Articles
Emergency Exit & Lighting Systems
It is your legal responsibility to ensure the safety of your employees and clients by complying with the Australia Standards for all commercial and industrial and or office buildings to have installed emergency and exit lighting systems.
In a serious incident, exit & emergency lighting systems can play a big part in preventing life threatening injuries and/or death in some circumstances. Just like in your personal home, you are required to install smoke detectors to ensure the safety of your family incase of a fire. The same risk is at your workplace, installing and maintaining emergency systems are essential to the safety and creditability of your workplace.
Emergency exit and lighting systems need to be positioned correctly to ensure adequate lighting is always available in an emergency, they must also be installed on a lighting circuit and derive its supply from a permanent active.
It is essential that emergency exit & lighting systems are routinely inspected and endure regular scheduled maintenance checks by qualified electrical personnel. Maintenance plans need to be managed and scheduled every 6 months, which includes inspections, testing and repairs; such as replacing fluorescent tubes or batteries, entire fittings and repairs or replacement on the control equipment.
Whether you’re constructing a new building, or redeveloping an old one, it's very important to ensure that exit & emergency lighting systems are carefully considered. Contact the Prolux Electrical team if you require a maintenance plan, a quotation or an upgrade on any emergency & exit lighting system.
Powerboards, power points & extension cords
When using power boards, power points or extensions cords it’s important to make sure you take the necessary safety precautions to minimise the risk of electric shock, severe injuries or even death. Faulty appliances with damaged or frayed cords should be thrown away or replaced. Overloading power board’s and power points will create the risk of fires, damage to property, damage to appliances/electronics and risk of severe injuries to persons. If you find yourself using too many power boards because you don’t have a power point in reach of an appliance or electronic, contact Prolux Electrical and we can discuss options of installing new power points to designated areas required in your home.
Putting safety plugs onto unused power point sockets to prevent accidental contact is one of the many safety tips we can provide your family with. To read more important safety tips to ensure your family’s safety when using extension cords, power boards or power points.
Our comprehensive safety tips for your family home:
- If there is a build up of dirt, moisture, grease or oil on or around power points and switches, arrange for a registered electrical contractor to have them tested before use.
- Do not spray household cleaners, detergents and insecticides on switches and power points
- Do not wipe power points or switches with a wet cloth
- Do not allow children to play with power points or switches
- Do not plug high wattage appliances (such as heaters) into power boards as they could overheat the circuit wiring through overload and cause a fire and/or injuries to persons.
- Do not place extension leads near heaters and cookers
- Place extension cords carefully around furniture preferably securely taped to the floor, or along wall edges
- Make sure all extension cords purchased and in use have a 3 pin plug.
- Only use extension leads as a temporary measure, if you find yourself constantly having to use an extension cord, talk to your electrical contractor about installing a PowerPoint in the required area.
- Extension leads that are damaged, frayed or have the inner wires exposed should be thrown away or repaired by a qualified repairman or licensed electrician
- Check electrical cords are not hanging from benches where children can grab them
- Do not connect a piggyback plug to the end of an extension lead to make it longer as the pins will be live. This can be extremely dangerous
- If using extension leads outdoors check them regularly for signs of damage or age
- Do not attempt to repair electrical leads yourself, and never join them by twisting or taping
- Never place extension leads under carpet or rugs as they may overheat
- Avoid using power boards in wet areas such as bathrooms or laundries.
- Avoid using extension cords in wet weather or where they could contact water. If your extension cord gets wet, switch it off, unplug it from power, dry it well and check for any damage before using it again.
Smoke Detectors
Smoke alarms are a compulsory method to reducing the risk of injuries or death in a house fire. They are designed to save lives and protect property from the powerful destruction of fire. Smoke detectors should be installed to detect smoke before it reaches sleeping occupants, therefore its best installed near bedrooms, main living areas and of course in the kitchen. To ensure smoke alarms are effective it is important that they and regularly inspected and tested, along with maintenance to any smoke detector that requires repairs or replacement. The operation of most smoke alarms can be checked by pressing a button on the outside of the alarm. The test should be conducted in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Smoke detectors must be installed directly to the power mains as well as having a backup battery, which activates when power has been disconnected from a property. The battery needs to be replaced on an annual basis; most common smoke detectors will make a warning sound when battery is low, urging you to replace it.
Interconnecting smoke alarms is an inexpensive and important safety tip to ensure all smoke alarms will activate at the same time when the risk arises.
A hardwired smoke detector needs to be wired to an electricity supply, this will require an electrician; call Prolux Electrical to discuss your smoke detector needs.
Here are a few little reminders:
All smoke alarms:
- Must contain a battery
- Need to be tested regularly
- Need to be replaced after 10 years
How do I test and clean my smoke alarm?
- Monthly: Test by pressing the test button with a broom handle
- Yearly: Vacuum around your smoke alarm vents
- Yearly: Replace your 9 volt battery each year at the end of daylight saving
To jog your memory *change your clocks, change your smoke alarm battery*
Safety Switches
Safety switches provide protection against injuries caused by electricity. Many of the fatalities caused by electricity could be easily prevented by installing a safety switch. A safety switch is designed to save lives by monitoring power flow and making sure it is even. When a person comes into direct contact with electricity, electricity is directed through their body to earth. This causes a loss in the amount of electricity in the electrical circuit (the path for the flow of electricity). A safety switch detects very small losses of electricity and immediately switches the power off within in a circuit in as little as 0.3 seconds.
Safety switches should be tested every three months to ensure they are in good working order.
You can test a safety switch by pressing the ‘Test’ or ‘T’ button. The safety switch should immediately trip to the ‘Off’ position. You will then need to return the switch to the ‘On’ position.
If your safety switch does not trip to the ‘off’ position after you have pressed the ‘Test’ button, cut the power immediately and call a qualified electrical contractor.
Safety Tips
The safety of your family is our primary concern.
To prevent future hazard's and dangerous outcomes around your home, here are a few safety tips we recommend.
1. Grease and dirt can affect the functionally of appliances and can also make them unsafe. Cleaning your appliances regulary, by disconnecting the power and wiping down with a damp cloth, can improve the function of your appliance and prevent future hazards.
2. Safety switches are invaluable for protecting your family from serious injury, electric shock or even electrocution, along with protecting your appliances. Having an electrical safety switch installed is quite easy and relatively inexpensive, make sure you maintain your switchboard and if repairs or upgrades are required always use a licensed electrical contractor.
3. When changing a light bulb, ensure the electrical supply to the lighting circuit is turned off at the switchboard, and be sure to never replace light bulbs that exceeds the socket rating.
4. Make sure you clean exhaust fans and lint filters in clothes dryers regularly to prevent risk of fire and damage to appliance.
5. It's very important to always have a functional smoke detector. Maintain your smoke detectors by ensuring that you have changed the battery at least once a year, cleaned/dusted the detector and tested the detector at lease once a month to ensure your family's safety.
Remember to get your switchboard and electrical systems checked by an licensed electrical contractor, every 2-3 years or any time you engage an electrician to do work on your property.
Low Risk Alternatives - Downlights
Halogen down lights are popular lights used through-out many homes, however they do have their limitations. Halogen lights produce excessive heat, in the room they are lighting and in ceiling spaces, which often creates the risk of fire. A compact fluro down light or LED downlight are recommended replacements for a halogen down light. The compact fluro down light/LED down light have their advantages, they will generate less heat then a halogen light reducing the risk of damage or fire to property.
Standard Halogen downlights draw 50 watts of power per fitting, the latest in LED technology omit the same light output, however only draw 9 watts of power per fitting. So what does this mean? 5 LED downlights that draw a combined usage of 45 watts use less electricity than 1 standard halogen downlight of 50 watts!! So you get the same light output for 1/5 the running cost as well as reducing the risk of fire caused by excessive heat.
Prolux Electrical highly recommend the installation of LED technology. With LED technology getting better and better, the cost of fittings are now very competitive. Feel free to call our office for a price comparison or a quote on your next lighting project.
Case Study: Victoria University - Learning Commons Area
Prolux Electrical was the nominated electrical contractor for building refurbishment works at Victoria University Footscray. Two levels of existing library, staff offices, kitchen / cafeteria and auditorium were demolished to make way for a new $6m refurbishment.
Comprising of a new library, student lounges, cafeteria, offices, student engagement rooms, training labs, dining areas, and an auditorium, the refurbishment takes the Learning Commons into the 21st Century. The power and lighting is fully automated using the Clipsal C-Bus System. The total Electrical package including Audio Visual, Fire Detection, Communications and Security exceeds $1,100,000.00 in total electrical value. We had 4 Electricians on site full time for 7 months completing all works as per contract. The initial project was scheduled for 12 months without variations. Completed in 7 months with over $150,000.00 in electrical variations proves that Prolux Electrical steps up to the mark and manages project work with perfection. Our dedicated project team thrive on a challenge; the whole team involved completed this project with exceptional quality and well within the time restraints of our client.
Another spectacular job that Prolux Electrical were very excited to be a part of.
Call Prolux Electrical Contractors on 1800 800 880
The Melbourne electrician for all your electrical requirements.
3/52 Corporate Boulevard, Bayswater VIC 3153
