Commercial Electrical
Restaurant Electrician
in Vancouver, WA
Restaurants are one of the most electrically demanding buildings per square foot. You've got commercial ovens, fryers, walk-in coolers, exhaust hoods, ice machines, POS terminals, and a dining room full of lighting and music. All of it running at the same time, every service. Newman Electric wires restaurants from scratch, upgrades kitchens that are maxed out, and fixes the electrical problems that pop up when your building wasn't designed for the load you're putting on it. Ryan and the crew work around your hours so you don't lose a shift.
What We Wire
Kitchen and Front of House
A restaurant has two very different electrical needs under one roof. The kitchen draws heavy power for cooking equipment. The front of house needs clean, reliable circuits for POS, lighting, and ambiance. Newman Electric handles both sides.
Back of House
- Commercial ovens, ranges, and fryers (208V/240V dedicated circuits)
- Walk-in coolers and freezers with dedicated 20A circuits
- Exhaust hood fan motor wiring and makeup air connections
- Dishwasher circuits (commercial dishwashers pull 30-50 amps)
- Ice machines, prep table refrigeration, and reach-in coolers
- GFCI protection within 6 feet of sinks per NEC 210.8
- Emergency lighting and exit signs for kitchen egress
Front of House
- POS system circuits (registers, card readers, receipt printers)
- Dining room lighting with dimmer controls for ambiance
- Bar equipment circuits (beer coolers, ice wells, blenders)
- Outdoor patio lighting and heated seating power
- Background music and speaker system wiring
- Signage power (exterior signs, menu boards, open signs)
- HVAC circuits for dining room climate control
Our Process
From Equipment List to Open Kitchen
Newman Electric works with restaurant owners, GCs, and kitchen designers to get your electrical right the first time. Ryan has wired enough kitchens to know what's coming before you ask.
Equipment Review
You give us your equipment list. Every oven, fryer, cooler, and hood. We look up the electrical specs for each piece, calculate the total load, and figure out what your panel and service need to handle. If you're still picking equipment, Ryan can tell you what the electrical cost difference is between options so you can factor that into your budget.
Install Around Your Schedule
If you're building out a new space, we wire everything before you open. If you're upgrading an existing restaurant, Newman Electric works before or after your operating hours. We've wired kitchens between closing and the next morning's prep. Your staff walks in and everything is ready to go.
Test & Permit Closeout
We test every circuit, verify all GFCI outlets trip correctly, and make sure your equipment fires up without tripping breakers. Newman Electric handles the permit and inspection process. For new restaurants in Vancouver, WA, this is one of the boxes the health department checks before you can open your doors.
Codes & Requirements
Restaurant Electrical Codes in Washington
Restaurants have more code requirements than a standard office or retail space. Between the kitchen equipment, the water exposure, and the egress lighting, there are specific NEC sections that apply to every restaurant project. Newman Electric knows them and builds to them.
NEC 210.8(B): Commercial Kitchen GFCI
All 125V receptacles in commercial kitchens within 6 feet of a sink require GFCI protection. Newman Electric installs GFCI outlets and GFCI breakers where code requires them. This applies to prep sinks, handwash stations, and the three-compartment sink.
NEC 220.56: Kitchen Equipment Loads
Article 220.56 allows demand factor calculations for commercial kitchen equipment when there are six or more pieces. This can reduce the required service size and save you money on the electrical service upgrade. Newman Electric runs these calculations on every restaurant project.
NEC 700/701: Emergency & Standby Lighting
Restaurants are assembly occupancies, which means emergency lighting and illuminated exit signs are required. Newman Electric installs battery-backed emergency lights and exit signs per NEC 700 and local fire code requirements.
WAC 296-46B: Washington Permits
All restaurant electrical work in Washington requires a permit. In the City of Vancouver, permits go through the city building department (360-487-7890). In unincorporated Clark County, through L&I (360-896-2300). Newman Electric pulls all permits and meets the inspector on site.
Customer Reviews
What Restaurant Owners Say
"Newman helped me with a new chandelier install and wiring in our restaurant. Roman and Chris were on time, knowledgeable, and worked quickly and cleanly so we could get opened for our lunch shift. Highly recommend the entire team at Newman Electric for any of your projects!"
Bonnie W.
Restaurant Wiring
"Newman Electric came out and gave a honest and fair price for installing a ceiling fan and bringing power to our bakery's ice machine. They had the work done within one week. They even fixed a prior problem we had with some wiring that the original electricians had done when we built out the space."
Local Bakery Owner
Commercial Kitchen
"These guys are top notch. I gave them a call when every other electrical contractor told me they were weeks out, Ryan and the guys came out and upgraded my panel the next day. I highly recommend Newman Electric they are setting the new standard for electrical companies in our area!"
Adrienne S.
Panel Upgrade
Common Questions
Restaurant Electrical FAQ
Check the nameplate on the equipment you want to add. It'll list the voltage, amperage, and wattage. Then look at your panel. If you have open breaker spaces and the main service is large enough, you might be fine. But if your breakers are full or you're already tripping breakers during peak service, you need an upgrade before adding anything. Ryan can come out and assess your panel's capacity in one visit and tell you exactly what's needed.
Yes. Newman Electric works around your operating hours. For restaurants that can't afford to close, we schedule the electrical work between closing and the next morning's prep. If the scope is too large for an overnight, we break it into phases so you only close the affected area. Ryan plans this out with you during the bid so you know exactly how it's going to work.
Any work that adds circuits, modifies your panel, or changes the wiring in your restaurant requires a permit. City of Vancouver handles its own permits. Unincorporated Clark County goes through L&I. For new restaurants, the electrical permit and final inspection are required before your health department inspection. Newman Electric handles the permit process from start to finish.
It depends on your equipment. A small cafe with a few appliances might get by with 200-amp service. A full-service restaurant with commercial ovens, fryers, walk-in coolers, and a bar will need 400 amps or more. Newman Electric calculates the exact load based on your equipment list. We apply the NEC demand factors for commercial kitchens, which can reduce the required service size below the raw total of all your equipment nameplate ratings.
Absolutely. Dimmer controls for the dining room and bar area let you set the mood for different times of day. Bright for lunch, low for dinner service. Newman Electric installs dimmers compatible with your lighting type. If you have LED fixtures, you need dimmers rated for LED loads. We'll make sure the dimmers match your bulbs so you don't get flickering.
Start with the equipment list and the floor plan. Once Newman Electric knows what equipment you're installing and where it goes, Ryan can design the electrical layout, size the service, and give you a bid. The electrical rough-in happens after framing and before drywall. The finish work (outlets, switches, light fixtures, equipment connections) happens after finishes are in. The sooner you bring us in, the fewer surprises you'll have during buildout.
More Services
Related Commercial Services
Service Areas
Restaurant Electrician Serving
Vancouver, WA & Clark County
Newman Electric wires restaurants across Clark County and Cowlitz County. New buildouts in Camas, kitchen upgrades in Salmon Creek, bar wiring in Battle Ground. Ryan and the crew come to your restaurant, figure out what you need, and get it done around your schedule.
Need an Electrician
for Your Restaurant?
Newman Electric wires restaurants across Vancouver, WA. New buildouts, kitchen upgrades, or a tripping breaker during service. Call Ryan for a free estimate.