Start with the work, then the floor plan
An office needs enough access points to serve its people and devices in the places they work. That is a coverage problem and a capacity problem. A signal may reach a meeting room, yet performance can still be poor when everyone joins a video call.
Begin by marking the areas where wireless connectivity is essential: desks, meeting rooms, reception, breakout areas and any shared work zones. Record which devices are stationary and could use a wired connection. This produces a more useful brief than asking for a fixed number of access points per square metre.
Walls and neighbouring networks matter
Partitions, concrete walls, metal structures and other obstacles change how radio signals travel. Two offices with the same floor area can need different layouts. Access point orientation and the antenna pattern of the chosen model also affect coverage.
Nearby networks can share the available radio channels. Adding more access points without considering channels, placement and power can make the environment busier rather than solve the problem. The design needs to consider how neighbouring access points interact.
Count devices and describe demand
User numbers are a useful start, but a user may carry several wireless devices. Applications also differ: email, voice, video and large transfers do not put the same load on the network.
Identify the busiest rooms and the busiest time of day. Then record any unusual requirements, such as scanners that move between areas, shared tablets or an event space that occasionally fills with visitors.
- Typical and peak users in each area
- Device types and approximate numbers
- Voice or video use in meeting rooms
- Visitor access requirements
- Any locations with repeated dropouts
Plan wired connections and management
Each access point needs an appropriate network connection and power arrangement. Wired backhaul can avoid relying on a wireless link between access points, where practical. Confirm cable routes and compatible PoE capacity before ordering equipment.
For a multi-access-point UniFi network, management mode and configuration matter. Ubiquiti documents limitations of standalone access points, so the setup method should be chosen deliberately. Client devices also influence roaming; changing an access point setting cannot guarantee how every device behaves.
Validate the design in the real workplace
A floor-plan design is a starting point. Site assessment and agreed checks with representative devices help establish whether the result serves the intended areas. Test the spaces people reported as problematic, not just the position beside the cabinet.
Ask your installer to explain the placement rationale, the assumptions about device load and how coverage will be checked. The useful outcome is a defensible layout, not an unexplained equipment count.
Further reading
General networking guidance. Product specifications and site conditions vary; the agreed project scope determines the work and testing included.