Electrical Service FAQ
What does commercial electrical maintenance include?
As part of our commercial maintenance calls, we’ll ensure your entire office, warehouse, or industrial facility meets NEC (National Electrical Code) regulations and that all electrical devices and connections are running properly. Some of the systems we’ll inspect include: GFCI and AFCI circuit breakers, wiring, transformers, voltage regulators, security systems, telecommunications testing, UPS systems, light poles, HID lighting, motion centers, photocells, light timers, exit signage, and more!
What industries and commercial properties do you service?
E-Squared Electric services the following types of commercial properties and industrial facilities (alphabetical order):
- Apartment buildings and complexes
- Churches
- Hospitals and healthcare facilities
- Hotels/Motels
- Industrial buildings
- Manufacturing plants
- Municipal buildings
- Nursing homes
- Office buildings and complexes
- Retail Stores
- Restaurants
- Schools and universities
- Shopping malls
- Warehouses
- And more!
What’s better for my business, LED lights or CFLs?
Without a question, LED lights are better for your business than CFLs. Compared to CFLs (compact fluorescent lights), LEDs (light emitting diodes) consume up to 85 percent less energy and have an expected lifespan of up to 50 times longer.
How complete are your build-out services?
At E-Squared Electric we strive to offer clients a single-source for all of their electrical needs. When it comes to our commercial and industrial build-out services no job is too large, nor is any job too small! We offer complete build-out installation, replacement, repair services.
Should I have an automatic or manual transfer switch installed with my standby generator?
A standby generator provides your business with a reliable source of electrical power for those times when the utility supply has failed (storms, etc.). The transition from the failed utility source to that of the generator happens after the generator has been started and is producing a consistent voltage wave form of sufficient value. An automatic transfer switch (ATS) manages the process of monitoring the utility voltage and if it drops to a specified level, starts the generator. Once running, the ATS switches the electrical loads it feeds from the normal utility source to that of the generator and while running, monitors the utility source. Once it sees the utility source has been restored, the ATS automatically switches the electrical loads back to the utility source and then runs the generator unloaded in cool down mode. Once a specified amount of time has lapsed for the generator to cool down, it’s shut off and awaits the next incident of a failure of the utility source. ATS’s come in two forms; open transition and closed transition. The difference between opened and closed transition is that the former involves a loss of voltage to the loads served during the switching process, whereas in closed transition, no interruption of voltage is experienced when switching back to the restored utility source. A manual transfer switch, on the other hand, requires an operator to perform manually, all those functions that are done automatically by the ATS. By definition, a manual transfer switch can only be operated as an open transition switch. For standby generators being used to provide emergency power for life safety applications (such as egress lighting), the National Electrical Code (NEC) requires that the generator be started, and all emergency loads switched to the generator within 10-seconds of losing the utility source. For that reason, an automatic transfer switch is an absolute necessity if the generator is also intended to serve any life safety loads. The NEC also requires the system to operate for a period of 90-minutes, or until the utility source is restored, whichever comes first. Lastly, the NEC mandates separation of emergency (ie. life safety) wiring systems from that of non-emergency wiring. So, it’s important that your installer understand the distinctions between emergency and non-emergency loads and the electrical code implications for each.
Do I need dedicated computer circuitry?
Although installing dedicated circuitry for workstations in your office is not absolutely necessary, it does provide many benefits to your business, including:
- Improved safety
- Increased productiveness
- Streamlined processes