Free restaurant planning guide
Commercial kitchen electrical readiness checklist
Coordinate exact equipment, building power, connected trades, inspections, and startup before electrical surprises delay opening day.
Do not increase breaker sizes, bypass protection, or use temporary cords as permanent power to make equipment operate.
Build the equipment and power schedule
- List the exact manufacturer and model for cooking, refrigeration, dishwashing, beverage, ventilation, and support equipment
- Record voltage, phase, rated load, connection type, plug, disconnect, controls, and installation location
- Include HVAC, water heating, lighting, signs, fire systems, POS, security, networking, and cleaning equipment
- Confirm service, feeder, panel, transformer, and available-capacity information with qualified professionals
- Require electrical review before approving any equipment substitution
Coordinate the installation
- Assign who supplies, installs, connects, starts, tests, and warrants each piece of equipment
- Coordinate electrical, gas, plumbing, drainage, ventilation, fire suppression, controls, and clearances
- Identify permits, inspections, utility work, landlord approvals, shutdowns, and opening milestones
- Protect panels, disconnects, conduits, cords, and devices from heat, grease, water, chemicals, and impact
- Map critical refrigeration, alarms, generator-backed loads, and the outage escalation plan
Test and document before opening
- Verify labels, voltage, phase or rotation where applicable, controls, interlocks, and disconnect access
- Update panel directories and ensure staff can identify critical equipment without guessing
- Test generator transfer, alarms, monitoring, emergency lighting, and restoration procedures where provided
- Keep equipment schedules, permits, inspection results, warranties, contacts, and concealed-work photographs
- Train managers not to repeatedly reset breakers or bypass protection when equipment fails
Planning or upgrading a commercial kitchen?
Bolt Electric supports Jacksonville restaurants with circuits, panels, three-phase systems, equipment connections, lighting, generators, troubleshooting, and shutdown planning.
Request a commercial quote