Electrical Services for Senior & Assisted Living

Resident Rooms & Care Areas

Resident comfort starts with safe, well‑lit rooms. Regulations require at least 10 foot‑candles of illumination in resident rooms. We design circuits that supply ample receptacles near beds and seating, install GFCI‑protected outlets in bathrooms and wet areas and ensure accessible switches and night lights. To enhance safety, we install nurse‑call systems with a fixed call station in each unit and a central notification station. Residents can wear pendants or wristbands for additional mobility, but these do not replace the required fixed call station.

Common Rooms & Dining Lighting

Hallways, lounges and dining rooms must be brightly lit. Codes specify 20 foot‑candles in corridors, staff stations, dining rooms and lobbies, measured at 30 inches above the floor. We retrofit these spaces with high‑CRI LED fixtures and install dimmers and daylight harvesting to create warm, welcoming spaces. Occupancy sensors and time switches satisfy energy codes by turning lights off within 30 minutes of vacancy and limiting automatic‑on levels to no more than 50 % of lighting power.

Nurse Stations & Medication Areas

Medication prep areas, kitchens and desks at nurse stations require brighter task lighting—50 foot‑candles when in use. We provide dedicated circuits for computers, nurse‑call consoles and refrigerators used for medications. Our designs include surge protection and battery‑backed circuits for critical devices. We also coordinate cabling for Wi‑Fi, telehealth and electronic medical records.

Emergency/Egress Lighting & Generators

During a power outage, residents and staff must evacuate safely. Emergency lighting systems must provide an average of 1 foot‑candle of illumination and at least 0.1 foot‑candle at any point along exit routes, with uniformity ratios not exceeding 40:1. Backup power must come on automatically within 10 seconds for life‑safety loads. We install generators and automatic transfer switches that comply with NFPA 110 Type 10 and Level 1 standards, and wire only emergency lighting, exit signs and alarm/communication circuits to the emergency system. Wiring from the emergency source is kept independent from all other circuits, and transfer switches cannot serve multiple facilities. We test and commission systems, then set up monthly 30‑second checks and annual 90‑minute discharge tests as required by the Life Safety Code.

Renovations with Minimal Disruption

Upgrading an occupied facility requires careful planning. We schedule work during off‑peak hours or between meal services, use dust containment and communicate with staff to avoid disrupting residents’ routines. Our team can rewire entire wings, upgrade panels and install new fixtures while maintaining continuous power to critical systems.

Safety & Compliance

Assisted living communities must meet multiple codes:

• Illumination levels: Minimum lighting levels are 10 fc in resident rooms, 20 fc in corridors, dining rooms, lobbies and bathrooms, and 50 fc in medication prep areas, kitchens and nurse stations.
• Communication systems: Facilities must provide a communication system from each resident living unit to a central staff station, with a fixed call station in every unit and a central notification station to receive calls. Portable pendants may supplement but not replace fixed stations.
• Emergency power: Generators supplying emergency lighting and exit signs must comply with NFPA 70 Article 700. The emergency system may only serve emergency lighting, exit signs and detection/alarm/communication systems, and wiring must be independent from all other loads.
• Emergency lighting: Systems must provide an average of 1 fc with at least 0.1 fc minimum along egress routes, turn on automatically within 10 seconds, and be tested monthly (30 s) and annually (90 min) with written records.
• GFCI and damp-location protection: NEC Section 210.8(B) requires GFCI protection for receptacles in bathrooms, kitchens and other indoor damp or wet locations.
• Energy codes: ASHRAE 90.1/IECC require manual lighting controls with dimming steps between 30–70 % and automatic shut‑off within 30 minutes. We incorporate sensors and scheduling to meet these requirements.
• Generator classification: Emergency systems serving life‑safety loads in assisted living facilities are typically Type 10, Level 1—meaning power must be restored within 10 seconds and serve loads where power loss could lead to serious injury.

Energy & Reliability

Assisted living facilities operate 24/7, so efficient systems save money without sacrificing comfort. Upgrading to LED lighting can reduce lighting energy use by about 75 % and extend lamp life 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs; LEDs are four times more energy efficient and last five times longer than fluorescents. Tunable LEDs also support residents’ circadian rhythms, improving sleep and reducing agitation. Smart controls—occupancy sensors, daylight harvesting and scheduling—reduce wasted energy. Our preventive maintenance, surge protection and power‑quality improvements keep elevators, HVAC, nurse‑call systems and medical equipment running reliably, giving you peace of mind.