Your building's electrical system is like the nervous system of the entire site, quietly powering everything from lighting and heating to alarms, IT, and machinery. But unlike a flickering light or tripped fuse, infrastructure issues often creep in unnoticed.
So, how do you know when to take a closer look or plan a full upgrade?
Here are the most common signs it might be time to modernise your electrical setup, and what to do about it.
Your building hasn't been rewired in 20+ years
Most commercial electrical installations have a life expectancy of around 25–30 years, less if poorly maintained or overloaded. If your building hasn't had a central review or rewire in two decades, you're likely dealing with ageing components, outdated capacity, and increased risk.
Even if the lights are still on, the risks behind the walls could be growing.
You're experiencing regular issues or overloads
Frequent blown fuses, tripped breakers, overheating panels or fluctuating power? These are all red flags that your system is struggling to cope, often because it wasn't designed for today's demand. With more tech, devices, and systems running 24/7, older infrastructure simply isn't built for it.
You're planning a refurb, fit-out, or expansion
If you're reconfiguring office space, adding new facilities or increasing electrical load, it's the perfect time to assess your infrastructure. Adding more sockets or a new lighting scheme is one thing, but without the backbone to support it, you're stacking risk on top of risk.
Upgrading infrastructure during a refurb is more cost-effective than trying to retrofit around it later.
You want to improve energy efficiency or add renewables
Smart lighting, zoned controls, battery storage, solar integration require a safe, scalable and compatible system. If you're exploring net-zero targets or trying to cut costs, your electrical setup should be part of that plan. It's not just about efficiency; it's about future readiness.
How UES can help
At UES, we work with clients across transport, education, leisure, retail and more - delivering smart, safe and scalable electrical systems tailored to your site.
Whether it's a full rewire, phased upgrade, or simply bringing you up to compliance, we'll help you plan with clarity and deliver with minimal disruption.
Not sure if your system's due for an upgrade?
Talk to us about a practical assessment and forward plan.