High-Profile: October 2026 | Page 28

28 October 2026

By Edward Gould

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Super El Niño is set to peak this winter, bringing an energized storm track up the East Coast. While temperatures across New England are forecasted to be warmer overall, that extra atmospheric moisture combined with coastal nor’ easters means facilities face a high risk of heavy rain, freezing rain, rapid ice accumulation, and frequent power outages. Heavy, wet precipitation puts severe stress on commercial electrical infrastructure, making winterization more critical than ever.

Here is a five-step checklist for commercial property owners and facility managers to use to make sure their building can withstand a major winter storm and maintain operational integrity:

1. Perform Infrared Thermography and Tighten Panel Connections

Cold snaps cause heating equipment to

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. high-profile. com kick into high gear, drawing maximum continuous current through main distribution panels, switchboards, and disconnect switches. Any loose electrical

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Electrician inspecting main electrical panels and testing connections to prepare for winter weather / Photo courtesy of Interstate Electrical Services Corporation

termination or failing component creates resistance, leading to rapid heat buildup and phase imbalances that trip main breakers or cause electrical fires. Licensed electricians use infrared thermography cameras during peak load to detect hot spots, torque loose lug connections to spec, and identify failing breakers before winter stress causes a main power loss.

2. Audit Electrical Continuity on Heat Trace Circuits

Pipe and roof drain heat trace cables rely on dedicated ground-fault equipment protection( GFEP) breakers to safely melt ice without tripping standard GFCIs. Over the summer, physical damage or insulation breakdown can cause high continuity resistance or ground faults that go unnoticed until temperature controllers signal for power. Electricians perform insulation resistance( megohmmeter) testing and verify control sensor calibration to ensure heat trace circuits draw correct amperage and operate safely before freezing temps arrive.

3. Test Automatic Transfer Switches and Generator Load Capacities

Ice storms frequently tear down overhead utility lines, forcing commercial facilities onto generator power. A backup generator is only as reliable as its Automatic Transfer Switch( ATS) and battery distribution system. Electricians test the control wiring, check phase rotation sync, and run simulated mains-failure tests to ensure the ATS transitions power in seconds without voltage drops that trip sensitive building management system( BMS) controls or server equipment.

4. Balance Phase Loads and Review Transformer Headroom

When auxiliary electric heat banks and rooftop unit( RTU) defrost cycles engage simultaneously during sub-zero blasts, unbalanced electrical panels can cause single-phase voltage sags. This voltage imbalance strains commercial motors and triggers high utility demand charges. An electrician audits the building’ s current electrical load distribution across all three phases, ensuring dry-type transformers have adequate ventilation and operating headroom to prevent thermal overload during continuous peak running hours.

5. Verify Cascade Surge Protection( Type 1 & Type 2 SPDs)

Winter grid switching, utility fault reclosing, and lightning surges from severe coastal nor’ easters inject highvoltage transients straight into building main services. Without layered Surge Protection Devices( SPDs) installed at both the main service entrance( Type 1) and downstream distribution panels( Type 2), those voltage spikes bypass main breakers and burn out electronic motor drives, variable frequency drives( VFDs), and control boards. Electricians check SPD status indicators, ground resistance levels, and fuse blocks to guarantee complete transient protection.

By following these tips, you can help protect your commercial facility and its occupants in the event of a winter weather event or other disaster.

Edward Gould is the Operations Center Production Area Manager at Interstate Electrical Services Corporation.