Office Interior Planning Checklist
A comprehensive due-diligence framework for founders, Operations heads, and Corporate Real Estate teams planning an office fit-out in India.
Verify Building Handover Condition
Confirm whether property is delivered bare-shell (bare slab & structural columns) or warm-shell (pre-installed screed, perimeter AC lines, and primary electrical risers).
Review Landlord Tenant Fit-Out Manual
Obtain building work-hour regulations, night-shift requirements, insurance criteria (CAR policy), and freight elevator load capacities.
Check Floor-to-Soffit Slab Heights
Measure true slab-to-slab height to ensure sufficient clearance for HVAC ducts, electrical cable trays, and minimum 9.5 ft finished false ceiling height.
Assess Building Electrical Sanctioned Load
Verify sanctioned power (KVA) per 1,000 sq ft and confirm automatic DG backup transition capacity.
Inspect Plumbing & Drainage Inlets
Verify wet stack locations for executive washrooms, server room condenser drains, and employee cafeterias before locking the floor plan.
Model Seat Density Ratios
Establish target density (e.g. 65 sq ft per seat for hybrid offices, 85 sq ft for enterprise executive floors) including circulation.
Plan Natural Daylight Egress
Keep open workstations along the perimeter glass window line, placing enclosed cabins and meeting rooms along the interior core.
Acoustic Zoning & Neighborhood Planning
Separate high-decibel phone call zones and cafeterias from quiet engineering and legal focus spaces.
Design Multi-Functional Common Areas
Incorporate cafeteria spaces that easily double as town hall presentation pavilions with integrated projector screens.
Execute 3D MEP Clash Detection
Overlay mechanical ductwork, fire sprinkler piping, and electrical cable trays in CAD to prevent ceiling collisions on site.
Calculate Fresh Air CFM Requirements
Ensure HVAC design provides minimum 20–30 CFM per occupant to maintain indoor CO2 levels below 800 ppm.
Plan Dedicated Server Room Precision Cooling
Specify redundant (N+1) inverter split units and fire-retardant gas suppression (FM200 or Novec 1230) for IT server racks.
Specify Ergonomic Task Lighting (CRI > 85)
Calibrate desktop illumination to 400–500 lux with minimal glare ratings (UGR < 19) to prevent eye strain.
Insist on Factory-Edge-Banded Modular Furniture
Eliminate on-site carpentry delays by ordering laser-cut, PUR-bonded modular workstations prefabricated in an industrial factory.
Verify Hardware Durability Standards
Specify certified commercial hardware (Hafele, Hettich, or Blum) tested to 100,000+ open-close cycles.
Review Full-Scale Material Mockups
Inspect physical mockups of executive desks, glass partition trims, and acoustic fabric paneling before mass manufacturing.
Perform Electrical Distribution Board Thermal Scan
Conduct infrared thermographic scans on live DB panels to detect loose terminations or phase overload hot spots.
Hydraulic Pressure Testing of Fire Sprinklers
Witness pressure testing at 1.5x operating bar pressure before false ceilings are closed.
Compile As-Built Drawings & O&M Manuals
Ensure the contractor hands over complete laminated As-Built CAD drawings, circuit schedules, and vendor warranty certificates.
Want an Expert Commercial Site Audit?
Our engineering directors can accompany you on commercial site visits to inspect MEP infrastructure, floor-to-slab clearance, and lease suitability before you sign.
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