01245 604 755 | info@drakeelectrical.com

Drake Electrical

Uncategorized

Thermographic Surveys

Electrical Thermography Testing for Commercial Buildings:

Reducing Risk, Preventing Downtime, and Improving Electrical Safety

Electrical failures in commercial buildings rarely occur without warning. In most cases, excessive heat develops within electrical systems long before faults become visible or cause disruption.

Electrical thermography testing (also known as infrared thermographic inspection) allows these hidden issues to be identified early. This proactive approach helps reduce safety risks, prevent unplanned downtime, and improve the long-term reliability of electrical systems.

For organisations responsible for commercial buildings, data centres, and critical infrastructure, thermographic surveys are an essential part of planned electrical maintenance.

thermography equipment used by Drake Electrical Contractors in Commercial Building Surveys

What Is Electrical Thermography?

Electrical thermography is a non-intrusive inspection method that uses thermal imaging cameras to detect heat patterns within electrical systems.

All electrical components generate heat during normal operation. When connections loosen, circuits become overloaded, or components deteriorate, temperatures rise beyond safe operating limits. Infrared thermal imaging identifies these abnormal temperature variations quickly and accurately.

By detecting hot spots, high-resistance connections, overloaded circuits, and failing components, thermography highlights developing faults before they result in equipment failure, fire risk, or power outages.

A key advantage of thermographic testing is that inspections are carried out on live electrical systems. This allows surveys to be completed without shutting down power, a critical benefit for commercial and industrial sites where downtime can have significant operational and financial impacts.

Why Electrical Thermography Is Important for Commercial Properties

Commercial electrical systems are often complex, heavily loaded, and relied upon continuously. Without regular inspection, small faults can escalate rapidly.

Electrical failures can lead to:

  • Unplanned downtime
  • Damage to critical equipment
  • Increased fire risk
  • Safety hazards for occupants
  • Emergency repair costs
  • Business interruption

Thermal imaging provides early fault detection, allowing facilities managers and building owners to understand system condition and address issues before they become disruptive or dangerous.

Common Faults Identified During Thermographic Surveys

Electrical thermography testing routinely identifies issues that are not visible during standard inspections, including:

  • Loose or high-resistance connections
  • Overloaded or unbalanced circuits
  • Failing switchgear and circuit breakers
  • Degraded cables and terminations
  • Faulty fuses and isolators
  • Heat build-up caused by poor installation or ageing equipment

Left unresolved, these issues worsen over time. Elevated temperatures accelerate component degradation and significantly increase the risk of failure or fire.

Electrical Thermography and Preventative Maintenance

Thermographic inspections play a key role in preventive electrical maintenance strategies. Rather than reacting to failures, organisations can identify risks early and plan remedial works effectively.

Benefits include:

  • Reduced emergency call-outs
  • Improved system reliability
    Extended equipment lifespan
  • Improved safety and compliance
  • Better maintenance planning

Thermal imaging is also recognised within SFG20 maintenance schedules, including:

  • 44-05 Low Voltage Panel Maintenance
  • 44-07 Distribution Board Maintenance
  • 44-16 Thermal Imaging

While full compliance with some SFG20 tasks requires electrical isolation, thermographic surveys can often be completed without isolation, allowing essential inspections to take place without disrupting operations.

Thermography for Data Centres and Critical Infrastructure

In data centres and other critical environments, electrical reliability is essential. Even minor faults can lead to downtime, data loss, or reputational damage.

Thermography is particularly valuable in these settings because it allows engineers to:

  • Inspect live systems safely
  • Identify developing faults without interruption
  • Monitor high-load equipment
  • Support resilience and redundancy planning

Thermal imaging is widely regarded as best practice for maintaining uptime in critical infrastructure. It provides clear insight into system performance while avoiding the risks associated with shutdowns.

How Often Should Electrical Thermography Be Carried Out?

The frequency of thermographic inspections depends on the type of building, electrical load, and operational risk.

As a general guide:

  • High-risk or critical environments should be inspected annually or more frequently
  • Commercial and industrial buildings should undergo annual surveys
  • Sites with ageing infrastructure or high electrical demand may require tailored inspection programmes

Thermography is most effective when integrated into a wider planned maintenance strategy, providing ongoing visibility of system condition and performance.

Professional Thermographic Inspections

A professional thermographic survey follows a structured process to ensure accuracy, safety, and clear reporting.

This typically includes:

  • Pre inspection planning to review layouts, loads, and access
  • Live thermal imaging of switchgear, distribution boards, and cabling
  • Analysis of temperature data to identify abnormal heat patterns
  • Clear reporting with annotated thermal images and findings
  • Risk based recommendations and prioritised remedial actions

Because electrical panels must remain live during inspection, surveys should only be carried out by competent professionals. At Drake Electrical, our inspections are completed by qualified electricians who are also certified thermographers. This allows us to safely remove panel covers and inspect internal components without relying on client staff or compromising safety.

All thermographers are certified to a minimum of ITC Category 2, and every report includes certification details to support auditing and compliance requirements. We use high specification FLIR T Series cameras, ensuring accurate, repeatable results with clear supporting data.

Drake Electrical Engineers carrying out a thermographic survey of an electrical distribution board

Safety, Compliance, and Professional Standards

Thermography must be carried out correctly to be effective. Poor quality surveys, incorrect camera settings, or limited access can result in missed defects or misleading results.

A professional thermographic inspection ensures:

  • Safe working on live electrical systems
  • Accurate interpretation of thermal data
  • Compliance with health and safety requirements
  • Clear, actionable reporting
  • Reliable evidence to support maintenance decisions

Where issues are identified, remedial works can be prioritised based on risk, helping clients manage budgets while maintaining safety and compliance.

The Long Term Value of Electrical Thermography

Electrical thermography is not simply a fault finding exercise. It is a practical investment in safety, reliability, and long term asset performance.

Key benefits include:

  • Reduced risk of unexpected failures
  • Improved electrical safety
  • Lower long term maintenance costs
  • Better planning and asset management
  • Increased confidence in electrical systems

By identifying problems early, businesses can make informed decisions and avoid the disruption and cost associated with emergency repairs.

Electrical Thermography: A Facilities Manager Checklist

Electrical issues rarely fail without warning. In most cases, excessive heat builds up inside electrical systems long before faults become visible or cause disruption.

Electrical thermographic testing gives facilities managers a practical way to spot problems early, reduce risk, and plan maintenance without unnecessary shutdowns.

Use the checklist below to assess whether thermography should form part of your maintenance strategy.

  • Do you manage a building with high electrical loads or critical equipment?
  • Are electrical systems relied on continuously, with limited tolerance for downtime?
  • Is some of your electrical infrastructure ageing or heavily used?

If yes, thermography can help identify developing faults before they become failures.

  • Do you need inspections carried out without shutting down power?
  • Would unplanned outages cause operational or financial impact?

Thermographic inspections are completed on live systems, allowing sites to remain fully operational during testing.

  • Are you confident that electrical fire risks are being proactively managed?
  • Do you need clear evidence to support health and safety compliance?
  • Are inspection records required for audits or compliance reviews?

Thermal imaging helps identify overheating components that increase fire and safety risk and provides clear documentation to support compliance.

  • Are you aiming to reduce emergency call-outs and reactive repairs?
  • Would early identification of issues help you plan maintenance more effectively?
  • Do you want to prioritise repairs based on risk rather than guesswork?

Thermography supports planned maintenance by highlighting issues early and allowing works to be scheduled sensibly.

  • Do you manage a data centre, healthcare site, or other critical environment?
  • Is electrical reliability essential to operations or service delivery?

Thermography is widely regarded as best practice in critical environments where downtime is not an option.

  • Do you need reports that are clear, easy to understand, and actionable?
  • Would it help to know what needs attention now versus what can be monitored?

A professional thermographic survey should include a clear, easy-to-read report explaining findings, priorities, and recommended actions to maintain system safety and reliability.

You should strongly consider electrical thermography if:

  • It’s been over 12 months since your last inspection
  • You manage high-load or critical systems
  • You want to move from reactive to proactive maintenance
  • You need better visibility of electrical risk

A Proactive Approach to Electrical Reliability

Electrical thermography supports a proactive, well managed approach to electrical maintenance. It allows risks to be identified early, issues to be clearly communicated, and repairs to be planned properly.

At Drake Electrical, we recommend thermographic inspections because they provide a reliable and accurate picture of electrical system health while systems remain live and operational. Our approach combines technical expertise, clear reporting, and practical advice to help clients maintain safe and dependable electrical installations.

Quality electrical work is not just about meeting today’s needs. It is about protecting people, assets, and operations for the future. For those responsible for commercial buildings, data centres, or critical environments, thermographic inspections are a sensible and effective step towards long term safety, reliability, and peace of mind.

2026-02-23T19:07:17+00:00February 23rd, 2026|
Read More

Work With Drake Electrical – Electrical Contracts Manager

Electrical Contracts Manager/Estimator

Monday to Friday 8am-4.30pm
£52,000 – £58,000

Role Overview

Due to continued growth, we’re looking for an experienced Electrical Contracts Manager/Estimator with a drive to deliver high-quality electrical work and an expertise in problem solving to become an integral part of our driven and successful team. You will be working closely with our directors and service coordinator to take over the small works and maintenance department for the company.

The Electrical Contracts Manager/Estimator will take ownership of both estimating and contract delivery, ensuring works are accurately and competitively priced, delivered safely, within budget and SLAs. They will oversee smaller electrical projects and maintenance works, managing the entire lifecycle from estimating and contract negotiation to project delivery, ensuring quality, compliance, budgeting, and client satisfaction, leading a team of electricians. This is a key role requiring strong technical knowledge, commercial awareness and excellent leadership skills.

Key Responsibilities
Estimating

  • Prepare accurate quotations for small electrical works and maintenance contracts (£1k – £100k)
  • Liaise with suppliers to obtain competitive pricing
  • Interpret specifications, drawings, site survey notes, and client requirements
  • Build priced quotations for minor installation works, remedial works, planned maintenance, call-outs, and reactive works, ensuring profitability.
  • Attend site surveys

Contracts Management & Delivery

  • Manage small electrical works and maintenance from award to completion
  • Coordinate materials and plant to ensure smooth project delivery
  • Conduct site visits, attend client meetings, ensuring quality standards are met
  • Monitor the progress of works and identify potential delays
  • Ensure compliance with all relevant standards and regulations (BS7671, H&S)
  • Oversee completion paperwork

Commercial & Client Management

  • Maintain strong working relationships with clients, consultants and main contractors
  • Negotiate contract terms where required and support dispute avoidance/resolution

Health, Safety & Compliance

  • Prepare RAMS
  • Ensure works comply with H&S legislation and company procedures
  • Ensure engineers are supported to work safely

Essential Skills & Experience

The ideal candidate will be comfortable in an all-hands-on-deck environment, where everyone carries the ball and is a solid part of the team. You will want to grow as a person, and contribute ideas and solutions to the business and help contribute to our growth plan. You are a team player who thinks ahead and isn’t afraid to challenge things and speak up.

You will be a perfect fit for this job if you have a passion for delivering the best quality electrical work, ensuring compliance and best practice. You are an expert problem solver with excellent technical skills. You are friendly and personable and can communicate clearly and professionally with a wide range of people. You love to be challenged and thrive in a fast based, success driven environment. You are a self-starter who sees problems coming, figures things out, connects the dots and acts accordingly to provide solutions.

  • Strong experience in commercial and industrial electrical estimating and/or contracts management.
  • Experience managing small works and maintenance alongside project delivery.
  • Ability to price work from drawings and from site surveys / brief client descriptions.
  • Strong technical background in commercial installations
  • Knowledge of containment systems, distribution, power, lighting, and commercial/industrial environments.
  • Organised and capable of managing multiple jobs across multiple sites.
  • Can-do attitude
  • Attention to detail and detail focused
  • Self-starter and pro-active
  • Confident communicating with end clients, site teams, facilities managers, and main contractors.
  • Solid IT skills with strong attention to detail.
  • Commercial awareness

Qualifications

  • Time served as an electrician with NVQ level 3 in electrical installation, 18th edition and 2391 inspection & testing (essential)
  • Design (C&G 2396) (desirable)
  • IOSH Managing Safely (desirable)
  • SMSTS (desirable)

Benefits:

  • Company vehicle
  • Laptop & phone
  • Company pension
  • Bike to work scheme
  • Employee discounts
  • Free on-site parking
  • 25 days holiday plus bank holidays

About Us

Drake Electrical is an established electrical contractor delivering high-quality commercial and industrial installations, along with a strong and ever-growing pipeline of small works, reactive repairs, and planned maintenance. We work with a mix of end clients, facilities teams and main contractors, providing a reliable, professional service with a focus on quality and building long term client partnerships.

We have been providing high quality electrical services to commercial clients across London and the Southeast for over 10 years. We are a small-knit, family run business, with a friendly team who strive to provide the best service possible to our high-end clients. We are proud of our reputation for expertise and service in the industry, our commitment to quality work, and our dedicated team of electricians.

To apply, please email your CV and covering letter to recruitment@drakeelectrical.com

 

2026-02-03T20:15:18+00:00February 3rd, 2026|
Read More

Work With Drake Electrical – Mobile Electrician

Mobile Electrician (Gold Card)
£42,000 – £48,000 Basic | Up to £60,000 OTE
📍 London & South East (with occasional UK travel)

Join a brilliant team doing quality work, properly.

We’re looking for a Gold Card Electrician who takes real pride in their work, loves solving problems, and wants to be part of a driven, friendly, high-performing team. This is a mobile role with a great mix of work — from fault finding and maintenance to projects and small works, mainly across commercial sites in London and the South East. Every now and then, you’ll travel further afield for larger projects (with paid accommodation + bonuses).

If you’re the kind of electrician who spots problems before they become issues, works to a high standard without cutting corners, and enjoys being trusted to crack on — you’ll fit right in.

What you’ll be doing
You’ll work both independently and alongside a strong team, supported remotely by our Chelmsford office, delivering excellent service to our commercial clients.

✅ Electrical maintenance, installation, repairs & testing
✅ Project work
✅ Fault finding and reactive callouts
✅ Planned works & small projects
✅ EICRs
✅ Emergency Lighting
✅ Inspection & testing
✅ Keeping clear, accurate paperwork and records
✅ Advising clients and colleagues on safety and compliance
✅ Working to high standards in line with regulations and best practice
✅ Maintaining excellent H&S standards (RAMS, DRAs and site paperwork)

 

What we’re looking for
We want someone who genuinely cares about doing the job right — someone who brings skill, calm confidence, and a solution-focused mindset.

You’ll need:
⭐ Approved Electrician Gold Card
⭐ NVQ Level 3 Electrotechnical Qualification
⭐ AM2 + Testing & Inspection
⭐ 18th Edition
⭐ 10+ years’ time-served electrical experience
⭐ Strong fault-finding ability and technical confidence

You’ll be someone who is:
✔ Detail-focused and quality-driven
✔ Professional, friendly, and customer-minded
✔ A self-starter who’s proactive and organised
✔ Happy travelling across London and surrounding counties (lots of driving!)
✔ Comfortable with occasional UK travel & staying away (bonuses + accommodation paid)
✔ Open to working nights/weekends on a rota (overtime paid)
✔ Willing to join a callout rota when required
✔ Keen to learn, upskill and progress

The kind of environment you’ll thrive in.
We’re a small, close-knit team — all hands on deck, everyone pulls their weight, and good work gets noticed. We welcome people who bring ideas, speak up, and want to contribute to a growing business.
If you want a role where you’re not just a number, where you can genuinely make a difference, this one’s for you.

What you’ll get:
🎯 Competitive salary + strong earning potential
🏖 25 days holiday + bank holidays
🚗 Paid overtime and rota work
🚲 Bike2Work scheme
📈 Training & development
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Company social days
💷 Workplace pension
🏷 Discounts
🚀 The chance to have real impact in a growing company

About Drake Electrical

We’ve been delivering high-quality electrical services to commercial clients across London and the South East for 10 years. We’re proud to be a family-run, tight-knit business known for professionalism, quality workmanship, and excellent service.

Our clients include main contractors, retail chains, offices, local authorities and hospitals, and we’re trusted because we do things properly — every time.

2026-02-17T20:55:43+00:00January 27th, 2026|
Read More