The Complete Guide to Office Fit-Outs: What Are Your Options?
Refurbishing your office space or moving into a new one can be an overwhelming, time-consuming and costly undertaking. That's because a lot goes into making the space as functional as possible, including installing facilities, creating workstations and meeting rooms, selecting breakout areas, etc. However, one vital aspect of your office fit-out project worth considering is the type of fit-out. Generally, office fit-outs come in three major types: shell and core, Category A (CAT A) and Category B (CAT B). Each option has its pros and cons and entails different components. Therefore, knowing a thing or two about each type will help get you off on the right foot in your office fit-out project. In this piece, you will learn the difference between these office fit-outs.
Shell And Core Office Fit-Outs
This fit-out is one of the most basic office fit-outs you will find. As the name implies, it is a 'shell' of a building's interior space. It's a building's basic internal framework and envelope and tends to be the form many property developers provide. The outside of such office fit-outs, shared spaces like toilets, the reception and lifts, and services like main electrical and water supply systems will often be complete. However, the inside is usually just the 'bare bones' of the space, lacking core facilities or amenities like lighting, wall coverings, suspended ceilings, partitions, etc. The top advantage of shell and core fit-outs is that they give you the flexibility to customise your office space. However, while they may be more affordable upfront, they can be time-consuming because you will have to install the core amenities and features yourself. Therefore, it may not be ideal if you are time conscious.
Category A Office Fit-Outs
CAT A fit-outs typically have what lacks in their and shell and core counterparts. Therefore, these fit-outs will generally contain amenities and features like electrical services (power, lighting, etc.), mechanical services (basic air conditioning and ventilation), suspended ceilings, raised access floors, internal surface finishes and fire detection systems like fire alarms and detectors. Generally, these fit-outs contain the key elements to make the space functional. However, they lack the core secondary design components to make the space fit your workspace's purpose.
These fit-outs tend to be ideal when refurbishing office spaces, especially when you want to change your electrical or mechanical systems to enhance efficiencies.
Category B Office Fit-Outs
Category B fit-outs are the perfect solution if you are looking for something that's tailored to the individual needs of your workforce and business. These fit-outs often come with everything, from IT infrastructure to audio-visual, lighting, meeting rooms, workstations, décor, office furniture, reception areas, kitchen areas, etc.