Commercial buildings require regular attention if you want them to maintain their efficiency and functionality. Having a regular commercial building electrical maintenance checklist can make a big difference in prolonging the lifespan of your electrical system.

 

Electrical systems form the backbone of every commercial building, but this facility maintenance checklist is often overlooked. If you’re not keeping up with your commercial building maintenance checklist, your building may end up without a dependable source of electricity. 

 

Long-term neglect of electrical equipment can result in expensive repairs, equipment failures, heightened safety and property threats, and more. Keep your building safe and maintained with our commercial building electrical maintenance checklist.

Why a Commercial Building Maintenance Checklist is Important

No commercial building electrical maintenance checklist will work for every commercial building. Much like homes and other properties, commercial buildings are unique and require individualized attention.

 

All the same, these checklists and maintenance are important to keep your building’s electrical system up to date. The best way to do this is to work with a professional electrical company. They can make sure you’re keeping up with your facility maintenance checklist so your building is always at its best.

 

By implementing regular electrical maintenance, you can minimize equipment breakdowns by up to 77 percent. By neglecting consistent maintenance, you increase your building’s electrical component failure rate by three times. Regular maintenance can help reduce costs overtime by preventing costly breakdowns, repairs, and lost productivity from power outages. The average electrical failure can disrupt your business operations for a minimum of six hours.

Commercial Building Electrical Maintenance Checklist 

The most fundamental item on your checklist should be inspecting outlets, breaker boxes, wires, batteries, switches, and other electrical components at least once a year. This will help you stay on top of corrosion or cracking and maintain the functionality of your electrical equipment.

 

Clean off any dust, grime, and debris from circuit boxes, grilles, and electrical storage. Replace any batteries. Regularly carrying out this maintenance can increase the lifespan of your machinery.

 

Here are some more commercial building electrical maintenance checklist items to consider.

Lighting 

Preventive maintenance should examine the installation of wires, screws, gaskets, and other lighting hardware. Go through this list regularly to ensure your lighting is up to code:

 

• Check that all fasteners and hardware are in place and functioning properly
• Inspect external lights for damaged cables
• Replace the gaskets for water tightness
• Check the lighting fittings
• Dust lamps and clean lens surfaces to enhance lighting
• Check for consistent color temperature
• Safely store worn bulbs until they can be removed by a licensed vendor
• Replace burnt-out bulbs and broken lamps

HVAC

Regular inspections and cleanings of your heating and cooling systems are advised, even when considering an electrical checklist. Your HVAC system is one of the most important aspects of your electrical system since it keeps your customers or employees comfortable, regardless of the weather.

 

Clean the air intake and exhaust systems, and change the air filter at least once per month, or as required for your specific unit. Listen for strange noises and sniff for odd smells as these could be signs of a more serious issue that requires service.

 

You’ll save money in the long run if you include your HVAC system in your preventive maintenance routine. Your annual repair budget for regular maintenance will often shake out to less than the price of replacing the entire unit due to a breakdown. With regular electrical maintenance, you can identify problems earlier and reduce the need for pricey repairs.

 

Reach out to a skilled electrician if you have questions about commercial HVAC maintenance.

LV Switchboard (Intrusive and Non-Intrusive)

Most commercial buildings have low voltage switchboards that require regular attention. LV switchboards provide electrical protection for the building against any thermal and mechanical stresses that come from short circuit currents.

 

Here’s a checklist to ensure your switchboards are operational:

 

• Verify all power meters are working before shutting down
• Verify lights and indicators work
• Check locking mechanisms for evidence of wear or damage
• Clean every switchboard and perform a visual check of both interior and exterior
• Examine the control wiring, relays, power supply units, timers, etc. when appropriate
• Verify that installed electronic surge protection is still functional
• Check the rating and continuity of the control circuit fuse
• Inspect and torque-test bolted electrical connections to the required values as needed
• Arc chute secondary injection, check contacts, withdrawable or fics ACB maintenance, etc.
• Perform a visual inspection for overheating of degradation indicators
• Perform a last visual check when finished to ensure everything is in working order
• Examine each panel for rust and evidence of paintwork deterioration
• Examine battery integrity, battery tripping packs, and warning signals of any deterioration or damage

 

For non-intrusive LV switchboards, the maintenance procedure does not require a shutdown.

ACB Chassis

An Air Circuit Breaker (ACB) is used to provide both overcurrent and short-circuit protection for large electrical circuits, such as those found in commercial buildings. They require maintenance such as cleaning, checking the locks are intact, ensuring the position and operation are correct, and that the clusters are greased as necessary.

Other Commercial Building Maintenance

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to electrical maintenance for commercial buildings. It’s important you worked with a licensed technician to manage your electrical maintenance. CroppMetcalfe can help keep your building safe and running well. Reach out today to learn more about our electrical services.

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