Every building with an electricity supply – whether residential, commercial or industrial – should have a DB board. But what is a DB board, what does it do, and why is it so important to make sure that it is compliant with regulatory standards?

What is an Electrical DB Board Checklist?

A DB board – also known as a distribution board, switchboard, mains or electrical panel – is a panel of switches that controls the distribution of electricity throughout a property. In short, it literally divides the electricity supply to the property into subsidiary circuits. In addition, it also provides a breaker for each circuit. The function of this protective fuse is to provide protection against power surges and other anomalies that could cause electrical fires, shocks, or damage to appliances.

Given the essential role an electrical DB board plays in both the distribution of electricity and ensuring the safe use of said electricity, it should come as no surprise that there are stringent rules regulating work done on DB boards as well as parts used when installing DB boards or performing maintenance on them.

While you can get hold of a professional DB board checklist that will list every specific detail to be checked, the most important requirements for compliance are:

1. The installation or maintenance work must be done by a qualified electrician.
2. The DB board must be accessible.
3. There are certain parts and components that have to be present, including fuses, breakers and switches.
4. These parts and/or components must meet regulatory standards, e.g. SABS approved parts.

To ensure you check every box on your DB board compliance checklist, get your parts and components from Switch Electrical. We stock everything a qualified electrician could need – from circuit breakers and electrical cabling to switches and enclosures – all from known, leading manufacturing brands.

Contact us today to locate the part you need and make sure your DB board compliance checklist is complete!