Ways to Choose the Right Maintenance Electrician for Your Commercial Business
As we enter the digital age, more and more of your business relies on high-quality electrical systems. When looking for maintenance electricians, especially for emergency situations, it is important to choose reliable, professional tradesmen. But how do you find the right electrical services?
Scope of work
Whether you are up for a refit, moving offices, or needing repairs, commercial electrical work is a complex sector of the electrical trades industry. Once you have contacted a likely choice, make sure to explain clearly what your expectations are of the job and the available budget. Ask to be taken through what approach they would take. An experienced electrician should be able to identify potential issues, outline likely parts required and get a rough timeline of the works
References
The internet is a valuable source of information when you are looking to hire commercial trades. Past project galleries are invaluable for ensuring the electrical services you need to match the expertise of the specialities of your short-listed electricians.
Quotations
When making contact and asking for a quote, there are a few things you can be aware of that help you determine the professionalism of your likely electricians
Nothing is worse than trades that don’t meet commitments or deadlines. Whether they have taken on too many jobs or are simply disorganised, quality organisations take great pride in being on time, every time.
All electrical work in WA requires certification of tradesmen who are required to hold a current electricians license. It is important for safety that your hired tradesmen carry the appropriate licence for the job.
Just like your business, your electrician should have public liability and business insurance. These details should be provided when asked for, you don’t want to be unprotected when works are underway.
Service quality. In the electrical trade, service is not limited to the end result. A professional job takes into consideration time, minimises disruption to your commercial activity and respond to queries promptly.
Time required. As part of a quote, you should be presented with a likely timeframe for works to be completed. This can vary depending on the size of the electrical team, speciality equipment necessary, and the experience of completing similar projects in the past.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT COMMERCIAL ELECTRICIAN FOR YOUR BUSINESS
Commercial electrical work can be very different from domestic electrical work. Choosing the right commercial electrician for your business requires many considerations.
Experience
Commercial electric work requires experience. Check your electrician’s experience and knowledge with commercial electrical work. The more experienced your electrician is, the more knowledgeable they will be with complex projects.
Resources
Does your electrician have the internal resources and team to meet all your electrical needs? Don’t settle for a one-man band. A good commercial electrician should have a team of well trained professionals
Communication & Cleanliness
You’re running a business, so you don’t have time to waste. Make sure your electrician communicates well and is able to liaise with other contractors who may be on site too. While your electrical work is important, you need your business to continue running. Your commercial electrician should understand this, and make an effort to keep their work area clean and tidy for you.
License and Insurance
It goes without saying that it is critical that your electrician should have proper licenses and insurance for the work they perform. In the unlikely case that there is an accident on site, you will be assured that your electrician is covered.
Tips to Consider When Choosing a Commercial Electrician
We often work with companies who turn to us after having a negative experience with their previous electrical contractor. Commercial work requires expanded knowledge, skills and resources. There are several things to keep in mind when choosing a commercial electrician.
Availability
You want a 24/7 electrician available to handle any needs that may arise. For instance, a retail establishment may need to call a 24/7 electricians to come out on Black Friday to resolve an issue. A restaurant may need access to a 24/7 electrician to address electrical problems with equipment. Not having ready access to 24/7 electricians can cost a business thousands of dollars in lost revenue.
Knowledge and Ability to Meet Any Commercial Demands
When interviewing a commercial electrician, he or she should request a tour of the building, office, warehouse or facility where they will be working. A good commercial electrician will scope out the area and be comfortable working in all types of environments. They should also be able to not only perform repair work, but installations and maintenance as well.
Licensed and Insured
Ask any electrical contractor you are considering for their license and insurance information. If they are unable to produce it, then move on to someone else.
Good References
Don’t be afraid to ask any commercial electrician you are considering for references. You can also check online reviews for practically any electrical contractor these days. Be sure to take a good look at their experience and background.
Key Factors To Look For When Choosing An Electrical Contractor
With so many cowboys masquerading as qualified, experienced electricians from a safety perspective, it has never been more important to choose the right electrical contractor for your residential or commercial project. Many people are tempted to opt for the cheapest quote, which more often than not could turn out to be a costly mistake. That said, knowing who to trust for your electrical installation and maintenance is not always easy, as there are many factors to take into consideration when making your decision. Read on to learn some important points to consider when making your decision
Risk of choosing the wrong contractor
Picture the scene; a rusty Robin Reliant three-wheeler pulls up outside your property. After screeching to a stop, several men in string vests jump out and promptly light their cigarettes as they loudly argue about whose responsibility it was to pack the tools that were forgotten. A couple of the men decide to go back to get them, screeching off in the rust bucket. Meanwhile, the remaining man asks you to show him what needs fixing whilst he curses about how unhappy he is to be expected to do a day’s work and complains about his incompetent colleagues.
NICEIC – CERTIFIED
The most critical factor to look for in an electrical contractor is whether they are accredited and approved by the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC). It is advisable to hire an electrician with NICEIC certification as the organisation assesses the competence of both domestic and commercial electricians to ensure safe systems of work that conform to standards set out by the IEE (Institute of Electrical Engineers), who set the standards for electrical installation work.
QUALITY WORKMANSHIP
While some of us believe we can recognise high-quality electrical work when we see it, the reality is that not many of us fully understand the fundamentals of electrical systems. This lack of knowledge makes establishing what constitutes a quality electrical installation open to interpretation. The National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) developed the National Electrical Installation Standards (NEIS) in the 1990s to take away subjective judgements of this essential quality.
SAFETY STANDARDS
You have a right to expect your electrical contractor to work to the highest electrical safety standards. There are many safety standards that apply to electrical work that you should take into consideration. For example, Part P certification and the 18th Edition IET Wiring Regulations (BS 7671:2018), this is the most recent update of electrical safety systems, which came into force for all new electrical installations from 1st January 2019
Factors To Look Out For When Hiring Electrical Services
Our lives run on electricity. Our comfort and convenience depend on it. From HVAC system of your house to electric circuits in your company, anything can go wrong and you need the help of electrical repair/replacement experts.
Experience
Electrical repairs require knowledge, practice, and experience, given that there is potential harm attached to it. One of the easiest ways to judge a potential electrician is to ask for their experience in the field. Make sure that the electrical contractor you choose is proficient in the field and follows all the required safety guidelines.
Qualifications
Always ask the electric service company for their staff’s training certificate and qualification. This will help you make an informed decision that you might not regret later. Make sure the training certificates of the electrician company are from a reputable organization and they follow safety and quality guidelines of nationally recognized institutions. To educate yourself, you can read about certain the NFPA’s electric safety tips.
Professionalism
Make sure the electrician you choose is professional and this can easily be determined from the moment you meet him. Try determining factors like attentiveness, honesty, and attention to detail. Ask questions raising concerns about your electrical fault and related things. This will help you decide on the right electric company or an electrical maintenance contractor for your company or house.
Affordability
Make sure you set your maintenance budget before starting to look for an electrical maintenance contractor. This will help you shortlisting potential electrical maintenance company or contractors to a great extent. To this cause, it is advised that you should always interview at least 3 electrical maintenance contractors/companies before hiring one. Analyze what all you are being offered and at what cost! Choose the contractor which offers best at his pricing.
