Benefits of Building Electrical Inspections

Understanding Building Electrical Inspections

Regular building electrical inspections are crucial to maintaining safety and compliance in any commercial facility. Building owners and facility managers must make sure all electrical systems and equipment meet code requirements and do not pose risks like fires or electrocution to occupants.

Inspections provide valuable benefits that greatly outweigh any inconvenience. Read on to understand the importance of commercial building electrical inspections and the steps involved during construction.

Electrical Inspection Steps During Construction

Electrical inspections should occur at multiple points during new construction and remodeling to catch any issues. Typical inspections include:

Service Inspection: The electrical service panel and feeders are inspected for proper sizing, grounding, and installation per code. Issues like undersized wires or lack of grounding put safety at risk.
Rough-In Inspection: All electrical boxes, wiring, and installed equipment are checked before being covered by finished walls and ceilings. Inspectors look for exposed live wires, unenclosed junction boxes, and other hazards.
Final Inspection: The finished electrical system is thoroughly tested for functionality, safety, and code compliance.

Inspectors check for exposed wires, overload protection, correct breaker sizes, adequate wire gauges, proper connections and terminations, interior and exterior lighting, and adherence to all local codes plus the National Electrical Code.

It is much less expensive and time-consuming to remedy issues found during inspections than after the fact.

Working with a design-build electrical contractor provides several advantages. Check out this article to learn how a comprehensive electrical contractor can simplify your project.

Advantages of Performing Building Electrical Inspections During Construction

Let’s explore the benefits of performing building electrical inspections during construction:

Safety

Safety is the number-one priority for any public building. Electrical inspections verify that systems are installed to meet safety standards. Inspectors look for code violations that could allow fires, shocks, electrocution, or equipment damage. It’s crucial to identify and fix these before construction is completed.

Common safety issues include:

Undersized wiring that can overheat and spark fires
Lack of proper circuit protection devices that prevent overloads
Improper overcurrent protection and fault current ratings on equipment
Exposed electrical parts that users could make contact with
Improperly enclosed junction boxes and panels that allow contact with live parts

Compliance

Adhering to electrical codes is mandatory and ensures safety. Inspectors look for compliance with requirements like:

Adequate receptacle placement and GFCI protection near water sources to prevent shocks
Proper clearances around electrical service and distribution equipment for safe access
Required light fixtures, exit signs, and emergency lighting to facilitate evacuation
Required conductor ampacity to prevent overheating
Correct use and sizing of raceways, boxes, conduits, and cable assemblies

Identifying deviations from code during construction lets builders remedy them in a timely, cost-effective manner before final approval.

Hazard Prevention

Inspections identify safety hazards like loose connections that can arc, spark, and ignite fires, overloaded circuits that pose fire risks and equipment damage, ungrounded electrical systems that increase shock risks, and defective devices like damaged breakers or outlets. Discovering and fixing these hazards protects occupants and prevents future problems.

Eliminating Costs of Fixing Errors After Completion

According to the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), fixing an electrical deficiency after construction costs 3–5 times more than correcting during inspections. Finding and correcting electrical installation errors and code violations during inspections is exponentially more affordable than after construction ends.

Retroactive upgrades like rewiring, replacing panels or breakers, rerouting conduits, or reinstalling equipment after the walls are closed is labor intensive and costly. Inspections allow builders to fix issues when they simply require changing out a wire or adding an outlet before extensive remodeling is necessary.

Performing inspections during each phase of construction saves substantial amounts of time and money down the road. Building owners should always request thorough electrical inspections during new construction or renovations. Identifying and correcting problems along the way keeps occupants safe, avoids significant costs, and ensures compliance with legal standards.

Side view of a man in white hard hat doing an electrical inspection

The Critical Role of Ongoing Maintenance

Regular electrical maintenance is critical even after new installations. Over time, vibrations, temperature changes, moisture, and wear degrade connections and components. Minor issues go undetected without periodic inspections and become significant hazards or failures. Codes and best practices also evolve rapidly. Plus, older systems may lack new safety features like AFCIs and tamper-resistant receptacles.

Preventative maintenance finds problems before they disrupt operations or pose dangers. Signs like flickering lights and tripping breakers indicate loose connections, overloads, or other deficiencies. Equipment needs and usage patterns change in commercial facilities, potentially exceeding the original electrical system design. Load calculations and panel assessments during maintenance determine whether capacity upgrades are needed for evolving power demands.

Long-Term Reliability and Safety

Building owners and managers should partner with electrical contractors to schedule periodic inspections, maintenance, and upgrades that keep electrical systems operating safely for the long haul. Here are some best practices to consider:

Schedule electrical inspections annually at minimum or biannually. Correct any deficiencies as soon as they are identified.
Inspect all electrical panels, boxes, wiring, and equipment for damage, corrosion, leaks, loose connections, or overheating. Tighten open terminals and wipe down dust.
Check all overcurrent protective devices to ensure appropriate sizing for connected loads. Update as needed.
Test ground fault circuit interrupters and arc fault circuit interrupters using the built-in test buttons. Replace any failed devices.
Consider thermal imaging scans to identify hot spots that indicate problems invisible to the naked eye.
Verify proper equipment grounding using earth ground resistance testing. Remediate any issues.
Test emergency and backup power supply systems under load in facilities with emergency systems. Perform generator inspections and maintenance.
Review system labeling, circuit directories, and architectural drawings. Update as modifications are made over time.
Consider power quality analysis to identify issues with harmonics, voltage fluctuations, or load balancing between phases.

Pass Your Building Electrical Inspections With CTI Electric

With over two decades of hands-on experience, CTI Electric has become the go-to service provider for businesses throughout Utah. Our attention to detail, commitment to safe practices, and adherence to all codes and regulations mean your building electrical inspections are hassle-free and don’t cause significant delays. Contact us today to find out how we can handle your electrical work efficiently and safely.