Electrical substation inspections

Electrical substation inspections

Overview

Electrical substations are an important part of the St. George campus’s electrical supply and distribution network. They contain high-voltage electrical equipment and help step down voltage to a level that is safe to be transmitted throughout a building. There are more than 70 electrical substations—both indoor and outdoor—on campus.

Monthly electrical substation inspections are necessary to monitor their upkeep and performance.

Substation inspection process

Each month, a Facilities & Services (F&S) utilities substation electrician inspects the electrical substations on the St. George campus.

During each inspection, the electrician:

  • Ensures there are no issues due to the elements (water leaks, temperature, etc.).
  • Inspects electrical equipment for tripped breakers, blown fuses, alarms, etc.
  • Checks for substation cleanliness.
  • Inspects the substation ground system integrity.
  • Replaces filters for the substation HVAC systems.
  • Reviews the single line diagram (a diagrammatic representation of the electrical equipment throughout the building) to ensure it’s up to date, not damaged and available for reference for electricians and the Electrical Safety Authority.
  • Makes sure any operational tools related to the electrical equipment are in the substation space and stored in their proper location.

For outdoor stations, the electrician also ensures there is no corrosion or weeds. When weeds are present, the F&S Grounds team is called to remove them.

How buildings are impacted

There is no impact on our campus partners during monthly electrical substation inspections.

Why monthly substation inspections are important

Monthly electrical substation inspections are critical to ensuring conditions are in normal operating order. They also help the Utilities & Building Operations team reduce the risk of unplanned power outages.

Like many historic buildings on the St. George campus, some electrical substations are old and require maintenance or upgrades. Monthly inspections help the Utilities & Building Operations team decide funding priorities, and whether improvement projects fall under deferred maintenance or capital project funding.