Ask the Electrician: How Do I Prepare My Commercial Building for a Disaster?
New England’s notorious weather – from fierce winter storms to summer squalls and fall hurricanes – can leave businesses in the dark. While power outages are often blamed on storms, they can also be caused by unforeseen events like accidents or construction mishaps. While it’s impossible to prevent disasters and power outages entirely, proactive preparation can significantly minimize their impact on your commercial building. Here are essential tips to help you safeguard your business against power outages from a disaster: Understand Your Building’s Power Consumption: A fundamental aspect of power outage preparedness...
Interstate Electrical Services Earns 2024 ABC ‘Excellence in Construction’ Awards
Interstate Electrical Services Corporation announced it has received top honors from the Massachusetts, New Hampshire/Vermont, and Rhode Island chapters of Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) for its outstanding work providing electrical contracting services for Endicott College’s Cummings School of Nursing & Health Sciences (Beverly, MA) and Elliot Hospital’s Emergency Department (Manchester, NH). Interstate Electrical Services earned Eagle Awards for both Endicott College and Elliot Hospital from ABC RI, Excellence in Construction Awards for Endicott College and Elliot Hospital from ABC NH/VT, and an Eagle Award for Endicott College and Merit Award...
Ask the Electrician: How Can I Help Prevent a Fire in My Commercial Building?
As commercial electrical contractors, we understand the importance of fire safety in commercial buildings. A fire can have devastating consequences, both financially and emotionally. That’s why it’s crucial to implement proactive measures to prevent fires and minimize their potential damage. In this article, we’ll discuss key electrical safety practices, the importance of regular inspections, and the responsibilities of building managers in ensuring a fire-safe environment. Electrical Safety: A Primary Concern One of the most common causes of commercial building fires is electrical malfunctions. Overloaded circuits, loose connections, outdated wiring, and misuse of extension...
Ask the Electrician: How Can I Protect My Equipment from Power Surges?
Power surges are hidden dangers that can damage your expensive equipment and shorten its lifespan. While the utility company works diligently and safely to guarantee stable voltage, fluctuations still occur. These variations, even minor ones, can significantly reduce the lifespan of your equipment from rooftop motors and air conditioners to computers and other sensitive equipment. Surges can happen due to sudden changes in power demand or adjustments in voltage during peak usage times. While power companies aim to generate electricity based on demand, sudden shifts can cause temporary imbalances. For example,...
Ask the Electrician: Fire Alarm Testing
Why should I test my building’s fire alarm system? Staying up to date with today’s fire alarm systems can be challenging, but it is crucial. The typical lifespan for a fire alarm control panel is 20 years. While this may seem like a long time, if you fail to maintain and test your fire alarm system, you’ll be left with outdated and antiquated equipment. When manufacturers like Honeywell, Simplex and FCI phase out equipment they no longer support or offer replacement parts for, you’ll be left unprepared and in a potentially...
Interstate Electrical Services Completes Dynamic Lighting Display at 103 CityPoint in Waltham, MA
Waltham, MA – Interstate Electrical Services Corporation announced its participation on a project for a building owned by BXP in Waltham. The firm was selected to help bring the building owner’s vision to life leading to the unveiling of a dynamic lighting display at 103 CityPoint (103 4th Avenue). The project began with the building owner’s desire to create a dramatic and captivating lighting display on the building’s facade. The challenging design required Interstate to collaborate closely with designers, builders, and manufacturers to accomplish the desired effect. “This project, stemming from the...
Ask the Electrician: Is Summer a Prime Time for Commercial Electrical Maintenance?
The answer is “Yes!” While January marks the official new year, many businesses view September as a fresh start. This makes summer an ideal time for commercial property owners to schedule long-term electrical maintenance projects. During the summer months, buildings are often less occupied, minimizing disruption to your tenants. This allows for a smoother execution of planned equipment changes, upgrades, or additions to the electrical systems. Here are essential maintenance tasks we recommend for all commercial property owners: Prioritize Life Safety Systems: Regularly testing your fire alarm and emergency lighting systems is paramount....
Ask the Electrician: Six Elements to Consider When Designing a Lighting Control System
Lighting control systems can significantly enhance the functionality, aesthetics, and safety of a building. While offering a variety of benefits such as energy savings, improved comfort, and increased safety, these systems require careful design considerations to ensure they meet the specific needs of each project. Consider these six key elements when designing a lighting control system for your building: 1) Lighting needs: What are the specific lighting needs of the space? Every space has specific lighting needs based on key factors including the amount of light required, the desired quality of...
Ask the Electrician: What Goes into Building Planning before Construction Starts?
Everyone is familiar with the role of an architect and how they help plan for a building prior to construction. In addition, there’s detailed planning conducted by contractors and the trades that happen on site prior to the first steel beams of a building going up. Here is some insight about what that looks like on a modern construction project from the perspective of an electrical contractor. 3D Modeling and Data Points Today, most of this detailed planning and coordination happens digitally using technologically advanced tools and software like Revit. Interstate uses...
Ask the Electrician: Is Your Facility Ready for Cold Weather?
Winter is here, and it’s important to be prepared for whatever the season may bring, including weather events and other disasters that can cause power outages and infrastructure damage. Here are some tips to help get your building ready for the cold weather season: Consult your electrical contractor. Whether you work with a regional electrical contractor like Interstate or a team of electricians, your contractor can help you plan for outages and other service interruptions. They can help you rent and coordinate generators, collaborate with other key teams, and create and...
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