Construction stages
When should you plan the electrical installation, automation and network?
Ideally at the design or shell stage – the earlier, the cheaper. After plastering, every change to cable routes means chasing walls and, in an energy-efficient house, a risk to airtightness; a wireless system does not increase the cost where power is already available.
Five stages
What do we do at each stage?
For each stage we describe what we do then, what later changes cost and what the next step is.
- Best moment
Design
Guidelines: distribution board, routes, shading
Stage details → - Best moment
Open shell
Conduits, penetrations without thermal bridges
Stage details → - Good
Closed shell (windows installed)
Drives, window contacts, airtight penetrations
Stage details → - Last call
Before plastering
Cabling, airtightness test
Stage details → - Another route
After plastering
Wireless systems, minimal wall chasing
Stage details → - Another route
Renovation / retrofit
Installation assessment, wireless systems
Stage details →
Construction stages
What do changes cost at the following stages?
It costs least at the design or shell stage. The later it gets, the more changes to a wired installation require chasing walls; wireless systems are the exception.
| Stage | What we do then | Cost of changes |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Guidelines for the design: distribution board, routes, external shading | lowest |
| Open shell | Conduits and penetrations without thermal bridges, Power supply for blind boxes | low |
| Closed shell (windows installed) | Blind and shading drives, Window contacts, Airtight installation penetrations | low |
| Before plastering | Cabling, Measurements, Presence at the airtightness test | medium |
| After plastering | Wireless systems (Loxone, Ampio, Somfy), Minimal wall chasing | higherapplies to wired installations; with a wireless system the cost does not increase |
| Renovation / retrofit | Assessment of the existing installation and distribution board, Wireless systems where there are no cables | higherapplies to wired installations; with a wireless system the cost does not increase |
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
At which construction stage is it best to contact you?
At the design or shell stage, before plastering. At that point we plan the distribution board and routes based on the floor plan, and changes cost least. In renovations we use wireless systems.
Next step