#commercialelectricaldesign

Why early-stage electrical design expertise saves projects from costly mistakes

Electrical systems sit at the core of every modern building. When electrical design is done well, it is barely noticed — systems operate safely, efficiently, and in harmony with other services. When it is done poorly, the consequences are immediate: delays, rework, safety risks, and long-term operational inefficiencies.

This article explores the most common electrical design issues encountered on commercial and institutional projects, and how an experienced Electrical Design Engineer helps prevent them — well before they reach site.

1. Undersized Electrical Infrastructure

One of the most frequent design failures is underestimating electrical demand.

This typically occurs when:

Future tenant loads are not adequately allowed for

Equipment schedules change late in the design process

Diversity factors are applied too aggressively

Expansion or staged development is overlooked

The result is overloaded switchboards, insufficient riser capacity, or plant rooms that cannot accommodate upgrades.

A skilled electrical design engineer works closely with architects, clients, and mechanical engineers to:

Accurately model peak and future loads

Allow for redundancy and scalability

Coordinate plant space requirements early

This approach avoids expensive switchboard replacements or major upgrades just a few years after occupation.

2. Poor Coordination with Mechanical and Hydraulic Systems

Electrical design does not exist in isolation. Many site issues arise not from incorrect calculations, but from poor cross-discipline coordination.

Common coordination failures include:

Cable trays clashing with ductwork

Inadequate power allowances for mechanical plant

Mismatch between electrical control strategies and mechanical system intent

Plant rooms that work on paper but not in three dimensions

When electrical, mechanical, and hydraulic designs are developed in silos, site conflicts are inevitable.

Integrated Electrical Engineering Services address this by:

Coordinating plant power, controls, and interfaces

Aligning electrical layouts with HVAC and hydraulic routing

Ensuring compliant access, clearance, and maintenance zones

This coordination is particularly critical in healthcare, laboratories, and high-density commercial developments where services congestion is unavoidable.

3. Non-Compliant Lighting and Emergency Systems

Lighting design errors are often discovered too late — during compliance reviews or inspections.

Typical issues include:

Inadequate lighting levels for NCC or Australian Standards

Emergency lighting that does not meet spacing or duration requirements

Poorly integrated exit signage layouts

Control strategies that conflict with energy compliance requirements

An experienced electrical design engineer ensures:

Lighting layouts are compliant from concept stage

Emergency systems are clearly documented and coordinated

Energy efficiency targets are met without compromising usability

This is especially important on projects where certification timelines are tight and compliance delays can impact occupancy approvals.

4. Inefficient Power Distribution Layouts

Even when systems are technically compliant, poor distribution design can create long-term inefficiencies.

Examples include:

Excessive cable runs increasing voltage drop and material costs

Switchboards located without regard to building functionality

Lack of zoning leading to operational inflexibility

Inadequate metering for tenant or energy management needs

High-performing electrical design engineer companies focus not just on compliance, but on usability and lifecycle performance.

Well-considered power distribution design supports:

Easier tenant fitouts

Reduced installation costs

Improved maintenance access

Better energy monitoring and reporting

5. Inadequate Allowance for Fire and Life Safety Systems

Electrical design plays a critical role in fire and life safety, yet this is often underestimated.

Common mistakes include:

Insufficient power supplies for fire systems

Poor segregation of essential and non-essential circuits

Inadequate backup power coordination

Misalignment between electrical design and fire engineering strategies

Electrical systems must support fire detection, smoke control, emergency lighting, evacuation systems, and essential services operation.

Close coordination between electrical and fire protection engineering ensures:

Clear compliance pathways

Reliable system operation during emergencies

Proper documentation for authority approvals

This integration is essential in large commercial buildings, hospitals, and public facilities.

6. Overlooking Maintainability and Access

Designs that look efficient on drawings can become operational headaches if maintainability is not considered.

Typical oversights include:

Switchboards installed in inaccessible locations

Inadequate clearance for testing and maintenance

No allowance for future upgrades

Complex control systems without clear documentation

A skilled electrical design engineer designs with the end user in mind, ensuring:

Safe access for electricians and facility managers

Logical system layouts

Clear labelling and documentation

Reduced downtime over the building’s lifecycle

This mindset significantly improves long-term asset performance.

7. Late Design Changes and Incomplete Documentation

Electrical design issues are often amplified by rushed documentation or late-stage changes.

When drawings lack clarity, contractors are forced to make assumptions — leading to variations, delays, and disputes.

Robust electrical design documentation includes:

Clear single-line diagrams

Coordinated layouts

Accurate load schedules

Well-defined scope boundaries

Strong documentation reduces risk for all stakeholders and supports smoother delivery on site.

Where Electrical Design Fits Within Broader Building Services

Electrical design intersects constantly with other disciplines:

Mechanical systems rely on accurate power and control strategies

Hydraulic services depend on reliable pumping and monitoring

Fire systems require robust electrical integration

Sustainability outcomes depend on intelligent electrical design decisions

At Decobu, electrical design is approached as part of a fully integrated building services strategy — ensuring systems function together, not in conflict.

FAQs

What does an electrical design engineer do on a building project? An electrical design engineer plans and documents all electrical systems, including power, lighting, emergency systems, controls, and coordination with other services to ensure compliance and functionality.

Why do electrical design issues often appear during construction? Many issues stem from poor early coordination, underestimated loads, or incomplete documentation rather than calculation errors.

Can good electrical design reduce project costs? Yes. Early, well-considered design reduces rework, avoids overengineering, improves installation efficiency, and lowers lifecycle costs.

How early should an electrical design engineer be involved? Ideally from concept design. Early involvement allows load planning, coordination, and compliance pathways to be established before constraints arise.

Final Thoughts

Most electrical design issues are not caused by complexity — they are caused by avoidable oversights.

A skilled Electrical Design Engineer brings foresight, coordination, and practical experience to a project, preventing problems long before they reach site. When electrical design is integrated properly with mechanical, hydraulic, and fire services, buildings perform better, cost less to operate, and stand the test of time.