Electrical maintenance is the process of ensuring that all electrical equipment is kept in good working order and includes inspecting, testing, and repairing electrical equipment as necessary to prevent problems that could lead to a loss of power or electrical fire.

Electrical maintenance is important for businesses as it helps ensure the safety of employees and prevents expensive equipment repairs or replacements.

Who Can Undertake It?

Electrical equipment maintenance is hazardous and therefore it is essential to be undertaken by qualified electricians who are knowledgeable in the maintenance process and typically follow manufacturer maintenance guidance.

What Does It Consist Of?

Appliance Testing – visual inspection of appliances for damage and use of a Portable Appliance Tester to check for defects.

Emergency Light Testing – shut down test to check for failure or required replacements.

Monitoring Systems Testing – test of all outlets and panels for failure or fault codes.

Backup Power Testing – connection of backup generator to test procedures in case of power failure.

Risks of Not Carrying Out Regular Maintenance

Wiring – one of most common causes of workplace fires is faulty or overloaded sockets or plugs or old and malfunctioning equipment.

Lighting – if lighting levels are not appropriate then increased liability will be faced in the event of a workplace injury or emergency occurring.

Technology – technology advances mean that regular maintenance is important to keep businesses so reliant on electricity operating at maximum efficiency.

If you need Electrical Maintenance for your business, contact us today!

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No matter the size of your business you should have an effective fire alarm system installed in place. Fires can occur at any time and in many cases prove to be most destructive after hours. Fire alarms help make sure that firefighters will be alerted to put out any fires before serious damage occurs and having a fire alarm system will also keep your staff safe should any danger occur during business hours. Therefore, you should choose a fire alarm system in compliance with the latest rules and regulations. Here are some of the reasons why you should invest in a fire alarm system and what you should look for in an installation service:

Benefits

• Regulations such as the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRO) require that all commercial land has appropriate fire safety measures in place and a fire alarm system will ensure you comply with this legislation.
• Fire alarm systems ensure that not only is your building kept safe, but also the lives of your staff and clients.
• Most modern systems are linked directly to fire services which allows firefighters to act quickly and contain the fire before it causes a large amount of damage.
• Fire alarm systems can also be linked to other systems such as access control to enable quick disabling of any potential hold-ups so people can leave faster.
• An effective fire alarm system will prove cost effective in the long-term as it will prevent costly fire damage, lower the cost of insurance, and protect against fines.
• Having an up to date fire alarm system in place will lessen disruption to your workplace and protect you from loss, damage, or litigation.

Aspects of a Reliable Fire Alarm System Installation

There are a number of factors to consider when choosing who to install your fire alarm system:

• Are they aware of the latest rules and laws for fire monitoring and able to comply with them?
• Can they determine the right alarm system for you? As not all systems work in the same way and each premises will have different needs.
• Are they fully certified? Can they provide proof that shows you can trust them?
• Are they able to conduct regular testing and maintenance as required?
• Finally, do they have the experience and knowledge to install alarm systems professionally?

Why Use Huttie?

At Huttie we are able to provide all these elements to make sure you have the right fire alarm system installation for your premises.

Click here to find out more about our fire alarm installation work.

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For any business the threat of break ins and theft is an ongoing and very real risk and even if your workplace is insured the loss of equipment can impact productivity as well as trust. A security alarm or CCTV system installation can help to protect your business from any potential illegal activity and here we will look at the benefits of having effective alarms and cameras in the workplace as well as what to look for when choosing a system.

Benefits

Making sure you have an efficient security alarm and CCTV system installation in your workplace will help you in the following ways:

• Make your staff feel and potential clients feel safe increasing the likelihood of them returning.
• Should any theft occur you will have evidence of the perpetrators and may be able to retrieve any stolen goods.
• Help to keep track of activity within the workplace; you can use this in large workplaces to help you decide where to provide extra support where needed.
• The presence of security systems will deter crime and hopefully save you time and money in the long term.
• In addition to deterring crime they will promote and encourage good behaviour in the workplace.
• Having an effective system in place provides evidence of any wrongdoing and lowers the risk of fraud which is often viewed favourably by insurers.
• Where it is impossible for people to be able to watch every part of the building at once, CCTV systems can cover any blind spots for full surveillance coverage.

What to Consider

When weighing up the various systems out there and the overall cost of a security and CCTV installation there are a few things to consider. Firstly, what areas do you need the cameras to cover? Do you need internal or external cameras or a combination of both? Another factor to consider is where the footage will be stored. Many cameras have a hard drive containing footage but this can be restrictive and poses a risk of hard drive failure so storing it in the cloud might be a better option. Many modern systems allow you to monitor footage remotely from mobile devices which can give you the advantage of reacting faster should a situation arise. One other point to consider is resolution and frame rate as the higher the quality of the footage, the better the evidence.

Using Huttie

Here at Huttie we perform a range of high quality security alarm and CCTV system installations and offer state of the art systems of all kinds and will work with you to provide what you need at affordable cost. To find out about our range of security system installation services, contact our friendly expert team online or via phone.

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Has your fuse box been replaced since 1990? If not then it could contravene the new fuse box regulations and become a major problem. Outdated panels and fuse boxes are unsafe and a major cause of house fires.

Many of us make the mistake of taking for granted things that are unproblematic, such as our electricity supply but sometimes we need protection from ourselves. The new fuse box regulations, backed strongly by the Fire Service and introduced in 2005, did just that.

These regulations stipulate the best locations for a panel is on an exterior wall of your home or business premises as any malfunction causing a fire to ignite can then be easily dealt with by the Fire Service who can quickly and easily extinguish it. Additionally, and most importantly, they can turn off the electrical supply without having to first enter the building.

Your fuse box connects to the main power grid and manages the way electricity is distributed throughout your property so, if there is any doubt about meeting current regulations, the question of upgrading is one you should seriously consider.

Fuse boxes can be outdated on a property which is 44 years old as the way we use electricity has changed so much over the years, we had far fewer electrical appliances back then and our fuse boxes were able to cope with the load we placed on them. Today, almost every home is full of appliances and gadgets that run on electricity and a fuse box or panel older than 12 years may simply not be able to handle the demands placed on it.

Because electricity is dangerous, we build mitigations into our electrical infrastructure. These take the form of fuses or circuit breakers that can shut off supply to an area where there may be a problem. However, if the fuse box or wiring are old, these safety mechanisms may not work. Today circuit breakers have replaced fuses in panels so, if your box is full of fuses, the answer to the question should I upgrade my electrical panel is yes.

The new regulations also apply to commercial properties where the consumption of electricity may be much greater than in a domestic setting. In order to protect your business and the people working in it commercial electrical maintenance is crucial.

A qualified electrician will tell you at a glance whether your panel is in contravention of the new fuse box regulations. Whether it needs a major overhaul or even replacing it is worth the relatively small fee you may be charged for an assessment to know that your family and the investment you have made in your home are safe. If you are in any doubt about the suitability of your panel please contact us.

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We use electricity in our homes without even thinking, in fact, we use it so often that it is easy to forget just how dangerous electricity can be.

Having your home electrics tested is the best way to ensure they are safe to use, any electrical inspection cost is worth it to protect your family and home.

Faulty wiring, appliances, or electrical supplies carry a risk of fire or electrocution. At Huttie our NICEIC accredited electricians can check the electrical infrastructure within your home is working safely and they will be able to identify any potential electrical fire hazards that need addressing.

Over time electrical installations can deteriorate and become hazardous which is why it is a good idea to arrange for an inspection when buying a new house or moving, particularly if it is an older property. With fees to pay and furniture to buy we understand that moving home is already costly and a visit from an electrician might seem like an unnecessary additional expense, however, this visit will be far cheaper than any potential financial or human cost of an electrical related fire in your new home.

Even if you are not moving house we recommend that you have the electrical circuits in your home checked every 10 years and as of 1 June 2020, private landlords in England are required by law to have their rental properties inspected by a qualified electrician every 5 years, making them essential on any landlord’s home inspection list.

Therefore it is better to think of any electrical inspection cost as an investment in safety, not an unwanted fee because peace of mind is priceless.

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Keeping track of your energy use has never been easier thanks to smart meters. Every home in Britain will be offered a smart meter free of charge over the next few years and many households are already enjoying the benefits that switching to a gas and electric smart meter can bring.

Smart meters send meter readings directly to your energy provider meaning you can say goodbye to estimated bills, you will only pay for the energy you use. A smart meter will make your utility bills more accurate and by helping you reduce your energy use, it could also make your utility bills more affordable.

Smart meters come with a smart energy display which is a handheld device that gives you real-time data on how much gas or electricity you are using. The display will also show how your energy use translates into pounds so you can stay on top of how much you are spending on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.

As you switch on your heating, lights, or appliances your smart meter display will show how much energy you are using and how much it is costing so you will soon find yourself remembering to turn off that hallway light.

Your energy supplier will contact you when your home is eligible for a smart meter. If your existing meter needs replacing, it will probably be replaced with a smart meter. There is no cost to having a smart meter installed as just like with traditional utility meters the cost is covered by your energy bills.

Smart meters offer a quick and easy way to track your energy usage and make your bills more accurate but, unlike other smart technology, a smart meter does not allow you to control your heating or appliances remotely.

Having a smart meter is a great start but if you want to do more to manage your energy usage and costs we can install smart heating controls which will allow you to manage your heating system from your mobile device. We can also fit smart thermostats and radiator valves throughout your living space which will allow you to control the temperature in each individual room. You can also set times for your heating to turn on or off so you will use only the energy you need when you are at home.

When combined with a smart meter smart controls can help you save even more money on your monthly bills. By being smarter with your energy usage you will not only cut costs but reduce your consumption too making your home more efficient

Find out more about how Huttie could help you save money and energy at home by getting in touch with our expert team.

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The smart meter exists be enable you to accurately measure the amount of energy your property consumes with them replacing conventional electrical meters which have existed for decades.

The main intention of a smart electric meter is to communicate with the electricity provider in a real-time scenario making it much easier for them to determine how much energy your home is consuming over a given period of time. The electricity provider will then be able to understand general consumption rates within a specific geographic area.

Advancement in technology plays an obvious role in the development of smart meters due in large part to the readiness and availability of wireless communications and the possibilities this creates.

Some of the advantages of a smart meter include:

• The ability to determine how to save money on electricity bills;
• Electricity providers are immediately notified in the event of an outage; and
• The ability of electricity providers to determine more efficient ways of distributing power.

Some conspiracy theorists have a view that smart meters can somehow be dangerous. For example, some believe that such proactive levels of monitoring equate to an invasion of privacy whilst some feel that the electromagnetic radiation given off by these devices may contribute to the development of cancer in the future. However, it is important to point out that all firms are required to adhere to strict data collection laws and that there is absolutely no evidence to date that these meters adversely impact one’s health.

We should all appreciate why the installation of smart meters is set to pick up speed in the coming months and years. Are you interested in learning more about these and other smart monitoring solutions? Would you like to further understand their benefits? If so, please do not hesitate to speak with one of our customer service representatives. There is no doubt that smart meters are here to stay and it pays to remain one step ahead of the energy curve.

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In terms of safety and energy efficiency this is a very important question to address. The cost of updating and upgrading the electrical wiring infrastructure in the home is dependent on there being regular maintenance undertaken as an important step in preventing fires and other long-term property damage.

An electrical upgrade or rewire could be recommended by an electrical inspector following a fixed wiring inspection or EICR where the inspector will look for:

• Signs of deterioration;
• Damage to wiring or insulation;
• The age of the wires; and
• The condition of your junction box.

You will be notified if a wiring upgrade is necessary for health and safety reasons so it is wise to book an inspection at least every ten years.

It is also critical to know some warning signs yourself as these can tell you that something may be wrong with your internal wiring.

Some common warning signs are:

• Circuit breakers that appear to trip for no reason;
• A panel unit that does not contain a sufficient number of fuses;
• Lights that dim or flicker on occasion (a sign of an overloaded panel);
• Buzzing sounds or acrid smells emitting from one or more locations;
• Outlets that have become loose; or
• Electrical arc or sparks from an appliance or plug socket.

These could point to potentially dangerous conditions and we advise to always contact a NICEIC certified electrician at the first sign of trouble.

It is not recommended that electrical home improvement projects are carried out by do-it-yourself enthusiasts. You risk causing a significant amount of damage or may inadvertently get electrocuted when attempting your own wiring so please do not take this risk as your own rewiring will not pass electrical safety regulations. Therefore, despite the costs involved, any electrical improvements should be carried out by a qualified electrician to provide peace of mind that your wiring is certified as safe and undertaken in line with current rules and regulations.

Speak with a qualified professional before you consider rewiring a house room-by-room or upgrading the entire system as they will be able to provide modern solutions which align with electrical safety regulations.

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Lighting is an essential component of your workspace, whether an office or a factory, making sure that your workforce has adequate lighting ensures they can get their job done to the best of their ability and feel more content and comfortable with their environment, resulting in higher productivity and employee satisfaction.

Types of Lighting

Along with ensuring you have adequate natural light the right electrical lighting installation can make a world of difference.

There are three basic types of artificial lighting: general, localised general, and local (or task).

General lighting is the provision of uniform lighting across a whole work area with no emphasis on specific parts, a good example of this is ceiling fixtures above a warehouse.

Localised general lighting would then use additional overhead fixtures to increase the amount of light for certain tasks.

Local (or task) lighting increases the amount of light to the immediate surroundings, for example a desk lamp. With local lighting there are usually options for the user to adjust and control the amount of light and its direction.

Updating Your Premises

It is quite common that an older commercial building is currently being used for a different kind of business than it was originally developed for originally. Even though some changes have been made here and there you might not be getting the most out of the premises due to an outdated lighting system that is inappropriate for your needs.

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Every property needs a reliable heating system but are you using yours in the most cost effective and energy efficient way? Chances are you could make significant savings by cutting back on the amount of wasted energy that you output, all thanks to smart energy management solutions.

Residential smart heating has seen a surge in popularity in properties, and the benefits are now being realised in commercial settings as well.

Save Money & Energy

Using mobile apps and handheld devices smart heating systems allow you to control the individual heating zones in a much more bespoke and precise way than previously available. Certain technologies adapt to your premises and preferences learning your routine and knowing when and when not to provide energy, cutting back on wasteful use and saving you significant amounts of money.

The heating of your commercial space can be refined and tailored to the changing weather throughout the year with minimum input, the technology learns what is needed and when. You will cut back on costs and wasted energy reducing your expenses and any detrimental effect on the environment.

Employee Satisfaction

As well as the cost savings and energy efficiency, your workforce will also benefit from tailored heating which is perfectly suited to their needs. A workplace with the right room temperature makes your employees more comfortable which in turn increases their efficiency and job satisfaction.

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