Electrical Systems
Is Your Electrical System Being Maintained?
This has the sound of being a “make work” project! When risk assessors complete a risk analysis of a property they carry “infrared guns” to look for hot spots, and there is a valid reason for this.
Here are the results of a 6 year old building in Red Deer that completed a detailed electrical inspection. The electrician looked at all suite panels, removed and inspected all suite and common area meters and inspected all common area panels, etc in the building.
History and background
- Built in 2003
- Has a history of electrical panels in suites having a very low humming
- A few suites had surge problems and lights would dim and then return to normal
- One suite sustained damage to numerous electrical devices and when investigated found voltage fluctuations. The Board paid to replace these damaged devices (the problem was found that a lug nut behind the electrical meter for the suite was not properly tightened)
- Improper sized breakers in panels, which were causing very dangerous conditions in the circuit that the breaker was protecting
- Numerous hot spots were located because the breakers were too large for the circuit
After the 3 day inspection of the suites panels and the remainder of the building
- Found the wires to a light fixture melting
- Found wires from the panel to a plug in and light circuit melting and arcing
- Numerous other issues that were unsafe
- Code violations when installing new or upgraded electrical circuits (this is against most condo bylaws)
- Lug nuts behind the electrical meters that were loose or not ever installed by the developer. This creates voltage spikes to the units
In discussions with engineers, fire safety personal, reserve fund planners and insurance risk assessors this type of maintenance needs to be done frequently depending upon the results from the previous inspection.
Be sure that you do not overlook this very important maintenance item in your planning.



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