Nov

07

2018

Winter is Coming: Electrical System Maintenance Risks

When it comes to winter maintenance, “it doesn’t get cold here” becomes a convenient excuse for many companies in the Southwest region. Why? Mostly because they don’t want to set aside the budget for maintenance, and/or don’t require day-to-day facility staff to ensure electrical systems are running smoothly.

Unfortunately, like all facility equipment, electrical components degrade over time, especially under the stress of keeping occupants and equipment warm throughout the fall, winter, and into the spring. 

A facility’s electrical and lighting system is the center of everything. So, of course, if your facility’s electrical system succumbs to a breakdown, all electricity-dependent equipment is affected. 

Facilities Management

Electrical systems, plain and simple, must be maintained proactively, not just in instances of dire emergency. Facility staff and owners need to be aware of equipment lifespans and also understand the year-to-year status of that equipment. Additionally, they should also know what services are available to help with planned maintenance to recognize issues before they become emergencies. 

With winter being just a few weeks away, there are some risks and solutions to keep in mind as your electrical systems kick into high gear. So grab some hot chocolate or coffee and keep reading.

Here’s What Happens When You Skip Winter Maintenance 

Breaking the Switchboard or Switchgear 

The switchboard — or the switchgear in some cases — is the mothership of your facility’s electrical system. These devices comprise of various circuit breakers and electrical relays, which facilitate or cut off the electrical flow throughout a facility. Both are critical to facility operations and protect facility equipment from events like power surges.

In the case a switchboard is neglected and a malfunction occurs, the entire facility must shut down as a replacement is installed. Switchgears, by comparison, are easier to maintain but are far more costly. In both cases, consistently dealing with high-voltage electrical currents takes its toll over time, which means at least an annual checkup is needed to ensure that a complete breakdown isn’t on the horizon.

Emergency maintenance is far more costly both in terms of the actual repairs and the time lost if the facility must stop operations until maintenance is complete.

Exposures and Explosions 

Electrical hazards can directly result in death or severe injury and should be taken seriously. Some of the main risks include exposure to live wires and metal surfaces that are in contact with electrical equipment. Additionally, overheated equipment and electrical faults can directly contribute to fire hazards. In specific circumstances, electricity can also cause explosions if there is potential for contact with flammable materials.

To avoid electrical liabilities, first, know that any and all electrical equipment repairs should be executed by a licensed professional. Second, electrical equipment should not be exposed to hazardous conditions, such as excess moisture, that could result in significant equipment damages. Third, breakers and switchboards must be maintained regularly to ensure power circuits don’t overload and overheat. Fourth, whenever possible, leads should not be run across floors, over edges, or through doorways.

Regularly scheduled maintenance can help ensure that all electrical systems are functioning properly. An infrared test can also expose where equipment or circuitry is on the verge of overheating or failing.

Not the Brightest Bulb

When lighting specifically is neglected, the obvious result is visual defects — lights will be broken and there will be darkness in places there shouldn’t be. Beyond aesthetics, there are a few critical issues with this situation. The first is the issue of security, as unlit areas allow more avenues of entry for unauthorized or even dangerous persons. Secondly, broken lighting can lead to people getting injured, which then can result in serious legal liabilities for facility owners. Neither of these scenarios is positive and should be avoided at all costs.

Another point of note is energy efficiency. Older lights nearing the end of their working lives can be replaced or retrofitted with increasingly more effective LED lighting — saving the facility an incredible amount of money over time and increasing the time between replacements.

The Domino Effect

Essential day-to-day facility operations can be brought to a screeching halt when electrical systems shutdown. It's easy to forget how much you rely on electricity-dependent equipment until the broken down HVAC system invites a serious case of the chills or unexpected illnesses. 

Additionally, winter maintenance neglect destroys budgets by increasing replacement costs and indirect costs. Any electricity-dependent equipment that breaks down could also result in shutting down a facility for weeks, so the costs of labor and relocation for facility occupants must also be taken into consideration.  

Commercial Electrical System

Winter Maintenance Tips

#1: Plan for Regularly Scheduled Maintenance 

According to the Department of Energy, planned maintenance services reduce costs by 25-30 percent, eliminate the potential of breakdowns by 70 percent, and reduce facility downtime by 35 percent on average. While planned maintenance service isn’t a guarantee that breakdowns won’t occur, the chances of critical equipment malfunctions dramatically drop when implemented.

While a maintenance contract isn’t in the cards for everyone, occasional DIY maintenance checks will be more beneficial than playing a game of whac-a-mole with emergency maintenance problems. Identifying the main risks in your facility and understanding how to prioritize their maintenance is essential to keeping tabs on the overall health of your facility.

So long as the equipment is functioning correctly and regular facility inspections are conducted, you will be doing both yourself and occupants a great service to keep them as far from harm as possible. For more information regarding facility maintenance and risk, download this complimentary facility risk evaluation guide.

In any case, a professional maintenance team will have the training to diagnose what’s wrong with your facility, while implementing planned maintenance measures to give you peace of mind. 

#2: Request an Infrared Scan Test 

The primary planned maintenance measure for electrical systems is infrared testing. Infrared is useful for detecting early problems since heat is an important symptom of components on the verge of breaking down or malfunctioning. Additionally, infrared thermography is non-invasive, which means facility operations don’t need to stop while the check is being conducted.

Almost anyone can benefit from an infrared test, it’s just a matter of setting one up in the first place. Not only does an infrared test give you a chance to understand where potential inefficiencies exist, but it will also inform you of decisions that can save your facility thousands in annual costs. Often, those decisions come at little-to-no cost, but can be taken further with more substantial investments.

Infrared scan tests provide insight into not only the most significant risks for your facility's primary systems, but also on what you can do to mitigate equipment failures or other emergencies. 

TDIndustries is passionate about helping to ensure proper facilities maintenance, so we created a Winter Infrared Scan Test (WIST). We're looking for qualified WIST candidates, and chances are you meet the criteria if you've read this far. 

We encourage you to request a WIST and avoid the unexpected stress of winter maintenance emergencies today!

Winter Maintenance for Electrical and Mechanical Systems 

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