Commercial Whole-Building Surge Protection in Culver City
Culver City businesses—from post-production suites near Sony Pictures Studios to creative offices in the Hayden Tract—run on sensitive electronics that can't afford downtime. Our Whole-Building Surge Protection service shields your entire electrical system, critical equipment, and IT infrastructure from damaging voltage spikes caused by utility switching, onsite loads, and grid disturbances. With a walkable downtown, mixed-use properties, and evolving tenant improvements, reliable power quality is essential for restaurants, retail, studios, and tech firms alike. Shaffer Construction, Inc. designs and installs code-compliant, properly sized surge protection devices (SPDs) to protect panels, gear, AV racks, POS systems, servers, and building controls—so you stay productive, safe, and compliant.
Our Work
Benefits
Future-Proof Electrical Safeguards
We specify UL 1449 4th Edition SPDs with surge counters, status indicators, and optional remote dry contacts for tie-in to your BAS. For multi-panel facilities, we deploy a tiered approach—service-entrance Type 1 protection augmented by Type 2 devices at distribution boards and Type 3 point-of-use where required. Our designs consider solar PV, battery storage, EV charging, and sensitive AV/IT loads, ensuring short lead lengths, low-impedance paths, and scalable capacity so your protection grows with your building.
Compliant and Certified Installations
Shaffer Construction manages permitting, coordination, and inspections with the City of Culver City Building and Safety Division. We engineer to the California Electrical Code, NEC Article 242 (Surge Protection), Article 250 (Grounding and Bonding), and UL 1449 listing requirements. Where applicable, we coordinate with the Culver City Fire Department for life-safety interfaces and labeling within electrical rooms. Our submittal package includes cut sheets, one-line diagrams, and grounding details to streamline approvals and ensure a smooth inspection.
Expertise You Can Trust
We install NEMA 4/4X enclosures where exposure is possible, use copper conductors with minimal lead length and no unnecessary bends, and ensure robust terminations with listed lugs and torque verification. Grounding upgrades may include new copper-clad rods, exothermic bonds, and water/gas pipe bonding in accordance with the CEC. We source from leading manufacturers and provide clear labeling, as-built one-lines, and maintenance guidance so your system performs when it matters most.
Custom Solutions for Your Facility
Every Culver City property gets a site-specific plan. We evaluate service size, fault current, panel locations, conductor routes, and existing grounding. We account for rooftop equipment, studios’ clean power needs, elevator controllers, and restaurant appliances. Our design considers utility territory (primarily LADWP, with some edges on SCE feeders), PV interconnections, and EVSE. You receive a tailored submittal with device ratings, installation details, and phasing to minimize tenant disruption.
What We Offer
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need surge protection if I already use high-quality power strips?+
Power strips with MOVs are point-of-use devices (Type 3) and aren’t designed to protect your entire building. Whole-building SPDs at the service and distribution panels clamp larger surges before they reach branch circuits, complementing—but not replacing—local protection at sensitive equipment.
Will installation disrupt my tenants or operations?+
We plan for minimal downtime—usually 2–4 hours within a half-day install. We coordinate off-hours or early morning windows and provide advance notifications. In multi-tenant buildings, we phase work panel by panel to maintain essential services and avoid peak business periods.
Are permits required in Culver City for SPDs?+
Yes. The City of Culver City Building and Safety Division requires an electrical permit for SPD installations. We handle submittals, schedule inspections, and provide cut sheets and one-lines for a straightforward approval process, typically completed within 1–3 weeks depending on workload.
Do I need SPDs on every panel or just at the main service?+
A tiered approach is best. We install a high-capacity Type 1 device at the service entrance and add Type 2 SPDs on critical distribution panels feeding IT, AV, refrigeration, elevators, or lighting controls. This layered method improves protection by intercepting surges at multiple points.
How do solar and EV chargers affect surge risk?+
PV inverters and EVSE introduce internal switching and can backfeed transients during faults or utility events. We select SPDs rated for the system’s kA and voltage, place them at interconnection points, and ensure low-impedance grounding so both utility- and load-originated surges are properly diverted.
What maintenance is needed after installation?+
SPDs are largely maintenance-free, but we recommend annual visual checks, verifying indicator lights, tightening terminations per torque specs, and periodic IR scans of gear. Our installations include documentation and a simple checklist your staff can follow.
Power quality is mission-critical in Culver City’s creative studios, restaurants, and retail spaces. Our Whole-Building Surge Protection packages safeguard your investment in IT, AV, controls, refrigeration, and production equipment. We start with a clear assessment, design a code-compliant solution, obtain permits, and install SPDs with grounding enhancements—all while coordinating with your management team to reduce disruptions. After installation, we test, document, and support inspection so you can get back to business with confidence. Let’s protect your building before the next surge event hits. Call or text Shaffer Construction, Inc. at (323) 642-8509 or email hello@shaffercon.com for a no-pressure consultation and fast proposal. We’re ready to help your Culver City property—from downtown to the Hayden Tract—stay protected and productive.
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Contact us today for a free consultation and quote on your electrical project!
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