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Electrical Maintenance Budget Calculator

Plan your annual electrical maintenance budget for commercial or residential buildings. Covers EICRs, fire alarms, emergency lighting, and contingency.

How to Use

Select your building type — offices, retail, and residential blocks have different requirements.

Enter the total floor area of the building in square metres.

Enter the building age — older buildings need more maintenance and are more likely to need repairs.

Set the number of floors, which affects emergency lighting and fire alarm costs.

Review the budget breakdown and plan your annual maintenance spend accordingly.

About This Calculator

This electrical maintenance budget calculator helps building managers, facilities managers, and landlords plan annual electrical maintenance spending. Enter your building type, size, age, and number of floors to get a detailed budget breakdown including EICR testing, fire alarm servicing, emergency lighting maintenance, and a recommended contingency fund. Older and larger buildings require significantly more budget.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much should I budget for electrical maintenance?

As a rule of thumb, budget £2-5 per square metre per year for electrical maintenance in a commercial building. Older buildings (30+ years) should budget towards the higher end. This covers routine testing, fire alarm servicing, emergency lighting, and a contingency for unexpected repairs.

How often do commercial buildings need an EICR?

Commercial buildings should have an EICR every 5 years as a minimum. However, higher-risk environments (e.g., swimming pools, construction sites, petrol stations) may need more frequent testing — as often as annually. The previous EICR report may also specify an earlier re-test date.

What fire alarm maintenance is required by law?

Under BS 5839 and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, fire alarm systems must be serviced at least twice per year by a competent person. Weekly testing of call points and monthly visual checks should also be carried out by the building manager. Records must be kept.

Why include a contingency in the budget?

Electrical faults are unpredictable. A contingency of 10-20% covers unexpected repairs such as failed circuit breakers, damaged wiring discovered during testing, or emergency callouts. Without contingency, unplanned costs can blow your maintenance budget and delay essential work.

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