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Strata Electrician Melbourne
Managing electrical systems across a multi-unit strata property comes with a unique set of responsibilities. Common areas, car parks, fire systems, and shared infrastructure all need to meet strict compliance requirements, and any work needs to be coordinated with body corporate approval processes. If you are an owners’ corporation (OC) member, building manager, or strata manager looking for a reliable commercial electrician who understands the strata environment, Carlin Co Electrical can help.
We work with apartment buildings, townhouse complexes, and mixed-use developments across Melbourne. Our team handles everything from routine common area lighting upgrades to full Essential Safety Measures (ESM) compliance programs. We understand the documentation requirements that come with strata work, including quoting for OC meeting approvals, lodging Certificates of Electrical Safety, and coordinating access across multiple units.
Whether you need emergency lighting testing, car park lighting repairs, intercom system upgrades, or a full audit of your building’s electrical compliance, our licensed electricians deliver professional results with clear communication at every stage.
Common Area Electrical Services
Common area electrical systems are the responsibility of the owners’ corporation, not individual lot owners. This includes lighting in hallways, stairwells, lobbies, car parks, and outdoor areas, as well as intercom systems, security cameras, ventilation fans, and fire indicator panels. Keeping these systems maintained is both a safety obligation and a legal one.
Car Park Lighting
Underground and multi-level car parks need reliable, well-maintained lighting to meet Australian Standard AS 1680 for minimum lux levels. We upgrade old fluorescent fittings to energy-efficient LED lighting, repair faulty sensors and timers, and ensure emergency lighting meets compliance standards. LED upgrades in car parks typically reduce energy costs by 60 to 70 percent and last significantly longer than the tubes they replace.
Hallway and Lobby Lighting
Stairwells, corridors, and lobbies require lighting that operates reliably around the clock or responds to motion sensors. We install and maintain sensor-controlled lighting systems that provide adequate illumination for residents while keeping electricity costs manageable. Timer and sensor upgrades can significantly reduce common area electricity bills across larger buildings.
Intercom and Access Control Systems
Intercom systems are essential for building security and resident convenience. We install, repair, and upgrade intercom systems including video intercom units, keypad entry systems, and integration with electric strikes and magnetic locks. When older audio-only systems fail, we can upgrade to modern video intercom platforms that allow residents to see and speak with visitors before granting access.
Ventilation and Exhaust Systems
Car park exhaust fans, stairwell pressurisation systems, and common area ventilation all require electrical maintenance and periodic inspection. We service fan motors, replace failed capacitors and contactors, and troubleshoot control circuits. Properly functioning ventilation is critical for fire safety in enclosed car parks and basement areas, where carbon monoxide build-up can become hazardous.
Need a Strata Electrician?
We provide detailed written quotes suitable for OC meeting presentation and body corporate approval. Call us on 0432 632 346 or book a site assessment online.
Essential Safety Measures (ESM) Compliance
Under the Victorian Building Regulations, owners’ corporations are required to maintain Essential Safety Measures and submit an Annual Essential Safety Measures Report (AESMR) to their municipal council. Electrical ESM items typically include exit and emergency lighting, fire indicator panels, fire detection systems, and smoke alarm installations.
Exit and Emergency Lighting
Six-monthly inspection and testing of all exit and emergency lighting to AS 2293. We test battery discharge, lamp function, and illumination levels across all common areas.
Smoke Alarm Testing
Annual testing and maintenance of smoke alarm systems across common areas and individual lots. We ensure compliance with AS 3786 and coordinate access with residents.
RCD and Switchboard Testing
Regular testing of safety switches (RCDs) and common area switchboards. We verify trip times are within specification and check for any deterioration in protective devices.
We can take on the full scope of electrical ESM compliance for your building, including scheduled inspections, maintenance, rectification of defects, and preparation of documentation for your Annual Essential Safety Measures Report. Having a single electrician manage all electrical ESM items ensures nothing falls through the cracks and gives your OC a clear audit trail.
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REC 33210
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Electrical work completed by Carlin Co Electrical, Melbourne electrician
EV Charging in Strata Buildings
Electric vehicle charging in apartment buildings is one of the fastest-growing areas of strata electrical work. Residents are increasingly requesting charger installations in their allocated car spaces, and OCs need clear policies and infrastructure to manage this demand without overloading existing electrical systems.
We help owners’ corporations plan for EV charging infrastructure, whether that involves individual lot owner installations drawing from their own meters, or shared charging stations on common property supply. Key considerations include available electrical capacity at the main switchboard, cable routing from the switchboard to parking levels, load management systems for buildings with multiple chargers, and metering arrangements so individual owners pay for their own charging.
For individual residents, we install EV chargers including Tesla Wall Connectors and Zappi chargers with solar diversion, with all work documented for body corporate records. We can also advise on whether your building’s electrical supply has capacity for additional chargers or whether a three-phase supply upgrade may be needed.
Strata Electrician FAQs
Who is responsible for electrical maintenance in a strata building?
The owners’ corporation is responsible for all electrical infrastructure on common property. This includes lighting in hallways, car parks, lobbies, and outdoor areas, as well as intercom systems, fire detection panels, and shared switchboards. Individual lot owners are responsible for electrical systems within their own unit, including their private meter board and internal wiring. The boundary is typically at the lot’s sub-main connection point.
What are Essential Safety Measures and does our building need them?
Essential Safety Measures (ESMs) are building features required by the Building Code of Australia to protect occupants in an emergency. For strata buildings, electrical ESMs typically include exit and emergency lighting, fire detection and alarm systems, smoke alarms, and sometimes mechanical ventilation systems. Under the Victorian Building Regulations 2018, the building owner (which is the OC for common property) must maintain these measures to the required standard and submit an Annual Essential Safety Measures Report to their local council.
Can a resident install an EV charger in their apartment car space?
Yes, but the process depends on your OC’s rules and the building’s electrical infrastructure. Typically, the resident needs OC approval, particularly if cabling needs to run through common property. The charger should ideally be connected to the individual lot owner’s meter so they pay for their own electricity. We can prepare a detailed scope of work and quote suitable for presenting at an OC meeting, including cable routing plans and confirmation that the building’s supply has adequate capacity.
How often does emergency lighting need to be tested?
Under AS 2293.2, exit and emergency lighting must be inspected and tested every six months. This includes a simulated mains failure test to verify battery backup duration, inspection of all exit signs and emergency luminaires, and a check that illumination levels meet the required minimum. We provide a detailed test report after each inspection that can be used as evidence of maintenance for your Annual Essential Safety Measures Report.
Do you provide quotes for body corporate meetings?
Absolutely. We understand that strata electrical work often requires OC approval before it can proceed. We provide detailed written quotes that include scope of work descriptions, itemised pricing, expected timelines, and any relevant compliance information. These quotes are formatted for easy inclusion in OC meeting agendas and can be provided well in advance of scheduled meetings to allow committee members time to review.
Do you service all areas of Melbourne?
We service strata buildings across Melbourne’s inner suburbs, bayside, and surrounding areas. Our base is in Port Melbourne, and we regularly work on apartment buildings and townhouse complexes in South Melbourne, Albert Park, St Kilda, Brighton, Richmond, and throughout the broader metropolitan area. Contact us to confirm availability for your building.
Related Services
Strata electrical work often involves multiple disciplines. Our team frequently pairs common area maintenance with these related services:
- Essential Safety Measures (ESM) Compliance – Full ESM audit, maintenance, and annual reporting for strata buildings.
- Exit and Emergency Lighting – Six-monthly testing and maintenance to AS 2293.
- Smoke Alarm Compliance and Testing – Annual testing across common areas and individual lots.
- Electrical Safety Inspections – Full property inspections for compliance and insurance purposes.
- Switchboard Upgrades – Replace outdated common area switchboards with modern compliant boards.
- LED Lighting Installation – Reduce common area energy costs with LED upgrades.
- EV Charger Installation – Individual and shared EV charging solutions for apartment buildings.
- Security Camera and CCTV Installation – Common area surveillance for building security.
- Data and Network Cabling – Structured cabling for intercom, CCTV, and building management systems.
Ready to Book a Strata Electrician?
Contact Carlin Co Electrical today for a detailed quote on your building’s electrical needs. We work with owners’ corporations, strata managers, and building managers across Melbourne.
About Carlin Co Electrical
Carlin Co Electrical is a Registered Electrical Contractor (REC 33210) and Master Electricians member based in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 2019 by Hamish Carlin, the company provides residential, commercial, and strata electrical services across greater Melbourne. With 138+ five-star Google reviews, Carlin Co is a trusted strata electrical contractor for body corporates and owners corporations across Melbourne.
Body corporates and property managers choose Carlin Co for strata electrical work because of the company’s structured approach to compliance documentation, transparent pricing for common area maintenance, and direct communication with the founder. The team handles everything from common area LED upgrades and exit lighting compliance to emergency callouts and full switchboard replacements for multi-unit buildings. All work is fully insured and a Certificate of Electrical Safety is issued for every prescribed installation.
For strata electrical services in Melbourne, call Hamish on 0432 632 346 or Book Your Electrician.
Before engaging any contractor on common property, owners corporations should verify credentials at the source. Ours are published in full, master electrician credentials, REC 33210, with links to the Energy Safe Victoria register so your committee can check them independently.