How to fit out a building while you are still using it

Decide the hours first

Out-of-hours and weekend working avoids disruption but costs more and takes longer. Tell installers which hours they can work when you ask for quotes, so the prices compare like for like.

Phase the work

Splitting the job into areas lets you move people around the work. It needs somewhere to move them to, and each phase needs its own clean handover.

Keep people safe

• Solid, sealed barriers between the work and your staff or customers
• Escape routes and fire alarms kept working, or temporary cover agreed
• Dust and noise controlled, with the noisiest work at agreed times
• Deliveries and waste moved at quiet times, by an agreed route

Tell the people who need to know

Your landlord may need to give consent before work starts. Your insurer should know about the works. Your staff should know what is happening and when.

What to ask an installer

• Have you worked in occupied buildings like mine?
• How will you separate the work from my people?
• Who is my named contact on site each day?
• What happens to the fire alarm and escape routes during the work?