Richtek Blog

From breakroom refrigerators to overhead lighting, every modern workplace uses electricity in some way. If everything is running smoothly in your office, you might not even consider that it needs an inspection. Why inspect an area that is working just fine?

Even if you have no known electrical problems in your office, there can still be hazards that you would never notice on a daily basis.

Electrical inspections provide a comprehensive look at all of the potential electrical issues that could occur in your office, including:

• Possible exposed wires
• Possible permanent wiring that is uncovered
• Any outdated wiring
• Making sure the safety switches are operable
• Checking the power box
• Testing smoke alarms
• Checking lighting and power points
• Checking for any appliances or other electrical objects that are not up to government regulation standards for electrical safety

Electrical issues can occur unexpectedly and need to be addressed right away, and getting your office inspected at the proper times is a great way to prevent any avoidable electrical hazards.

While regular electrical inspections are healthy for your office, here are the major times that you should schedule an inspection:

Before Moving into an Office Space

If you are moving to a new office space, you should have an electrical inspection prior to renting or buying it. If there are any electrical issues that are found during the inspection, the plus side is that you may be able to negotiate for a lower price for the property. Sometimes, these inspections are included in the comprehensive building inspection report prior to purchase, but you should double check so that it is not overlooked.

Building inspectors do not typically check the smoke alarms or the electrical wiring, which are both extremely important aspects of a property. If these are not checked out, you should contact a reliable electrician to come inspect the property. Richtek Electrical & Air Solutions has been inspecting properties for years, so you can count on us to test the outlets and inspect the wiring, electrical panels, circuit interrupters, and smoke alarms for your new office space to ensure that it is safe to work in.

If You Have Any Concerns About Your Building

Experiencing regular electrical problems, such as a power outage or a tripped circuit breaker, is a sign that your office should be inspected. Other concerns for your building can include:

• If the office space is over 25 years old
• If the wiring is outdated
• If you suspect there has been any DIY work

After a Strong Storm

Major storms can cause flooding, which can impact the status of the electrical safety for your building. An electrician should be contacted to inspect your outlets, appliances, and any wiring that was exposed to storm damages before they are used.

Our experienced team at Richtek offers inspection services for both commercial offices and residential homes. Contact us today for preventative tips, advice, or to schedule an inspection!

by Michael Gray

When you look to hire an electrician, you will soon find out that there are a lot of options out there. Aside from the many companies, there are also different types of electricians to choose from who each specialise in various areas of the electrical services industry.

How do you decide who to hire to handle your commercial electrical needs?

Luckily, there are electricians who have worked in construction long enough to specialise in commercial electrical work. If you need to have cables laid or need any installations, this type of electrician is just what you need.

Here are some traits that make up a good commercial electrician:

• Adaptable

A dependable commercial electrician needs to be creatively adaptive in order to think of quick solutions when they need to. On typical commercial sites, the construction workers do not understand how the electrical wires within a wall are installed, so they usually place electrical outlets haphazardly. When the electrical contractor comes in, they need to figure out on the spot how to best get the job done.

• Experience

An electrician only learns how to be adaptable and creative in their solutions when they have acquired enough experience. Inexperienced electricians that merely have the most basic skills under their belt will not be able to provide as high quality of a service.

• Diverse Skillset

Another thing that a quality commercial electrician needs to have is a diverse skillset, meaning that there are other things the electrician needs to know how to do besides basic electrical knowledge.

For example, they need to have good communication skills in order to work effectively with any customer they may encounter such as building owners, builders, or even other commercial contractors. Communication is key to explaining a job clearly without confusing the customer with too many technical terms that no one (besides other electricians) will understand.

• Professional

Professionalism is a critical quality in any person you conduct business with. A good electrician presents themselves professionally and works efficiently and cleanly on all of their projects. This means that they block out all of the other work being done around them, so they can focus entirely on what their task is and ensure that they don’t make any mistakes.

• Passion

Passion and excitement show that the electrician truly cares about the work they are doing for their customer. While an electrician can’t be expected to be giddy for every single task they do, whenever something out of the ordinary comes along, such as specialty work of some kind, it is refreshing to see them convey their excitement to work on the project to their customer.

Richtek Commercial Electricians

Richtek Electrical & Air Solutions in Perth has a team of friendly and reliable electricians who have years of experience in the electrical industry. Our knowledgeable commercial electricians have the skill and manpower to handle whatever job you need done. Contact us today or visit our main Richtek website to learn more about our talented team!

by Michael Gray

The safety of a workplace should be its top priority, and one of the biggest factors in this is electrical safety. Electricity should be taken seriously, as it has been known to cause injury and even death when handled incorrectly.

The best way to ensure workplace safety when dealing with electricity is to investigate the different major aspects of electrical use and make sure you are using the appropriate amount of safety in each area.

Extension Leads and Power Boards

Power boards or strips and extension leads or cords need to be properly managed for risks in order to ensure workplace safety.

Here are some tips to help:

1.Keep power boards above the floor and in a well-ventilated space
2. Make sure all your power boards are protected from surges or power overloads and that they also have an on/off switch
3. Cords on both power boards and extension leads need to be inspected occasionally to ensure they are in good condition
4. Extension leads need to be placed carefully so the risk of a trip hazard is minimised
5. If using an extension lead outdoors, make sure that it is a heavy-duty type that is meant for that type of use

Electrical Risks and Hazards

Here are some of the more common hazards to look out for:

• Electrical issues that could lead to an electrical fire or even an explosion
• A damaged wire or cord that is exposed and can cause electrical burns or shocks upon contact
• Outlets that are overloaded with filled power strips

Electrocution can be severe enough to fatally injure a person. Even if the shock isn’t fatal, it can lead to other accidents like causing a person to fall from scaffolding. An employee does not need to be working directly with wires or electricity to experience an electrical hazard or come into contact with another electrical risk.

Electrical Appliances

Appliances can experience a lot of issues and need to be regularly checked for any faults. Here are some things to keep in mind if you are using or buying an electrical appliance:

• Never use an appliance in a way it was not designed to be used for
• If an appliance is damaged, it should be switched off and unplugged immediately if it is safe to do so
• Never use an appliance that was exposed to any liquid
• If an appliance is exposed to water or another liquid, turn it off and unplug it

Lighting and Heating

Encourage workplace safety by encouraging staff to look out for electrical issues and by telling them helpful tips to avoid accidents.

• Never leave your workplace unattended while a heating appliance is still turned on
• If a lighting fixture is damaged or if damaged wires are found, it should be turned off and you should call a reliable electrician to assess the situation

Richtek Electrical & Air Solutions has a qualified team of experienced electricians who are happy to discuss workplace safety when dealing with electricity. If you are experiencing any electrical faults in your workplace, contact us today.

by Michael Gray