refurbishment services

CAT A and CAT B

SEC Interiors are able to with CAT A and CAT B office refurbishment. For more information get in touch with our design team today who will be able to offer advice and support.

Cat A & Cat B fit outs

We use fit out processes to support property owners and landlords – in order to renovate or refresh their properties ready for the next occupier. This can be done either directly, or via property surveyors or managers. This gives you the option of whether you would prefer a more hands-on approach to the handling of the category fit outs, or would prefer to operate through a third party. There is a lot of jargon and industry specific terminology thrown around within the construction business, so lets quickly run down some of the main terms you will need to know.

What is the difference between Cat A and Cat B fit outs?

In short; Cat A is a very basic, operational fit out that will provide you with an empty but finished space, ready to move into but that will need interior design completion.

A workplace with a Cat B fit out will be a fully functional workplace that is complete with flooring, furniture and planting- a lot of the interior design is done for you!

Shell and Core Fit Outs

A shell and core fit out will include the basic framework of a building. The building will look complete from the outside but is actually just an empty shell and core of a building. With this level of fit out there will most likely be exposed walls and surfaces, as well as concrete floors. This will have at most a basic finishing, with no lighting or facilities.

A shell and core fit out should still include safety features such as smoke alarms, fire alarms and fire detection, to prevent any accidents occurring within the internal space, and to ensure to comply with building regulations. At this stage, the space will not be usable, and it is likely there will be internal structuring, such as metal framework, visible.

Cat A

A Cat A fit out is the basic finish of an interior space- the end result of a category A fit out will be as a ‘blank canvas’, and the office design will most likely be complete to an industrial standard. Often a Cat B fit out will then be conducted in order to fully optimise the space.

A Cat A space will typically be a functional space that landlords would then lease. This enables tenants to instal the finishes and interior design elements that are custom to their business, making the workplace feel more their own.

As part of dilapidations requirements (dilapidations relate to ruined or broken properties – basically referring to the repairs/maintenance required at the end of a lease). SEC interiors have vast experience reviving dilapidated properties in order to secure new tenants and therefore yields. our experience covers the whole site; both internal and external working space.

Our team specialises in looking for solutions for all aspects of the Cat A fit-out or refurbishment. This will provide maximum flexibility and absolute consideration of the needs of the next occupier. This will then minimise initial requirements and cost, as well as the need for major alteration by the said occupier.

CAT A office refurbishments include:

  • Replacement of floor coverings
  • Repair and replacement of suspended ceilings
  • Reconfiguring lighting, air conditioning, heating, ventilation and mechanical items to a pre-lease configuration
  • Fire detection services and smoke alarms
  • Replacement of wall finishes
  • Raised flooring
  • Removal of interior partitions and anything which formed part of the Category B fit-out
  • Basic mechanical and electrical services

Cat A+

What is a Cat A+ fit out?

A Cat A+ fit out is somewhere in the middle ground between a category A and B fit out. This has been described as a ‘plug and play’ office setup which the landlords provide. This is typically done in order to attract tenants to the new office space; it will save the occupier both time and money, as they will not have to design the space and purchase furniture themselves.

Cat A+ is a smart way of creating a functional office space that enables the tenant to move in and not have to make any major adjustments, unless they want to incorporate branding into the office design. The result of this is that, once you have set yourself up within the internal space, you can begin to work with no delays and avoid a lot of stress you may otherwise take on board.

It essentially means that everything you, as a customer looking for a commercial space, would need is already included in the office spaces. You would just need to bring along your laptop and staff members to get to work!

What a Cat A+ fit out includes:

  • Fitted kitchens
  • Partitioning including meeting rooms, offices and breakout spaces
  • Furniture and workspaces
  • Internet
  • Air conditioning
  • Toilets
  • IT installation and infrastructure design

CAT B

A Category B refurbishment will supply you with a completely transformed space, providing you with a workplace ready to move into.

You will have had the opportunity to work with an architect and one of our fit out specialists, who will help in designing your floor plan, installing facilities, and ultimately designing the perfect, functional office space for you and your unique company needs.

Our design team offers consultation for both the concept and delivery of your new working environment. This will take into account the flexibility within the Cat A installation, in order to minimise amendment and alterations to the surrounding environment. We will also consider rectification costs at end of the lease term.

Cat B fit out may include:

  • Design specific alterations of the existing Category A and B fit-out to suit the occupier’s requirements including M&E services
  • Partitioning systems and doors
  • Individual offices
  • Conference and meeting rooms and facilities
  • Tea points, staff areas, breakout rooms and canteens
  • Flooring and floor finishes
  • Decoration and wall finishes
  • New office furniture and workstations
  • Brand detailing and design
  • Specialist lighting
  • Air conditioning and heating

Hasine Patel

Our Experts

At SEC we work together to deliver the best possible result for you, our customer.

Our dedicated and experienced sales teams, data analysts, designers, project managers and customer service staff communicate and collaborate to design and install the best possible system for your needs. Our staff are your project’s most valuable asset, take time to meet some of them here.

Our Team

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Awards & accreditations for this service

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SafeContractor

SafeContractor

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Constructionline

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SHE Awards 2019

The Safety and Health Excellence Awards

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Hertfordshire 2019 Awards: Highly Commended

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