Just like a car, your commercial electrical system requires regular maintenance to perform reliably and, most importantly, safely. At Uncommon Electricians, we know that a proactive approach to electrical maintenance isn’t just a good idea—it’s an essential part of responsible business ownership. It protects your staff, your assets, your bottom line, and ensures you stay compliant with all Queensland and Australian legal requirements.
Why Electrical Maintenance is a Business Essential
Neglecting electrical maintenance can lead to a range of serious issues that can halt your operations and expose you to significant risk.
Minimising Costly Downtime: An electrical fault can take down your entire system, leading to a complete business shutdown. Routine maintenance can identify and fix minor issues like loose connections or outdated components before they cause a major failure, keeping your business running smoothly.
Ensuring Workplace Safety: Under the Electrical Safety Act 2002, businesses have a legal duty to provide a safe workplace. Regular maintenance, including the testing of safety switches and electrical equipment, is the single most effective way to protect your employees and customers from electric shock and fire hazards.
Protecting Your Assets: From computers and production machinery to your air conditioning system, a stable and well-maintained electrical system helps to extend the lifespan of your expensive assets and protects them from damage caused by faults or power surges.
Compliance and Peace of Mind: With specific legal requirements for testing and maintenance, a regular maintenance plan ensures you have the necessary documentation to prove compliance. This provides invaluable peace of mind and protects you from potential fines and legal liability.
Key Components of a Commercial Electrical Maintenance Plan
A comprehensive maintenance plan covers all the critical parts of your electrical system. Here’s a checklist of the essential services you should be scheduling with a licenced electrician:
1. Safety Switch (RCD) Testing
Your safety switches are designed to save lives by cutting the power in a fraction of a second. According to Queensland regulations, businesses must ensure these devices are tested regularly to confirm they are working correctly.
Frequency: The testing frequency varies by environment. A simple push-button test should be done every 3 to 6 months, while a more thorough ‘timed’ test by a licenced electrician is required at least every 12 to 24 months, depending on your specific workplace environment (e.g., manufacturing vs. office).
What we do: Our electricians can perform a detailed time-trip test to measure the exact response time of the switch, ensuring it meets the Australian standard. We will then provide you with a full report for your records.
2. Test and Tag of Electrical Equipment
This is a critical part of your legal obligation to provide a safe workplace. Testing and Tagging involves a visual inspection and an electrical test of your portable equipment to ensure it is safe to use.
Frequency: The testing frequency is determined by the work environment, as outlined in the Australian Standard AS/NZS 3760.
Construction and Demolition: Every 3 months.
Factories and Warehouses: Every 6 months.
Offices and schools: Every 12 months (for equipment with a cord that is prone to flexing).
Other low-risk areas: Can be up to 5 years.
What we do: We will test all your portable equipment, from power boards and extension leads to laptops and power tools. Each item that passes will be tagged with a date and a record of the test, providing an instant visual confirmation of compliance.
3. Emergency and Exit Lighting Checks
In the event of a power outage or a fire, emergency and exit lighting systems are vital for safely evacuating your building. Australian Standard AS 2293 requires these systems to be regularly tested.
Frequency: A thorough inspection and a 90-minute discharge test must be performed by a licenced professional every 6 months to ensure the battery backup is functioning for the required duration.
What we do: We check every emergency and exit light fitting to ensure it is correctly installed and operating as it should, replacing any faulty components and providing you with a full compliance report.
4. Switchboard Inspections
Your switchboard is the control centre for your entire electrical system. Having a licenced electrician perform a detailed inspection can prevent many problems before they start. We look for:
Loose connections and wiring that could lead to arcing and fire.
Signs of overheating or scorching.
Correct circuit labelling and functionality.
The overall health of your system to ensure it can handle your business’s electrical load.
5. Thermal Imaging
As part of our comprehensive service, we can use a thermal imaging camera to conduct a non-invasive scan of your switchboard and other critical electrical components. This advanced technology detects invisible hot spots that are a sign of a potential fault, allowing us to fix the issue before it causes a failure.
The Uncommon Electricians Advantage for Your Business
At Uncommon Electricians, we understand the unique demands of running a business. We work with you to create a customised electrical maintenance plan that suits your specific needs and schedule, ensuring minimal disruption to your operations.
Our team of licenced and experienced commercial electricians will provide you with a comprehensive service that is backed by detailed reports for your records. We’re your local Ipswich experts, and we’re committed to keeping your business safe, compliant, and running at its best.
Don’t wait for an electrical problem to strike. Take a proactive approach to your business’s safety and reliability. Contact Uncommon Electricians today to schedule an electrical maintenance plan or to book a one-off service. Visit our website at or call us on 07 3074 9486 to get started.
