As a licensed electrician who has serviced residential and commercial properties across the Adelaide metro area for over 20 years, one of the most valuable services we provide is comprehensive electrical safety inspections. While electrical systems are designed to be low-maintenance, they shouldn’t be out-of-sight and out-of-mind. Outdated wiring, deteriorating components, safety hazards and code violations can silently develop over time, putting your property at elevated risk of electrical fires, shocks and other dangerous incidents if left unchecked.
Whether for a home, office, industrial facility or any other type of building, we cannot stress enough the importance of scheduling professional electrical inspections on a regular basis. In our experience, this preventative maintenance identifies and resolves most potential electrical issues before they escalate into costly emergencies. Here are some of the key benefits that make electrical inspections vital for all Adelaide property owners.
Fire hazard prevention
One of the primary reasons to have electrical inspections is to locate and remediate any fire hazards that may have developed, such as:
- Outdated wiring, panels or components not up to current safety codes
- Deteriorated, damaged or improperly installed wiring
- Overloaded circuits drawing too much current
- Faulty outlets, switches, fixtures or connections causing arcing
- Insufficient circuit protection, no arc-fault detection
- Combustible materials dangerously close to electrical sources
An electrician will conduct thermal scans with specialist equipment to detect hot spots, as well as scrutinise every aspect of the system to identify and repair fire risks before they can potentially ignite and cause catastrophic damage.
Uncover shock/electrocution hazards
Another critical reason for inspections is to locate any electrical components or deficiencies that could potentially lead to deadly electric shocks or electrocution, including:
- Missing, damaged or ineffective grounding/bonding connections
- Outdated wiring insulation deterioration exposing live conductors
- Absence of ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) in kitchens/baths
- Lack of overcurrent protection leading to risk of shocks
- Electrical system corrosion and moisture infiltration
- Electrical work performed by unqualified individuals
A professional electrician will ensure your property’s electrical system is properly grounded and has adequate protection to prevent any possible paths to electric shock exposure for occupants.
Code compliance affirmation
As safety codes evolve, older electrical systems can easily fall out of compliance over the years, even if they initially were installed to previous valid codes. Routine inspections verify existing components still meet regulations on things like:
- Maximum allowable circuit loads and proper circuit protection
- Current earthing requirements and resistance testing
- Updated standards for safety switches, RCDs and other protective devices
- Equipment clearances from combustible surfaces
- Environmental protection factors like ingress prevention
- Emergency lighting, exit sign and life safety system codes
Adelaide’s electricians keep up-to-date on all changes to local wiring regulations and Australian Standards to certify your system remains compliant, or will outline any code upgrades required.
Insurance & liability protection
For both homeowners and businesses alike, having an up-to-date electrical inspection report from a licensed professional protects against liability concerns should any type of incident occur. Many insurance companies require periodic electrical safety inspections too. It demonstrates you’ve taken proper diligence in validating electrical system integrity.
Early detection of deterioration
Finally, electrical inspections allow electricians to catch any normal deterioration of components before issues arise, such as corroded connections, overheating splices, outdated electrical panels needing replacement, grounding deficiencies and more. We can monitor the overall condition and projected performance/life expectancy of the system.
Conclusion
While inspections come at a price, they absolutely provide value through comprehensive preventative maintenance that helps avoid exponentially higher costs from electrical fires, equipment damage, injuries, compliance issues or complete system replacement down the line. As electricians, we sincerely recommend every Adelaide property owner make electrical inspections an annual or biannual priority based on their electrical system’s age and complexity. A small investment goes a long way in electrical safety and liability prevention!
