We perform inspection services to investigate and identify problem areas within electrical distribution systems. Our thorough services help you mitigate risks, assist with the latest code compliance, and call attention to impending equipment failure or possible system downtime.  Our approach ensures that your electrical system will continue to function to meet your facility’s operational needs and fulfill your mission by concentrating on maintenance efforts where they count most.

A comprehensive electrical inspection helps you to know that your electrical system is safe to operate and in accordance with all applicable building codes, local electrical codes, safety standards, and equipment manufacturer guidelines.  Beyond code compliance, our inspection team provides you the added benefit by performing an expanded condition assessment of your electrical equipment.  Using our proprietary condition assessment methodology, we can analyze your equipment’s test data to compare it against similar known electrical equipment, ascertain its useful life, and provide you recommendations to render the equipment suitable for continued operation.  Our engineers and electricians combine their experience to perform visual inspections, electrical testing when necessary, and then draw an estimate on the remaining useful life for existing equipment. 

Our core competencies:

In addition to the early identification of potential problem areas within an electrical system, an electrical inspection will minimize the risks associated with lost production and downtime attributed to electrical equipment damage.  Improper electrical system configuration often increases utility bills, may cause long-term damage to critical loads, result in higher operating costs, and increase the likelihood of a prolonged system outage.  For specialty project applications involving complex electrical systems, comprehensive electrical inspection services might include any of the following:

  • Electrical Equipment Assessment. Visual and mechanical inspection of electrical equipment to determine overall integrity of the equipment compared to NEMA/ANSI specifications. Observation and assessment consider the general condition and functionality of pilot devices, functionality of auxiliary control devices and relays, evaluation of electrical degradation, and determination of the presence of hazardous materials within components.

  • Electrical System Grounding. Verification of grounding systems in accordance with the requirements of IEEE 80/81 and NEC to ensure protection against touch potential, step potential, and stray voltages.  This includes the proper application of grounding electrode systems, equipment grounding, bonding, earthing systems, impedance grounding, and the proper treatment of ungrounded systems.

  • Short Circuit Duty. Verification of short circuit withstand ratings (kA) for electrical equipment and the ampere interrupting capacity (AIC) for protective devices.  This ensures that electrical equipment is properly rated and well below maximum of the possible fault currents supplied from upstream equipment and its protective devices are properly rated to trip during a short circuit condition. This can be done by comparison to an existing power system study or by reasonable estimates using observed data.

  • Code Compliance. Inspection of electrical facilities to ensure compliance with the requirements of building codes and the NEC with regard to aspects including means of egress, working space, dedicated space, clear space, adequate illumination, arc flash labelling, grounding, bonding, wiring methods, overcurrent protection, selective coordination, and life safety systems.

  • IR Scanning and Inspection. Infrared thermography to identify emerging problems within electrical equipment that are attributed to excess heat rise either due to improper installation or defective components.  Infrared inspections are non-contact and non-destructive, and they often help pinpoint impending trouble such as loose connections, imbalanced and/or overloaded circuits, defective breakers, damaged switches, faulty fuses, and insulation breakdown.

  • Power Quality Analysis. Inspection and analysis of measured voltage and current waveforms for a given configuration, reasonably free of distortion, and balanced overall thereby avoiding conditions that can otherwise compromise electrical system performance.  Detailed analyses include assessment of voltage sags, swells, momentary disruptions, flicker, ground noise, phase and ground transients, current and voltage harmonics, power factor, and system imbalance (negative sequence).

A representational list of our electrical inspection projects:

Data Centers
  • VAMC Information Technology Center – Philadelphia, PA
  • SWIFT Data Center – Culpepper, VA
  • SWIFT Data Center – Manassas, VA
Healthcare Facilties
  • St. Mary’s Hospital – Waterbury, CT(Learn More)
  • Upper Chesapeake Medical Center – Bel Air, MD
Water & Wastewater Facilities
  • Fort Meade Wastewater Treatment Plant – Laurel, MD
  • Little Ferry Water Pollution Control Facility – Little Ferry, NJ
Museums and Research Facilities
  • Smithsonian Institute, National Museum of Natural History – Washington DC
  • Smithsonian Institute, National Zoological Park – Washington DC
  • US Holocaust Museum – Washington DC

Our blogs related to electrical inspection:

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Test Cables Without Damaging Them and Save Money Doing It
Test Cables Without Damaging Them and Save Money Doing It

During construction projects, electrical contractors are often required to re-use existing medium and high voltage cables. Prior to re-use of existing in-service cables, it is important to properly test its insulation integrity to ensure satisfactory long-term performance. Consultation with both a master electrician and a professional engineer will determine the most appropriate test method, maintain cable integrity during testing, and achieve better analysis of the test results.

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To Ground or Not to Ground, that is the Question - But Do You Know the Answer?
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How to Protect & Establish Reliable Emergency Power and Avoid Costly Repairs

Large power generators are often used to supply emergency power when the loss of utility power is not acceptable and can mean the difference between life and death. Using basic generator protection with a circuit breaker is simply inadequate and does not provide the full range of protection. To ensure system reliability, prevent equipment damage, and avoid unnecessary repair costs, you should protect your generator against many of the most common problems, a list of which follows with recommended solutions.

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From a Tingling Sensation to a Serious Fatality, You Need To Know How To Avoid Induced Stray Voltages

Some of us have felt that tingling sensation at one time or another when coming in contact with metallic equipment. But for an electrician, it is a sign that all is not right, especially when the sensation becomes more like a vibration or an intense jolt. The problem arises from electrons wanting to find a return path to the ground. A common culprit is a stray wire inadvertently touching the metal casing via a high-resistance path that is not of sufficient magnitude to trip a breaker.

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Testimonials from our electrical inspection clients:

“Helios Electric has been a great resource for our business.  Their knowledge in switchgear protection and control far surpasses several engineers we have worked with in the past. They do not over-engineer but provide the absolute best solution for our customer’s application.   This has resulted in cost savings and increased functionality for our clients.”

Manufacturer’s Representative (Baltimore, MD)

“I truly value the team at Helios Electric and the great impression they’ve made with many of our clients. They understand that the design process is organic and they patiently offer their expertise during the early stages of design. They listen carefully to client needs and explain things in layman terms. I also like working with a smaller firm and having access to the principal.”

System Integrator (Kutztown, PA)