Depending on the type of business operations, a commercial building’s electrical system is often the most crucial element within it. Manufacturers require reliable electronics to operate their machinery, office buildings need them to run computers and related electronics, and nearly any commercial operation requires lighting and HVAC services.
Due to technological advances and enhanced safety standards, U.S. household electrical systems are safer than ever. For example, the advent of GFCIs (ground fault circuit interrupters) and electrical codes requiring them have more than halved the annual number of household electrocution fatalities since 1970.
According to the most recent statistics compiled by the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA), “electrical distribution or lighting equipment was the leading cause of home fire property damage” between 2016 and 2020. During these years, the association estimated that electrical/lighting-related fires caused an average of “30,740 residential fires, 390 deaths, 1,090 injuries, and $1.4 billion in direct property damage annually.”
Tallahassee’s weather is heating up, and we’re entering the cusp of our storm season. As such, it’s a good time to reflect on how badly our area was walloped by storms in 2024. On May 10th, a line of severe thunderstorms packed with tornado-force winds caused enough damage to warrant the governor’s issuance of a state of emergency declaration. Over the ensuing days, additional storms caused more damage, delaying the restoration of widespread power outages. An assistant Tallahassee city manager noted that a “record-breaking number of homes will need an electrician and repairs” among the city’s extensive damage.
Successfully running any business entails regularly maintaining numerous operational elements to ensure seamless workflow, product delivery, and safety of employees and customers/clients. Whether a manufacturer or service-oriented business, companies typically must maintain a variety of machinery and/or equipment along with the work premises.
Your electrical panel is the heart of your home’s electrical system and should seamlessly power all its electronics. If not, you may need to consider upgrading your electrical panel. Even if you’re not experiencing noticeable problems with your home’s electronics, your electrical panel may still need an upgrade. Much like a human heart, the effective ongoing daily operation of the electrical panel can be compromised by aging, environmental factors, birth (manufacturing) defects, excess demand, and other issues. And, like the heart, some inherent or emerging problems with the panel may not become apparent until they affect energy or cause damage.