Industrial electrical work
Workshops, units and industrial premises: three-phase, machinery supplies and distribution.
In short
Industrial electrical work covers three-phase distribution, supplies to machinery, and the containment, isolation and control gear that go with them. The difference from domestic work is not just scale: loads are heavier and more continuous, isolation has to be arranged so a machine can be worked on safely, and downtime costs money, so work is planned around production rather than the other way round.
On an industrial site the electrical installation is part of the plant. It gets treated as background until it stops, at which point it is the most important thing on the premises. Most of the value is in doing it in a way that can be worked on later: labelled, documented, isolatable and accessible.
Industrial work we carry out
- Three-phase distribution boards, sub-mains and isolators
- Supplies to machinery, including local isolation for safe maintenance
- Workshop and unit installations: power, lighting and containment
- Trunking, tray and conduit installed to be extended later, not fought with
- Additional capacity where a unit has outgrown its original installation
- Fault finding and repairs on plant and distribution, planned around production
What the job involves
Every property is different, but the shape of the work is usually the same. Here is how a typical industrial electrical work job runs.
Survey the supply and the load
The incoming supply, existing distribution and spare capacity are established before anything is added, because that decides what is actually possible.
Plan around production
Shutdown windows are agreed up front so work happens when it costs least, rather than stopping a line mid-shift.
Install with maintenance in mind
Containment and distribution are installed to be worked on and extended: labelled, accessible and with room left in it.
Isolation and safety
Local isolation is provided where machinery needs to be worked on, so it can be made safe properly rather than by pulling a plug and hoping.
Test, certify and document
Circuits are tested and certificated, and the distribution labelled and recorded so the next person can work on it without tracing everything from scratch.
Want someone to take a look?
Call 07557 448945 or send a photo on WhatsApp and you will get a straight answer on what it needs.
Industrial electrical work near you
S. Sparham Electrical covers Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. Pick your area for local detail, or call 07557 448945 if you are not sure whether you are in range.
Frequently asked questions
Do you work on three-phase installations?
Yes. Three-phase distribution, machinery supplies and industrial control gear are part of the commercial and industrial side of the business.
Can you work outside our production hours?
Yes, and on most industrial jobs it is the sensible way round. Shutdown windows and out-of-hours slots are agreed when the job is planned so the work does not cost more in lost production than it does in labour.
Our unit keeps tripping when machines start. Why?
A large motor draws a heavy inrush current at start-up, and if the protective device or the supply is marginal it will trip. Sometimes it is the device rating or type, sometimes it is genuinely insufficient capacity for what has been added over the years. Testing tells you which, and they have very different answers.
Do you carry out testing on commercial premises?
Yes. Commercial and industrial installations need periodic inspection and testing in the same way domestic ones do, generally more often given the loads involved and their duty cycle. Insurers frequently ask for it.
Can you add capacity to an existing board?
If there is spare capacity, yes. If there is not, the answer is usually a sub-main and a new distribution board rather than trying to squeeze another way into a board that is already full and already warm.
Who is doing the work
Before anyone works on your electrics it is worth knowing what they are trained to do. This is what Stephen Sparham holds.