The document outlines 7 key reasons why preventative maintenance cannot be overlooked for electrical systems. Preventative maintenance programs can help prevent equipment failure and downtime, reduce costs associated with repairs, and increase safety. Such programs provide regular inspection and maintenance of electrical components to address common issues before they lead to failures or outages. Utilizing qualified electrical contractors through a preventative maintenance program is more cost effective than maintaining electrical systems with in-house staff.

1. TOP 7
REASONS PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE
CANNOT BE OVERLOOKED
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2. According to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
(IEEE), electrical components are three times more likely to fail when
Preventative Maintenance Programs are not performed.
While we can all agree with the adage that “nothing lasts forever,” the above
statistic showcases that the investment in preventative maintenance can provide
more certainty and help business owners put themselves in an improved position of
proactivity versus reactivity.
Perhaps the best way of understanding preventative maintenance is to compare it to that of a
scheduled maintenance plan an automotive dealership would give you upon the purchase of a new
vehicle. This scheduled maintenance plan is put in place to certify the car is working as expected
and operates as efficiently as possible.
In many cases vehicle manufacturers will negate warranties and guarantees as to the operation of
their vehicles should the scheduled maintenance programs go unfollowed. To most people this
makes complete sense as it is simple to understand that a car, and all of its moving parts, needs
constant attention. Electrical systems, much like that new car, require precautionary measures to
“keep them on the road” and to prevent the unplanned outages of electricity and interruptions to
related business operations.
Top 7 Reasons Preventative
Maintenance Cannot Be Overlooked
Primary Benefits of an Electrical
Preventative Maintenance Program
To keep things simple it is best to think of the investment in a Preventative Maintenance Program as an
investment in business and employee productivity and/or efficiency. For one, Preventative Maintenance
Programs can be directly correlated to a reduced cost in repairs and a vast reduction or complete elimination
of downtime. Secondly, these programs enhance the safety of employees and prevent property damage.
In fact, findings from the National Fire Protection Association reveal that electrical distribution and lighting
equipment is the second leading cause of office property fires, many of which result in death, injury and
millions in direct property damage1.
That said, your main objectives in implementing a Preventative Maintenance Program should focus on
reducing equipment failure and loss as well as ensuring the safety and wellbeing of employees and civilians
at your facilities.
In addition to these two primary objectives here are seven more reasons an electrical Preventative
Maintenance (PM) Program is worth the investment and should not be overlooked.

3. Preventative Maintenance
Programs
In the event of an electrical failure it is not uncommon that a
business will be forced to cease operations. The cost estimates
that are related to electrical-related outages range from $30
to $200 billion per year2
. Without a PM Program in place these
unanticipated repairs can get expensive and result in further
reduced profits due to the cessation of business operations.
Due to safety precautions, employees and/or consumers may no longer be permitted
to remain on the premises resulting in the continued expenditure of wages without
productivity as well as cessation of income as there are no longer consumers on your
property to purchase any of your products or services.
Prevent Loss of
Production and Efficiency1
As a landlord with tenants, you have certain responsibilities to uphold that may or may
not cross the line between legal requirements and tenant luxuries. Either way, your
tenants come to expect a certain style of property management and the responsibility to
“keep the lights on” along with related electrical components lies entirely with you.
For example, if you are found responsible for a power outage due to extremely outdated
electrical systems that cause a fuse to blow, you could be liable for creating the condition
that caused the damage. Even if you are not legally liable for an electrical issue the neglect
of putting a preventative system in place could mean the difference between tenants who
renew their leases with you and tenants who are dissatisfied with your managerial style
and opt to take their money elsewhere.
Prevent
Inconvenienced Tenants2

4. Proving to an insurance company that you are taking adequate measures to provide a
higher level of reliability and dependability in your place of business is a good idea. PM
Programs show insurance companies that you are proactive about reducing the risk of
equipment and system failure and are dedicated to minimizing any causes of potential
property loss claims.
Prevent Increased
Insurance Costs3
Amongst the list of the most common conditions which result in electrical failure are loose
connections/parts and moisture3
. With a Preventative Maintenance Program in place
these conditions – which collectively account for nearly half of all electrical failures – can
be prevented.
The implementation of a PM Program would ensure ongoing inspection, testing and
servicing of electrical equipment which would ultimately prevent these types of common
problems or catch them before they result in unexpected downtime.
Electrical contractors who are part of your PM Program should be familiar with your
equipment and how to inspect, service and maintain it. This also means that they have a
thorough understanding of electrical safety practices and protocols.
These individuals, or team of individuals, will also take care in maintaining a clear set of
documentation and provide you reporting that will be tracked continually over time to
monitor potential issues that can be addressed before they happen.
Eliminate Unexpected
Downtime
Ensure Qualified Personnel will
be Watching Over Your Assets
4
5

5. Due to the specialized training that is involved with electrical testing and safety it can be
difficult for many companies to keep an in-house maintenance crew that can keep up
with the requirements and regulations that govern specialized equipment.
For example, the National Fire Protection Association’s NFPA 70E sets the standards for
helping companies and employees avoid workplace injuries and fatalities due to electrical
hazards. This documentation includes specific protocols, safety training and material
requirements. This does not include the additional acquisition costs and required testing
and safety equipment that can quickly create a financial obligation upwards of $200,000.
For many businesses, it simply makes more sense – both from an experiential and
financial standpoint – to utilize a qualified electrical service contractor rather than try to
keep things in-house.
Keep You up
to Code6
PM Programs ensure that you’ll have a working list of every piece of equipment that is
included in your electrical system. This type of documentation is critical to the efficiency
of repairs, forecasting replacement costs, the lifespan of parts and labor, and provides you
with a comprehensive report on everything that is being maintained as well as a record of
all previous results of any testing ever performed.
This will not only help you have a line-item list of the types of electrical assets you have
(and their ongoing condition) but also provides your PM team invaluable insight to the
equipment should a component need replacing or repair. This means any emergency
repairs or outages that occur will result in timely repair as both your internal team and
your contractor will have already anticipated a component’s replacement.
Your contractor will show up with the parts needed to correct the problem and valuable
time and effort will be saved. Compare this to a situation where a reporting system was
not in place to help forecast and document status on an ongoing basis.
Provide Detailed Information of
Every Component in Your System7

6. Summary
Many business owners look at Preventative Maintenance Programs as too
expensive to implement. The reality, however, is that PM Programs can help to
prevent the loss of productivity, maintain tenant relationships, prevent increased
insurance costs, avoid the failure of equipment and increase the safety and wellbeing of
employees and consumers.
The fact is PM Programs make it less expensive to fix equipment before it fails, eliminate
the expenses associated with unplanned power outages as they relate to business and
employee productivity, and can provide further cost savings with simple improvements
to equipment that will last longer and remain as efficient as possible.
1
http://www.nfpa.org/research/reports-and-statistics/fires-by-property-type/business-and-mercantile/us-structure-in-office-properties
2
https://www.hsb.com/TheLocomotive/ImplemetingElectricalPrentiveMaintenance.aspx
3
https://www.hsb.com/TheLocomotive/ElectricalPreventiveMaintenance.aspx
4955 AVALON RIDGE PKWY #100, NORCROSS, GA 30071 | (770) 449-0200 | WWW.CCELECT.COM