Electrical Surge Protection

Short electrical disturbances—such as surges, spikes, sags, and swells—can damage sensitive equipment and disrupt operations. Even splitsecond events can cause costly downtime. According to ESFI and NEMA:

• Power outages and quality issues cost businesses an estimated $25 billion annually.
• 25 million lightning strikes occur each year, capable of causing dangerous voltage surges without a direct hit.
• The average building experiences 150+ power surges per month.
• 60–80% of surge events originate inside facilities, not from external sources.

Key Hazards & Controls

Transient Voltage Surges (Power Spikes): Install layered Surge Protection Devices (SPD), also known as Transient Voltage Surge Suppressors (TVSS) at service, distribution, and point‑of‑use connections.

Overvoltage (Power Swells): Add overvoltage monitoring and trip settings protection.

Undervoltage (Power Sags / Brownouts): Use undervoltage relays and trips or Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems when continuity is critical as TVSS devices are ineffective against undervoltage.

Single‑Phasing or Phase Imbalance: Install phase monitoring and appropriate overcurrent protection to protect against single-phase events.

Perform grounding & bonding system maintenance: Inspect conductors, verify bonding, test continuity, and periodically measure ground resistance.

Recommended Action Plan

• Consult with qualified electrical engineers.
• Map critical loads.
• Protect signal and communication lines.
• Install layered Surge Protection Devices (SPD).
• Add voltage and phase monitoring where appropriate.
• Maintain and test grounding.
• Replace aging Surge Protection Devices (SPD).
• Document inspections and maintenance.