Queensland-wide commercial switchboard project delivery
- info@commercialswitchboards.com.au
Specialist switchboard upgrade delivery for commercial, industrial and multi-tenant sites across Queensland. We manage the whole project, from initial review and board selection through to installation, energisation and handover
When you may need it
Many commercial MSB projects start as a fault, defect, capacity issue, insurance concern or tenant upgrade request raised by a facility manager, asset owner, body corporate manager, centre manager or builder.
Direct answer
A main switchboard is the central electrical distribution point for a commercial or industrial site. When it ages, fails, runs out of capacity or no longer suits the site, the result can be nuisance tripping, tenant disruption, compliance risk or limited future expansion.
Every commercial switchboard upgrade we deliver is built and type-tested to AS/NZS 61439, the Australian standard for low-voltage switchgear assemblies.
The real risk
Commercial main switchboard upgrades involve more than replacing equipment. Poor planning can create tenant disruption, failed shutdowns, authority delays, incorrect board selection, unclear documentation, failed testing or expensive rework.
Centre-wide meterboard upgrade program across a Queensland shopping centre with approximately 16 tenants. Specified, manufactured, sequenced and installed across 2 consecutive nights of after-hours work.
Zero trading disruption. Energex coordinated for overnight meter changeover and sealing. Both main meterboards and sub-circuitry distribution boards replaced. AS/NZS 61439 compliance certification on every board.
Main switchboard upgrade for YOUHIRE, a heavy material handling equipment facility in South-East Queensland. The site operates tyre handlers, forklifts, container handlers and heavy haulage equipment all served by a single industrial main switchboard.
New industrial main switchboard delivered with coordinated shutdowns to maintain workshop and operational continuity. AS/NZS 61439 compliance certification, full as-built documentation and handover pack provided.
Grouped by project stage so asset owners and facility managers can see exactly what we manage end-to-end. The documentation we hand over makes the upgrade defensible to insurers, auditors and incoming asset managers.
Cost factors
Every site is different, so pricing is confirmed after a site review. These are the factors that drive cost on commercial MSB upgrades.
A 250A board for a small commercial site costs significantly less than a 1600A or 2500A board for a multi-tenant centre. Capacity drives equipment cost more than any other factor.
Energex or Ergon supply upgrades, CT metering coordination and night-shift meter changeover work all add to project cost depending on scope and location.
Live trading sites with multiple tenants requiring after-hours staged shutdowns cost more than greenfield installations or sites that can take a planned full shutdown.
Schneider, NHP or IPD off-the-shelf assemblies are typically more cost-effective than custom-built boards. Custom builds make sense when site constraints, segregation requirements or load profiles demand them.
Sites requiring fault level studies, protection coordination or RPEQ-stamped designs carry additional engineering cost depending on scope.
Tight access, multi-level installations, demolition of existing infrastructure, asbestos removal or working at height all influence installation cost.
Our approach
Detailed site assessments, design investigations and engineering reports are scoped separately depending on project requirements.
Related pages
If your main switchboard upgrade involves metering, thermal issues, tenant supplies or a specific commercial site type, these pages may help.
Related services
Why us
Most Electrical Contractors
Commercial Switchboards
Backed by 10 years of practical switchboard depth: 6 years building and commissioning LV, MV and HV switchboards on the iPower factory floor, 3 years underground at Lady Loretta running 11kV substations and live HV switching, and end-to-end delivery of a remote open-cut gold mine in central Africa.
A commercial main switchboard upgrade in Brisbane typically costs $20,000 to $80,000 for a single-tenant site, depending on board rating, switchgear specification and supply authority requirements. Multi-tenant boards with CT metering, Energex coordination and staged shutdown works range from $80,000 to $250,000 and above. Board capacity (250A to 4000A) drives equipment cost more than any other factor. Pricing is confirmed after an initial project review and site assessment.
A commercial main switchboard needs upgrading when it is overloaded, damaged or non-compliant, when thermal imaging finds hotspots, when CT metering or supply changes are required or when the site needs more capacity for new tenants, HVAC, EV charging or plant. Poor labelling, corrosion, water ingress and obsolete switchgear that can no longer be sourced are also common triggers on older boards.
A commercial main switchboard upgrade in Brisbane typically takes 12 to 20 weeks from initial review to energisation. Board manufacture is the longest stage at 8 to 12 weeks depending on switchgear availability and complexity. Site investigation, Energex or Ergon coordination and shutdown planning run alongside manufacture. Smaller boards move faster. Long-lead items like HV switchgear or specialist drawout assemblies can extend the program to 14 to 16 weeks.
Commercial switchboards are specified, manufactured and verified to AS/NZS 61439, the Australian Standard for low voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies, and installed to AS/NZS 3000 (the Wiring Rules). Energex or Ergon requirements apply to metering and connection works. HV switchboards follow AS/NZS 2067 with RPEQ-certified engineering. Compliance certificates, test results and verification documentation are provided at handover.
A repair targets failed switchgear, damaged components, loose connections or nuisance tripping where the existing board can be safely stabilised. A full upgrade replaces the main switchboard when it is ageing, non-compliant, overloaded or out of capacity. We confirm which path applies after a site assessment. Not every switchboard issue needs a full replacement, and a staged upgrade often sits between the two.
We focus on commercial and industrial main switchboards rated 250A through to 4000A. That includes shopping centre meterboards, body corporate main boards, factory MCCs, aged care facilities and industrial plant infrastructure. We do not take on residential switchboard upgrades, single power point work or general light-and-power jobs. Those belong with a general electrical contractor.
All workmanship is backed by a lifetime workmanship guarantee. Equipment warranties pass through from the original manufacturer (Schneider, NHP, IPD or the selected custom builder) at their published terms, typically 2 to 5 years on commercial switchgear. Warranty documentation is included in the handover pack on every project.
No. Commercial Switchboards is manufacturer-independent. Boards are specified and procured through Schneider, NHP, IPD or accredited custom switchboard builders depending on the application, lead time, budget and site conditions. That independence means the board is specified for the site rather than for a preferred brand.
Yes. Pre-1990 commercial switchboards often contain asbestos in backboards, gaskets or arc shields. Licensed asbestos removal is coordinated as part of older board replacements, with workplace health and safety compliance and the documentation that asset owners and insurers need.
Yes. Handover can include certificates, test results, photos, manufacturer documentation, defect recommendations, as-built information where available and maintenance planning.
Yes. Staged shutdowns around live tenants are part of every commercial MSB project. Changeovers are planned around trading hours, completed after hours or overnight where required, with temporary supply for critical loads if needed. Crestmead Central, a 16-tenant shopping centre, was delivered across 2 consecutive nights with zero trading disruption.
Variations are agreed in writing before they happen. No additional work proceeds until the change is documented, costed and signed off by the asset owner or facility manager. Typical mid-project variations include unexpected asbestos discovery, supply authority requirement changes or tenant-driven capacity additions.
Send through your site details, switchboard photos, defect notice, upgrade requirement, shutdown limit or future capacity concern. We’ll review the information and advise the next practical step.
