In the following article, discover the difference between Cat A and Cat B office fit out.

What is an office fit out?

An office fit out is the end-to-end process of making an internal space suitable for occupation. It’s the transformation of a concrete shell into a workspace - from raising the flooring to installing kitchens, workstations and breakout areas.

There are two types of fit out - Category A and Category B - also called Cat A and Cat B.


Cat A vs Cat B fit out: what's the difference?

Cat A fit out refers to the basic finish of a space provided by the landlord. The technical functions like electricity and mechanics are installed but it's not ready to be used as an office yet. A Cat B fit out is a fully operational work environment, ready for tenants to move in.


What is a shell and core office fit out?

A shell and core office fit out is the bare bones of a building’s interior space and is often how the building is provided by the developers. The building may be completed on the outside but the inside office space is just a shell, looking like a construction site with concrete floors and walls, but no lighting or facilities.

Although the office space is an empty shell, the common areas shared between tenants will be completed, like the lifts, toilets and building's reception. Unlike the shell, these core areas are usually finished to a high standard, ready for incoming tenants.

What is a Cat A office fit out?

A Cat A office fit out has no standard specifications. They're usually finished with a suspended ceiling, lighting, heating and raised flooring. Their typically plain, open-plan design serves as a blank canvas for tenants to install the finishes that meet their operational needs, customising the workspace with personalised breakout areas and workstations through the form of a Cat B fit out.

Cat A fit out by Morgan Lovell

Cat A fit out

Cat A office fit out specifications:

  • Raised floors and suspended ceilings (with a basic finish)
  • Basic mechanical and electrical services
  • Fire detection services and smoke alarms
  • Air-conditioning and ventilation (HVAC)
  • Basic internal finishes


What is a Cat A+ fit out?

A Cat A+ fit out is the midpoint between the traditional specifications of Cat A and Cat B fit outs. It's essentially a plug-and-play office setup provided by landlords, so all a prospective tenant needs when moving in is their staff, coffee beans and IT equipment.

What is a Cat B fit out?

A Cat B office fit out follows on from a Cat A fit out, providing a space that companies can simply move into and start working.

They're often left for tenants to design themselves so it can be tailored to their needs, delivering the right mix of workstations, breakout areas and meeting rooms. Space planning and workplace consultancy are often done before any design work is started to understand how employees are using the space, making sure that the new design is a suitable fit for employees.

A tailored Cat B fit out should reflect a business's brand and work ethos, ensuring that the office is somewhere that employees will love to work, all while helping attract and retain the best talent.

Kobalt's trendy office design

Cat B fit out

Cat B office fit out specifications:

  • Fully-fitted kitchens
  • Workstations and furniture
  • Re-routing air conditioning and power points
  • IT installation and infrastructure
  • Design and brand detailing

The standards of a Cat B fit out depends on what a business negotiates. While most projects are a full Cat B, designed with furniture and workplace interactions in mind, some 'Cat B' spaces can just be room partitions, tea points and carpet.

See Cat A space transform into Cat B office

GPE Hickman's cat B office design
GPE Hickman's cat B office design

The difference between Cat A & Cat B fit out

Explore our latest design projects here. If you need any advice at any stage of your office fit out project give us a call.