Cat-B Office Fitout

All industries and professions have specific terms and language which is often overlooked outside of the particular industry, making it difficult to understand the detail. Office interiors and the wider construction sector is no different, here at Studio Fourteen we want to break it down and explain some of the phrases we use on a regular basis to make sure you know what services you want and need for your business, the term we will be looking at is Cat-B office fitout.

If you’re looking to move into a new office or you’re doing a refurbishment to your existing space, you may feel slightly exhausted with the jargon that we take for granted in the world of commercial construction. We at Studio Fourteen are here to decode the jargon so that you can understand exactly what’s going on with your project, and make sure you know exactly what you’re getting.

The big question we get asked a lot in our industry is what is a fit out? A fit out is process of making an internal space suitable for occupation. It’s the transformation of a shell into a working space; from installing facilities, applying new flooring, creating working spaces and developing rooms with a purpose.

Cat-B Fitout

For end users and occupiers, a Cat-B commercial office fitout is generally the most common type of fitout terminology used to explain the full client specific design and layout. To rewind slightly, a Cat-A office fitout is normally completed by the landlord providing a basic finished open plan office space containing mechanical & electrical infrastructure complete with suspended ceilings, decoration, raised access floors and often carpet.

The occupier will then take on this blank canvas and develop the design tailored to the business operation intended for the space. At this point consideration is given to the components of a Cat-B office fitout but also the practically and day-to-day use of the operation, with a good design making the office space as efficient and effective as possible for all concerned.