Written by Chris · Licensed Level 2 ASP Electrician · Licence 397193C · Published 8 November 2026

What Are the Electrical Requirements for a Commercial Laundry or Laundromat in Sydney?

What are the electrical requirements for a commercial laundry or laundromat in Sydney? A commercial laundry needs RCD protection throughout its wet, hosed down working areas, dedicated circuits sized for industrial washers and dryers, a switchboard with enough capacity to run several machines at once without nuisance tripping, and in many cases a three phase supply once machine count and dryer load are added up. Converting an existing retail shell into a laundromat without this assessment is one of the most common ways a new business opens with an undersized board.

1. RCD protection throughout wet, hosed down areas

A commercial laundry's working floor is a genuine wet area under AS/NZS 3000, with detergent runoff, condensation from dryers and regular hosing down all part of normal daily operation rather than an occasional spill. Final subcircuits in these areas need RCD protection and equipment rated for the moisture exposure they will actually see, which is the same principle applied in a wash down commercial kitchen or a car wash and detailing bay.

Coin operated and card payment terminals near the machines also need to be correctly rated and positioned, since they sit directly in a space where water exposure is routine rather than exceptional.

2. Dedicated circuits sized for industrial washers and dryers

Commercial washers and dryers draw considerably more current than a domestic machine, particularly during spin and heating cycles, and each unit or small bank of units needs a circuit sized specifically for that load rather than sharing capacity with general power points. Running too many machines off one undersized circuit is the most common cause of nuisance tripping in a laundromat that has grown busier than its original fit out anticipated.

Gas dryers still need an electrical supply for ignition, drum motors and controls, so a laundry mixing gas and electric dryers needs both load types accounted for separately when the switchboard is designed.

3. Switchboard capacity for running multiple machines at once

A laundromat's whole business model depends on several machines running simultaneously during busy periods, which means the switchboard has to be sized for genuine concurrent demand rather than an average or best case scenario. A board that copes fine with half the machines running but trips once every washer is in use on a Saturday morning is not actually fit for purpose, whatever its rated capacity on paper suggests.

A proper power supply upgrade assessment models the laundry's actual peak demand, including dryers, washers, lighting, air conditioning and any vending or payment equipment, before confirming what size connection the site genuinely needs.

4. Three phase power for larger laundries

Once a laundry runs more than a handful of commercial washers alongside several dryers, the combined load usually makes more sense on three phase power, which spreads demand across three separate phases rather than forcing everything through a single phase connection. This also tends to run large motors more efficiently and reduces the risk of one phase being pushed close to its limit while the others sit comfortably under load.

Deciding whether a three phase upgrade is worthwhile is best done before signing a lease or ordering machines, since the cost and timeline of a new connection can genuinely affect which tenancy suits a laundry business.

5. Ventilation, heat and switchboard placement

Dryers generate significant heat and moisture laden air, and switchboards and electrical equipment need to be positioned away from direct heat exposure and condensation runoff, not tucked into the same alcove as the dryer bank for convenience. Good service planning starts with knowing which network area a site actually sits in, which our postcode checker confirms in seconds, particularly relevant if the laundry is applying for a new or upgraded connection with Ausgrid or Endeavour Energy.

Lighting in a laundry also needs to cope with constant humidity and lint in the air, both of which shorten the working life of fittings that are not properly rated for the environment.

6. Planning for growth and additional machines

Laundromats that start successful tend to add machines over time, and a switchboard with no spare capacity turns every additional washer or dryer into an expensive retrofit rather than a straightforward connection. Building in genuine headroom during the original fit out, even where it costs a little more upfront, is almost always cheaper than a second switchboard upgrade within a year or two of opening.

Why it's Level 2 ASP work

Standard circuit work and machine connections within an existing single phase supply sit with a licensed electrician. It becomes Level 2 ASP work once the laundry's genuine demand exceeds what the existing connection can safely deliver, which is common once several commercial washers and dryers are all added together. Getting this assessed before committing to a lease or ordering machines avoids discovering the limitation partway through a fit out.

How High Demand Electrical helps

High Demand Electrical is a licensed local team, not a call centre, servicing commercial laundry and laundromat fit outs for homes and businesses across Sydney's West, South West and Sutherland Shire. We assess your actual machine list, model genuine peak demand rather than a best case average, and give you a straight answer on whether a switchboard upgrade or three phase connection makes sense before you commit to a site. If the laundry also needs a full electrical safety inspection before opening, we can scope that in the same visit. Our sister site HD Power Pole covers the same three phase planning question for workshops and industrial tenancies in its guide to three phase power and private power poles, where machine heavy businesses face the same capacity decisions.

Get a Switchboard Upgrade Quote

If you are fitting out a commercial laundry or laundromat in Sydney, talk to High Demand Electrical before you order machines or sign a lease. Get a Switchboard Upgrade Quote or call 0402 559 777. Every job needs a site assessment before scope or pricing can be confirmed.