Marcus runs a small manufacturing workshop. Twelve staff, custom metalwork, equipment that runs hot and works hard. By mid-December last year, everyone was exhausted and counting down to the shutdown.

On the 20th of December, he did his final walkthrough. Lights off, main door locked, alarm set. He didn’t think twice about the electrical systems because they’d been running fine all year.

The workshop was scheduled to reopen on 9th January. Marcus arrived on the 8th to do some preparation work before the team returned. The moment he walked into the workshop, he knew something was wrong. The air was stale and unnaturally warm.

The main switchboard had overheated during the shutdown. Loose connections that had been slowly deteriorating all year had finally become critical when the workshop was closed up and nobody was around to notice the warning signs. One of the circuits had partially failed, which meant some equipment that should have been drawing power wasn’t, whilst other circuits were overloaded.

Worse still, the extraction fans (which should have been on a timer to run periodically even during shutdown) had tripped out entirely. The workshop had been sealed shut for three weeks with no ventilation, allowing heat to build up around electrical equipment that was already stressed.

The damage wasn’t catastrophic, but it was expensive and entirely avoidable. Emergency electrician callout, complete switchboard inspection, several components that needed replacing, and two days of lost productivity whilst repairs were completed and systems were tested before staff could safely return.

This scenario plays out every January, and it’s completely preventable.

• Workshops, warehouses, and offices that close for three weeks need pre-shutdown electrical checks.
• Which systems actually need to stay running?
• Is ventilation adequate for equipment that remains on?
• Are switchboards showing any signs of stress – discolouration, heat damage, loose connections?
• Can your electrical systems safely hibernate for three weeks without supervision?

The holiday period is also the perfect opportunity to address improvements you’ve been postponing. Need additional three-phase power for new equipment? Want better lighting in the workshop? Need more power points installed so you’re not daisy-chaining extension cords? Whilst the space is empty and nobody’s trying to work around electricians, you can get it done properly.

Small electrical issues that were manageable in November become expensive disasters in January because nobody checked them before shutdown.

Marcus learned his lesson. This year, he’s already booked us for a pre-shutdown electrical inspection in early December. Switchboard check, ventilation systems tested, equipment assessed, and a proper shutdown plan that identifies what needs to stay on and what can be safely powered down.

He’s also using the shutdown period to upgrade the workshop lighting and install additional power points they’ve needed all year. When his team returns in January, they’ll have a safer, more efficient workspace – and he won’t be spending the first week of the new year dealing with electrical emergencies.

Home pre-Christmas electrical checklist

In the kitchen

• Oven heating to temperature within a reasonable time?
• Elements showing any discolouration or damage?
• Door seals intact (no heat escaping)?
• Rangehood fan working and filter clean?
• Any flickering when multiple appliances run at once?

Around the house

• Smoke alarms tested and batteries fresh?
• RCD/safety switch tested (press the test button — it should trip immediately)?
• Power boards in good condition, not overloaded or daisy-chained?
• Air conditioning running efficiently before the hot days hit?
• Hot water system performing normally?

Christmas lights and decorations

• Cords checked for damage, fraying, or exposed wires?
• Outdoor lights and extension cords rated for outdoor use?
• Lights on a timer rather than running 24/7?
• Not overloading a single power point with too many decorations?

Business pre-shutdown checklist

Switchboard and electrical systems

• Any signs of heat damage, discolouration, or burning smell?
• Connections secure (an electrician can check for loose terminals)?
• RCDs tested and functioning?
• Circuit breakers operating correctly?

What stays on, what powers down?

• Security and alarm systems — staying on and tested?
• Refrigeration — confirmed working and set correctly?
• Servers or essential equipment — on appropriate circuits with surge protection?
• Non-essential equipment — safely powered down at the wall?

Ventilation and environment

• Extraction fans set to run periodically during shutdown?
• Air circulation adequate for any equipment generating heat?
• No blocked vents or obstructions?

Before you lock up

• Emergency contact details posted for staff and security company?
• Someone scheduled to do a physical check mid-shutdown?
• Insurance documentation current and accessible if needed?

Book a Pre-Shutdown Check.