Is your distribution board failing to power your business effectively and reliably? It might be time for an upgrade.
For distribution board upgrades that’ll perform reliably for years to come, let Paradigm Electrical Solutions, Dunstable handle the job.
Before we go any further, let's discuss what a distribution board is:
A distribution board is the central electrical panel which safely separates incoming mains power into various sub circuits. It works in the same way as your home’s consumer unit just on a larger scale. Consumer units are found in homes, whereas distribution boards typically power properties like factories, offices and hospitals.
When to upgrade distribution boards?
Distribution boards typically start to show faults and general deterioration after twenty years. Poorly maintained systems may start to show signs of deterioration sooner than this. Thankfully, commercial and industrial premises should be receiving regular EICRs which checks the distribution board - if your electrician spots anything dodgy, this will be noted in the report.
If you notice any of the following, your distribution board may require an upgrade:
• Burning smells.
• Heat output.
• Frequent tripping.
• Buzzing / crackling sounds.
• Flickering / dim lights.
These signs are often a strong indication something is wrong within your distribution board - you might not require a full upgrade, minor remedial work may be adequate.
Ignoring these issues is going to make things worse, faults left become significantly more dangerous to both your employees and other electrical installations. The risk of electrical fires and shocks increases; and inadequate maintenance can leave you as the owner liable if an incident does occur onsite.
What does a distribution board upgrade involve?
A distribution board upgrade involves the following:
- An initial assessment - our fully qualified electrician will inspect your current board, noting any areas of concern.
- Shut off power supply - before any electrical work begins, our electrician will need to shut down the building's power supply so they can work safely.
- Safe removal of the unit - once power has been disconnected, the existing unit will be removed and disposed of safely.
- Installation of new board - the new distribution board will be mounted and expertly installed. All circuits will be reconnected.
- Testing - once the installation has been completed, our electrician will fully test the board and its safety devices. They’ll also check all wiring is up to standard (BS 7671).
- Certification - assuming testing is successful, our electrician will certify the installation. You’ll receive an EIC (Electrical Installation Certificate) and a Building Regulations Compliance Certificate both signed off by our electrician and copies provided for your own records. Keeping copies of these certificates is extremely important. It protects you from being held liable for workplace incidents involving electrics and is formal proof your workplace is electrically safe and well maintained.
How long does it take to upgrade a distribution board?
A distribution board upgrade typically takes a day to complete. Larger, higher risk settings may take slightly longer.
As business owners ourselves, we understand that downtime is a huge inconvenience. If it’s possible we can arrange for the upgrade to take place out of hours. We’ll do everything we can to get you booked in at a convenient time, minimising disruption as much as possible.
Distribution board upgrades, Dunstable
For distribution board upgrades across Dunstable get in touch with Paradigm Electrical Solutions. We’re experienced, skilled to the highest level and we’ll ensure you receive a five star customer service right from the start.
