At Kerfoot, we have a dedicated after hours electrician Sydney service available to all our commercial and domestic customers. We asked some of our team members about the most common distress calls they receive whilst manning the Kerfoot emergency hotline. We created this handy article to help you understand the potential electrical hazards you may face after-hours and why Kerfoot is the best choice for emergency assistance. Take a look at 5 common emergency situations below to find out why you should invest in preventative services today.

 

1.  Power failure

Blackouts can be caused by national energy grids or on-site electrical failures. You can minimise any loss in productivity by utilising our 24-hour electrician Sydney services. Power outages can be caused by equipment/circuit failure within your business, or by external factors like wildlife intervention and weather. Include a Kerfoot electrician in your power failure response strategy. Our after-hours service means that you won’t be left in the dark when determining the cause of your blackout.

 

2.  Storm damage

Freak weather incidents can cause major electrical emergencies in your building. You can prepare your building for an incoming storm or flood by completing the following checklist:

→ Have an RCD installed and maintained.

→ Remove or disconnect any electrical equipment that is not in use.

→ Make sure your staff know how to turn off the gas/electricity/water supply.

→ Move any equipment out of flood-prone areas.

→ Avoid using telephones that are connected to the building’s power during a storm. There is a risk of an electrical shock whilst using a fixed device.

Call our after hours electrician Sydney for a fast response to your environmental emergency. Any damage that has occurred during a weather incident needs to be managed by a licensed electrician. Damage may include water or fire damage to switchboards, loss of power, wet equipment, or severed electrical cables.

 

3.  Electrical breakdown

We understand that some businesses require a constant flow of productivity to meet their targets. An electrical breakdown is characterised by a large, unexpected rise in electrical current in a device or system that is not equipped to handle this level of activity. Common electrical breakdowns include lighting systems and small devices. If an electrical breakdown occurs in your machinery, it could cause a large decrease in productivity. We are contacted frequently to get businesses back up and running outside of normal working hours.

 

4.  Exposed wiring

If you discover any exposed wiring on your property, it needs to be addressed immediately. Dangerous wires can be the result of botched electrical works or unexpected damage to your building. If a member of your staff contacts a live wire, it could result in death. You can remain compliant and protect the occupants of your building by contacting one of our emergency electricians. Ask a Kerfoot electrician to fix the problem before it is too late.

 

5.  Workplace & Large Residential Building Emergencies

Emergency call-outs in workplaces and large residential properties are common. Call an after hours electrician Sydney building owners can trust. We service small office buildings, large commercial workspaces, apartment buildings, hotels, and more.  Our most frequent emergency building requests often include the following electrical faults:

Blackout: a blackout can be caused by a number of factors. A workplace power failure might be due to faulty appliances, switches, or circuit breakers. Before you call for assistance, check that your safety switch has not been tripped. If it has moved, you can flip it back into place to restore power in your home.

Electrical sparks: if one of your tenants or employees sees an electrical spark in any appliances or power outlets, it is important to stop using that item immediately and call a professional. Electrical sparking can be caused by water exposure, short circuits, old/aged appliances, or items that have been repaired incorrectly.

Exposed wiring: when wiring is exposed, the electrical current is no longer contained in the circuit. This is very dangerous and can cause a fatality if a person comes into contact with the wiring. Older wiring can lose its casing over time – if you find a damaged wire in your building, we advise that you contact us immediately.

 

Invest in Preventative Services

Prepare your building or workplace for an emergency with the most experienced electricians Sydney has to offer. At Kerfoot, we have a comprehensive range of services available for clients across Sydney. Minimise your need for our emergency services with the following range of electrical service and maintenance options:

Routine checks: We have a programmed preventative maintenance system (PPM) with monthly and six-monthly interval options. Our electricians can perform safety checks on all of your devices and systems to ensure no unexpected faults occur.

RCDs: A Kerfoot electrician can inspect and test your safety switches to ensure protection and functionality. We also offer replacement and repair services. A functional RCD will help prevent electrical emergencies in your building through detection and suspension of any current abnormalities.

Testing and inspection of equipment: We are an after hours electrician Sydney businesses can avoid with regular testing and tagging. Kerfoot team members inspect and test appliances and equipment according to the current safety standards to ensure your building is compliant and protected.

For more information about our after hours electrician Sydney services, browse through the rest of our site or get in touch via the contact page.

An energy efficient business cares not only about sustainability but also about saving money. Your company can save energy by installing a variable speed drive (VSD). If you are passionate about reducing costs in your business, take a look at our information about speed drives and what you can do to save energy at work.

What is a Variable Speed Drive?

A VSD is a device that can be used to control the speed and rotational force of an electric motor. The drive helps the user adjust speed with an external controller that is used to command machinery and systems with powerful electric motors.  The drive saves energy by controlling fan speed and temperature according to the temperature of the equipment.

With your new drive, your business can reduce power-line disturbances and monitor electrical currents and circuits. You can choose a device to suit your business, with different models configurable by load, voltage supply, and kilowatts. The noise level of your system/machinery will be reduced and the need for replacement and maintenance will be reduced.

The drive monitors the following parts of each system/machine:

• Conveyors, mixers, and pumps
• machine tools
• fans and blowers

Air conditioning systems are a common area that can be optimised with a VSD. They account for a large amount of the energy consumed in commercial buildings. Reduce the energy consumption in your building most effectively by installing a VSD to regulate the fans, pumps, and chillers in your air conditioning system. In an industrial environment, you may ask an electrician to install a drive in your assembly line machinery or in any equipment that is powered by a motor.

Energy Saving Tips for Businesses

After Kerfoot has completed your VSD installation, you can optimise the rest of your business for energy efficiency. We have included some of our best business energy saving tips so that you can make the most of your VSD in tandem with the following ideas.

Update your equipment/appliances/electrical systems

Older electrical systems and appliances can be slow and consume a lot of energy. Older appliances could have been manufactured in a time where saving energy wasn’t a priority. Make sure your computers, microwaves, dishwashers, fridges, printers etc. have a 5-star energy rating to increase your energy efficiency. If your business is in the industrial sector, you should contact us for more information about which energy efficient systems may be available for your operations.

Your speed drive will work even more effectively once you have replaced any old heating, ventilation or air conditioning systems with more efficient models. Ask one of our team members to handle the installation of your new systems to ensure a seamless integration process. You can integrate a variable speed drive into your new electrical systems to increase response times and save power.

Choose an efficient lighting system

There is a range of different energy saving lighting options available for all businesses. Smaller companies may choose to install energy efficient bulbs, whilst larger buildings may require a new lighting control system.  Having more control over your lighting system will allow you to choose lighting settings that minimise energy consumption and still provide enough light for normal business operations.

Refrigeration

If your business deals largely with products that need refrigeration, you need to dedicate some time to caring for your equipment. By installing a VSD you can control the temperature of your system with ease and minimise power consumption. Check that your system is set to a temperature that isn’t any lower than it needs to be. Your drive will do the hard work and control the screw compressors, condensers, and the chilled water and glycol pumps that keep your refrigeration running efficiently.

At Kerfoot we are members of Green Building Council Australia and our electrical team are EcoSmart accredited. We are signatories to the FlouroCycle scheme where we aim to increase the recycling of lights and lamps to prevent mercury in landfill. We seek out projects where we can make an environmental difference and decrease running costs for our clients. If this article inspired you to invest in a variable speed drive, or another sustainable project, get in touch with us today.

We are very proud to announce that Kerfoot Pty Ltd `was recognised & received two awards at the annual NECA National Excellence Awards for 2016, held in Canberra at The Hyatt Hotel last Thursday.

We are the National Winner for the “Commercial Small Projects” category for our  ANMM Project

This project entailed the complete design, supply and installation of all electrical services to the new pavilion including integrations with the existing warship and submarine services for The  Australian National Maritime Museum

We also received a National Commendation  for the “Industrial Small Projects” category for The Plasser Australia Project. There were so many aspects of this project and the team worked diligently to meet all the client’s needs with a successful project handed over on time and on budget.

The Kerfoot team are extremely honoured to have won in the face of such strong competition and to be the only NSW award recipient

We would like to take this opportunity to thank both Clients Stephen Edwards Construction for ANMM and  Adco for Plasser  Australia, as well as our dedicated team involved. We also congratulate the other National Award winners from the night

Thank you to the Judges, NECA and major sponsors for the opportunity to be involved, showcase our projects and sit amongst our peers .  This all assists to make our industry great and motivate us to achieve.

With many new projects currently being undertaken by Kerfoot we look for forward to again being presented across multiple categories in 2017

To view current & completed projects please visit our website www.kerfoot.com.au

 

 

Last Friday the NECA NSW Excellence Awards for 2016 were held at Star City Event Centre. Kerfoot were extremely honoured to have been nominated for 3 awards and win 2

• 1^st Place Small Commercial -For the Australian National Maritime Museum (Client Stephen Edwards Construction)
• 1^st place Small industrial – for Plasser Australia (Client Adco Construction)
• Finalist Medium commercial for Pymble ladies College pool & Gym

The Kerfoot team would like to take this opportunity to thank our Clients and all involved. Each project was not without their challenges however everyone pulled together to ensure all projects were delivered on time and on budget. Thank you also to the Judges, NECA NSW and all the major sponsors of the awards on Friday. This all serves to make our industry great & motivate others to achieve.  We look forward to attending and representing NSW at the national awards to be held in Canberra in November.

Contact us on 1300 850 869 or at info@kerfoot.com.au to see how we can help deliver your next project.

 

Your electrical switchboard is one of the most critical items installed within your building. Whether it be big or small it is important that your switchboard is safe and running at optimal performance as hidden risks or potential faults can have a major impact on your business.

With the above in mind we have developed a comprehensive testing process and assessment to provide you with the details you need to know without over complicating things. Our assessment includes

• Compliance check to current regulations with full written report including any recommendations

• We supply & install a power analyser meter for 7 days to measure the electricity consumption of your switchboard to confirm the correct sizing of all installed cabling and protective devices

• Full time and operation test with a detailed test report and asset listing of any installed Residual Current Devices (RCD) to ensure correct operation in the event of an electrical fault

• Thermographic scanning of the switchboard and control devices to help identify any potential fire risks or minor deviations to enable for planned repairs

Please contact one of our friendly staff today to book in your switchboard health check 1300 850 869 or click here for a free quote