Day & Knight were recently enlisted by the White Eagle Club in Stafford to complete their five-year electrical condition testing. As Which? Trusted Traders, Day & Knight deliver commercial electrical services throughout Stafford to keep both customers and the wider community safe.
The venue itself is iconic within Stafford and has a Main Hall, small function room and an additional meeting room available to hire for your event. The venue also hosts a number of other amenities including a fully licenced bar, stage, toilets, snooker room, air conditioning and entertainment facilities to accompany the rooms for hire. The White Eagle Club is a staple for Stafford’s Polish community and is available for all to hire for weddings, anniversaries, fundraisers, presentations, parties, concerts, workshops and classes.
During Day & Knight’s visit to the White Eagle Club, the main goal of the project was to inspect the electrical system and identify any areas in need of modernisation. As a result of the inspection, this was followed by a few electrical upgrades to bring elements of the electrical installation in line with current standards.
Why Commercial Properties Need Electrical Testing
Regular electrical inspection and testing are a key part of maintaining commercial premises, like the White Eagle Club. An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR), completed by a qualified electrician, assesses the condition of an existing electrical installation. This helps to identify any damage, defects, deterioration or any other issues that need addressing.
Not having an EICR completed by a registered commercial electrician regularly increases the risk to both people and the public. This is due to the electrical system not having been recently tested, so an electrician cannot confirm that the system is:
- In line with current BS 7671 standards
- Safe from potential shocks, sparks and faulty or exposed wiring
- Not being overloaded by any other electrical upgrades or appliances installed since the last EICR
- Free from disrepair and well maintained to continue to supply electricity safely
- Issues with protective devices to prevent electrical fires or overloaded circuits
- Correctly equipped for earthing and bonding
Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) Testing Guidance
Strictly speaking, there’s no blanket legal guidance that dictates every commercial venue must have a commercial Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) completed exactly every 5 years. With that said, the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) recommends testing regularly, as they have co-published the BS 7671 standards. This is often why these electrical standards are referred to as the IET Wiring Regulations.
Taking a quick look at the IET’s guidance, they do recommend testing at the following intervals as the frequency differs depending on the use and purpose of the premises:
- Public houses – 5 years
- Restaurants and hotels – 5 years
- Places of public entertainment – 3 years
- Leisure complexes – 3 years
- Cinemas – 1–3 years
As the above are recommendations only and not a universal legal requirement, ultimately it is down to a NICEIC-approved electrician to advise when the next commercial EICR should take place. Because they’ll need to consider the type of electrical install, use, maintenance and other environmental factors, we would strongly suggest you use certified, commercial electricians to complete your commercial EICR.
Five-Year Electrical Condition Testing
As part of the Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR), the team at Day & Knight completed the following steps:
- Reviewed the electrical installation by looking at different factors like type, age, use and condition of the system.
- Carried out a visual inspection to check accessible wiring, fuse boards, sockets and switches for any signs of damage, defects or deterioration.
- Tested the electrical circuits to make sure the electrical systems are correctly insulated, earthed and that the protective devices work, such as circuit breakers and surge protection.
- Recorded issues found and given the correct EICR classification codes: C1, C2, C3 and FI (Further Investigation).
- Created the EICR that included all the findings and the condition of the electrical installation.
- Made recommendations for necessary work to be completed and advised on appropriate remedial work or upgrades.
This helped the team to establish where the installation could be updated and modernised so it would be in line with current electrical standards.
Modernising the White Eagle Club’s Electrical Installation
Below are the modernisations and electrical upgrades completed by Day & Knight as part of this project:
Upgrading the commercial consumer units
The team upgraded four three-phase consumer units plus an additional single-phase fuse board as part of the work to modernise the electrical installation in line with current standards. With these consumer unit upgrades, all units now have A-rated Residual Current Circuit Breakers with Overcurrent Protection (RCBO) and additional surge protection.
Having the above protective measures in place helps to protect against electric shocks and earth leakage faults, whilst also protecting the circuit against current overloads and any short circuits. Combined they help the White Eagle Club improve their electrical safety with modern upgrades to ensure the electrical system supplies sufficient and safe power to the premises.
Upgrading to LED lighting
After the team completed the five-year commercial electrical testing, they recommended upgrading the existing lighting to LED. The existing lighting was outdated, so modernising the lighting in certain areas has improved visibility throughout the building and energy efficiency, as LED lighting draws less power to supply than its older counterparts.
This also helps with the longevity of the lighting system as LEDs don’t need to be replaced or maintained as often as older or more traditional lighting (like fluorescent lighting for example) used in commercial properties. Less maintenance helps to drive down costs as more modern lighting options are built to last longer to reduce waste and the impact on the environment.
Need a Commercial Electrician in Stafford?
Day & Knight are here to help with all your commercial electrical requirements, as our experienced electricians work with businesses and public premises across Stafford and the surrounding areas.
Whether you need an electrical condition report, a consumer unit upgrade, help with modernising to LED lighting or ongoing electrical maintenance for your workplace or business, contact Day & Knight today. You can get a free, no-obligation quotation by using the Quick Quotes form below:
Get your fast & Free quote hereAlternatively, you can contact Day & Knight on:
Phone: 01785 661199
Mobile: 07792 913566
Email: dayandknightdavid@gmail.com