Whatever type of business you run, there is a good chance that you have already required a commercial electrician. We have helped many customers with their electrical needs over the years. But there are some common ones that we think you might be interested in. You might find an issue you didn’t even know you had in this list.
- Universal wiring problems
While businesses may be different from homes in many ways they still need safe wiring. You might find evidence of poor electrical conditions, especially if you recently bought a business or are renovating an existing space. You might find these things:
- Exposed wiring or wiring in poor shape.
- A switch or connection may produce visible or audible sparks.
- Repeatedly ‘faulting out’, setting off safety switches or trip breakers.
These serious issues should not be ignored in a business setting. These are not always difficult problems to fix but could be signs that someone is seriously injured at work.
- Older and inadequate switchboards
A switchboard is a control and distribution center for electricity within your workplace. Most people understand this concept. The switchboard is where the mains power enters the building. From there, the power is routed to the various circuits within the business by way of breakers. Sometimes, you can see that the switchboard is not up to standard. You might have old ceramic or bakelite fuses, plug-in circuit breakers or a meter that looks out of place on a BBC period drama. A switchboard upgrade may be necessary if your workplace is experiencing a significant increase in electrical demand. These are examples of a significant new load:
- Refrigeration and air-conditioning
- Water heating.
- Commercial washers, dryers
- Computer servers.
- Audiovisual projectors
You can determine whether a new addition to your office will draw significant current by looking at its maximum wattage. This will give you an indication of the power it will draw and whether it will need its own circuit to do so. An electric oven, for example, can use up to 5,000 watts while a split-system air conditioner might only need 500 watts on a heating setting. Consult a commercial electrician contractor to evaluate your existing switchboard and determine if you need to add your new circuit to meet safety or legal requirements.
- Fault-finding
We are often called to find the cause of frequent breaker-tripping. A hidden wiring fault could be the reason your business has difficulty managing its power requirements. Sometimes, it is as simple as overloading one circuit with too many appliances trying to draw power simultaneously and the circuit cannot handle it. Sometimes it can be more serious, like a short circuit. Short circuits are caused by dangerously exposed wires in a circuit that accidentally contact neutral wires.
This causes a lot of electricity to flow through the entire circuit. This can cause a lot of heat and even a fire. Sometimes, these faults can be accompanied by a burning or discoloured breaker. This makes it appear corroded. Ground fault surges are another type of faulty wiring. Ground fault surges are caused by the live wire touching a ground wire, or the metal box of an outlet box.
The circuit will become too hot and the breaker will trip. These faults can lead to burning smells or discolouration around an outlet, rather than the circuit breaker. A qualified electrician can identify and locate the faults in the wiring and protect you and your employees against serious risks. It doesn’t matter if your breakers keep tripping or if there is any burning, discolouration, or smell, don’t attempt to fix it yourself. This could lead to serious injury or even death. For a quick assessment, call an electrician immediately.