Shop and office fit-outs need to be carefully planned and involve getting together with the different trades so everyone understands how the electrical installation will be completed. It is also imperative that the commercial electrician has a return dialogue about how other trades are constructing their final product. Clear communication is a must between all trades, and having a realistic completion time frame in place will help construction flow more freely.

In addition to planning the electrical installation, the commercial electrician must also look after the data cabling network, especially in offices and most retail outlets. Nowadays, computers, printers, phones, and workstations are all combined and integrated to work together. Security systems are also installed through the data network so everything can be remotely viewed from mobile devices. We always advise on adding for the future, allowing extra data cabling for smart office equipment, and if not installed today, it will indeed be installed in the days ahead.

Commercial premises age over time, and you buy additional equipment as your business grows, so cable upgrades are needed and additional power outlets installed to service the new products. A commercial electrician will assess and swiftly create solutions necessary to get the job done, saving you money and time in the long run.

Having the right type of lighting in commercial premises is a top priority for all business owners. Poor lighting can affect an employee’s health; eye straining and headaches are ones we hear about all the time. These discomforts can have a harsh outcome on the employee’s productivity and positive attitude in the workplace, and this is why it should be crucial to get the design right the first time around. A commercial electrician will have the skills, knowledge and experience to map out any type of lighting system in offices, retail shops or any other type of commercial property.

Not all commercial spaces are the same, and illumination will differ for each. The correct brightness can be essential for setting the right mood throughout your working area. In offices and retail outlets, a neutral to cool white light is advised, as productivity is proven to be high when used. The lighting Lux levels also need to be spot on. The Lux levels are the light strength from the light, and the value indicates the amount of light that will fall on a specific area. Energy-efficient lighting will be essential as light in the workspace will be on full-time throughout the working day. Motion sensors in bathrooms, meeting rooms, kitchens and stairwells can be installed to reduce energy bills, as lights only need to be illuminated when used.

We always recommend choosing LED lighting, it’s the next best thing to natural sunlight. Along with the energy savings over incandescent or halogen lighting, you have complete light level control and distribution, so your team gets the right light to optimise their productivity. Most lighting in offices and retail outlets are recessed, downlights and panel lights are a good choice as light can be evenly distributed in large areas and you also have the option of tri-colour. Pendant lighting might suit the smaller professional firms, adding a gentle ambient light to the office space. The lighting we get asked about, such as track lighting, can be used in all commercial premises and is ideal for illuminating reception areas, bathrooms, and kitchens.

Data cabling plays an important role in most commercial properties, and all offices will have some type of IT network system installed in the workplace. Depending on the size of the premises, our commercial electrician will determine the kind of network system you need for transporting data. The point-to-point method can still be used for smaller offices. It’s a simple system that connects one component of a network to another component of the network using fibre optic cabling.

One downfall of this system is that if your company grows, your network system grows, and the point-to-point method becomes complex and causes problems on the network. The structured cabling system avoids these problems as it connects the servers and storage units directly to the communication network. Over time, this type of system pays for itself, will help you plan for the future, and reduces the time necessary to make repairs.

Emergency lighting is wired to internal batteries, so light is continuous when power fails. The building code of Australia has outlined its regulations that require commercial premises to have emergency and exit lighting in place. The Australian set standards have general rules that all businesses must adhere to, some include:

• If the area of a floor is more than 300m2, exit and emergency lighting must be installed
• Fire-isolated stairwells, passageways and ramps are areas that must have emergency lighting
• Emergency lighting must be tested every 6 months, ensuring all emergency and exit lighting is functioning

Emergency lighting requirements will vary depending on the building class of the premises. The building class must be identified, and emergency lighting requirements must be followed for that particular class.

The residual current device, also known as the safety switch, essentially protects you from electric shock in the event of an electrical fault. RCD safety switches will detect earth leakage current faults in under 20 milliseconds or less, reducing the risk of serious injury and electric shock. The RCD will protect personnel against injury and safeguard premises against fire damage due to faulty appliances or even damaged and over-loaded cabling. As per the Australian electrical standards, businesses should have their RCDs tested every 6 months to stay compliant. At km.electric, we value this maintenance service as the most important, and our commercial electricians have the testing equipment to carry out the necessary tests involved in RCD testing.

Nowadays, business owners are turning to access control to allow employees to enter the workplace with a key card or even a keyless entry code. The entry codes can be added and removed easily anytime a new employee starts or leaves. The system can also keep detailed records of when employees enter and re-enter the workplace. Access control systems can also be used with a video intercom system, allowing you to see who is trying to gain access to the premises. CCTV security systems can be one of the best equipment a business can have to deter unwanted criminals; why not see what’s happening in the workplace while enjoying a day off? All camera systems these days are IP {internet protocol}, so the cameras can be remotely viewed, checking in on employees through your mobile phone, tablet or laptop.

Does your business premises need flood lights in a car park or perhaps extra security at night by lighting the outside of your building? In the old days, flood lights were used to discharge lamps such as metal halide, mercury vapour, and high-pressure sodium. These lamps were also used with a ballast, which was slow to produce light as the ballast needed to heat up to produce light. We now turn to LED to produce light from a flood light, which is easier to run, doesn’t rely on a ballast to heat a lamp, has extra electricity savings, and uses a small LED chip to produce light. In addition to floodlighting, our commercial electricians have the installation skills for installing LED high bay lighting on commercial warehouse floors.

The testing and tagging of portable electrical appliances. Although not a legislative requirement, the business owner does have a duty of care to his/her employees. The test and tag will ensure the safety of your employees and minimise the risk of an electrical hazard occurring. Some workplaces carry out this procedure by a commercial electrician every 3 to 6 months, depending on the industry the business is in.