Flat renovation
Description
This project consists of a complete renovation of a flat, including a brand-new electrical installation, upcoming plumbing works and the reconfiguration of non-load-bearing walls to redesign the interior layout.
The goal is to modernize the flat, improve its functionality and prepare it for future connected-home integration, while ensuring that the different installations are properly designed, organized and accessible for maintenance.
Electrical installation
The entire electrical installation is being replaced, starting from the distribution panel and extending to every room.
Initial electric panel:
The installation is designed around Schneider Electric equipment, prioritizing products manufactured in France whenever possible. In the same vein, Nexans cables are used throughout the installation.
To simplify future maintenance and troubleshooting, cables are routed directly between the distribution panel and their respective destinations, avoiding intermediate junction boxes wherever possible.
The installation also includes several provisions for future upgrades:
- All lighting switch cables return directly to the electrical panel, allowing future integration with Home Assistant and centralized lighting control.
- Every room is equipped with spare conduits to make future cable additions and modifications easier.
- CAT6A Ethernet cables are installed throughout the flat to provide reliable wired network connectivity.
- The GTL (Gaine Technique Logement) incorporates a dedicated enclosure for the internet router, keeping networking equipment organized and avoiding exposed or dangling fibre-optic and Ethernet cables around the flat.
With one exception, the electrical installation complies with the French NF C 15-100 electrical standard: the main circuit breaker could not be lowered to the required 1.30 m height.
Indeed, the existing incoming supply cables enter from above and are too short to allow the circuit breaker to be repositioned lower. Replacing or rerouting these cables would require significant work in the building’s common areas, including opening up and restoring shared spaces. Given these constraints, the existing position had to be retained.
New electric panel:
Electrical installation – Build
The installation involves removing the existing equipment, preparing the new cable routes, installing conduits and pulling the cables throughout the flat.
Interior layout reconfiguration
Some of the existing non-load-bearing walls are being removed to reorganize the interior layout and make better use of the available space.
Next steps
The electrical installation and initial demolition work are part of a larger renovation project.
The remaining work includes:
- Completing the electrical installation and distribution panel.
- Continuing the reconfiguration of the interior layout.
- Installing the new plumbing system.
- Completing the walls, floors and other interior finishes.
- Configuring the Home Assistant integration and network infrastructure.
The renovation is still ongoing, with plenty of work left before the flat is ready.
To be continued…