A Surge protection device, or SPD, protects your Birkenshaw home from the effects of a power surge, commonly caused by lightning strikes.
The surge protection device absorbs the high voltage spike and prevents damage to your electrical installation. Without surge protection, your wiring and electrical equipment can be significantly damaged. Repairing this damage and replacing your electronic devices can be expensive. Quality Electrician are you friendly, local electrician in Birkenshaw and we are here to tell you more about why surge protection matters.
Where is a Surge Protection Device needed?
Previously, legislation only required a surge protection device to be installed in specific circumstances. Often this would involve a risk assessment by an electrician. As a relatively new technology SPDs were expensive and despite having obvious benefits, they were only installed where legally required. Thankfully the cost of surge protection devices decreased as they became more widely available. Reputable electricians who recognised the superior safety benefits of surge protection devices then began fitting them as standard. If you are unsure whether your home already has a surge protection device installed, Quality Electrician will be happy to take a look at your Birkenshaw area property.
With amendment 2 of BS7671 the installation of surge protection devices has become mandatory in many situations. A surge protection device must be installed when exposure to transient voltage (caused typically by lightning strike) could:
1. Result in serious injury or loss of human life - This is most relevant in properties where medical equipment is in use.
2. Result in failure of a safety service (defined in part 2) - This refers to hardwired smoke alarms, emergency lighting and other equipment provided to protect or warn persons in the event of a hazard, or essential to their evacuation from a location. Hardwired smoke alarms are routinely installed in domestic settings and an SPD would now be required. This change is particularly relevant for landlords. The lack of a surge protection device in a property will now show as a code C2 on an electrical installation condition report and will require remedial work.
3. Result in significant financial or data loss. - This area of the legislation leaves some room for interpretation as it does not specify what a significant loss might be. Modern homes have lots of technology; computers, televisions and EV chargers are all expensive pieces of kit. In comparison a surge protection device costs around a 10th of the amount of a new HDTV. If a surge event occurred, you could be facing a massive bill. It is worth noting that many insurers do not cover this kind of damage when there is no protection is in place. The most sensible interpretation is that if the cost of installation is lower than that of replacing the technology in a home, surge protection is required. Legally, a customer has the right to decline the installation in these circumstances. They must then sign a waiver declaring they do not want SPDs fitted as the potential loss is deemed to be tolerable and they accept the risk & any consequential loss.
If you have any questions about surge protection devices and how they can protect your home, Quality Electrician Birkenshaw will be happy to help. We are highly experienced in all aspects of electrical installations and serve Birkenshaw, Bradford and the surrounding area. Fully qualified and NICEIC registered, we are your local friendly and reliable electrician. Call us today.
