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 January 15, 2020

A Guide to Electrical Design for Commercial

Buildings

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In this post:

From multi-storey office blocks

to converted old properties,
each and every commercial
building has its own special
construction requirements. And
where should you even begin
with your electrical design?

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From multi-storey office blocks to converted old properties, each and every
commercial building has its own special construction requirements. As a
working space, they need careful consideration – especially when it comes to
the electrics. So what electrics does a commercial building actually need? And
where should you even begin with your electrical design?

To start, you need to determine whether your building is defined as

‘commercial’ in the first place. If 50% or more of its floor space is used for 󰊐
Privacy - Terms
commercial purposes – whether retail, manufacturing or a head office for
example – it will fall into the commercial category. This is then split into further
sub-categories – such as A1 for shops, or B1 for business.

The electrical design of your commercial building will, in part, be dictated by its
intended use. A hospital, for example, will have a very different requirement to
a private office or shopping center. But there are some uniting factors for all
commercial properties falling into five categories; safety, voltage, security,
logistics and ambience.

1. Safety
Whether your building is used by staff, clients, or members of the public, you
have a responsibility to uphold health and safety requirements. Electrics do
carry a great deal of risk, which is why it’s important to get your electrical
design spot-on in the first place. That means:

Providing sufficient levels of lighting for safe working: low lighting may cause
eye problems
Lighting particularly dark areas and stairwells, to mitigate the risk of falls
and injury
Ensuring a backup emergency lighting system is in place, in case of a mains
outage
Maintaining basic electrical safety, including plug sockets and cabling
Safety systems in case of a fire; including smoke and fire alarms, as well as a
sprinkler system
PAT-tested appliances – including toasters, kettles and refrigerators as well
as office equipment
Lightning protection

2. Voltage
This next point goes hand-in-hand with safety. You need to understand the
voltage class and the requirements of your building, because different sizes and
types will require varying treatment. A simple residential building will usually
be supplied by a low voltage of under 1000 Volts, directly from the National
Grid. But a bigger commercial building with higher electrical needs may require
a medium voltage class of up to 20,000 Volts (20KV), which may be supplied by
a substation.

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 3. Security
Once the safety aspect is covered, it’s time to turn to security. A commercial
building must be secure, or risk serious repercussions: especially if a business
has high-value products, expensive equipment or sensitive, confidential
information on site. Security systems include CCTV, burglar alarms and an
electronic access system. With these in place, the risk of break-ins or internal
security breaches will be diminished.

4. Logistics
Logistics is the next concern. Your electrical design should ensure the property
is actually usable. How will staff or customers reach the top floor? How will
they communicate with each other? To answer these questions, you will need
to incorporate:
An efficient communications system, including external and internal
telephone systems, teleconferencing facilities, broadband and WiFi
Audiovisual systems
A means for getting from A to B; whether that’s lifts, escalators, or even
dumbwaiters for food

5. Ambiance
The next consideration for your electrical design is ambience. Heating, air
conditioning and ventilation fall into the must-have category. But once the
‘essential’ boxes are ticked, you can turn to the decorative touches to achieve
maximum enjoyment and comfort. Elegant lamps; wall-mounted HD
televisions; exquisite coffee at the touch of a button. These are the final touches
that will turn your commercial property into a first-rate business facility to be
enjoyed by all.

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