Looking into an office move or potential refurbishment? In which case, you’ll likely be trying to determine the difference between a Cat A and Cat B fit out.
We’ll take you through the meaning of Cat A and Cat B fit outs in simple terms so you can craft your ideal office. Once it’s ready to move into, make sure to fill it with our carefully designed desk chairs to keep your staff comfortable all day long.
What’s the difference between Cat A and Cat B fit outs?
Let’s start with the basics – a Cat A fit out provides the fundamental infrastructure of a workspace, while a Cat B fit out transforms it into a fully functional office that’s ready to move into.
What is a Cat A fit out?
Before any fit out begins, you’ll typically start with a shell and core space. This is the bare bones of the building – just concrete floors, basic structural elements, and main service connections.
So, while Cat A might seem like it’s unfinished compared to what you’d expect when you think of an office (aka. A Cat B fit out), it’s actually not as bare as it was before the fit out.
A Cat A fit out gives you a completely blank canvas for your office space. It’s essentially the basic transformation that makes a building shell ready for the next stage of customisation.
A Cat A fit out typically includes:
- Basic lighting systems
- Suspended ceilings
- Raised floors
- Air conditioning and heating
- Fire safety systems
- Basic wall finishes
- Toilets and core services
These core elements lay the groundwork for your dream workspace.
The main benefits? Maximum flexibility for future tenants and often much quicker completion times than jumping straight to Cat B.
What is a Cat B fit out?
A Cat B fit out is where your office really comes to life. This is when the space becomes a fully functional workplace that reflects your company’s needs and brand identity with design elements.
A Cat B fit out includes all the interior design elements that make an office truly usable, like:
- Partitioned meeting rooms, booths and break-out areas
- Kitchen and break areas
- Custom lighting solutions
- IT infrastructure
- Furniture like office desks
- Design features and branding
- Reception areas
- Office storage solutions
A well-finished Cat B fit-out delivers tangible benefits. Staff work more contentedly and efficiently in thoughtfully designed spaces, whilst the environment properly reflects your brand and suits your team’s precise requirements.
Understanding the difference between a Cat A and Cat B fit out helps you plan better. While Cat A offers maximum flexibility and faster completion times, Cat B gives you the chance to create a space that truly works for your team. Ultimately, all offices will need to be at Cat B spec before they’re used as properly functional offices.
Who needs which fit out?
Landlords usually handle Cat A fit outs because it makes the space rentable by providing the essential infrastructure but allows the tenant to put their own stamp – and budget – into customisation.
It’s rare for a tenant to handle a Cat A type fit out, as they’d be putting significant resource into a building they don’t own.
Sometimes a landlord will then handle the Cat B fit out, taking it up to a standard where tenants who don’t wish to do building works can move in. This is becoming more and more popular as it allows for faster occupation and can be particularly appealing to smaller businesses who want a ready-to-use space.
However, many tenants choose to manage their own Cat B fit out so that can:
- Create a layout that works for their team
- Add their own personality and brand touches
- Choose office furniture that suits their style and needs
- Set up tech systems exactly how they want them
- Control how their budget is spent
The Rise of Cat A+
There’s a growing trend called Cat A+ or ‘plug and play’ spaces. These sit between Cat A and Cat B, offering a semi-furnished office that’s ready for immediate use.
These Cat A+ spaces typically include basic furniture and workstations, meeting rooms, breakout spaces, IT infrastructure and kitchen facilities.
However, they notably lack any personalised branding or company-specific customisation – making them a middle ground between basic Cat A and fully customised Cat B spaces
This option appeals to businesses wanting a faster move-in with less upfront investment.
What costs and timescales come with each style of fit out?
Costs vary significantly depending on your requirements, but here are the key factors that move the needle of the budget.
Key Cat A costs:
- Getting the basics right – power, water, and other essential services
- Making sure everything’s safe and complies with safety laws
- Installing proper ventilation and temperature control
- Setting up emergency systems
Key Cat B costs:
- Planning how to use your space most effectively
- Building the rooms and areas you need
- Kitting out your office with furniture and equipment, including office desks and chairs
- Getting your tech up and running
- Having experts manage the project
- Moving your team in
You’ll need to consider each of these factors if you’re considering either kind of fit out in order to determine a framework for your office build budget.
Timescales
Every fit out project is unique and a wide range of factors will influence how long it will take to complete.
Your building’s current condition plays a huge role as a space that needs lots of work will naturally take longer than one that’s almost ready to go. The size and complexity of what you’re planning matters too as well as how easily contractors can access the site.
Market conditions can also impact your timeline. Supply chain issues might affect material availability while getting the right permissions and sign-offs takes time too.
That’s why it’s best to speak with experts who can assess your specific situation rather than working to general timelines that might not apply to your project.
Complete your office build with quality furniture
We hope that whichever category of fit out you opt for, you end up with an office that makes a perfect home for your business. Remember to kit it out with Slouch’s finest office desks and chairs – all designed with ergonomics in mind.
Contact our team today if you want to speak to us about buying in bulk using [email protected]. We’ll get back to you as quickly as possible.
