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...
Ask the Electrician: Arc Flash – What It Is, Why It Happens and How to Prevent It
You have probably seen warning labels about arc flashes on electrical equipment, but do you know what an arc flash actually is? An arc flash is when electric current leaves its intended path rather than flowing along the intended conductive path. “Arc” is used to describe electricity moving through the air between two points. Have you ever gotten a shock when you touched a light switch or a doorknob – that is an arc. Lightning is an arc too, just on a significantly larger and more dangerous scale. When dealing with high-energy...
Interstate Electrical Services Earns 2022 ABC ‘Excellence in Construction’ Awards
Interstate Electrical Services Corporation announced it has received Excellence in Construction Merit Awards 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 Maine Medical Center in Scarborough, ME. Maine Medical Center (MMC) is a Level 1 Trauma Center and the state’s largest medical center. To meet the needs of its growing patient population, MMC sought to expand its healthcare resources as well as its physical footprint.The new $59M, 108,000-square-foot, three-story medical office building houses the neurology,...
Interstate Designs Electrical System for First Ever Archimedes
Hanover Pond Dam in Meriden, Connecticut is generating power again for the first time in decades, using an ancient technology never before used in the U.S. Meriden is home to the first Archimedes hydro-generation screw in the country. Interstate designed and built the electrical elements of the project. From concept, to a drafting design, to a final design approved with the City of Meriden – Interstate provided electrical design and installation on the project. The end result is a 220 kilowatt generation system that sends its electricity right back to the...
Ask the Electrician: Preventative Maintenance
There are several critical tasks that we recommend all commercial property owners complete on a regular basis, regardless of the building being at full capacity. The top two priorities are the fire alarm systems and emergency lighting systems, as these are invaluable in the case of an emergency. Frequency of fire alarm inspection may be mandated on a town by town basis, but if not, we suggest quarterly. Also on a quarterly basis, we recommend testing the generator and Automatic Transfer Switch (also called an ATS) to ensure it is...
Interstate Uses Prefabrication Production on Maine Medical Project
Interstate Electrical Services announced that its prefabricated production technologies are being used in the construction of Maine Medical Center’s brand-new building on its campus in Scarborough, Maine. Upwards of 50% of the electrical content for the project is being pre-built at Interstate’s 100,000sf operations center in Tewksbury and delivered to the job site on an as needed basis. Using just-in-time-delivery, Interstate streamlines the building process developing prefab packages that include power panels, in-wall outlets and switches. All components undergo quality checks and are UL-certified before being packaged in reusable crates for...
Ask the Electrician: Infrared Testing Assures Power Reliability
Ensuring that your commercial building runs safely and without power outages can be hard work, but upholding preventative maintenance is imperative. Start with an infrared scan of your electrical system to ensure that you aren’t blind to an accident that’s waiting to happen. Understanding infrared scanning—and how to get the most of it—will help you meet the requirements established by the National Fire Protection Association for a predictive maintenance program that’s performed on a routine basis. A Hidden Problem Infrared scanning will give you an inside look at your building’s electrical system—the...
Ask the Electrician: How the Electrical Industry has Transformed Over the Past Few Decades
The construction industry has seen countless changes over the years, especially in the last decade or two. The electrical industry is no different. We’ve seen technology transform the way we work, at almost every level of the company. The tools we use today have streamlined everything from the bidding process to the planning process, to coordinating with other subcontractors, to wrapping up the project when the building is complete. Advanced software and hardware have enabled companies like Interstate to move to a lean construction model that incorporates prefabrication and extensive...
