Retrofitting Parcel Lockers into an Existing Building

“Our building was not designed for parcel lockers. Can we add them now without major works?” Usually yes. A locker bank is a set of steel cabinets that stand on the floor and are anchored for safety. Retrofitting is mostly about finding the right space, getting power and data to it, fixing it properly, and getting the right approval. The best retrofits reuse a space that already handles parcels: a parcel room, a mailroom, or the wall beside the letterboxes.

Three retrofit routes

Route	Works when	Watch out for
Convert the parcel room	You already have a lockable room where couriers leave parcels	Enough wall for cells plus standing space; ventilation; lighting
Extend the mailroom or letterbox wall	Couriers and residents already go there daily	Wall strength; keeping mailbox access clear
New position in the lobby or car park	No existing parcel space	Power and data runs; visitor flow; signal (lobby, car park)

Converting a parcel room

An open parcel room is the most common source of “my parcel is gone”. Converting it is high value:

1. Measure the walls. Each column is roughly half a metre wide, and the cabinet depth is about 620 mm inside plus the cabinet. Leave clear floor space in front.
2. Keep the room’s door on its fob so couriers and residents can still enter, but now each parcel is behind its own locked door.
3. Check lighting and ventilation, because people will stand in the room at the screen.
4. Keep a shelf for oversize items, logged in the portal, so the room still handles what does not fit.

Power, data and cable runs

• Power: one standard power point per bank, plus one for chilled cells. Your electrician installs it before the lockers arrive.
• Data: if the 4G signal is weak, run an ethernet cable from the communications room. In older buildings, existing conduits or ceiling voids often make this easier than expected; ask the electrician to inspect.
• Avoid surface cable runs across floors, which are trip hazards; use conduit or ducts.

Fixing to the building

The bank must be anchored so it cannot tip, especially when doors are open. Before choosing a wall:

• check whether it is fire-rated: penetrating it may need specific methods, so ask your certifier;
• avoid walls with hidden services (water, gas, electrical) at fixing height;
• in heritage or decorative areas, a freestanding bank anchored to the floor may be preferable.

Approvals for a retrofit

• Strata: a locker on common property is usually an alteration needing a resolution. NSW, Victoria and Queensland differ; see the strata guide.
• Commercial buildings: the owner’s written consent and the facilities manager’s sign-off on position and works.
• Certifier or fire engineer: if the position affects exits, fire-rated walls or fire services, ask before ordering.

Rough cost

A small bank of about 10 cells with a courier touchscreen typically comes in at a few thousand dollars, roughly A$3,000–7,000 ex GST. A building system of 50–100 cells is roughly A$12,000–30,000 ex GST. On top of that there is a flat monthly software fee of around A$150 per building, with no per-parcel or resident fees. Delivery and installation are quoted per site, and your quote fixes the price.

Retrofit-specific costs (electrical, data cabling, any wall or joinery work) are building works and are quoted per site.

Installation day

1. Power and data already in place and tested.
2. Delivery path booked (lift, dock), and residents told.
3. Bank positioned, levelled and anchored.
4. Controller connected and every door tested.
5. Resident directory loaded; residents receive a welcome message explaining collection.
6. Building staff shown the portal.

Common retrofit surprises

• No power within reach of the best wall. Ask the electrician to inspect before choosing the position, not after.
• A wall that turns out to be fire-rated or full of services. Confirm before drilling.
• Signal that works on one phone but not another network. Test with more than one carrier, or plan a data cable.
• A narrow delivery path. Long cabinets may not turn tight corners or fit an older lift; measure the route.
• The parcel room door. If it stays on an open fob group, the room still feels like a free-for-all; tighten the access group when the lockers arrive.

Where this is the wrong answer

• There is no space without blocking an exit or a corridor. No locker is worth an unsafe path of travel.
• The building is being refurbished within a year or two. Wait and design the locker into the refurbishment (new developments covers the design stage).
• Power cannot reasonably be brought to any suitable spot. Our lockers need mains power.

Related situations

• Apartment lobby parcel lockers
• Basement car park parcel lockers
• Office building parcel lockers
• Parcel theft in apartment buildings

Frequently asked questions

Can parcel lockers be added to an older building?

Yes. A locker bank is freestanding steel cabinetry that is anchored to the floor or a wall. It needs a power point and a mobile signal or data cable, and enough clear space in front. Once the electrician has run power, positioning and anchoring the bank is a short job, and residents can keep using the building throughout.

Can we convert our parcel room into a locker room?

Often, and it is one of the best retrofits. A parcel room already has a lockable door, wall space and a known place couriers go. Lining one or two walls with lockers turns it from a pile of parcels anyone with a fob can take into individually locked cells with a record of every collection.

What approvals does a retrofit need?

In a strata scheme, an alteration to common property usually needs a resolution of the owners corporation; the type depends on your state and the cost. Fixing into fire-rated walls, or changing exits, may need your certifier’s input. Large commercial buildings may need the building owner’s consent and their facilities manager’s sign-off.

How much disruption does installation cause?

Usually little. The electrician installs power, and data if needed, before delivery. The bank is then brought in, positioned, anchored and commissioned. The main disruption is the delivery path, so book the lift or loading dock and tell residents.