Business owners have a lot of details to consider each day. One of your most important jobs as the owner, though, is learning ways to better protect the investment you have made in your company. Electrical damage to your workplace and equipment can mean a huge hit to your budget and overall bottom line. One of the best ways to protect your equipment and workplace is with a commercial surge protector. This quick guide will provide you with information on why commercial surge protection is important.
What Causes Power Surges?
Power surges can be caused by many different reasons. Let’s look at some common causes of power surges that can cause damage to your company.
- Changes on the grid made by the electrical company
- Shorts in wiring
- Equipment malfunction
- Appliance malfunction
- Overloaded circuits
Regardless of the cause of the energy surge, they all mean the same thing; damage to important equipment and possible safety hazards. As a business owner, it is your responsibility to cut down on these risks. A commercial surge protector can help.
How Does a Commercial Surge Protector Work?
A commercial surge protector works much like a smaller home version. This system can be installed into your business structure to absorb energy surges when they occur. This will stop the energy surge from reaching equipment and people. A commercial surge protector can be used to protect many different types of assets on your business property.
- The building structure
- Electrical circuits
- HVAC system
- Lighting systems
- Emergency systems
- Intercom
- Surveillance
- Appliances
- Electronics including computers
Where Will the Surge Protector Be Installed?
The protector can be installed directly into the structure’s main electrical panels. A professional electrician can help by strategically placing the surge protectors throughout the facilities in locations where they will do the most good.
Protectors can also be installed that will protect phone lines, cable lines, and data lines. These lines are different from the main electrical circuits in the structure. Be sure to talk with the electrician you partner with to discuss how to protect all of these aspects of your business.
Different Types of Surge Protectors
There are four main types of surge protectors that you can have installed at your business.
Level 1 – A level 1 protector is installed near the location where electricity enters the building. This is often considered a first line of defense in surge protection. These are used to protect your equipment from a surge that might result from lightning.
Level 2 – A level 2 protector is used to stop surges from affecting electronics. This can be very important for office spaces in which there are many different types of electronics in use each day.
Level 3 – A level 3 protector is the type of surge protection you often see in homes to protect individual devices. These can also be used in the workplace if you want to add an extra layer of protection for specific devices.
Level 4 – A level 4 protector is often utilized in companies as they provide a broader range of protection than other types. These are used to provide wired-in protection within a structure. This will help to protect devices like servers, motor drives, and others.