Commercial Whole-Building Surge Protection in Santa Clarita
From Valencia's bustling retail near Westfield Valencia Town Center to industrial facilities in the Rye Canyon and Valencia Commerce Centers, Santa Clarita businesses depend on clean, reliable power. Whole-building surge protection shields your mission-critical equipment—POS terminals, HVAC drives, servers, lighting controls, and production electronics—from damaging transients caused by utility switching, re-energization after outages, and internal equipment cycling. Shaffer Construction, Inc. designs and installs commercial-grade surge protection systems that match your service size and operational risk. Our approach combines robust service-entrance protection, strategic panel-level devices, and grounding enhancements to minimize downtime, extend equipment life, and protect your bottom line.
Our Work
Benefits
Future-Proof Electrical Defense
We engineer surge protection that scales with your growth. Using UL 1449 4th Edition Type 1 and Type 2 SPDs from leading manufacturers, we tailor kA-per-phase ratings (80–200 kA+) to your service and distribution. We integrate surge counters, remote alarm contacts tied to your BAS, and optional power quality metering to trend sags, swells, and transients. Modular, field-replaceable designs and NEMA 4/4X enclosures support rooftop and mechanical room environments, while coordinated protection at service and panelboards keeps future expansions covered.
Complete Compliance & Certifications
Our installations follow the California Electrical Code (based on NEC 2020), including Article 242 (overvoltage protection) and Article 250 (grounding and bonding), and adhere to UL 1449 4th Edition listing requirements. We verify available fault current and align SPD SCCR with your gear. For critical systems, we coordinate with fire alarm and elevator vendors to avoid unintended interference. Shaffer Construction handles submittals, City of Santa Clarita inspections, and SCE coordination to ensure a smooth, compliant project.
Reliable, Expert Installation
We prioritize performance details that matter: short, straight conductors to minimize let-through voltage; properly twisted phase/neutral leads; copper bonding with listed lugs; and torque logs for terminations. Where needed, we add or refurbish grounding electrodes and use exothermic welds for durable bonds. Gear is selected for the environment—NEMA-rated enclosures, high-SCCR assemblies, and surge ratings matched to 120/208V or 277/480V services. Every install is tested, labeled, documented, and thermally scanned for quality assurance.
Tailored Protection Plans
Every building is different. We start with a site assessment and one-line review, inventory sensitive loads (POS, servers, VFDs, elevators, LED drivers), and note PV/generator interfaces. Then we size SPDs, choose service-entrance and distribution locations, and design grounding enhancements to meet target resistance. We plan shutdowns around business hours, coordinate with property managers, and stage materials for a clean, fast install. Your deliverable includes cut sheets, as-builts, and maintenance guidance.
What We Offer
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit in Santa Clarita for surge protector installation at my commercial service?+
Yes. The City of Santa Clarita Building and Safety Division typically requires an electrical permit for service-entrance and panelboard SPDs. We submit plans, coordinate inspections, and schedule any required shutdowns. Most permits are approved in 1–3 weeks, and inspections verify device ratings, conductor sizes, and grounding/bonding.
Will my building need to shut down power during installation, and for how long?+
Service-entrance SPDs usually require a brief shutdown, often scheduled after-hours or on weekends. Expect 30–120 minutes per device depending on gear access and lockout procedures. Panel-level SPDs may be installed with localized shutdowns. We coordinate with tenants, property managers, and SCE to minimize impact.
What surge rating (kA) is appropriate for Valencia industrial and retail sites?+
For typical 120/208V retail or small offices, 80–120 kA per phase at the service is common, with 50–80 kA at key distribution panels. Larger 277/480V services or sites near frequent utility switching often benefit from 160–200 kA at the service. We size based on available fault current, exposure, and equipment sensitivity.
Can surge protection be added if I already have solar, generators, or EV chargers?+
Absolutely. We coordinate SPDs at PV combiners/inverters, generator transfer points, and EV charger feeders to handle bidirectional and switching transients. Proper grounding and bonding are critical, and we verify neutral-to-ground bonds are only at the service to avoid circulating currents.
How is grounding addressed in Santa Clarita’s dry soils?+
Dry, compacted soils can raise ground resistance. We test your grounding electrode system and, if needed, add supplemental rods, deeper driven electrodes, chemical rods, or building steel bonding. The goal is a low-impedance path that meets code and performance targets for effective surge diversion.
How often should SPDs be inspected or replaced?+
We recommend annual visual checks and thermal imaging during scheduled maintenance. Many commercial SPDs have indicator lights and remote alarms; modular units allow replacement of MOV modules without replacing the whole device. After a major event or repeated faults, we test and document status to ensure continued protection.
Ready to Get Started?
Contact us today for a free consultation and quote on your electrical project!
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