Becoming a domestic vs commercial electrician

Specialising as an electrician

Electricians are well-known for installing and maintaining a wide range of different electrical systems. That applies to a variety of environments and projects.

Having a broad scope is one of the factors that make such a skilled job so appealing.

However, if you are thinking of pursuing this kind of career path, then you might be wondering what the difference between the commercial vs domestic electrician sectors are. Surely, they’re largely the same?

These two trade areas share a lot of similarities, but there are also some clear distinctions that separate the two.

When you’re looking to expand your current business, you need to be aware of before you begin offering such services.

What is a domestic electrician?

A domestic electrician denotes any qualified individual who carries out electrical work inside residential flats and houses. This often involves:

• Running cables
• Installing lighting
• Checking wiring
• Repairing electrical faults around the home

However, domestic electrical work is not nearly as simple as these tasks imply. For one thing, different rooms have different electrical requirements. For example, a bathroom’s electrics can’t be set up in the same way as a kitchen.

This means that domestic electricians have the freedom to specialise in different areas of the home.

It means learning the crucial and required technical know-how that comes with these spaces. Also for understanding and complying with the necessary building regulations.

Domestic electrician qualifications

Despite what you might first assume, learning to become a fully qualified domestic electrician is one of the most demanding career paths in the sector. Qualifications are typically being followed by an apprenticeship or some form of long-term shadowed work.

For example:

• A Level 2 or Level 3 Diploma in Electrical Installation
• Sitting an AM2 exam at a local test centre
• Being a member of the Competent Persons Scheme

Despite the high level of skill required in this sector, a large number of domestic electricians still operate without the extensive qualification program laid out above.

Regardless of which path you go down, if you are thinking of becoming a domestic electrician, then our article on training to become an electrician will give you the info you need.

What is a commercial electrician?

Unlike electricians working in the domestic sector, tradespeople trained as commercial electricians complete electrical work for other businesses, both public-facing and private.

This often includes working in:

• Offices
• Schools
• Restaurants
• Shops
• Data centres
• Industrial environments such as factories and construction sites

As with domestic jobs, commercial electricians have certain standards and regulations they must follow. Business compliance is key, as work in commercial properties can often be more hazardous.

There will also likely be more complicated wiring setups such as server rooms, backup generators, and industrial control panels.

Commercial electrician qualifications

Commercial electricians have to be fully qualified. This means they need to hold a Level 3 Diploma in Electrical Installation and another technical qualification.

This can be either:

• A Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Electrotechnical Services
• A Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Installing Electrotechnical Systems & Equipment

Can a commercial electrician do domestic work?

Commercial electricians need to have the same qualifications in electrical installation as domestic electricians.

As well as further training on top of this, tradespeople should therefore be fully able to carry out domestic work if needed. However, due to the nature of the work, the same cannot be said for domestic electricians carrying out work in the commercial sector.

What is the difference between a domestic vs commercial electrician?

By now, you may already have an inkling as to what some of the specific differences are between those looking to become a domestic electrician vs commercial electrician.

But for the sake of clarity, let’s look at these in more detail.

1. Installations

It goes without saying that there is a big difference between the installations required for domestic and commercial electrical work.

For one thing, commercial electricians regularly have to deal with high-voltage power supplies that may produce upwards of 480 volts. Residential electricians rarely deal with systems that output more than 240v.

As a result, due to the high voltage in commercial settings, the wiring setup for electrical work is very different to what’s found in the home. It requires a three-phase wiring design instead of a single-phase option.

Commercial buildings also usually have more wires involved than residential properties. These come with the need for added protection in order to be contained in conduits or ceiling rafters. Domestic wires, on the other hand, only require plastic sheathing.

2. Services

The types of work that commercial and residential electricians carry out will often at times overlap. Even these seemingly similar tasks may require very different knowledge.

For example, both roles may include:

• Installing lighting
• Completing wiring
• Carrying out electrical repairs

However, commercial electricians will often have to work on various systems and appliances you simply won’t find in a standard home.

Units and systems will need to be professionally tested, which isn’t always a requirement for residences.

3. Clients

Based on the kind of work, domestic electricians are far more likely to be hired for smaller-scale, local jobs. Typically those will be required by the average homeowner, and these jobs can often be completed in a single day.

Commercial electricians, on the other hand, could be contracted by companies for larger projects within their offices or shops. These projects tend to be much bigger in scope and could last several weeks.

4. Regulations

All electricians require a detailed knowledge of the building regulations in their particular field. However domestic and commercial properties often have different regulations that set them apart.

As a result, not all tradespeople will necessarily have (or need) the same knowledge of building legislation and safety standards in their specialised separate fields. For example, commercial electricians will have to follow The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 if they hope to complete any work.

5. Work-life balance

When it comes to work-life balance, domestic electricians have a clear advantage. Many tradespeople in this field run their own businesses, giving them the freedom to work the hours they choose. Commercial electricians are often locked into the hour requirements of their current contract.

For a greater insight into how becoming an electrician, or picking up any trade, can provide you with more flexibility, take a look at our article on becoming your own boss.

6. Wages

Despite the potential for larger projects presented by the work in a commercial electrician role, when it comes to the average wage of these two fields, there is very little difference between their yearly earnings.

When looking at the average electrician’s salary, you can usually expect to earn a salary in the region of £39,550. However, the amount you could make as a successful self-employed tradesperson could be much higher.

How to decide between becoming a commercial vs domestic electrician

Which type of electrical field you ultimately choose to specialise in is up to you.

However, when considering your specialisation, you might want to bear in mind the following points:

• Work environment – Domestic work can be more social and varied, as you’ll be working in different homes and meeting new people every day
• Skill level – Commercial electrical work can require more training to qualify
• Earnings – Both are about the same, but in the commercial sector you may not need to worry about the same overheads
• Work-life balance – If freedom in your work is what you’re after, then you will likely find that domestic work will suit you better

At the end of the day, whether you decide to go commercial or domestic with your electrical work, know that both are valuable. Well-respected electrical jobs are always in demand, so you’ll never be short of work.

When you’ve chosen a path, you may then decide how to start your own electrician business, with directories such as Checkatrade providing a basis for how to market your services.