A commercial electrician can design an electrical installation and work from electrical schematics and drawings to ensure they are safe and compliant to support the needs of a commercial building, business and its electrical systems. They can also maintain, adapt, test and repair electrical wiring and circuits that control power for lighting, heating and cooling units, kitchen systems, refrigeration units and so on.
A commercial electrician designs, installs, maintains and repairs electrical wiring and electrical systems and will have the experience of working in large commercial properties, outlets or sites which have extensive electrical wiring systems. They will also have the skills to work alongside many other tradespeople on largescale projects with changing needs and timescales.
Commercial Electricians will install, maintain and repair wiring systems that control the power in commercial properties including; schools, factories, retail units, leisure facilities, gyms, hotels, council offices, stage and theatres, hospitals, care homes etc.
- Commercial Office & Industrial Installations
- Remedial Specification & Installation
- Maintenance & Repairs
- Interior and Exterior Lighting
- Power and Distribution Installation
- Fire Alarm and Security Systems
- Periodic Inspection and Test Services
- Electric heating & Hot Water heating specialists
- Energy consumption advice & recommendations
- Fault Finding
- Immersion Heaters
- Water Heaters
- Electric Heaters/Radiators
- Commercial Kitchen Electrical Installation, Repair & Maintenance
- Refrigeration Systems
- Air Conditioning Systems
- Towel Rails
- Extractor Fans
- Electric Commercial Kitchens & Cooker Points
- Lighting & Power Installations
- Fuseboard/Consumer Units
- Partial or Complete Rewiring
- Electrical Condition report
- Earth Bonding Testing
Commercial Electricians work in offices, retail units, factories, commercial buildings and sites installing electrical systems for power outlets, lighting and wiring. They will have the knowledge of wiring to support large buildings and systems compared to a Domestic Electrician who will have the experience of working in smaller residential properties.
A commercial Electrician will have an industry recognised level 3 qualification, for example, a level 3 diploma in electrotechnical services. Most people qualify as an electrician through an apprenticeship as they need both classroom training and work experience to gain the skills they need and it can take anything from two to four years to become fully qualified.
Anyone who carries out electrical work must be qualified to the latest edition of BS 7671 IET Wiring Regulations, and must satisfy the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989.
As well as their technical skills and qualifications, a Commercial Electrician should also have:
- The ability to understand electrical plans, designs & wiring schematics.
- Excellent attention to detail
- Good communication skills
- Excellent problem-solving skills
- Be able to work as part of a team, working on large scale projects and builds with changing needs, plans and timescales
- The ability to be able to deal with complex and demanding on and off-site situations
The electrical installation in your business or home should only be looked at by a qualified electrician, as incorrect wiring and electrical systems can cause fire, damage to equipment and electric shocks. If an electrical system has surges or short circuits this can cause electrical fires, damage to the wiring which can cause problems and fires later down the line, as well as damaging electrical equipment connected to the same circuit. If you think you have an electrical problem, or your electrical installation has not been inspected and tested in your commercial property then you should contact us and request a free quotation.
- Lights can dim or flicker
- Warm or discoloured wall plates
- A burning smell from switches or outlets
- Circuit tripping
- Fuses blowing regularly
- Crackling, buzzing, humming or sizzling sounds
- Any mild shock, spark or even a tingle from appliances, receptacles or switches
- Tiny sparks when a plug is switched on
Some of these can seem obvious, however, it’s a good list to check through:
- Most electrical fires are caused by faulty electrical outlets and or old, outdated appliances and systems.
- Electrical appliances with worn or frayed cords can send heat onto combustible surfaces like floors, curtains, and rugs which can be the cause of fires starting
- Running electrical cords under carpet and flooring can be the cause of electrical fires.
- Outdated wiring often causes electrical fires as it may not have the wiring capacity to handle the electrical systems within your commercial property.
- The overuse of extension leads can cause electrical fires and appliances should be plugged directly into a socket and not into an extension lead
- Breakers should be triggered when circuits are overloaded by too much electricity, however, outdated distribution boards often have worn components and poor connections that can cause all types of electrical faults within a system, and in some cases, even cause an electrical fire.
All business owners, their directors, managers and employees need to comply with “The Electricity at Work Regulations” which can be found at www.hse.gov.uk.
In summary, The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 is the statutory legislation in place that states that employers ensure the safety of electrical devices in the workplace, and those in control of all, or part of an electrical system are required to ensure that it is safe to use and is maintained in a safe condition. The regulation dictates that all portable equipment must be inspected and tested regularly to ensure that it is safe for use.
It is recommended that if you have moved into a commercial building that you ensure the electrical installation is tested and in a safe condition. It is recommended that every property is inspected and tested every five years. If you are renting a commercial property, then your landlord should be able to provide you with the documentation that states when it was last tested and that it is in a satisfactory condition. You can ask for this to be done prior to you moving into the building as part of your tenancy agreement.
An EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) is an inspection of the condition of an existing electrical installation in a domestic or commercial property and it tells you if there are any deficiencies against the national safety standard for electrical installations. During an EICR assessment, tests are also carried out on any wiring and associated fixed electrical equipment to check it is safe.
An EICR is a formal document that is produced following an inspection of the electrical installation within a domestic or commercial property and it is carried out by an approved, qualified and experienced electrician.
An EICR identifies any potential risks to health & safety and will assess the condition of your electrical systems and evaluate how efficiently they are working, paying particular attention to any deterioration or defects. … Any issue with circuits or equipment that might overload or overheat the system. The assessment and tests are completed by a qualified electrician to make sure your electrical installation is working safely and correctly and to the standards of the National Safety Standard identifying any electrical circuits or equipment that are unsafe to use.
An EICR Report will list any electrical work that is needed and includes any electrical standards which have not been adhered to. It is vitally important that as a business owner or someone who is responsible for a business that you can demonstrate you have had an EICR report completed and taken action against any of the issues identified.
An EICR Report should be carried out every 5 years, however, higher risk environments will require 3 yearly or even more frequent testing. It should be noted that all stated periods are maximum intervals.
The EICR legal requirements in England and Wales are not legally required, however, they demonstrate that you are adhering to The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 which is the statutory legislation in place to regulate that employers ensure the safety of electrical devices and systems in the workplace.
A lot of insurers now are insisting that inspection and testing be carried out on a regular basis. If you suffer an avoidable accident and you are found guilty then by law you will have committed a criminal offence and insurers will not pay fines or compensation suffered as a result of a criminal offence.
Our electricians have experience of working in the constraints of 24-hour operations and most of their testing will normally include live tests which can be scheduled around specific working and production processes, for example; shift changes, weekends, holidays, process changes, and cleaning or maintenance breaks. Your electrical system can normally be switched off in stages to ensure you are never completely without lighting and power.
Some short power outages can be expected within your system, however, a lot of the testing can be done whilst the system is still live and it can all be planned against your business’s operation.
It is usually dependent on the terms of your lease if you or your landlord are responsible for paying for electrical testing to be carried out. If you are going to rent a property then this is always something that should be agreed and included in the tenancy document beforehand. If you are on a full repairing lease then the cost will fall to you. Always remember that you are responsible to make sure that you and your staff comply with Health & Safety legislation and The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989.
When you choose Total Electrical Engineering as your Commercial Electricians we offer:
- The highest standards of quality.
- A reliable service.
- Fully qualified, experienced and local commercial electricians.
- Trustworthy and reliable support staff.
- Competitive pricing.
- The highest standards of professionalism, workmanship and customer satisfaction.
- We provide emergency callout support 24-hours a day, 365 days a year.
Our Commercial Services Include Repair, Emergency Repair, Maintenance & Servicing:
- Fault Finding
- Maintenance & Repairs
- Additional or Alterations
- Electrical Condition Reports
- LED Lighting & Power Systems
- Fuseboard/Consumer Units
- Partial or Complete Rewiring
- Immersion/Water Heaters
- Electrical Heating Systems
- Air Conditioning
- Extractor Fans
- Emergency Lighting
If you are looking for a professional and reliable Commercial Electrician contact us on 029 20 484114 and one of our team will be able to help.
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