Installing refrigerant pipes during construction can help create a cleaner concealed system and may reduce disruption compared with a later retrofit. We carry out first fix and second fix air conditioning on new build sites across Leicester — working within your construction programme from foundation to handover.
First fix is the stage of construction after the structure is complete but before walls are plastered and ceilings are boarded. It is the window during which electrical, plumbing, and mechanical services are installed within the fabric of the building. For air conditioning, this means running refrigerant pipework and drain connections through stud walls, floor structures and ceiling voids — so that by the time the plasterers arrive, all the pipe runs are already hidden inside the building.
Doing this at first fix has two major advantages. First, it can reduce disruption compared with drilling through finished walls and running surface trunking later. Second, the finish is usually cleaner — fewer visible pipes, less trunking on ceilings and less external conduit on an otherwise clean facade. We visit site at first fix, install all pipework, drain connections and cable routes to the planned indoor unit positions, and cap the ends ready for commissioning. At second fix, we return to hang the indoor units, connect the outdoor condensers and commission the system.
We understand construction timelines. We attend site on the dates that work for your main contractor, provide method statements and risk assessments as required, and return for second fix and commissioning when the building is ready — without disrupting your handover programme.
Contact us as early as possible — ideally at design stage. We can advise on pipe routes, outdoor unit positions and overheating strategy before construction begins.
Get a Free QuoteThe case for planning AC into your new build from the start rather than adding it later.
First fix installation can reduce later making-good, redecoration and disruption compared with retrofitting through finished walls and ceilings.
All refrigerant pipes, drain connections and cable routes are concealed within the structure — you see nothing but the indoor unit on the wall.
First fix work happens before the finishing trades arrive — no conflict with decorators, no damage to completed surfaces.
Planning pipe routes at design stage helps create a practical layout with shorter runs, suitable outdoor unit positions and clearer material costs.
All pipe runs tested and sealed at first fix — second fix is straightforward and can be completed quickly when the building is ready.
A new build home with air conditioning already planned in can be more attractive to buyers who value built-in comfort and cleaner installation details.
We plan and install first fix pipework to every room in your new build — from bedrooms to open-plan living spaces.
Pipe routes concealed in partition walls — particularly valuable in master bedrooms where the AC unit is closest to the sleeper.
A dedicated home office at first fix stage can have its own independent AC zone installed invisibly.
Multi-split systems connecting multiple rooms from a single outdoor unit — all pipe runs concealed at first fix.
Fully concealed ducted AC is only practical in a new build — ductwork installed in the ceiling void before boarding.
Open-plan kitchen-dining-living rooms benefit most from high-wall or cassette units with first fix pipe concealment.
Outbuildings and garden rooms attached at construction stage can be served from the main first fix installation.
MVHR ductwork is also a first fix item — both AC and ventilation can be installed in a single coordinated visit.
View our full range of new build air conditioning and ventilation services.
From design through to commissioning — a clear, structured approach that fits within your construction programme.
We review your drawings, agree indoor unit positions and outdoor unit locations, and plan practical pipe routes.
We attend site before plasterboarding to install refrigerant pipes, drain connections, cables and conduit to every indoor unit position.
We return after plastering and decoration to hang indoor units, connect outdoor condensers and make final electrical connections.
We pressure test the refrigerant circuits, commission the system and hand over user instructions on or before your completion date.
First fix is the installation of pipework, ductwork, drain connections and cable routes during construction — before walls are plastered and ceilings are boarded. Second fix is the installation of indoor units, outdoor condensers and controls after the building is plastered and decorated, followed by commissioning and handover.
Yes — we can visit at any point during the first fix stage to install pipework before boarding. It is worth contacting us as early as possible in the construction programme so we can plan practical routes. The closer the building is to completion, the less we can conceal within the fabric.
First fix on a 4-bedroom property typically takes one to two days depending on the number of units, the pipe run lengths and the complexity of the duct layout. We schedule attendance to coincide with the first fix window agreed with your main contractor.
Yes. Where electrical works form part of the installation, the appropriate electrical certification will be provided by the person responsible for those works. We also provide refrigerant circuit pressure test records and F-Gas documentation where applicable. If your project requires Part O or Part F supporting evidence, we can support your building regulations consultant with the ventilation and cooling data they need.
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