At OWS, we have in-house electricians ready and on-call to answer your needs. With bases in St. Albans and Hemel Hempstead, covering Hertfordshire for domestic work, we also offer services further afield, depending on the nature of your requirement. If you're looking for electricians for your business, we do that too (nationwide).
If you've got something you want installed, such as a new cooker, we can ensure that the correct components are used, compliant with the relevant standards. All our staff are trained in the latest regulations, including any updates, where relevant, to the ‘17th Edition’ (the standard industry wiring regulations, as defined by the Institute of Electrical Engineers).
Rewiring
Whether you need a whole house rewiring, or want to update part of an existing installation, perhaps for a loft extension or other addition, we have experienced electricians ready to help you.
Safety
The legal standards for new-build homes becomes ever-more stringent as the years go by. The requirements for circuit loads, circuit breakers and residual current devices (‘RCDs’) make modern buildings immeasurably safer as time goes on. RCDs, in particular, are a case in point. They are designed to immediately shut off the electricity supply if an aberrant flow of current is detected. This means that if someone should accidentally touch a live wire, the circuit cuts off straight away, to protect them. It is the safety to life and limb aspect which determines opting for a rewiring for many people. The danger to property from fire is another major consideration.
If you would like information about whether your property needs a rewiring, please call us.
Reports & Inspections
Landlord Reports
We have qualified electricians who can make official reports for you, to confirm that an installation complies with safety standards. This service is sometimes used by landlords, for example, so that they can be sure they are meeting their responsibilities.
PAT Testing
Electrical appliances can also be confirmed safe, by a process known as ‘PAT (Portable Appliance) Testing’. This service is most commonly used by employers, who have a legal obligation to ensure safety in the work place. However, it can be used by anyone who wants to confirm the the safety of a device. Tested devices can be labelled to indicate they have passed and are approved for a specified period.
Know What You're Paying For
Whoever commissions the testing must be sure that they will receive an official report which covers all the stipulations; an incomplete report made by an unqualified technician may seem a good buy, but will not be worth the paper it is written on! OWS is an NICEIC-approved contractor. See ‘NICEIC’ section below for more details on this trade accreditation organisation.
Lighting
Choice
As well as having our own electricians, we also have a lighting showroom, and many years' experience in the field. We can undertake anything from simple installations or repairs, to professional lighting design. If you want a specialist item, such as a feature chandelier, we can advise you, and offer the best prices. On the other hand, if you need functional lighting, we can both advise on what is on offer, and install the items for you. There are more options than people sometimes realise when it comes to choosing your lighting. For example, a simple downlighter may be directional, may be low-voltage or mains-voltage, may have different cutouts and finishes, may be ultra-energy-saving or offer coloured light ... . Our staff can help you make sense of it all, if need be. Some idea of the range of lighting we can offer can be found on our Lighting Catalogues page. As lighting wholesalers, we can offer best prices for complete installations.
Installation
When it comes to installing your purchases, our electricians can ensure that this is performed safely and efficiently. Factors such as the humidity of the environment may affect your options. Please refer to our article on IP Rating for more information.
Emergency Lighting
If you need emergency lighting powered by battery backup, which will enable lighting in the event of a power cut, we can do that too.
Security
Installation
We can install fire alarm systems, smoke alarms, security cameras and floodlighting for you. Please refer to our Security section for details.
NICEIC
NICEIC is the United Kingdom's electrical industry independent body. OWS is an Approved NICEIC Contractor.
Where are We?
Our main office is located at Units 1-3 Folly Lane, St. Albans, Hertfordshire, AL3 5JU. St. Albans is within easy reach of Hatfield, Welwyn Garden City, Hemel Hempstead, Radlett, Kings Langley, Watford, Potters Bar, Harpenden and Redbourn. In the more immediate vicinity are the communities of Frogmore, Colney Heath, Porters Wood and Sandridge. We do domestic work throughout Hertfordshire and surrounding counties (including the area of Chesham, Amersham, Berkhamsted and Kings Langley), and beyond, but also do major projects nationwide. Please refer to our Contact Us page for detailed directions.
Menu Links in Text Form
For the benefit of visitors using screen readers, or who would like larger text, the details of the above slides, and all links, are displayed as text below. Text size can be modified by using the Accessibility Tool, which can be opened by hovering a mouse over the eye symbol above. More links, and details of slides or images in text form are available below. Please click on the ‘... More +’ button to reveal information for each heading.