News

A brief overview of reactive and preventative maintenance and why it might be worth switching to PPM

There are two types of maintenance programmes reactive and preventative.
Reactive maintenance also known as, run to failure maintenance, or breakdown maintenance and Preventative maintenance

Reactive maintenance

Fuelled solely on performing maintenance only after a breakdown or failure.  Hence the names, breakdown maintenance and run to failure maintenance. This approach often leads to costly unexpected shutdowns and breakdowns.  It can also shorten the lifespan of your equipment, and significantly increase your overall maintenance costs.

Preventative maintenance

A schedule of routine maintenance checks designed to keep equipment running. Leading to a decrease in reactive maintenance call outs for breakdowns.  In turn helping eliminate costly and unexpected shutdowns.
Poorly maintained equipment will not run at it’s optimum levels and can lead to an increase in energy consumption.  As well as increased waste and increased workload for your workforce. Productivity and profits can be negatively affected by poorly maintained equipment.

There are increased labour costs attached to emergency repairs, we all know the costs of out of hours call outs!  Not to mention the stress of the loss of productivity.  Which can also directly affect the profits of a company. Embarking on a preventative maintenance programme will lead to less assets breakdowns. Less breakdowns will save on the costs of emergency repairs and will ensure productivity.

Preventative maintenance can help maintain the longevity of your assets. Ensure they are running at optimal capacity.  Reducing the number of breakdowns and failures. This can help to reduce both emergency repair costs and losses in productivity.

inovolt offer a full range of mechanical and electrical facilities maintenance services.  We cater for both reactive and preventative maintenance.  Aiming to provide a bespoke service to our customers.  We will ensure your facilities and equipment are always running at their optimum levels. With our customer database you can see all of your assets and job history, enabling you to make informed decisions.

If you would like to know more please contact 02392 492191 or visit inovolt

Hot water systems that are maintained infrequently or incorrectly can cause a multitude of problems. These problems range from higher risks of scalding through to legionella.  TMV’s in the water system can help improve the safety of hot water systems.

Public health England reported more than 100 cases of legionnaires disease in 2020.  Keeping the temperature of stored water above 60 degrees prevents the growth of legionella bacteria. However, this can increase the risk of scalding.  is it time to improve your hot water system safety?

What are TMV’s? 

TMV’s are thermostatic mixing valves. They use temperature-sensitive elements to mix hot and cold water to a temperature that safeguards against both legionella and scalding.   Although TMV’s are not a legal requirement in existing bathrooms, fitting them will safeguard the end-user.  

TMV’s are fitted to an outlet and mix water automatically, this is controlled by an internal thermostat that ensures the water is mixed to a safe temperature.  Correctly installed TMV’s ensure that a predetermined temperature is maintained, this will remain unaffected even when other appliances are in use and the water pressure fluctuates.   If either the hot-water or cold-water supply is cut off the mechanism will shut the valve off automatically. 

Installation and maintenance of the TMV

Before installing the TMV’s inspect, clean, descale and disinfect the filters and strainers to ensure that any build-up of dirt is removed.  In the commercial setting, TMV’s require periodic inspection, cleaning, and testing.  To remain compliant with NHS DO8 standards the valves should be checked every 6-8 weeks.  These checks should include: 

• Thermal element endurance test
• A hot spike test.
• A response on adjustment check 
• A fail-stop valve check. 

If you require assistance with ensuring your hot water systems’ safety, inovolt can help. For quotes to install TMV’s through to legionella reporting, our mechanical team have you covered.

inovolt were given an exciting project opportunity. A refurbishment project on a grade 2 listed building.

This refurbishment project was completed on time, within the customers budget. The schedule to complete the refurbishment was over a very short time frame. Only allowing a mere 8 weeks for completion. Full project requirements can be seen further down this page.

inovolt’s team of installation engineers overcame various issues, due to the age of the building and the short time-frame to complete works. Our engineers were able to complete a vast amount of work in a small space of time.

Our end-user was especially happy with the result. inovolt were thrilled with the feedback received from the customer. As a result, we look forward to building on our relationship and completing more of these refurbishment projects in the future.

The installation engineers relished the challenge of completing this refurbishment within such a small time frame.

Refurbishment Project Requirements

• The full survey and decommission of electrical and mechanical services.
• Complete design of M&E services.
• Installation of new CH DHW and DCW pipework throughout.
• Four-zone heating control install.
• Complete installation of new power and lighting throughout.
• Upgrade of sub mains and distribution.

Project Value £54K

Who are inovolt

A facilities maintenance services company operating across the south. Inovolt is capable of running projects such as this, from start to finish.

With a full range of Mechanical and Electrical services. We have a team of both installation, and maintenance engineers. Therefore allowing us to have the in-house skills to not only install but also to maintain all of your mechanical and electrical services. We can provide complete support and management for your site if required and offer bespoke solutions tailored to your needs.

For more information please contact inovolt on 02392 492191.

How a new customer described inovolt, after using our emergency out of hours service. The customer discovered a large leak in their plant room and placed an emergency call out with inovolt.

inovolt pride themselves on their response rate and service. Aiming to keep to an average response time of 2 hours, wherever possible.

Emergency call-out received on Friday.

The customer called on Friday morning, to report a large leak in their plant room. The call was received at 7.15 am by the mechanical out of hours line, inovolt’s engineer was on site by 7.40 am.

On arrival inovolt’s mechanical engineer found a leak stemming from the water softener pipework. The engineer quickly determined that the pipework had not been correctly supported. This had caused stress on the joints, which lead to the snapping of the fitting.

• 

inovolt’s engineer discovered that water had penetrated the control panel. inovolt’s mechanical engineer called for an electrical engineer to be sent to site.

Further issues

Unfortunately, it was found that a large amount of water had penetrated the control panel. Another electrical engineer was deployed to help dry out the panel. The drying process included the use of the wet vac, heat, and driers.

Once the control panel was thoroughly dry the fault-finding begun. inovolt’s engineers were on site late into the evening reinstating power to the customer’s site. Working tirelessly to get our customer back up and running finally leaving the site at around 11.30 pm.

Customer Feedback

On returning to the office on Monday inovolt had received fantastic reviews via google and their social media pages.

inovolt have a building division, along with a mechanical and electrical division. Enabling them to provide a full range of building, mechanical and electrical services. Covering all project works, installations, servicing, and emergency call outs.

A customer requested that inovolt designed and installed a new 1600amp switch panel to their facility.  These works were required to upgrade their current electrical supply infrastructure.

Work carried out included;

• High level containment systems.
• Rerouting of new sub main to supply existing and new distribution boards.

                    

inovolt’s building division carried out all associated ground works for the new transformer installation and cabling.  The electrical team ensured full communication with SSE from the start of the project through to its completion.