Will a solar installation disrupt my business?
For most commercial sites, very little. The bulk of the work happens on the roof, away from operations, and is sequenced with your team. The one moment that touches the building is the electrical tie-in and commissioning, which needs a planned shutdown of the board being connected — typically a few hours, and normally booked for an evening, weekend or shutdown week.
Last updated 18 September 2026.
Key facts at a glance
| Roof works | Run during normal trading in most cases |
|---|---|
| Planned power-down | Typically 2–4 hours, out of hours |
| Site space needed | Scaffold or mast access, plus a laydown area |
| Exclusion zones | Only directly beneath active roof areas |
| Safety framework | CDM 2015 plan agreed before mobilisation |
| Deliveries | Scheduled around loading-bay availability |
How the work is sequenced
Access goes up first, then panels and mounting are lifted and installed roof-side in zones, so only a small part of the building is ever under live works. Cable routes and inverter positions are agreed in advance to keep drilling and containment work away from production areas, and deliveries are booked so yards and bays stay usable.
The one interruption to plan for
Connecting into the distribution board and commissioning requires the board to be isolated. On single-shift sites this is usually done after hours; on continuous operations it is aligned with a planned maintenance window. Agree the slot early, because it is the only element that cannot be worked around.
- Confirm access routes and welfare arrangements before mobilisation
- Nominate one site contact for daily coordination
- Book the tie-in window at contract stage, not during installation
Related reading
FAQ
Do we need to close while the panels go on?
Almost never. Warehouses, factories and retail units normally trade throughout, with temporary exclusion zones beneath the active roof area only.
Will the roof be watertight during the works?
Yes. Mounting systems are chosen to suit the roof type, and penetrations, where used, are sealed and inspected as work proceeds.
Request your free feasibility review
Share a few details and our team will send a no-obligation review of your site — indicative system size, annual generation, savings and payback. Prefer to explore numbers yourself first? Run the calculator or contact us directly.
- MCS & RECC accredited installer
- Response within one working day
- No cost, no obligation