If you own a commercial space, there are a lot of things you need to keep track of. One of the most important things is ensuring that your building is compliant with current electrical codes. To do so, you should have a commercial electrician inspect your building annually.
When a commercial electrician inspects a building, these are the things they look at.
The Electrical Systems
There are two basic categories that the items on an electrician’s checklist fall under. The first includes the parts of the electrical system itself.
- Wiring: The electrician will check that all wiring is properly installed and connected and that there are no frayed or damaged wires. They will also check that the wiring is the correct size for the electrical load that it will be carrying.
- Circuit breakers and fuses: The circuit breakers and fuses must be the correct sizes for the electrical load that they will be protecting. The electrician will then check that they are properly installed and working.
- Grounding and bonding: To protect against electrical shock and other hazards, all electrical equipment needs to be properly grounded and bonded.
- GFCI and AFCI: To prevent electrical shock, all outlets in wet or damp areas, such as bathrooms and kitchens, should have ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI). Outlets in other areas, such as offices, should have arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCI) to protect against electrical fires.
Fixtures, Equipment, and Appliances
The second category includes fixtures, equipment, and appliances that are connected to the building’s electrical system.
- Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors: Precise requirements may change depending on your location, but you should have smoke detectors in every room and hallway, spaced every 30 feet. If there are gas-burning appliances in the building, you should have carbon monoxide detectors every 100 feet. The electrician will check that the building has these in all the required areas and that they are working properly.
- Lighting: The electrician will check that all lighting fixtures are properly installed and working and that they meet the required lighting levels for the different areas of the building.
- Panel and subpanels: Similar to the circuit breaker, the main electrical panel and any subpanels need to meet the load requirements. The electrician will also check that they are properly installed.
- Equipment and appliances: Finally, the electrician will confirm that any equipment or appliances that are hardwired, such as air conditioners, heat pumps, and appliances, are properly installed and working.
