Congratulations to the team at the Red Barn Farm Shop and Café in Spratton. The MSE team was proud to install new electrics, ready for its recent opening day.
We’re sure this new venue will become a firm favourite locally and further afield.
Electrical installations for cafés and restaurants
When you operate an eatery, you want returning customers and happy staff. Most of all, you’ll want to keep everyone safe. You’ll give your guests and employees confidence, and you’ll also meet the requirements of health and safety regulations. Check these electrical safety tips to help keep your catering or hospitality business compliant.
Appliances. Check your appliances and leads regularly for any signs of wear or damage. It’s always best to be cautious, so if you have any concerns turn off appliances and arrange a service visit.
Coffee machines. Catering grade coffee machines will probably need their own power supply. Check with the manufacturer before installation.
Emergency lighting. Hot fat can burn fiercely, creating thick smoke. You must have adequate emergency lighting in case of fires or other incidents. It’s also important to complete regular checks and carry out maintenance.
Wet areas. Electrical installations near wet food preparation areas, sinks and spaces cleaned with water generally need ingress protection of IP65. You shouldn’t use other leads and appliances in wet areas.
Portable appliance testing. You’ll need regular tests by a competent person for your portable electrical equipment. The rules don’t say how often this should take place, but an annual check is a good idea.
Residual current devices (RCDs). Monitoring the electrical current flowing through circuits helps prevent accidents. RCDs detect differences between outgoing and incoming current to identify faults and cut off the power immediately.
Inspection and testing. An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) confirms the safety and compliance of your electrical systems. Your insurers might tell you how often you should arrange a new EICR, but you need a new one every five years at least. You’ll also need a new EICR if you make significant electrical changes or have concerns about equipment. Your report summarises your electrician’s findings and recommendations for required work. These can range from immediately dangerous problems (C1) to issues that need further investigation (FI).
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