Electrical Design Services for Residential and Commercial Buildings

Depending on the project, our electrical design services include:

Power Distribution and Load Planning

We plan how power is distributed through the building: panels, circuits and the connected loads of lighting, receptacles and equipment. On renovations and tenant spaces, this includes reviewing whether the existing electrical service can support the proposed design.

Electrical Layouts and Documentation

Receptacle, power and lighting layouts, panel schedules and supporting documentation prepared for permit submission and for the electrical contractor's use on site.

Lighting Design

Fixture selection and placement, switching and lighting controls planned around how each room or space is used.

Electrical Coordination

Coordination between electrical, architectural and mechanical drawings so that fixtures, equipment and routing do not conflict on site.

Electrical Consulting and Technical Review

Review of existing electrical drawings or proposed changes, and guidance on how design decisions affect the electrical scope.

Electrical Drawings for Building Permits in Newmarket

When a project requires a building permit, electrical documentation is often part of the submission, particularly for commercial work and larger renovations. Preparing electrical drawings with the architectural and mechanical sets means the reviewer sees one consistent package rather than separate drawings that reference each other incorrectly.

For many commercial projects, electrical drawings must be sealed by a licensed professional engineer. The professional sealing requirements for your project are confirmed at the start of design.

Lighting Design Coordinated with Interior Design

Lighting is most effective when it is planned with the interior design rather than added after it. Fixture positions, ceiling layouts, switching and controls are developed at the same time as finishes and furniture layouts, so the lighting supports both how the space works and how it was presented in the 3D visualization and renderings you approved.

For commercial and non-residential buildings, lighting design also has to meet the energy efficiency requirements of the Ontario Building Code, including the lighting power limits set through Supplementary Standard SB-10.

Commercial Electrical Design for Franchises and Business Locations

A new business location often places different demands on an existing electrical system than the previous tenant did. Commercial kitchens, display lighting, signage, point-of-sale equipment and rooftop HVAC units all add load, and franchise brands frequently specify lighting levels and fixture types.

For franchise owners and business operators, we design the electrical system around the approved commercial space plan, brand requirements and equipment schedule, and identify early whether the existing service capacity needs to change.

Coordinating Electrical Design with HVAC and Mechanical Equipment

Mechanical equipment is one of the largest electrical loads in most buildings, and one of the most common sources of coordination errors. Furnaces, heat pumps, rooftop units, exhaust fans and water heaters each need the correct circuit, disconnect and location.

Because Home Fresh Air prepares mechanical and HVAC design in the same team, equipment selections and electrical requirements are coordinated directly, rather than passed between separate consultants late in the design.

Building Permit vs ESA Electrical Permit: What Is the Difference?

In Ontario, a municipal building permit and an electrical permit are separate approvals, and many projects need both.

• Building permit: issued by the municipality, such as the Town of Newmarket, and covers compliance with the Ontario Building Code.
• ESA notification of work (electrical permit): filed with the Electrical Safety Authority for almost all electrical work, and covers compliance with the Ontario Electrical Safety Code.

The ESA notification must be filed by whoever performs the electrical work. When you hire someone to do electrical work, it must be a Licensed Electrical Contractor, and the contractor files the notification. Our role is the electrical design and coordination; installation is carried out by a licensed electrical contractor.

Electrical Codes That Apply in Ontario

Electrical installations in Ontario must comply with the Ontario Electrical Safety Code (OESC). The current 2024 edition, the 29th edition, took effect on May 1, 2025 and is based on the Canadian Electrical Code, Part I, with Ontario-specific amendments.

Certain larger installations also require ESA plan review under Rule 2-010 of the Code. As of July 6, 2026, the plan review threshold in that rule increased from 10 kW to 12 kW. Whether your project requires plan review depends on its scope and is confirmed during design.

Engineering and Design Behind Our Electrical Work

Hooman Abedan, P.Eng., Engineering Consultant, has more than 25 years of experience in engineering, building systems and construction, and leads engineering coordination and technical review across disciplines.

Sogol Abbasi, Co-Founder and Design Consultant, has more than 10 years of experience in architectural and interior design, construction documentation and 3D visualization, and develops the interior layouts that lighting design is built around.

Meet the Home Fresh Air team.

What to Prepare for an Electrical Design Project

• Floor plans or existing drawings of the space
• Information on the existing electrical service and panel, if known
• A list of major equipment, including HVAC units and appliances
• For commercial projects: brand lighting standards, signage and equipment schedules
• Your permit status and target construction date
  
  Start Your Electrical Design ProjectSend us your floor plans, equipment list and project timeline, and we will review the electrical and lighting scope your project requires.Contact Home Fresh Air | 416-660-4960 | info@homefreshair.ca