Finding the right space for your business is exciting. You’ve signed the papers, started planning renovations, and you’re ready to turn the space into something that’s your own.
Then your electrician says, “Before we can move forward, you’ll need an electrical engineer.”
If you’ve never been through a commercial renovation or tenant improvement before, that conversation can raise a lot of questions.
How long will each portion of the project take?
This is a conversation I have with business owners all the time. You know your business and what you want the finished space to accomplish. My job is to help you understand the electrical side of the project so you know what’s required before construction begins.
That starts with evaluating the existing electrical system, understanding the requirements of the local jurisdiction and utility, and developing an electrical design that supports your business goals.
Why Many Business Owners Feel Stuck Before Construction Begins
One of the biggest challenges for business owners is that electrical engineering usually isn’t something they’ve had to think about before. They know they want to renovate a space or prepare it for a new business, but they may not know what needs to happen before construction can begin.
In many cases, an electrician is the first person to recognize that engineering is required.
Maybe the project needs a service upgrade.
Maybe the existing electrical equipment doesn’t support the new use of the space.
Or maybe the local jurisdiction requires engineered drawings before permits can be issued.
At that point, it’s easy for a project to slow down… Not necessarily because anyone has done something wrong, but there are new requirements that need to be understood before work can proceed.
That’s where I come in. My role is to evaluate the existing conditions, identify what’s required for your project, and develop an electrical design that works with the contractor, electrician, utility, and local jurisdiction.
Once everyone understands the electrical requirements, the project has a much clearer path forward.
My 5-Step Process from Existing Space to Opening Day
Every commercial project is different, but I usually follow the same general process. I start by taking the time to understand the space you’re working with and how you plan to use it.
From there, we can identify what’s required, develop the electrical design, and coordinate with the people involved as the project moves toward opening.
Here’s what this process typically looks like.
1. Evaluate What Already Exists
What do your current circumstances entail? Every commercial project begins with reviewing your existing space and understanding how it will support your business.
For example, we will look at things like:
- The available electrical service and whether it has enough capacity for your business.
- The condition and age of the existing electrical equipment.
- Any limitations that could affect the electrical design or construction.
- Whether other professionals, such as an architect or mechanical engineer, should be involved.
Once I understand the capabilities and limitations of the existing space, I can identify what’s required and begin developing an electrical design that fits your project.
2. Identify the Project Requirements
Identifying what your project requires starts with determining the project’s jurisdiction. Why? Because every city has its own review process. Take, for example, a project in Colorado Springs may follow different permitting requirements than one in Denver, even if the electrical work is similar.
Then we review the project’s applicable electrical codes, local amendments, and utility requirements. If the project requires a new electrical service or an upgrade to the existing service, I coordinate with the utility early so those requirements are understood before construction begins.
Depending on the project, I also identify any approvals that will be needed along the way, such as:
- Plan review approval from local AHJ
- Utility approval for a new electrical service or service upgrade
Knowing what’s required up front makes the permitting and design process easier to manage and saves significant time. You can take my client, Cassandra’s word for it.
3. Design Around Your Business Goals
Once we understand the existing conditions, the next step is understanding what you want your business to look like.
The first thing to know is how you plan to use the space. Whether you’re opening a restaurant, retail store, office, or another type of business, the electrical design should support the way you operate and any future items we want to account for.
From there, we review your equipment and power requirements and develop a practical electrical design that meets your needs without overengineering the project. When it makes sense, we can plan for future growth so that your electrical system can support your business as it grows.
4. Coordinate the Right People
A successful project takes good communication between everyone involved. Throughout the design process, I work closely with you and your architect, contractor, electrician, and any other professionals involved in the project.
This collaborative engineering approach helps make sure everyone is working from the same plan and has the information they need as the project moves forward.
If the project requires a new electrical service or service upgrade, it’s essential to coordinate with the utility as early as possible. Starting those conversations early helps everyone understand what’s needed before construction begins and keeps the project on schedule.
5. Keep the Project Moving Toward Opening Day
The electrical design is only one part of the project. As construction moves forward, questions come up, plans may need clarification, and sometimes field conditions don’t match what was originally expected.
When this happens, the goal is to answer questions quickly, review any necessary changes, and update the plans if needed so everyone can keep working from the same information. I also continue supporting permitting and plan review until the required approvals are in place.
The project isn’t finished until it undergoes final inspections and receives a Certificate of Occupancy. From start to finish, the focus is helping you get your business ready to open.
Simplify Your Commercial Electrical Project with CEE
A commercial electrical project involves more than creating electrical drawings.
Whether you’re renovating an existing space, planning a new tenant improvement, or constructing a new ground-up building, Colorado Electrical Engineering gets you started early, helps identify requirements, and develops a practical electrical design that fits your business.
Contact us to discuss your project.
