School holiday shutdown windows
For schools, the holidays are when the real work gets done. Classroom lighting upgrades, switchboard replacements, data cabling and air conditioning circuits are much easier to deliver when the students are away and buildings can be isolated.
The catch is that holiday windows are short and fixed. If a job slips past the first day of term, it becomes much harder to finish. We plan these jobs well ahead, order long-lead items such as switchboards early and confirm access, isolations and site contacts before the break starts.
- Classroom and hall LED lighting upgrades
- Switchboard and submain replacements
- Power for new air conditioning systems
- Data cabling and wireless access point power
- Covered outdoor learning area lighting and power
Working safely around children
When work has to happen during term or while a childcare centre is open, safety comes first. Work areas are fenced or cordoned off, tools and materials are never left unattended, and cable runs, open ceilings and switchboards are secured before we leave an area.
Staff working on site hold the checks schools require for working around children, and we follow each site’s sign-in, visitor identification and supervision procedures. Where the school or centre has additional requirements, we’ll meet them.
Childcare centres
Childcare centres have their own practical needs. Outlets in children’s areas should be positioned or protected so small hands can’t reach them, and safety switches need to be working and tested. Kitchens, laundries and nappy change areas all need reliable, correctly protected circuits.
Because centres operate for long days, most of our work is done before opening, after close or on weekends. We plan with the centre director so rooms are safe and ready for children the next morning.
Lighting and energy in learning spaces
Good lighting makes a real difference in classrooms. Older fluorescent fittings flicker, hum and use more energy than modern LED panels. Upgrading to LED with suitable controls usually improves light quality and reduces running costs. Our commercial lighting and energy efficiency pages cover the options.
Compliance testing and records
Schools and childcare centres carry the same obligations as other workplaces, plus the scrutiny that comes with caring for children. Routine compliance work includes:
- Emergency and exit lighting testing to AS/NZS 2293
- Test and tag of portable equipment under AS/NZS 3760
- RCD testing
- Switchboard inspection and thermal imaging
We keep records for each visit and provide them in a form that suits your WHS or regulatory files. Test and tag work in schools is often done during holidays, when equipment can be collected from classrooms without disrupting lessons.
Halls, sports facilities and outdoor areas
School halls, gyms and covered outdoor learning areas have their own electrical needs. High-mounted lighting in halls is hard to maintain without the right access equipment, so LED fittings with a long service life make a lot of sense. Covered areas and sports courts need weatherproof outlets and lighting that stand up to rain, humidity and knocks from balls.
Many schools also use halls for events and assemblies, which means power for sound systems, stage lighting and portable equipment. We look at how the space is used and make sure there are enough correctly protected outlets in the right places.
Planned maintenance for education sites
Many education sites have a mix of old and new buildings, each with its own board and quirks. A maintenance agreement gives the business manager or facilities officer a single contact who knows the site, with testing and inspections on a set schedule and minor repairs handled as they come up.
What we need from you
For holiday works, let us know the scope and your available dates as early as possible, ideally the term before. For maintenance, send a site plan or building list, the number of emergency fittings if known and your preferred testing times. We’ll provide an upfront written quote and a plan that fits the school calendar.