Electrical preventative maintenance is crucial for any building, whether commercial, residential, institutional, or industrial and infrastructure. It focuses on catching issues with your building’s electrical equipment and preventing unplanned outages and disruptive failures. From a property management perspective, this could mean the difference between a $500 fix and a $10,000 repair.
To establish an effective electrical preventative maintenance program, several key elements come into play, including annual electrical operating permits, annual infrared scanning, and electrical distribution maintenance. Let’s delve deeper into these essential components:
To ensure the safe operation, maintenance, and inspection of electrical equipment, Technical Safety BC or your local municipality mandates annual electrical operating permits for facilities working with such equipment.
Whether your building falls under the category of commercial, residential, industrial, or institutional, we can help you set up and apply for your annual electrical operating permit through Technical Safety BC or your local municipality.
We use infrared cameras to identify deficiencies in electrical equipment through the detection of abnormal heating. This can help catch potential issues before they cause a system failure or outage.
Our electrical distribution maintenance includes the maintenance of switchgear and transformers that feed power from the electrical service provider to your building.
Maintenance is required every 42 months for dual radial switchgear and recommended for single high-voltage feed switchgear.
We can plan and complete shutdowns outside of working hours to reduce disruption to building occupants.
With our preventative maintenance solutions, you can avoid equipment failure and operational disruption, ensure safe and reliable electrical systems, and comply with insurance requirements.
Contact us today to discover how our preventative maintenance solutions can benefit your property!
On November 16, 2023, Houle was inducted into the Burnaby Business Hall of Fame. This special award is bestowed jointly by the Burnaby Board of Trade and the City of Burnaby every year to a widely-recognized, Burnaby-based business that has demonstrated outstanding business success over many years and positively and significantly impacted the community.
This award is a testament to the dedication, hard work, and innovation of our entire team and to our almost 80-years of providing electrical and technology solutions to people across the province. It also reflects the values that drive us every day – excellence, collaboration, and a commitment to making a positive impact.
The Houle legacy began in 1944, when Lionel Houle and his father opened an electrical store in Port Alberni to serve the needs of the community. In the 1950s, Lionel established Houle’s headquarters in the city of Burnaby, and we’ve been growing ever since. Today, we have become BC’s leading electrical contractor and systems integrator. Trusted to deliver some of the province’s most complex infrastructure projects. From hospitals, universities, and shopping centres, to airports, shipping terminals, and sustainable power infrastructure. We’re passionate about what we do and provide the experience, capabilities, and resources to deliver innovative solutions for any project.
We’re also proud of our long-standing tradition of supporting organizations that do incredible work in our communities. This includes groups like the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation and the Greater Vancouver Food Bank.
We are honored to have been selected and express our gratitude to the Burnaby Board of Trade, its members, the City of Burnaby, and the entire Burnaby community for granting us this prestigious recognition. This recognition energizes and inspires us to continue our work in bringing communities to life.
The Burnaby Board of Trade (BBOT) is Burnaby’s most active business networking, advocacy and economic development organization. Working closely with the municipality, its members, and various community stakeholders. The BBOT supports the growth of business both locally and internationally and fosters a sustainable business environment through networking, education, advocacy and development. The BBOT focuses on ‘making business better’ by providing its membership with insightful leadership, advocacy, education and a platform for collaboration. For more information about the BBOT, visit bbot.ca.
We did it again! For the fourth consecutive year, Houle has been certified as a Great Place to Work®. This certification recognizes our team’s commitment to living our core values, building a positive workplace culture, and implementing processes and tools that help drive our success.
As an employer that puts people first; we’re a company with heart and a commitment to making a positive difference. The passion and dedication of our founders live on in our current generation of employees as we seek to create opportunities for everyone who works at Houle, for our partners, and for the communities in which we operate. We work to create a safe, fun, and fulfilling work environment where everyone is welcome, valued, and given the opportunity to grow. This includes extensive safety standards and programs, mental health and wellness resources, community outreach and charitable giving, fun events, and team-building socials that help us laugh and grow together.
We’re proud of the lasting workplace culture we’ve built over the decades – continually adapting and adopting better ways of doing things, while never letting go of our values and who we are as a company. It’s inspiring to see our people continue to foster a workplace where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.
– Amber Roberts, VP of People & Culture, Houle
Great Place to Work® is the global authority on high-trust, high-performance workplace cultures. Through proprietary assessment tools, advisory services, and certification programs, Great Place to Work® recognizes the Best Workplaces™ across the world in a series of national lists including those published by Fortune magazine (USA) and The Globe & Mail (Canada).
The Great Place Institute determines certification based on the results of an anonymous employee survey and a separate evaluation of the organization’s management practices. The survey includes various parameters like safety, respect, fairness, management, team dynamics, and inclusion.
Want to work in a positive and growing organization? Check out our current career opportunities.
We had a blast participating alongside 38 teams in this year’s 2023 Champion of the Crescent paddleboard race, both as a Fun Zone Sponsor and as a competing team. Congrats to the Surrey Fire Fighters for winning the well-deserved first place! As for our team, we won the best team tent for our Hawaiian Houle-a theme. Additionally, we came in a close second place for our creative team outfit.
Now in its fourth year, this annual event, hosted by the Surrey Hospitals Foundation, raises awareness and funds to support youth mental health and this year raised a record total of $265,200! Proceeds will go towards important youth mental health initiatives including the new Child and Youth Mental Health Transition Team, and specialty therapy programs that will help bridge hospital and community services and provide better care for the community.
At Houle, our purpose is to create opportunity, enrich lives, and bring communities to life. This means caring about the people that share their lives with us. We understand the importance of supporting youth mental health as it empowers future generations. Together, we can work to create a brighter future where young individuals can thrive, succeed, and prioritize wellbeing.
A big thanks to Surrey Hospitals Foundation for hosting another successful event and for bringing us together to stand up for youth mental health.
To read more, visit https://www.surreyhospitalsfoundation.com/blog/champion-of-the-crescent-raises-265200-for-youth-mental-health-programs-in-surrey/
When it comes to electrical work, it’s essential to prioritize safety and quality. Electrical systems can be complex and potentially dangerous if not installed or maintained correctly. That’s why it’s crucial to hire a licensed electrician for your electrical service needs to ensure that the work performed meets safety codes and standards. Here are 5 key benefits of choosing a licensed electrician for your electrical service needs:
In British Columbia, Technical Safety BC regulates electrical work, enforcing strict safety codes and standards to ensure safe and accurate installations. Hiring professional electricians in BC is mandatory as they possess the training and licenses to work safely with electricity while adhering to these safety codes and regulations. Hiring an experienced and licensed electrical contractor for your electrical service needs ensures that your electrical system is safe for everyone in your home and/or workplace.
In BC, all electrical work must comply with the BC Electrical Code, which sets out specific standards and requirements for electrical installations, repairs, and maintenance. Professional electricians in BC are familiar with the code and are required to ensure that your electrical system meets all the necessary requirements. By hiring a licensed electrician, you will avoid fines and penalties for non-compliance and ensure that your electrical system is up to code.
Licensed electricians in BC are trained and experienced in installing, maintaining, and repairing electrical systems. They have the necessary knowledge and skills to diagnose and solve electrical problems quickly and efficiently. This saves you time and money while ensuring your electrical system works correctly. By hiring a licensed electrician, you can trust that your electrical work will be high quality and up to code.
Don’t be fooled by lower prices if you’re trying to save money when hiring an electrician. You often get what you pay for, which is also true with electrical work. If work is completed by an unlicenced contractor without a permit, you could be subject to fines and serious safety concerns. Even worse, if an incident occurs, your insurance policy may become null and void leaving you with costly repairs.
As a property manager or homeowner, you have a lot on your plate. Electrical problems can be stressful and disruptive, especially if they occur unexpectedly. With a licensed electrician, you can have peace of mind knowing that your electrical system is in good hands. They can identify and fix electrical problems quickly and efficiently. This allows you to focus on your daily activities without worrying about your electrical system.
To ensure that your electrical system is safe, reliable, and up to code, contact Houle today for all your electrical services needs. Our team of expert electricians has the knowledge, experience, and tools to handle any electrical job, big or small. Let us help keep your electrical system in top condition so you can focus on what matters most.
We’re thrilled to be listed among Canada’s Best Managed Companies again for 2023. We’re honoured to requalify as a Platinum Club member, retaining our Best Managed status for over ten consecutive years!
It’s a privilege to be part of a company that continues to provide leadership in developing people and culture, exceeding industry standards, and bringing communities to life across BC.
Keith Parsonage, President & CEO, Houle
This designation is a reflection of our talented teams and strategic initiatives that contribute to our success. Evaluation determines best practices in the areas of strategy, culture and commitment, capabilities and innovation, governance, and financial performance. This award recognizes our dedication to connecting our people with purpose and delivering projects that make a lasting impact.
We congratulate all this year’s winners! See the winner’s list here.
About Canada’s Best Managed Companies
Canada’s Best Managed Companies continues to be the mark of excellence for private Canadian-owned and managed companies. Since 1993, hundreds of entrepreneurial companies compete for this designation. Each time, completing a rigorous and independent process that evaluates their management skills and practices.
The awards are granted on four levels: 1) Canada’s Best Managed Companies new winner (one of the new winners selected each year); 2) Canada’s Best Managed Companies winner (award recipients that have re-applied and successfully retained their Best Managed designation for two additional years, subject to annual operational and financial review); 3) Gold Standard winner (after three consecutive years of maintaining their Best Managed status, these winners have demonstrated their commitment to the program and successfully retained their award for 4-6 consecutive years); 4) Platinum Club member (winners that have maintained their Best Managed status for seven years or more). Program sponsors are Deloitte Private, CIBC, The Globe and Mail, Salesforce, and TMX Group.
For more information, visit www.bestmanagedcompanies.ca.
We’re thrilled to announce that we received the Innovation and Productivity Award at the 2023 Southern Interior Construction Association (SICA) Industry Awards of Excellence!
This award recognizes leadership in innovation and productivity and the challenges overcome to produce excellence in construction. Our Project Planning and Prefab teams employ Building Information Modeling (BIM) modeling to improve collaboration with clash detection, resolution planning, and scheduling coordination which helps reduce costly delays and rework.
Our prefabrication capabilities support improved safety by reducing on-site construction and provide greater efficiencies when delivering large, complex projects. Through this innovative process and direct collaboration with our clients and project stakeholders, we’re able to significantly increase productivity on our projects and the overall quality of our installations. These capabilities and approaches also improve our ability to engage in multi-trade collaboration on larger projects, offering improved project management and enhanced sustainability for our project partners.
Shout-out to our talented teams for their contributions to our culture of innovation and collaboration and thanks to SICA for providing leadership and promoting excellence in the construction industry.
MORE ABOUT SICA
The Southern Interior Construction Association (SICA) is a non-profit membership organization representing the construction industry in the southern interior of British Columbia. SICA works to ensure fairness, transparency, and open communication in the construction industry while supporting the growth of local businesses. The association offers a wide range of services to its members, including networking opportunities, training, education, and industry advocacy.
To kick off BC Construction Month, we’re excited to share that we’re the recipients of two Builders Code Awards – the Workplace Culture Champion Award and the Contractor of the Year Award!
These awards recognize the efforts of our people and programs that continue to create an environment where all employees have access to a safe, respectful, and inclusive workplace. We’re proud of our people-focused culture that inspires collaboration and innovation and promotes wellness and safety that goes beyond PPE. Thanks to our talented teams that prioritize safety, health, and wellbeing and continuously work to make the construction industry better for everyone.
The Builders Code, managed by the BC Construction Association, is a code of behaviour that acts as a guide for workers on construction sites. It defines an “Acceptable Worksite” as being safe, productive, and free from discrimination, bullying, harassment, and hazing. The Builders Code is intended to help construction employers communicate a reasonable, consistent behaviour expectation to improve the safety, productivity and retention of skilled tradespeople, and reduce project risk.
View the full list of winners on the Builders Code website.
