Electrical installations in construction

Electrical installations on construction sites are crucial, supplying power to the modern tools and machinery needed to complete the project at hand; all requiring backing by strong electrical systems. 

However, electrical systems tend to be complex and can be vulnerable to numerous hazards that come hand in hand, firstly with electrical installations in general, and secondly with construction sites. As such, understanding the setup and components of these systems is essential.

Electrical installations on construction sites

The most common or popular electrical installations found on construction sites are typically:

Fixed wiring: fixed wiring supports almost all electrical tasks on a construction site; where distribution boards, power cables and sockets are all part of ‘fixed wiring’, ensuring that the construction site team is able to power their tools and complete their work effectively and efficiently.

A temporary Power Supply: the only way to bring electricity to a construction site will be through a temporary power supply; temporary installations are generally provided by local utility companies and provide a site with a constant electricity supply during the construction phase of a project. 

Generators: portable generators are a great solution for any situation where an electrical supply may be cut or experience a temporary outage and need backing up. Commonly found on construction sites, generators are powered by either fuel or batteries and allow construction teams to operate tools and machinery at all times and in all locations

Circuit breakers: the biggest risk to health & safety of the construction team associated with electrical systems is experiencing an electric shock. As such circuit breakers are systems which minimise the risk of electric shock by cutting out when an excessive electrical current is detected. 

Electrical control panel: an essential part of any electrical installation, an electrical control panel directs electricity on a site; a central hub which is used to direct electricity stemming from one main source to smaller areas of electrical activity.