So you know you need to have an LEV system installed and you are going through the process of setting up a project with a specialist LEV supplier. You’re not sure if you should use an external contractor for the electrical installation or your LEV supplier, so which one should you choose?

The answer is dependent on the competency of both parties, however, you should be aware that not all qualified electricians are qualified or competent when it comes to the electrical installation of industrial electrics. There are some top tips that you could follow that will help you make an informed decision.

Tops tips for evaluating electrical contractors for industrial installations

Simple questions that you need to ask your electrical supplier are listed below for you to be able to decide on who to use.  If they answer yes to all of the below then this will help to ensure that your fan is protected:

• Are they qualified for industrial works (ask for examples of similar works)?
• Are they installing isolators between the distribution board and fan?
• Are they installing motor rated overloads?
• Are the on/off controls separately to the isolators?
• Are they checking the rotation of the fan once finished?

What are the consequences if the electrical installation is incorrect?

If the electrical installation is incorrect your fan will not be properly protected (with motor rated overloads) and therefore could cause potential fire issues due to overheating as well as future mechanical costs. Your fan warranty would be void if this happened and the system downtime could cause a loss in your production. If the fan is wired in the wrong set up (i.e. star instead of the delta) too much current will be passing through to the fan motor, this will cause the motor to burn out once up and running. You would then, therefore, need to replace the burnt out motor, which would in turn void your warranty as the fan will need to be disassembled to do so.

At Vent-Tech we offer an electrical package that includes the supply of parts and labour for electrical controls for your LEV system. We have dedicated in-house engineers that are trained and knowledgeable in all aspects of LEV. Our engineers are able to offer you peace of mind that your electrics have been installed properly from an isolated electrical supply, which can include either variable speed inverters or just simple on/off controls.