Surge Protection, Grounding & Electrical Systems – Inspection & Maintenance

As a 911 PSAP and dispatch center, the primary function of the Johnson County ECD’s operations is the effective and timely receipt and transfer of information using phone and radio technologies.  While there is a great deal that goes into making that happen on a day-to-day basis, one critical component is the continued working of the communication systems.  Because of this, the electrical, grounding and surge protection systems used to power and protect these communication systems must not be taken for granted and should be routinely evaluated to ensure they present no indication of reduced performance or impending failure.  Related to this, VFIS recommends that a qualified contractor be used to evaluate the load distribution and performance of the electrical system, including standby power and emergency generator connections, on a regular basis (e.g., every 3-5 years).  The evaluation should include, but not be limited to, items such as electrical enclosures, circuit breakers, cables and raceways, surge protection devices, receptacles, and may include infrared inspection of connections.  By implementing this type of electrical preventive maintenance, potential failures can be averted and the cost for future repairs can be budgeted.  You may want to incorporate such an inspection and the items noted in the previous recommendations into a single visit to help in establishing short-term and long-term goals for system improvement.