Power And Lighting For Working Buildings
A new office layout changes more than desk positions. Small power, lighting controls, floor boxes, kitchen circuits and supplies for mechanical equipment all need to work together. We help define an electrical installation around the actual use of your premises, whether you are fitting out an empty shell or changing an occupied floor.
For shops, restaurants and shared buildings, the starting point is an accurate schedule of equipment and operating hours. A landlord’s base-build installation may stop at a different boundary from the tenant’s responsibility. Agreeing that boundary early avoids paying for work twice or discovering a missing supply late in the programme.
Our commercial installation scope can include distribution board changes, new final circuits, cable containment, lighting upgrades and local isolation. Specialist systems such as fire alarms, data cabling and access control need a named design responsibility. They should be coordinated with the electrical package rather than assumed to be included.
When To Plan An Installation
Contact us when taking a lease, adding equipment, refurbishing a floor or investigating repeated circuit trips. Extra sockets alone will not resolve an overloaded or poorly arranged installation. The existing supply, earthing, protective devices and available capacity need checking before a design is agreed.
Bring your proposed floor plan, equipment list and any landlord fit-out guide. If there is an existing condition report, include its observations and evidence of completed repairs. An installation project and a periodic condition inspection have different purposes, so we will identify whether a separate inspection is useful.
Standards And Design Responsibilities
Commercial installation design should follow BS 7671, the IET Wiring Regulations, using the current applicable edition. This is a technical standard rather than a replacement for the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989. The project specification should identify who designs, installs, verifies and accepts each part of the work.
The electrical designer considers cable sizing, protective devices, fault protection, earthing and the installation environment. Existing distribution equipment needs assessment for compatibility before alterations are specified. For current edition information, see the IET wiring regulations guidance.
From Survey To Handover
First, we establish your premises type, postcode, intended use and project timescale. A site assessment then checks supply arrangements, distribution boards, containment routes and access. Drawings and equipment schedules help turn an initial idea into a written scope with clear exclusions.
Next, installation work is planned around agreed isolations and other trades. No business should assume that new circuits can be added without an interruption. Access to ceiling voids, shared risers and landlord-controlled switchrooms must be arranged before the work starts.
Finally, the completed installation is inspected, tested and documented for its scope. Request the appropriate Electrical Installation Certificate or Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate, as applicable, with schedules and circuit identification. Keep these records with your building information for future maintenance and alterations.
What Affects The Cost
Commercial electrical installation costs depend on circuit quantities, cable routes, supply capacity, board condition and the type of equipment selected. A short cable route across an accessible ceiling differs from a route through a finished or fire-resisting structure. Reinstatement, access equipment and working restrictions also affect the quotation.
Ask for a breakdown that separates survey, design, installation, testing and any enabling work. Confirm responsibility for making good and any required fire stopping. We do not publish a standard price because an accurate scope and site conditions are needed before the work can be priced.
Keeping The Project Manageable
Nominate a site contact who can approve access and interruptions. List equipment that must stay available, including servers, security systems, refrigeration and building controls. A phased programme may help, but the safe method and the practical limitations must be agreed before work begins.
After handover, update your asset records and maintenance plan. New work should leave a clear record of what changed, which circuits supply it and where the isolation points are. For an existing building’s overall condition, explore our commercial EICR service.
Commercial Electrical Installations FAQs
Can Electrical Work Be Phased Around Opening Hours?
Electrical installation work can sometimes be phased around opening hours, depending on circuit arrangements and access. Tell us which areas must remain operational and who can authorise shutdowns. The scope should state any evening work, temporary arrangements and limits before a programme is agreed, rather than promising uninterrupted power throughout.
What Documents Should I Receive After Installation?
Electrical installation documents should match the work completed. New installation work normally needs an Electrical Installation Certificate, while a qualifying small alteration may use a Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate. Ask for relevant schedules, circuit information and operating instructions, and confirm how these fit into the landlord’s building records.