Inspections prevent electrical fires

2 minutes

A worn wire. An overloaded socket. A breaker you thought was perfectly functional. It doesn't take much for a commercial building to quickly become the scene of a fire. And when that happens, operations grind to a halt, equipment goes up in smoke and costly losses are incurred. Not to mention the risks to people's safety. Most of the time, it's not negligence. It’s something you just didn't see coming. And a preventive inspection could have changed everything.

An underestimated danger

Every year, over 500 commercial buildings are damaged by fire in Quebec. And in almost a third of cases, the cause is an electrical or mechanical failure.

Quebec reports 64% more fires related to electrical failure than the Canadian average — and that may not be a coincidence: preventive inspections are far less frequent here than in other provinces.

This points to a collective blind spot, a practice we haven't yet adopted, but one that could prevent so many problems.

What the law says (and why it's a good thing)

The Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) requires that electrical installations be safe and comply with the Building Code and the Canadian Electrical Code. To ensure compliance, you need to work with a qualified electrician.

What you don't see can end up being costly

An electrical system may appear to be in good condition while concealing a number of risks. Behind the walls, cables can overheat, circuit breakers may fail to respond, and the electrical load may be poorly distributed. And since none of this is visible, these issues often go unnoticed. Until a short circuit or power failure occurs. Or a fire.

Even well-designed systems wear out over time. Our needs evolve, new equipment is added, renovations are made... and what was safe 10 years ago may not be so today.

That's why a professional inspection is important from time to time.

Better to prevent than rebuild

Setting up a regular inspection schedule is simple and effective. The frequency of inspections depends on several factors, such as the age of the building, the nature of the activities and how the systems are used.

But one thing's for sure: waiting for a problem to occur has never been a good strategy. A certified electrician can recommend the inspection frequency that best suits your situation.

What’s checked during an inspection

A comprehensive, professional inspection covers several key building safety elements:

  • Electrical panel: signs of corrosion, faulty breakers, overheating
  • Outlets and switches: physical condition, wiring, temperature
  • Grounding: to prevent power surges and electrocution
  • Overall compliance: alignment with current codes and standards

These regular inspections, even if not required by law, offer peace of mind.

Proactive maintenance: profitable in every respect

Taking the initiative to follow a preventive inspection schedule for your electrical systems is a worthwhile expense. It’s the best way to avoid major costs, maintain operational continuity and stability, and most importantly, protect the people who use your spaces.