What Is a Cat A Fit Out?
A Cat A fit out is the base level of finish delivered by a landlord before a tenant takes occupation. It transforms a raw shell and core space into something functional - but not yet workable.
A completed Cat A fit out typically includes:
- Raised access floors
- Suspended grid ceilings
- Basic mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) services
- Fire detection and suppression systems
- Core HVAC distribution
- Perimeter trunking for power and data
The result is a blank canvas. The space is compliant, safe, and ready for a tenant to begin their own fit-out. It looks polished. It is not yet operational.
For landlords, the Cat A fit out is a marketing asset. It signals quality and readiness. For tenants evaluating multiple options, it raises an immediate question: what will it cost and take to get from this point to day-one operations?
What Is a Cat B Fit Out?
A Cat B fit out is the tenant's transformation. It takes a Cat A space and turns it into a fully functioning, branded workplace.
A Cat B fit out typically includes:
- Internal partitions and meeting rooms
- Furniture and workstation layouts
- Branding, finishes, and feature design elements
- Kitchen and breakout spaces
- IT infrastructure and AV systems
- Specialist lighting and flooring
The Cat B fit out is where the identity of a workplace is established. It reflects how a business works, what it values, and how it wants its people to feel. It also represents the majority of a tenant's capital expenditure in a leasing transaction.
Timelines for a Cat B fit out range from 8 to 20 weeks depending on complexity, size, and specification. That timeline begins only once a lease is signed and a design is agreed - which is why planning clarity before that point is critical.
Cat A Fit Out vs Cat B Fit Out: The Core Distinction
Understanding where Cat A ends and Cat B begins is not always straightforward. Specifications vary by building, landlord, and market. Misreading the boundary leads to budget surprises and delayed move-ins.
How qbiq Supports Both Cat A and Cat B Fit Outs
Most planning tools enter the picture after a lease is signed. qbiq operates across the entire journey - from Cat A evaluation through Cat B design.
At the Cat A stage, qbiq enables landlords and leasing teams to show prospective tenants exactly what a Cat A space could become. Rather than handing over a floor plan and asking a tenant to imagine the possibilities, qbiq generates fitted layouts automatically — complete with headcount capacity, desk density, meeting room ratios, and circulation logic. Multiple configurations can be produced in minutes, across multiple floors if needed.
This transforms Cat A spaces from abstract squares on a brochure into compelling, data-backed propositions. Tenants can assess and compare sites with visual confidence before committing to anything.
At the Cat B stage, qbiq accelerates the design and approval process. Once a tenant has committed to a space, qbiq's automated space planning and 3D rendered tours allow design teams to rapidly iterate on layouts, test different programming scenarios, and present photorealistic walkthroughs to stakeholders for sign-off. The quantity takeoff capability supports early-stage cost validation, reducing the risk of scope creep downstream.
The result: less time between Cat A handover and Cat B completion, fewer rounds of revision, and faster move-in.
Why This Matters for Everyone in the Process
Cat A and Cat B fit outs represent distinct phases, distinct stakeholders, and distinct risks. Landlords need to convert Cat A spaces faster. Tenants need to plan Cat B spaces smarter. Architects and design teams need to deliver both with fewer iterations and less wasted effort.
qbiq sits at the intersection of all three. It does not replace the expertise required to deliver a great fit out. It removes the delays that slow that expertise down.
For anyone navigating an office fit out — at the Cat A or Cat B stage — speed and clarity are not a luxury. They are the difference between a deal that closes and one that doesn't.
See what qbiq can do for your space.
Related reading: Before You Sign: Cat A vs Cat B Explained
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