Agree which spaces will be covered, what measurements are needed and whether you want design proposals or simply a condition list. Identify emergency lighting explicitly; its role when normal lights fail is different from everyday lighting.
For the fittings, controls and occupied areas covered by a proposed lighting job, explore commercial lighting.
Record the existing installation
List fittings by room or area, noting type, mounting, controls and condition. Include failed lamps, damage and lights that are hard to reach for maintenance. Match photographs and measurements to their locations.
Explain operating hours and how lights switch, including presence or daylight controls. A rated wattage does not tell you energy use without knowing how long the light runs.
Observe the space in use
Use HSE's lighting guidance as workplace assessment context. Lighting should suit what people do, whether desk work, storage, moving around or detailed production. Ask users where glare, shadows and recurring difficulties occur.
If the survey includes measurements, record where and how they were taken, with daylight, furniture and working-light conditions. A single number without context is not a sound basis for changing the whole property.
Turn findings into a practical scope
Ask the proposal to distinguish faults, ordinary maintenance and design improvements. Repairing a fitting and changing the layout or controls are different jobs. Check access, compatibility and associated wiring before assuming new lights simply replace old ones.
Agree the result wanted and checks after fitting. Any predicted saving should show the existing baseline, hours and assumptions. It is an estimate for those conditions, not a saving already achieved at your building.
Plan the work around occupation
Arrange working hours, access, protection and any shutdown. Coordinate high-level work with people below it. Include removing old equipment, making good and showing users how to operate new controls.
Check the finished work against the agreed design and handover requirements. Retain updated plans, product details and relevant test documents with your property records.
FAQs
Does a survey always mean replacing the lights?
No. Cleaning, repairs or adjusted controls may address the issue. Any recommendation to upgrade should follow what the survey found.
Are emergency lights included automatically?
Only if you include them in the scope. Their purpose and checking requirements differ from normal lights, even when combined physically.
What should we provide before the visit?
Send plans, operating hours, details of past lighting work and areas causing problems. Mention any intended change in how rooms are used.
Related services and guidance
Find commercial lighting work, emergency-lighting services and electrical installation support. Read repair or replacement advice, or ask about a survey.
