Electrical Upgrades Every Business Should Consider

In a store, an office or a warehouse, the electrical system tends to get attention only when something stops. The upgrades below are the ones we would look at first in a commercial building. Each is quoted in writing after a site visit, and the work is scheduled around your business hours, by area or after close, so you can keep operating. Our commercial electrical services page lists everything we do for businesses.

LED Lighting Retrofits

Lighting runs every hour you are open, which makes older troffers, high bay fixtures and strip lights a natural first target. They can be replaced with LED fixtures or converted to LED, at the light levels the space needs. Sensors that switch lights off in empty rooms, and controls that dim them near windows, trim the run time further. We count the fixtures, look over the existing wiring and controls, and then quote the LED lighting retrofit in writing. Exterior, parking lot and sign lighting can be part of the same job.

Dedicated Circuits for Equipment

Ovens, walk-in coolers, compressors and production machines each need their own circuit, with a breaker and a lockable disconnect sized for the load. New equipment plugged into whatever circuit is nearby leads to nuisance trips and lost time. To quote an equipment hook-up, we need the electrical requirements from the nameplate or the manual, plus a visit to see where the equipment will sit and what supply is there. We wire and connect the equipment up to its terminals, and programming its controls stays with your vendor or integrator.

Exit Signs and Emergency Lighting

Exit signs and battery emergency units have to work on the one day the power fails, and testing them is the only way to know they will. We test them, replace failed units and keep them compliant as part of a maintenance program, or alongside a lighting retrofit. Findings are documented, which gives you a record to hand your insurer or landlord.

Service and Panel Capacity

New equipment, more air conditioning, electric vehicle (EV) chargers or another tenant can push a building past what its electrical service can supply. Breakers that trip whenever the place is busy are one sign. At the site visit, a load calculation settles whether the existing service can carry what you are adding. If it cannot, we size a service upgrade or three-phase power and apply to the utility. We also take out the permit, which the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) issues for the job. Then we book the changeover with the utility so any shutdown is planned and agreed with you ahead of time.

EV Charging for Staff and Customers

Chargers in your lot can serve employees, fleet vehicles and customers. Load management lets several chargers share the service you already have, so adding them does not always mean a service upgrade. Conduit and feeders can be run for more chargers than you install at first, which keeps the next phase simple. EV charging for businesses is quoted from a site assessment, and the quote points out any incentive that applies to the job.

Upgrades for Smaller Businesses

A small business can benefit without a large project. In a shop or restaurant, the usual list is display and sign lighting, hook-ups for kitchen and refrigeration equipment, and LED lighting, all scheduled around trading hours. In an office or clinic, it is more often dedicated circuits for computers and medical equipment, better lighting with controls, and planned maintenance. Small jobs are still permitted and inspected, and we handle that paperwork on every commercial job.

Why the Work Needs a Licensed Contractor

In Ontario, electrical work for hire has to be done by a contractor licensed by ESA, and almost all of it is reported to ESA and inspected. Our licence number is 7018179 and we carry liability insurance. For the questions to ask any contractor before you sign, see our guide to choosing an electrical contractor for your business.

• How to Choose the Right Electrical Contractor for Your Business

➡ Commercial LED Lighting Retrofits