Unlike domestic electrical contractors, those working in the commercial sector will have specialist expertise in the supply of wiring systems in larger buildings. Many of the same principles involved with electrical supply and installation apply in both residential and business settings but additional knowledge and skills are often required by commercial electrical operators. If you would like to find out more about the work that commercial electrical contractor firms undertake every day, then read on.
Where Will a Commercial Electrician Be Expected to Work?
To begin with, a typical commercial electrical contractor will carry out their work in business settings rather than domestic ones. This means offices, factories, airports and retail outlets, for example. However, there are many other places where you will find a commercial electrician plying their trade. Leisure centres, gyms, government buildings, care homes, hospitals and schools are all considered to be commercial premises in terms of electrical installation and maintenance work.
What Sort of Installation Work Do Commercial Electrical Contractors Do?
When commercial premises are first built, installing the entire electrical system for it will be conducted by a suitable contractor. Sometimes this will also mean the design of the overall installation is expected to be conducted, too. Only in the very largest of commercial premises, such as factories or major transport hubs, will the electrical installation have been designed beforehand, usually by a consulting electrical engineer. In addition to power and lighting circuits, commercial electrical contractors will also often install ethernet wiring systems, burglar alarm wiring and CCTV cabling.
What Sort of Maintenance Jobs Do Commercial Electrical Contractors Carry Out?
As well as installing commercial wiring systems, a commercial electrician will undertake lots of maintenance work during a typical career. This might involve fault finding, such as dealing with circuits that frequently short and need to be reset. In some cases, they will be required to investigate burning smells which might indicate an overloading fault or to deal with humming or buzzing noises which can indicate electrical interference. Many of these maintenance jobs can be time-consuming to diagnose, especially if the fault is intermittent. As such, a lot of attention to detail will be required to ensure that commercial premises remain safe for all the people who work there. In some cases, commercial electrical contractors will also carry out portable appliance testing (PAT) which ensures all electrical devices used in a workplace are also safe and free from faults.
For more information, reach out to a commercial electrical contractor.