For facilities where any interruption to electrical supply has serious operational or financial consequences, emergency and standby power provision deserves careful thought. The options range from uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) protecting specific critical loads – servers, control systems, production line PLCs – through to full standby generator installations capable of maintaining site operations through a grid supply failure.
The distinction between a UPS and a standby generator is worth being clear on. A UPS provides instantaneous switchover and is designed to bridge short outages or provide enough runtime to execute a controlled shutdown. A generator provides sustained power but involves a switchover delay – typically a few seconds – during which a UPS may be needed to maintain continuity on the most critical loads. The two are often deployed together for facilities that genuinely cannot afford interruption.
Generator installations for industrial premises involve more than selecting an appropriately rated unit. Changeover switchgear, fuel storage compliance, exhaust routing, load testing protocols, and integration with building management or fire alarm systems all form part of a compliant and reliable installation. MeKo designs and installs emergency power systems for industrial clients across the South West, and we're straightforward about what level of protection a given budget will and won't provide.
Maintenance Contracts for Critical Facilities
Planned maintenance is consistently cheaper than reactive repair – particularly in industrial settings where electrical failure can halt production, trigger food safety or quality control issues, or create health and safety incidents. A scheduled maintenance programme for switchgear, distribution boards, motor control centres, emergency lighting, and other critical electrical equipment is standard practice in well-run facilities, and in many cases a condition of insurance cover or compliance with industry-specific standards.
MeKo offers maintenance contracts tailored to industrial and commercial clients throughout Gloucestershire and the South West. The scope is agreed based on your site, your equipment, and your operational priorities – not a one-size-fits-all schedule applied regardless of what you actually have on site. For clients with emergency power systems, maintenance contracts include regular load testing to verify that standby plant will perform when it's actually needed.
There's also a practical compliance dimension. Under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, duty holders have a legal obligation to maintain electrical systems in a safe condition. A documented maintenance programme, with records of inspections and remedial work, provides evidence of due diligence that matters both for insurance purposes and in the event of any HSE investigation following an incident.
Minimising Production Downtime
Every electrical project on a live industrial site is, at some level, a project management challenge. The technical work is only part of what MeKo is being asked to deliver – equally important is completing that work within an agreed window, in a way that doesn't introduce risk to ongoing production, and with minimal need for rework or follow-up visits.
This requires detailed pre-installation planning: understanding which circuits and equipment can be isolated and when, identifying any interdependencies between systems, agreeing with your team on the sequence of work and the points at which sign-off is required, and having the right materials on site before work begins rather than discovering a procurement gap mid-shutdown.
For larger projects, MeKo produces a detailed method statement and programme before work starts, reviewed with your facilities or operations team so that everyone understands the plan and its implications for their area. Where hot works, confined space, or other permit-to-work requirements apply, we work within your site's existing safe systems of work rather than expecting you to adapt your procedures to ours.
Talk to MeKo About Your Industrial Electrical Project
Whether you're planning a significant expansion, upgrading ageing infrastructure, or simply want a reliable maintenance partner for your existing facility, MeKo Electrical has the experience to deliver.
Call us on 01453 764531 or get in touch through our contact page to discuss your requirements.
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