Queensland-wide commercial switchboard project delivery
- info@commercialswitchboards.com.au
Specialist project delivery for asset owners, builders and facility managers who can’t afford downtime, compliance gaps or tenant disruption
MSB upgrades, MCCs, HV switchgear, supply upgrades, CT metering, thermal imaging, repairs and maintenance. One delivery system. One point of accountability
Initial project reviews returned within one business day. Detailed site assessments, reports and design investigations are scoped separately depending on project requirements
What we deliver
MSB replacements, meter panel upgrades, AS/NZS 61439 compliance upgrades and staged shutdown works for commercial sites
Industrial distribution boards, MCCs, motor control and plant power infrastructure for manufacturing and industrial sites
HV switchboards, 11kV ring main units and substation installation for industrial, mining and utility-grade commercial sites
CT metering coordination, maximum demand reviews, 3-phase upgrades and Energex/Ergon authority approvals
Thermal scans, condition reports and hot spot detection before electrical faults become production shutdowns
Fault investigation, damaged switchgear replacement, nuisance tripping diagnosis and short-term stabilisation works
Scheduled inspections, torque-checked tightening, thermal baseline reports and ongoing maintenance contracts for asset owners
THE COMMON FAILURE POINT
Commercial switchboard upgrades are rarely just a board replacement. The risk sits in the coordination: maximum demand, protection, metering, tenant disruption, shutdown windows, board selection, supply authority requirements, compliance documentation and future maintenance.
Each of these decisions affects cost, downtime risk and the long-term reliability of the asset. Treating an upgrade as a one-line trade item is the most common reason commercial switchboard projects run over time, blow budget or leave compliance gaps behind.
Commercial Switchboards owns the whole outcome. From initial review through energisation, documentation and maintenance.
HOW WE DELIVER
We manage the moving parts so asset owners and facility managers are not coordinating electricians, engineers, manufacturers and supply authorities on their own
01
We review your site details, drawings and defect notices
02
On-site inspection of load, protection, metering and supply authority requirements
03
Manufacturer-independent board selection from Schneider, NHP, IPD or custom builders
04
Shutdown planning, installation, testing, commissioning and Energex/Ergon coordination
05
Certificates, test results, as-built drawings and optional maintenance contracts
WHO YOU'RE WORKING WITH
Specialist commercial and industrial switchboard project delivery across Queensland. Backed by hands-on experience across switchboard manufacturing, commercial metering, staged upgrades, thermal imaging, mining infrastructure, HV/LV switchboards, site-based delivery and maintenance planning
“I built switchboards for six years on the iPower factory floor before going underground at Lady Loretta to run them. Commercial Switchboards exists so commercial buyers in Queensland can engage that depth directly. Without the tier-one overhead.”
– Anthony, Director
SECTORS WE SERVE
Common property switchboards, strata documentation and committee-friendly reporting for body corporate sites.
Tenancy upgrades, base-building supply, meter panels and future capacity planning for commercial buildings.
MCCs, plant power and distribution boards planned around production downtime and staged works.
Critical load planning, compliance and staged works delivered with minimal disruption to clinical and care environments.
Mining switchboards, HV ring main units, transportable switchrooms and substation works delivered to mine site safety standards and shutdown windows.
Most contractors hand you off between electricians, engineers and manufacturers. We don’t.
Tier-1 manufacturers push their own boards. We specify for your site – Schneider, NHP, IPD or custom build.
General electricians leave you negotiating with the network. We coordinate Energex and Ergon end-to-end.
Generic upgrades require full site shutdowns. We stage works around tenants and trading hours.
Most jobs end with a tick and an invoice. We hand over compliance docs, as-builts and thermal baselines for your records.
Most contractors disappear after energisation. We retain on contract for scheduled inspections and thermal imaging.
A commercial switchboard replacement in Brisbane typically ranges from $15,000 to $250,000 depending on board rating (250A to 4000A+), site complexity, tenant numbers, supply authority requirements and compliance scope. A single-tenant 400A MSB replacement sits at the lower end. A multi-tenant 1600A board with CT metering, Energex coordination and staged shutdown works sits at the higher end. Initial project review confirms accurate scope before commitment.
A commercial switchboard upgrade in Queensland follows five stages: initial project review, site investigation and design coordination, board specification and procurement, installation and energisation, then documentation and handover. Upgrades must comply with AS/NZS 61439 (switchboard standard) and AS/NZS 3000 (Wiring Rules). Supply authority coordination with Energex or Ergon is standard. HV work follows AS/NZS 2067 and requires RPEQ engineering certification. Full project timeline is typically 12 to 20 weeks from review to energised.
A 3-phase commercial 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. CT metering coordination with Energex adds $3,000 to $8,000. Maximum demand calculations, protection coordination and AS/NZS 61439 compliance documentation are included in the base scope. Multi-tenant 3-phase upgrades with staged shutdown windows start higher due to the coordination involved.
Commercial switchboard manufacture typically takes 8 to 12 weeks from board specification to factory completion. Manufacturers in Australia including Schneider, NHP, IPD and accredited custom builders work to AS/NZS 61439 type-tested designs. Lead times depend on switchgear availability, board complexity, tenant metering configuration and protection coordination. Long-lead components like HV ring main units or specialist drawout switchgear can extend manufacture to 14 to 16 weeks. Board procurement runs in parallel with site preparation and supply authority coordination.
Commercial Switchboards is a specialist commercial and industrial switchboard contractor based in Brisbane, delivering projects across Queensland. Services include MSB upgrades, industrial MCCs, HV switchboards, supply upgrades, thermal imaging and ongoing maintenance contracts. QLD Electrical Contractor’s Licence #90899. AS/NZS 61439 compliant. Manufacturer-independent specification across Schneider, NHP and IPD. Email enquiries to info@commercialswitchboards.com.au for an initial project review returned within one business day.
Commercial switchboard upgrades involve significantly higher current ratings (typically 250A to 4000A versus residential 63A to 100A), multi-tenant metering coordination, supply authority approvals, AS/NZS 61439 compliance and staged shutdown planning around trading hours or production schedules. Documentation requirements include compliance certificates, as-built drawings, thermal baseline reports and asset register entries. Residential upgrades focus on safety switches and consumer mains compliance. Commercial Switchboards delivers commercial and industrial work only, no residential.
A commercial switchboard upgrade in Brisbane typically takes 12 to 20 weeks from initial project review to energisation. The breakdown is 1 to 2 weeks for review, 1 to 2 weeks for site investigation and design coordination, 8 to 12 weeks for board manufacture, 1 to 2 weeks for installation and testing, then 1 to 2 weeks for Energex coordination and final commissioning. HV substation works and custom multi-tenant assemblies extend timelines. Emergency switchboard works are expedited where stock allows.
AS/NZS 61439 is the Australian Standard for low voltage switchgear and controlgear assemblies. It replaced AS/NZS 3439 in 2016 and is the current compliance reference for all commercial and industrial switchboards in Australia. The standard covers design verification, thermal performance, short-circuit withstand, IP rating and form separation requirements. Commercial switchboards must be specified, manufactured, installed and documented to AS/NZS 61439 to meet electrical safety obligations and insurer requirements.
A commercial site requires an HV (High Voltage) switchboard upgrade when supply authority load limits at LV are exceeded, typically at 800A to 1600A demand. HV supply is required for major industrial sites, large commercial buildings, hospitals, data centres and mining operations. HV switchboard works follow AS/NZS 2067 and require RPEQ-registered electrical engineering certification. Commercial Switchboards delivers HV switchboards, 11kV ring main units and substation works across Queensland.
CT (Current Transformer) metering is the metering arrangement for commercial sites with demand exceeding direct-connect meter capacity, typically above 100A per phase. CT metering is coordinated with Energex or Ergon during a commercial supply upgrade and requires a sealed CT chamber within the main switchboard. CT ratios, accuracy class and metering circuit specifications must match supply authority requirements. CT metering is standard on commercial switchboard upgrades with three-phase loads above 100A.
Shopping centre switchboard upgrades are staged around trading hours to avoid tenant disruption. Major switchboard works are scheduled for after-hours, overnight or during low-traffic weekday windows. Tenant supply changes are coordinated individually with each affected tenant. Energex coordination, sealed changeovers and staged energisation are planned to maintain trading continuity. The work plan, tenant notifications and shutdown windows are documented before commencement and confirmed with centre management.
Body corporate switchboard compliance covers common property switchboard inspection, AS/NZS 61439 compliance certification, thermal baseline reports and committee-friendly documentation. Standard scope includes individual tenant meter compliance, CT metering verification, switchboard condition reporting and insurance-grade asset documentation. Strata committees typically require formal scope reports for committee approval before works proceed. Commercial Switchboards delivers strata-friendly reporting and compliance documentation for body corporate sites across Queensland.
Yes. Every commercial switchboard project begins with an initial project review. Send through site details, existing switchboard photos, drawings, defect notices and known issues. We review the information and advise the practical next step within one business day. For sites requiring on-site inspection, load review, thermal scanning or detailed compliance assessment, that scope is documented separately depending on project requirements. No commitment is required at the review stage.
Yes. Switchboard maintenance is available on every project we deliver. Annual maintenance contracts include scheduled inspections, torque-checked tightening, thermal baseline reports, switchgear cleaning and compliance documentation. Asset owners and facility managers retain Commercial Switchboards on contract for ongoing thermal imaging and reactive response. Maintenance contracts are scoped at the time of installation or available retroactively on existing switchboard assets across Queensland.
What to consider before approving a commercial switchboard upgrade.
How CT metering, supply upgrades and authority approvals fit together.
When thermal imaging matters and how it changes your maintenance plan.
Send through your site details, drawings or defect notices. We’ll review the
information and advise the next practical step within one business day.
