What You Should Receive at the End of an Electrical Project

Electrical work is hidden behind walls, inside boards and above ceilings. Once the job is finished, a clear record is often the only way to know what was assessed, designed, installed and tested.

The documentation that fits depends on the size and complexity of the job. A small repair needs far less than a commercial fit-out, and a good contractor will tell you up front what you will receive.

Depending on the project, the starting point can be a site assessment report (site observations, the existing condition, identified issues, photographs, load information and recommended next steps) and a load assessment with schedules: connected loads, estimated demand, circuit schedules and the existing versus proposed loads.

For solar and backup power, the design record covers the load assessment, system sizing, array configuration, inverter selection, battery capacity and what the backup is expected to do.

Installation documentation usually includes distribution board schedules, circuit identification, cable information, equipment schedules and installation photographs. Where inspection is part of the agreed scope, observations are recorded as the work progresses, not only at the end.

Test results should be recorded before handover, together with as-built information and, for solar and backup systems, handover information where it has been produced.

A good handover also separates what needs immediate attention, what can be monitored and what can be scheduled as a future upgrade, so you can prioritise instead of treating every issue as equally urgent.

Ask which of these records are included in the quote, in what form you will receive them, and whether testing is recorded. If something is not part of the scope, ask what it would take to add it. You can see how we approach this on our Engineering Deliverables page.