Electrical

Industrial plumbing systems are highly complex and often placed under a lot of stress when compared to residential or commercial plumbing. Brisbane, and Queensland in general, is home to some of Australia’s biggest industries, and they rely on experienced industrial plumbers to ensure they can conduct their operations without any issues.

However, not every plumbing company has the expertise to install, repair and maintain industrial plumbing. The intricacy of the networks, usage and structure require the utmost care and attention to detail.

 Avoiding Costly Downtime

Any problems with industrial plumbing systems can lead to costly downtime for an organisation. Even a few hours out of action can cost large scale operations a lot of money. The best way of avoiding this is by ensuring you get experienced experts to install your industrial plumbing system and maintain and repair it.

Cost cutting by using cheaper, inexperienced plumbers to maintain your system can lead to bigger costs for your business when something goes wrong. Problems with plumbing in your industrial setting can be unpredictable and dangerous. This makes it essential to find someone who is experienced and can help you straight away if an emergency arises.

What’s Involved in Industrial Plumbing Maintenance?

Industrial plumbers handle the installation and maintenance of heavy duty plumbing for both water and gas as well as their associated fittings. They may also take care of hot water systems, rainwater tanks and electrical systems. One of the most important maintenance jobs in an industrial plumbing system is cleaning the plumbing itself. Industrial plumbing often takes a pounding and particulates in the pipes can be what causes possible problems to occur.

Industrial Plumbing Cleaning

Cleaning industrial plumbing involve checking for and removing things inside the plumbing that may cause issues, such as:

• Particulate matter – These inevitably build up through regular use. The problem is that they take up space normally used for water, putting more pressure on your system and reducing process flow. In an intricate industrial plumbing system, this can result in anything from a busted pipe to system failure, causing serious downtime.
• Solutions – When water mixes with certain chemicals and industrial material, compounds, solids and active chemicals can form and get stuck in your pipes or damage them.
• Acidity and alkalinity – Some chemical processes are naturally acidic or alkaline. Most of these compounds get flushed out by a functioning system. They interact with anything and everything they encounter which can be trouble with an older or overworked system.

• Clogged drains and outlets – Clogged drains are a more familiar problem, but like in any plumbing system, they can cause big problems.
• Sediment – Sediments are fine particles made up of material residue. They tend to be heavy and settle in your pipes. Like particulates, they take up space, affecting water pressure and flow.

Need an Industrial Plumbing Company? Brisbane’s EPG Can Help

When it comes to industrial plumbing, Brisbane’s EPG are the experts you can rely on. Our company has extensive experience working on industrial plumbing systems and can also provide other industrial installation and maintenance services:

• Industrial electrical contractors (Brisbane wide)
• Industrial automation (Brisbane wide)

Call us on (07) 3823 1630 to discuss your requirements or contact us online.

Old workplaces can be potential minefields of expensive problems. Electrical and plumbing fittings deteriorate over time, but as they do, possible risks and costs escalate. It’s a good idea to have your old workplace thoroughly checked out by electrical and plumbing experts ASAP.

It is fair to say that electrical and plumbing problems in the workplace could be catastrophic. A single electrical spark can burn down the building. Water damage through defective plumbing can be just as destructive, and both these issues also have the potential to affect adjoining properties. In this case, playing safe is as much a business survival strategy as common sense.

The Most Common Problems

Electrical problems may include:

• Unsafe Wiring: Unsafe wiring may lead to electrical shocks, fires, power system failures, and in some cases, serious injuries or deaths. We must emphasise that wiring must be checked very thoroughly, and any suspect old wiring should be replaced immediately.
• Power Connections: Connections to mains and generators can cause a range of problems, notably breakdowns of machinery while in operation and putting operators at risk. These connections must be checked for performance and any possible safety risks. You’ll need to talk to your electricians and evaluate these problems in detail.
• Switchboards: The switchboard is a critical part of your electrical system. This is the nerve centre of power distribution. If anything goes wrong on the switchboard, the whole system may be compromised. Fuses may blow, and power may be dangerously flowing through the system. Old switchboards should preferably be replaced entirely by modern ones, which are much more efficient and safe.

Plumbing problems may include:

• High-Pressure Water Systems: These systems are always under enormous strain. In older workplaces, it is reasonable to assume that pipes, valves, and control systems will need some maintenance work. These must be thoroughly checked to ensure safety and proper operation.
• Leaks: Most plumbing systems have a certain amount of leakage, but these leaks can be very expensive. A leak is a sign of water escaping, which means that both the operating system and connections must be checked. The next stage of a leak may be a local plumbing system failure, so you can save yourself a lot of money by checking for any possible problems.
• Connections: Deteriorated plumbing connections are problems waiting to happen. Whether it’s a mains connection, or a connection from your internal system, if either of them is compromised, the plumbing system will fail. In older workplaces, it is particularly important to ensure that these connections are in good condition, watertight and thoroughly checked internally for any potential risks.

Need Expert Electrical and Plumbing Services in Brisbane?

EPG Electrical Plumbing Group Pty Ltd offers a full range of services for commercial electrical contractors and plumbing systems needs in Brisbane. Our services are available in the Brisbane Metro area and adjoining suburbs. If you’d like some help with your old workplace electrical and plumbing systems, call or contact us online for any services you need.

You can learn a lot from your industrial electrical technicians simply by asking a few questions. However, many people don’t seem to ask. This can be because they think they won’t understand the answers. Electricians are actually good communicators, and are quite happy to help and explain issues. All you need to do is ask, and you will get clear and useful answers to your questions.

Critical Questions

Here are a few very straightforward questions which will provide practical, helpful answers for the future:

What is the Problem?

Your electricians will explain in depth all the core issues for you. This question is like an “executive summary”, and will pinpoint problems while also explaining what needs to be done to fix them. It’s worth taking a little extra time to really address this issue, because you will get a much clearer understanding of possible risks and solutions.

What Are the Solutions?

The answers to this question will map out the work that needs to be done, and will also act as an “audit trail” of costs of remedial work. Your repair or maintenance quote should include itemised descriptions of the work to be done.

Did You Find Any Defects in the System?

This is a very important question. It may be that previous electrical work, power connections, or other defects were present in the system which caused the faults. You need to have these defects clearly defined. (You may also have paid for these defects, and might have some right to legal compensation for electrical failures.)

It’s a New System; What Went Wrong?

One of the most common problems with a newly introduced system is that people aren’t familiar with its operation. A procedural step or another simple solution may be available.

It’s an Old System; We’ve Never Had This Problem Before?

The age of the system isn’t the only problem. The truth is that some older electrical systems, reliable as they may have been, aren’t compatible with modern equipment. You will probably need to upgrade the system.

Are There Any Specific Safety Issues?

All businesses are very careful of OHS problems, and a description of potential risks is very valuable. Generally speaking, there are always risks with electrical systems, and you need to understand them clearly

How Do We Prevent Those Problems from Happening in the Future?

In many cases, electrical systems are compromised by lack of maintenance, overuse, wear and tear, and in some cases, incorrect practices. You can often expect a bit of a shopping list in the answer, but you’ll also get answers to preventing expensive problems in future.

Ask Us for All Your Industrial Plumbing Services in Brisbane

EPG Electrical Plumbing Group Pty Ltd are your local electrical and plumbing contractors. We provide our plumbing and electrical contractor services throughout the Brisbane Metro area and surrounding regions. Our friendly experts who will be happy to assist and answer all your questions. You can call or contact us online anytime.

Constructing an electrical plumbing switchboard is a true science. These days, special CAD technologies are used to thoroughly map and plan super-efficient switchboards. Just about all switchboards include at least a few “custom” elements, specifically for special or unique in-house systems.

Switchboard Construction Essentials – Plans

Switchboard plans look very complex, and can in fact be quite complicated. However, the logic of connections and applications is pretty straightforward.

The most fundamental elements of a switchboard are connections. These include connections to power, and to specific electrical systems. This is the “skeleton” of any electrical switchboard. Like a flowchart, switchboard connections are planned to show connections from the power source(s) to applications.

From the connections, the next level of planning is specific wiring and circuitry. Wiring includes power to machinery, lighting, and other critical systems. Circuitry includes the on-board circuits for particular operations, including a virtual forest of capacitors, resistors, microcircuits, and other system features.

The same “flowchart logic” applies to wiring and circuitry as to connections. These are essentially flowcharts directing current and power at operational levels. Using the CAD plan, every wire and every circuit are mapped out in detail.

Switchboard plans also include fuses, backup systems, safety systems, and in modern switchboards, monitoring and safety provisions. You’ll notice that these elements in switchboard plans are also directly related to accessibility, maintenance and operational needs. A modern switchboard can operate very efficiently around the clock with this meticulous planning.

Custom Switchboards

Custom switchboards are a typical feature of modern electrical design. While many switchboards include a lot of standard features, every business and every operation is different. All have their own particular needs, and switchboards are designed to provide power for those needs.

Customisation is also the best practice in electrical design. In the past, electrical switchboards were often too complex, difficult to work with, and expensive when upgrading. Good electrical switchboard design can improve energy efficiency, simplify electrical systems, and provide real value. The value comes in improved performance, simpler and cheaper maintenance, and better energy usage.

Australian Switchboard Construction

In Australia, commercial electricians have been quick to take up modern switchboard construction methods. Industrial electrical contractors in Brisbane, for example, routinely use state-of-the-art CAD technologies to design complex electrical plumbing switchboards from the ground up. The leading commercial electrical companies in Brisbane can design a brand-new system with all the custom features required for you from scratch. If you want the switchboard technology of the future today, all you need to do is talk to your local electrical plumbing consultants.

With the rapid onset of industrial automation in Brisbane, this type of advanced design is also commercially critical. The simple fact is that automated systems require very different switchboard planning due to the many different configurations of machinery, equipment, and applications. You can see why modern CAD switchboard construction design is so important.

Need Expert Help with A New Switchboard in Brisbane?

EPG Electrical Plumbing Group Pty Ltd is your instant solution for industrial automation and commercial electrical and plumbing switchboard construction and design in Brisbane. Give us a call and speak to our friendly experts about your needs. We will be happy to provide all services and guidance you require.

Backflow devices are very important parts of any industrial or commercial operation.  Backflow of polluted or contaminated water in to the water mains can cause serious health issues.

Why Backflow Device Testing is So Important

Backflow incidents may expose businesses to serious legal and statutory liabilities.  If contaminated water gets in to the mains water, the effects can be catastrophic. Many industrial chemicals can be lethal, or cause severe poisoning.

There’s another excellent reason for being “backflow conscious”, too. Backflow is a surefire indicator of equipment problems.  If water flow is backing up, there may be real issues with your processing gear.

Water flow problems don’t just happen. Backflow, in fact, may be considered the canary in the coal mine for many different types of onsite issues.  Any issues are good indicators for equipment that needs fixing.

The usual issues are pretty predictable:

• Valve issues, O ring problems and other minor repairs
• Older equipment that needs an overhaul
• Maintenance behind the eight ball
• Cracked piping or connection problems
• Pressure management issues

Now the good news: These issues are also quite fixable. Backflow device testing could be a life saver in cost terms, too. If your testing finds small problems before they turn in to large, expensive problems and downtime.

Backflow Devices Testing Basics

Backflow is covered by state and local government regulations. Specific regulatory requirements may vary, but the basics are essentially the same around Australia. If you’re unsure what your obligations are regarding backflow management, check with your local council.

The following information is based on state and Brisbane City Council regulations for testing, which are representative of Australian backflow device testing requirements.

Under local city rules, backflow devices are required to be registered with the local council, and tested annually by licensed plumbers. A report detailing testing results must be filed with the council.

This testing includes devices used to monitor backflow in a range of onsite systems:

• Irrigation systems
• Fire hose reels or hydrants
• Commercial or industrial activity or machinery connected to water mains
• Water outlets in proximity to pollutants, grease traps or chemicals
• Underground rainwater tanks with mains water backup.

Backflow Testing Devices

Backflow testing devices must be acceptable according to local government regulations. In the case of Brisbane City Council, “Reduced pressure zone, double check and some single check valves are testable backflow prevention devices.”

Testing must show that the devices are working properly and achieving backflow prevention in accordance with council requirements.

The testing needs to be done anyway, for practical reasons. Invest in a good local plumber and get your advice from the experts. Your backflow device testing will be worth it.

Trying to Find a Commercial Plumber in Brisbane?

EPG Electrical Plumbing Group Pty. Ltd  is your local backflow testing services in Brisbane. We’re also plumbing contractors and we can provide maintenance services as required. We offer additional consultancy and expert professional support for systems upgrades. Give us a call on (07) 3319 5068 or drop us a line online and we’ll be in touch ASAP.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION:

Before we start, please be aware:

• Faulty wiring can be extremely dangerous.
• Do NOT make contact with any suspect wiring or systems using that wiring, particularly if it’s a live electrical system.
• Notify your manager of any wiring issues ASAP.
• Repairs MUST be done by licensed commercial electricians.

Faulty Wiring Basics

All electricians will tell you that faulty wiring is the single most hazardous part of their work. Faulty wiring is a major, potentially lethal, workplace hazard. It can cause fires, electrocutions, and serious injuries.

Faulty wiring includes:

• Damaged or loose connections: If a wire looks out of place, not properly connected, or obviously damaged, it’s a hazard.
• Bare wires of any kind in any system: Electrical wires are supposed to be covered and properly insulated at all times. If not, they’re dangerous and need to be fixed. (Ignore any backyard genius who says a bare, live wire is safe. It can’t be safe.)
• Wiring related to a malfunctioning system or equipment: If electrical equipment isn’t working properly, electrical problems should be considered to be likely causes.

Spotting Faulty Wiring

Signs of faulty wiring include:

• Scorch marks around connections: This is a very bad sign. The wiring is definitely unsafe. Report it immediately.
• Electrical smells, like burning plastic: That’s not supposed to happen. Have it checked out right away.
• Equipment behaves erratically, turning itself on and off: This is a wiring problem, for sure. A power connection may be compromised, meaning the wiring is unsafe and still has power going through it. Report the problem ASAP.
• Unusual sounds: Crackling or popping in electrical equipment can mean a fuse, or some other part of the circuitry, has failed. DO NOT TOUCH the equipment and get help.
• Old or sloppy looking wiring: Electricians will also tell you in very clear language what they think of people who wire up these death traps or don’t fix them. The bottom line is that if wiring looks decrepit or iffy, it MUST be checked out by a qualified electrician. Don’t use risky-looking wiring at all.

Electrical Hazards Safety

If you suspect faulty wiring:

• DO NOT TOUCH OR USE AFFECTED EQUIPMENT: The power may be still connected.
• SWITCH OFF AT THE POWER SOURCE: Never use any onboard power switches on equipment with faulty wiring. The risk of electrocution and/or severe burns is almost certain.  If possible, turn off at the switchboard.
• DISCONNECT ALL POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS EQUIPMENT. High rev and high power equipment like lathes, industrial equipment and cutting machinery can turn on unexpectedly if the wiring is faulty.
• IF THERE’S WATER NEAR FAULTY WIRING: Evacuate immediately. There’s no way of knowing if the electrical systems have been penetrated by the water. Don’t be a dead hero. Get everyone out and let the professionals handle the problems.

Need a Commercial Electrician in Brisbane?

EPG Electrical Plumbing Group Pty. Ltd.  are your one stop commercial plumbing and electrical contractors in Brisbane. We provide a full range of services for commercial and industrial premises. Call us on (07) 3319 5068 or contact us online for any electrical services you require.