Building Electrical Systems Maintenance Course

Lesson 1 • Electrical Safety Principles

Defines shock hazards, arc flash risks, and lockout/tagout procedures. Safety compliance is reinforced as a prerequisite for all subsequent practical tasks.

Lesson 2 • Basic Electrical Theory

Covers voltage, current, resistance, and power relationships using Ohm's Law. Provides the quantitative foundation for diagnosing faults throughout the course.

Lesson 3 • Codes, Standards, and Regulations

Introduces regulatory frameworks governing building electrical installations and maintenance. Technicians learn to locate and apply code requirements during inspections.

Lesson 4 • Building Electrical System Overview

Maps the path of electricity from utility service entrance to end-use devices. Orients technicians to system hierarchy before hands-on work begins.

Lesson 1 • Wiring Inspection and Testing

Applies insulation resistance testing and continuity checks to verify wiring condition. Results are interpreted against acceptance criteria to guide maintenance decisions.

Lesson 2 • Splices, Terminations, and Connections

Teaches proper splicing techniques, terminal torque values, and connector selection. Poor connections are a leading cause of failures that this section directly addresses.

Lesson 3 • Conduit and Raceway Systems

Covers rigid, flexible, and non-metallic conduit types along with installation methods. Proper raceway selection protects conductors and supports long-term system integrity.

Lesson 4 • Conductor Types and Properties

Examines copper and aluminum conductors, insulation ratings, and ampacity tables. Correct conductor selection prevents overheating and premature insulation failure.

Lesson 1 • Circuit Breaker Types and Operation

Covers thermal-magnetic, electronic trip, GFCI, and AFCI breaker technologies. Technicians learn operating principles to diagnose nuisance tripping and true faults.

Lesson 2 • Panelboard Inspection and Maintenance

Details visual inspection, thermal scanning, and torque verification for panelboards. Systematic maintenance extends equipment life and reduces unplanned outages.

Lesson 3 • Selective Coordination Concepts

Introduces coordination between upstream and downstream protective devices. Proper coordination limits fault isolation to the smallest affected circuit segment.

Lesson 4 • Fuse Types and Applications

Distinguishes current-limiting, time-delay, and cartridge fuse classes and their ratings. Correct fuse selection prevents equipment damage and maintains selective coordination.

Lesson 1 • Grounding System Principles

Distinguishes system grounding from equipment grounding and explains their separate functions. A clear conceptual model prevents common wiring errors in the field.

Lesson 2 • Grounding Electrode Systems

Covers ground rods, concrete-encased electrodes, water pipe electrodes, and electrode interconnection. A low-impedance electrode system is essential for effective fault clearing.

Lesson 3 • Bonding Requirements and Methods

Addresses bonding of metallic piping, structural steel, and separately derived systems. Equipotential bonding eliminates dangerous voltage differences between conductive surfaces.

Lesson 4 • Equipment Grounding Conductors

Explains sizing, routing, and continuity requirements for equipment grounding conductors. Continuous low-impedance paths ensure overcurrent devices operate during faults.

Lesson 1 • Luminaire Inspection and Cleaning

Details inspection intervals, lens cleaning, and reflector maintenance for common fixture types. Clean optics restore designed illumination levels without lamp replacement.

Lesson 2 • Emergency and Exit Lighting

Covers battery backup systems, self-diagnostic features, and mandatory test intervals. Compliant emergency lighting is critical for occupant safety during power failures.

Lesson 3 • Ballast and Driver Troubleshooting

Diagnoses failed ballasts and LED drivers using voltage, current, and waveform measurements. Accurate diagnosis reduces unnecessary component replacement and downtime.

Lesson 4 • Lighting Control Systems

Covers occupancy sensors, daylight harvesting, dimming controls, and time-clock systems. Control integration maximizes energy savings while maintaining occupant comfort.

Lesson 1 • Power Quality and Metering Equipment

Introduces power factor, harmonics, and transient disturbances measured at distribution equipment. Identifying power quality issues guides corrective actions that protect sensitive loads.

Lesson 2 • Switchgear and Switchboard Maintenance

Details racking procedures, contact inspection, and draw-out breaker maintenance for switchgear. Correct procedures prevent arc flash incidents during maintenance operations.

Lesson 3 • Motor Control Center Maintenance

Addresses bucket inspection, contactor maintenance, and overload relay testing in MCCs. Reliable MCC operation is essential for HVAC, pump, and process motor loads.

Lesson 4 • Dry-Type Transformer Maintenance

Covers inspection, cleaning, insulation testing, and tap changer adjustment for dry-type units. Proactive transformer maintenance prevents costly failures and voltage irregularities.

Lesson 1 • Motor Starter and Contactor Maintenance

Details contact inspection, coil testing, and overload relay calibration for motor starters. Properly maintained starters prevent nuisance trips and motor winding damage.

Lesson 2 • Motor Insulation and Winding Testing

Applies megohmmeter, polarization index, and surge testing to assess winding condition. Trending test results over time reveals insulation degradation before failure occurs.

Lesson 3 • AC Motor Fundamentals

Reviews induction motor construction, nameplate data, and operating characteristics. Nameplate interpretation is the starting point for all motor maintenance and troubleshooting tasks.

Lesson 4 • Bearing Inspection and Lubrication

Covers vibration analysis, bearing temperature monitoring, and correct lubrication practices. Bearing failures account for the majority of motor failures and are largely preventable.

Lesson 1 • Computerized Maintenance Management Systems

Covers work order creation, asset history tracking, and KPI reporting in CMMS platforms. Digital records improve compliance documentation and support data-driven decisions.

Lesson 2 • Preventive Maintenance Program Design

Guides creation of equipment inventories, task lists, and maintenance intervals. A well-designed PM program balances cost, risk, and equipment reliability objectives.

Lesson 3 • Maintenance Documentation and Reporting

Establishes standards for test reports, inspection logs, and corrective action records. Accurate documentation supports regulatory compliance and long-term asset management.

Lesson 4 • Predictive Maintenance Technologies

Introduces thermal imaging, ultrasonic testing, and vibration analysis as predictive tools. Data-driven predictions allow maintenance to be scheduled before failures occur.