Office Fit-Out and Refurbishment

Office fit-out scope is set project by project. The items below can run under a single contract or separately.

• Partition walls and glazed partition systems
• Suspended ceilings and acoustic works
• Screed, flooring and carpet
• Electrical, low current and lighting
• HVAC and ventilation
• Wet areas and tea points
• Fitted furniture and reception desks
• Furniture supply and installation

The two issues that generate the most revisions in office projects are acoustic performance and coordination in the ceiling void. Speech privacy in open-plan areas and sound insulation in meeting rooms are calculated during design; whether a partition is taken up to the slab, how the door is detailed and where the ventilation grille sits are what decide the outcome. The ceiling void is shared by ductwork, cable tray, the sprinkler main and light fittings. If these four routes are not overlaid in the detailed design and the clashes resolved in advance, ducts get cut on site, the ceiling drops and room height is lost.

In an office with staff in it, the works are phased. The floor is divided into zones, with temporary hoarding and separate circulation for each phase. Noisy and dusty activities are carried out outside working hours, and work areas are handed back ready for use at the start of every business day. For dust control the work area is held at negative pressure and the air handling unit serving that zone is shut down, otherwise dust spreads across the whole floor. This approach extends the programme, but it keeps the business running.

At handover the client receives a file containing commissioning records for the mechanical and electrical systems, manufacturing warranties and technical data sheets for the materials used. Training is given on the lighting controls, HVAC controls and low current systems. The snag list is drawn up together during the handover walkthrough, and the period for closing it out is defined in the contract.

• Retail and Showroom Fit-Out
• Hotel Guest Room and Public Area Fit-Out
• Clinic and Healthcare Facility Fit-Out
• Restaurant, Cafe and Bar Fit-Out