
- Under-specifying the network.
- Forgetting conduit to panels and future control points.
- Assuming every device uses the same protocol or app.
- Not naming who commissions the finished system.
Specifier checklist
- Cat6A structured cabling specified to smart-home locations.
- Comms rack identified, ventilated, and powered.
- Wi-Fi AP locations marked with PoE drops.
- Camera, intercom, panel, and access-control locations coordinated.
- Integration scope written into the specification.
- Smart-home installer engaged before first fix.