OSS is a specialist switchgear removal contractor operating UK-wide. We decommission, isolate and remove high-voltage switchgear, RMUs, busbars and complete switchroom assemblies for utilities, commercial property and industrial clients — every job backed by full RAMS and waste documentation.
Switchgear types we handle
We remove the full range of switchgear and high-voltage equipment found in substations, plant rooms and industrial facilities: ring main units (RMUs), busbars and busbar chambers, HV and LV distribution panels, circuit breakers, and complete switchroom assemblies.
Older equipment can contain regulated materials — including oil-filled units and components requiring specialist handling — so each removal is scoped individually and documented accordingly.
Why choose a specialist switchgear removal contractor
Switchgear removal is not general strip-out work. High-voltage equipment must be proven dead, lifted competently and disposed of through licensed routes — and the contractor you appoint carries responsibility for getting all three right. Choosing a specialist switchgear removal contractor protects your project from electrical, safety and environmental risk.
As an accredited contractor, OSS issues a full Risk Assessment and Method Statement on every switchgear job, holds CHAS, NPORS and SafeContractor accreditation, and provides the consignment and waste transfer notes your audit trail requires. From a single redundant RMU to a full switchroom, the same contractor team, process and paperwork apply.
A nationwide switchgear contractor
We operate as a nationwide switchgear removal contractor — not a regional one. From our Newcastle base we self-deliver across England, Scotland and Wales, mobilising the same accredited teams and plant to every postcode with no travel surcharge. Site surveys are typically booked within the week, and multi-site switchgear decommissioning programmes are run under a single agreement for consistency across your estate.
Safe isolation requirements
High-voltage switchgear must be proven dead and made safe before any removal work begins. As your contractor we work to the relevant electrical safety standards and coordinate isolation with the network operator or your appointed competent person.
Permits to work, lock-off procedures and a full Risk Assessment and Method Statement are in place on every job. Nothing is disconnected or removed until the equipment is confirmed isolated.
Live versus redundant environments
Much of our switchgear work takes place in part-occupied or live environments — operational buildings where a redundant switchroom sits alongside live infrastructure. We plan sequencing, segregation and protection carefully so that removal of redundant equipment does not affect live supplies.
On fully redundant sites the process is more straightforward, but the same isolation verification and documentation standards apply.
HV switchgear, RMU removal, busbar decommissioning & switchgear disposal
HV switchgear: high-voltage panels, circuit breakers and assemblies removed under controlled, proven-dead conditions. RMU removal: ring main units disconnected, lifted and removed whole or dismantled for access. Busbar decommissioning: busbars and busbar chambers safely stripped and segregated. Switchgear disposal UK: recovered metals recycled and any hazardous components routed through licensed disposal facilities — all covered by consignment notes and a full audit trail.
Removal and decommissioning process
Once isolation is confirmed, equipment is disconnected, dismantled where necessary for access, lifted and loaded, and transported to a licensed facility. Recoverable metals are recycled and any hazardous components are routed through licensed disposal channels, with consignment notes issued.
Frequently asked questions
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Arrange a site survey and free quotation.
Most enquiries receive a response the same day. Site surveys booked within the week.