What is low voltagein construction?

Often, but not always, and the answer drives the bid structure. Fire alarm cabling is low voltage, yet the system usually requires manufacturer specific design, permitting, and licensed or NICET certified technicians, so it is frequently a standalone subcontract rather than part of the structured cabling package. Some electrical subs carry fire alarm through a preferred vendor. Confirm at bid time who owns it, because assuming the data cabling sub covers fire alarm is a common scope gap.

A drop is a single cable run from the IDF or MDF to an outlet or device, terminated and tested on both ends. One workstation outlet often carries two drops (two cables to one faceplate), so 60 desks can mean 120 drops. Per drop pricing typically includes the cable, jack, faceplate, patch panel port, labeling, and testing, but usually excludes pathways, racks, and network electronics, so check what a quoted per drop number actually covers.

On most US commercial jobs the electrical contractor provides the pathways: conduit sleeves and stub ups, back boxes with mud rings, J hooks or cable tray, and pull strings, while the low voltage sub furnishes, pulls, and terminates the cable. But the split varies by spec and by region, and it is the most common place for a scope gap between the two bids. The GC's scope sheets should name the pathway owner explicitly.