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Electrical services companies often talk about domestic and commercial electricians and offer services suited to each category, by what are the differences, and why should they matter to you when choosing one for your electrical testing or electrical maintenance? In this post, we look at the differences between the two categories – in terms of the responsibilities of each – giving you more insight and data for making your decision.
What is Commercial Electrician?
Commercial electricians are used for commercial electrical installations and to maintain electrical equipment and infrastructure. They are specially trained and have the knowledge and tools needed to carry out commercial work. A domestic electrician may not be well enough equipped to perform the same work to the same standard.
Workplaces
A commercial electrician is an electrician who specialises in working in offices, schools, retail outlets, restaurants, and data centers. They have a special skill set that enables them to identify faults that could lead to safety issues relevant to commercial sectors. They are also trained in regulation standards for commercial spaces, as these sometimes have different codes of practice and conduct.
Regulations
Commercial electricians need to be specially trained and authorised to work in commercial spaces because these spaces often have specific regulations around installation and maintenance. For instance, commercial electricians are legally obliged to comply with The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 governing the maintenance of electrical equipment in the workplace – this is not something domestic electricians need to be concerned about.
Responsibilities
One of the main differences between domestic and commercial electricians is the core knowledge and skills they have. Residential homes usually have a 230 Volt AC supply with standard PVC .sheathed cabling. Commercial standards are very different with a three-phase power supply of 400 Volts AC. They also use fireproof cable, steel wire armored cables, mineral insulated cable, and ‘low smoke zero halogens’ (LSZH). Commercial electricians also do electrical PAT testing
What is Domestic Electrician?
Setting
You would find a commercial electrician in an industrial space but a domestic one could do the same kind of work. They are trained for the domestic sphere and have more experience with different electrical setups. Domestic electricians normally focus on 230 Volt AC systems. They can install and repair most appliances and wiring in a domestic system like this.
Training
Both domestic and commercial electricians have different training and while one would recognise the systems of the other they may not have the skills and knowledge to carry out work competently. Domestic electricians are usually called out for upgrades to fuse boxes, fault finding, and electrical testing for landlords. It’s always best to find a professional best suited to the task at hand.
Responsibilities
Domestic electricians must be registered with the government body and validated as competent persons to carry out domestic electrical duties, however, they have far fewer responsibilities than commercial electricians. Commercial electricians are responsible for large-scale projects such as server rooms, generators, and control panels, that simply isn’t found in domestic spaces.
Looking for a commercial electrician in Birmingham? For more information on domestic and commercial electrical services contact Jack Jones Electrical today.
