#1 Electrical Mistake: Business Edition
In today’s blog, we’ll be covering the #1 electrical issue for commercial buildings. If you missed the first post about residential properties, click here.
Safety is our number one priority at Butler Electric, so we want to equip you to recognize these electrical mistakes and also take the steps to remedy them. So we present, the #1 most common electrical mistake for businesses:
Wrongly Placed Romex Cable
For commercial buildings, the most common mistake has to do with romex cable, or non-metallic (NM) sheathed cable. Using this wiring where exposed, above drop ceilings or in walls where it’s not supposed to be is not only a code violation but a safety hazard.
Instead of romex, your building should be wired with Metal clad cable (MC) or conduit. MC includes a flexible metal sheath around the wires, which helps protect the wiring from pests and punctures, and also shields electric fields.
Sometimes workers will use the wrong cabling because it’s cheaper, other times they don’t know any better. But still more common is because they don’t care. As a business owner, we encourage you to work with responsible contractors who will make sure your building is up to code and completely hazard-free.
To find out what cables are present in your building, check if you can roll the cable between your fingers. If it’s flexible, it’s romex cable. If it’s stiff and unyielding, it’s the proper BX wiring.
Incorrect cabling may seem like a small issue, but it’s also an easy fix and something that falls under the rule “If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well.” After all, you wouldn’t want your mechanic to “sort of” fix your car, or your lawn service to “mostly” finish the trim job.
If you have questions about electrical work on your building, get in touch with a member of our team. We’re proud to serve the greater Grand Rapids area with expert electrical care.
