Electrical Safety for London Recording Studios and Rehearsal Rooms

Recording studios, rehearsal rooms and music practice spaces pack a lot of equipment into small rooms: amplifiers, mixing desks, computers, lighting, air conditioning and often dozens of extension leads. Many sit in basements, railway arches and converted industrial units across London. This guide covers the electrical points that matter for owners and operators. It is general information, not legal advice.

Who is responsible

The business owner or operator is usually responsible for keeping the installation and equipment safe for staff, musicians and visitors. If you lease the unit, check which checks your landlord covers. Insurers often ask for a recent EICR and records of portable appliance checks.

Fixed wiring: EICR

An EICR checks the distribution board, wiring, sockets and lighting. Older units that were converted into studios sometimes have wiring added over the years by different people, so a full inspection is worth doing when you take on the space. Our guide to EICRs for commercial units explains the process.

Enough sockets, in the right places

• Chains of extension leads and adaptors are one of the most common problems in rehearsal rooms.
• Extra wall sockets near the backline, desk and drum riser reduce trailing cables and trip hazards.
• Separate circuits for the control room and each live room help stop one fault taking down a whole session.
• Sockets in each room should have RCD protection.

Hum, buzz and earthing

Hum and buzz in a studio is often blamed on the wiring. Sometimes it is a fault, such as a poor connection or a missing earth, and an electrician should check it. Never remove or tape over the earth pin on a plug to stop hum, as this removes an important safety protection. Many hum problems come from audio cabling and are best solved there. If an RCD keeps tripping, see our guide on why an RCD keeps tripping.

Heat, ventilation and soundproofing

Soundproofed rooms trap heat, and amplifiers and computers add more. Air conditioning or ventilation units need their own suitable circuits. Cables run behind acoustic panels or inside stud walls should be installed properly and not covered by insulation in a way that lets them overheat.

Portable equipment, emergency lighting and fire safety

Amplifiers, keyboards, lamps, kettles and the hire leads that musicians bring in all benefit from regular PAT testing. Basement and windowless rooms need dependable emergency lighting so people can get out if the power fails. Both should be covered in your fire risk assessment. See our guides to PAT testing and emergency lighting testing.

Book an inspection

Energy North Ltd inspects studios and rehearsal spaces across North, East and West London with City & Guilds certified electricians, and can work around your booking schedule. EICR from £100. See our EICR service.