Commercial buildings require significant electrical capacity to power their daily operations. Depending on your building’s needs, it must be designed to safely handle all power requirements, including HVAC, lights, computers, machinery, and more.
An improperly designed power system will quickly become evident, causing significant issues within your facility and potentially leading to fines.
While there is no one-size-fits-all power solution for commercial buildings, there are some best practices you can consider to help keep your building operating safely while meeting all compliance requirements.
Commercial Building Electrical Wiring Best Practices
The commercial electrical solutions that work best for your facility will depend on the business you conduct within the four walls. Manufacturing and IT data centers may require significantly more power than a call center or traditional office building.
Regardless of your industry, below are commercial building electrical wiring best practices to keep in mind.
Proper Load Planning
Before you even get started, you have to understand what your power needs are. This makes up the total power load for the building.
- Identify your electrical loads. This includes your HVAC, lighting, machinery, computers, etc. Anything that draws power should be included in this.
- Categorize your electrical loads. They can either be continuous, which run for at least three hours or more without stopping, or non-continuous, which are used on and off.
- Estimate your totals. HVAC systems and machinery often include information about the power requirements. The National Electric Code generally mandates about 180 VA per outlet. Computers and other office equipment average between 1 to 2.5 watts per square foot.
- Include room to grow. You don’t just want to plan for the power you need now. You also want to account for future growth so you can scale your business.
It’s critical that you get your electrical load planning right, and an electrical engineer can help you assess your needs and make recommendations for the future. Failure to properly load plan can cause significant downtime, damage to your facility, and compliance violations.
Code Compliance
You have to understand what electrical compliance regulations are in place within your area. For example, Southern California must adhere to the California Electrical Code.
However, there may also be local regulations that will apply if your building is in San Diego. You will have to get an electrical permit to complete your work, and the options include a “no-plan” or “plan” permit, depending on the scope of the work.
Additionally, OSHA has its own electrical standards that you will need to follow on the worksite, both during construction and daily operations.
Circuit Labeling
The National Electrical Code requires that your circuits be labeled clearly and that they define the specific purpose or use of the circuit. They also need to be visible, so there are no questions about what the circuits control.
You should never use general labeling. Additionally, if you have any open units on your circuit, you must label them as spare. Everything needs to be clearly defined in order to be NEC compliant.
Conduit Selection
Conduits are designed to perform best in different environments, so it’s critical that you select the right one.
For example, if you will be operating in a high-impact environment, you will want to use a rigid metal conduit (RMC) for the strongest protection. Because it’s so rigid, RMC may not be the best choice when using items that move. Then, you may want to use flexible metal conduit (FMC).
Don’t overstuff your conduits. They should only be filled to no more than 40 percent. Otherwise, it could overheat.
Grounding
All electrical equipment within your commercial building must be grounded, either to the earth directly or to something conductive that is grounded.
Commercial buildings may choose to use a grounding rod, grounding ring, metal water main, concrete-encased electrode, or structural steel. They can be located inside or outside of the building.
Proper grounding is essential. Otherwise, voltage could build up that could lead to electrical shock, injury, and sometimes even death.
Surge Protection
Power surges happen. However, with proper surge protection, they won’t damage your equipment. Commercial buildings need more than simple plug-in surge protectors.
They require systems that have integrated surge protection within their electrical system. Commercial surge protectors are installed at critical junctures within your electrical infrastructure to maximize protection. They can help detect excess voltage that could be harmful and redirect it away before it can cause issues within your building.
Safe Panel Organization
OSHA and NEC have clear standards when it comes to how your electrical panel should be organized. Not only does it need to be clearly labeled, but it should also have a physical clearance of 36 inches in front of it, depending on the voltage.
Additionally, the panel should be at least 30 inches wide, though it can be bigger based on the workspace. You should also have at least 6 feet of vertical clearance. Electrical panels should be located in a safe and secure environment and always accessible. They should never be located in wet or humid conditions.
Importance of Professional Electrical Design and Regular Inspections
Because the NEC and OSHA requirements can be complex, working with a professional electrical engineer can help you avoid costly headaches within your commercial facility.
Reducing Safety Risks
Professional electrical engineers can help your commercial facility be safer, reducing the risk of:
- Damaged equipment
- Electrical fires
- Injury
- Electrocution
They can properly design the layout, ensuring the proper placement to maintain compliance. Additionally, they can help with a capacity plan, helping you bear the power load.
Supporting Future Expansion
The best electrical engineers don’t just help you plan for your power needs now. They work with you to design systems that support your needs well into the future. That way, you can grow into your building, scaling your business without needing to retrofit your power needs.
The investment up front will prevent costly fixes in the long term.
Keeping Commercial Facilities Operating Reliably
Regular maintenance and check-ups with electrical engineers can help keep your commercial facility operating smoothly. They can:
- Identify potential issues before they become significant problems, so you can budget for repairs on your terms.
- Mitigate compliance violations before you need to pay hefty fines.
- Reduce power outages by identifying solutions to support increased power loads.
Electrical engineers can be a good first line of defense, helping keep the power on consistently in your facility without issue.
Contact MTA Electrical Engineering Today
MTA Electrical Engineering is San Diego and Southern California’s go-to resource when it comes to all your commercial and industrial electrical needs.
We offer a full suite of electrical engineering services, including electrical testing, design, analysis, and studies. Our team of experienced professionals can work with you to determine your needs and devise a solution that works for you.
We understand electrical emergencies don’t always happen during regular business hours, so we’re proud to offer 24/7 emergency response services so we can be here when you need us.
Contact us today for a free quote and to get started.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I properly load plan for my commercial facility?
You can estimate your power needs by identifying the electrical loads needed for all powered items in your building, including outlets, HVAC systems, equipment, and more. Electrical engineers can provide a more thorough estimate, as there may be items you may have forgotten in your inventory that could impact your power load.
What electrical regulations do I need to follow in my commercial building?
Commercial facilities in Southern California must adhere to the California Electrical Code and OSHA. You should also check with your city or county to ensure they don’t have additional local regulations or permits.
Are regular maintenance checks by an electrical engineer required?
It is required to have regular electrical and maintenance checks to maintain compliance. They can also help prevent costly electrical fixes and promote a safe work environment.