What is the Process for Rewiring a Commercial Property?

29 Sep What is the Process for Rewiring a Commercial Property?

Rewiring a commercial property is no easy task – but that doesn’t mean that it’s something that companies should simply ignore – particularly if you rely on your commercial property to deliver consistently high performance in regards to electricity.

As costly and time-consuming as the process of rewiring might seem from a beginner’s perspective – it’s worth noting that it can actually be more cost-effective than you might think. After all, not only are you investing in the efficiency and productivity of your property, but you’re also ensuring the safety of your staff members by following the legislation laid out by the Health and Safety at Work Act in 1974.

So what exactly does rewiring a commercial property entail?

Evaluation and Quotation

The first step of a rewiring process for a commercial property should always begin with a visit to the property that allows the professionals involved in the process to evaluate the extent of the work and what needs to be done. These individuals will be able to discuss your needs with you so that you can make an informed decision about the upcoming work, and aren’t surprised by any additional fees. Following the evaluation, you should also be given an insight into how much the work will typically cost.

If you have any additional ideas for your rewiring project that haven’t been covered during the initial evaluation and quotation stage, it’s a good idea to talk these through with the company that will be managing your project – well in advance.

The Rewiring Process

In most circumstances, the best time to conduct rewiring is during the first-fix stage, before the commercial property has been plastered. This means that it’s important to get an evaluation at the same time as any plumbing and central heating work is being done. New cabling can’t be surface-mounted, which means that rewiring in a finished property would involve lifting floorboards, coverings, and skirting boards.

Alongside the installation of new cabling, many rewiring processes within a commercial environment will involve fitting new boxes for switches and sockets within the commercial residence, and fixing any power and lighting circuits that exist within the property. Some commercial property owners choose to use this time as a good opportunity to rewire for modern controls for smoke detectors, alarms, circuits, and outdoor lighting too. After all, a commercial property often looks more sophisticated when the wires are hidden behind ducts and walls.