Improving School Safety with Low Voltage Plates

Electrical safety is an important consideration in any building. In schools, however, the proper installation of wall plates, cables, and other aspects of an electrical system is an absolute necessity. The average classroom needs audio/visual connections and intercom service, and many classrooms also use LED lighting, all of which typically require low voltage. This means schools need to provide appropriate and safe installation of low voltage electrical systems. These systems include wiring and low voltage plates.

Ensuring Electrical Access

A child’s education depends on access to electricity. It is incredibly difficult for teachers to do their job, and provide all of the information and resources that kids need to learn new concepts, without power to the classroom. Teachers use electricity for a wide variety of uses in the classroom. They may illuminate various areas of the room, show films on a projector screen or on a television set, provide computer and Internet access, or talk to other classrooms via intercom. Teachers may even use electricity to power microscopes and other tools for budding scientists.

Stereo systems are also a great way to make a kid’s day more interesting, provide music as a background for children working and learning, and teach kids about famous composers and styles of classical music. None of this is possible without ample wall outlets, and properly-installed power cords, switches, and cables – all of which are part of the classroom’s electrical system.

In addition to the customary higher-voltage wall outlets and light fixtures, all schools should have low voltage wiring and plates in order for the classroom to run smoothly. This allows the teacher to offer all of the educational opportunities that children need. These plates provide connections for both audio and visual connections, enabling teachers to hook up a projector screen, or a speaker system, as well as intercom systems and lighting.

What is a Low Voltage Electrical System?

Low voltage electrical systems consist of electrical trim and wiring that will actually carry lower current than standard wiring and fixtures in the school. Electricians designed low voltage plates and wiring boxes with this lower-voltage wire and load in mind. This lower voltage means that there is a reduced risk of severe electrical shock, but it’s still important to use the right cover plates, in order to make sure that the classroom is as safe as possible.

Keeping Children Safe with Low Voltage Plates

Despite the fact that low voltage systems appear to be safer, there is always a risk of electric shock. When installing a low voltage system, it’s important to remember that the wires can carry more current than you’d expect, and unsafe wiring installations can create a very dangerous situation in the event that low voltage and high voltage wires come into contact.

If you need a quick tutorial about voltage, current, and how electricity works, check out Sparkfun’s article on voltage, current, resistance, and ohm’s law for a breakdown of these concepts. In essence, voltage is the measure of the difference in electrical charge between two points, and current is how fast the charge is flowing.

School Construction and Low Voltage Wiring

While school construction is usually held to high standards during the original building process, there may be problems when schools add more classrooms to the main building, or even utilize trailers as part of the classroom environment.

Trailers can be a very cost-effective way to make sure that there are enough classrooms for all of the kids. Unfortunately, however, unless the trailers are built to code and have been thoroughly checked by an electrician to ensure that they are completely safe, accidents can happen. When electricians install wires, outlets, or wall plates incorrectly, a hazardous situation can be the result.

It’s important to make sure that electrical wiring mishaps in schools do not expose kids to danger. This applies to kids in traditionally-built classrooms or in trailers that have simply been added to the space. In order to achieve this, schools must require that all of the low voltage electrical systems are thoroughly inspected. Low voltage systems must also be kept separate from any high voltage wiring.

High voltage systems are always dangerous and pose a risk of electric arcing and severe electrical shock. On the other hand, low voltage systems are a lot safer, as long as they do not come in contact with high voltage systems. Low voltage systems can still cause electrical shock, but according to WebMD, a shock from a low voltage system, “does not normally cause significant injury.” That’s information that is bound to provide peace of mind for parents and teachers responsible for curious little fingers bent on learning about electricity the hard way.

Converting to Low Voltage Electrical Systems

In a classroom, speakers, video equipment, and lighting, telephone cables and intercoms are all low voltage. All types of low voltage equipment will need to connect to cables run through low voltage wall plates for maximum safety. More and more schools have begun to realize the need for low voltage equipment. In addition, schools have started to require and install low voltage systems and wall-plates. These changes are taking place to ensure safety for the staff and for all of the children in the school.

Switching to low voltage electrical systems for as many classroom uses as possible may be a difficult solution to implement, depending on the age of the school, the budget for renovation, and the response from parents and administrators. More flexible schools will often have an easier time changing their systems and converting to low voltage electrical systems by changing to low voltage systems – which may include installation of new wiring, as well as low voltage wall plates and boxes. Making that change, however, is just as important in less flexible schools, such as charter and public schools.

Electricity is necessary in our schools, and in our classrooms, despite the potential dangers to students. Mitigating the dangers through the use of low voltage systems is a necessary step to keeping kids safe.

How to Convert High Voltage to Low Voltage

Changing high voltage to low voltage is easier than you’d think. Electricians can install transformers to convert a high-voltage line to a low voltage line, and then use that low voltage in schools. Converting to low voltage can reduce dangers to students and staff. Practical Physics has a great explanation of how transformers work. Basically, they transform the voltage from higher to lower, or vice versa.

High Voltage vs. Low Voltage: Benefits and Risks

The use of the converted low voltage system greatly reduces any risk of death by the students in the school. Even if the student were to play with a low voltage electrical socket, he or she would not become badly injured due to the low voltage on the line.
On the other hand, electricians and contractors can get injured while installing low voltage systems without any additional protections in place, due to a sense of complacency. According to Electrical Contractor’s Russ Munyan, there are very real dangers associated with installing low voltage systems without proper safeguards – including getting a nasty shock while standing on a ladder, or in another unsafe position, and falling.

Thankfully, despite this risk, low voltage systems are not only safer, but they are a lot easier to install. This makes low voltage lighting and audio/visual cable systems ideal for schools that are constantly working to update their facilities. Schools that have some of their children in on-site trailers also benefit from low voltage systems. Schools can easily modify these systems once they have been installed. When adding more rooms, lights, or outlets to the system, contractors can quickly make modifications by installing new wire runs and low voltage plates.

Low Voltage Installation: Choosing a Wire Gauge

One problem with low voltage systems is that electricians must install low voltage fixtures very close to the transformer. This is because the appropriate wire lengths for these systems are very short. The voltage coming out of the transformer is already low. Then, as it travels through the wire, resistance causes a further drop in voltage. This drop in voltage can result in dimmed lights for lighting systems, or a lack of functionality in other systems.

It is possible to offset this drop in voltage. Installers can extend the distance between the transformer and the outlet or fixture by using a higher gauge of wire. The higher gauge of wire (thicker wire with less resistance) will transmit the current more  effectively. This will result in a lower voltage drop at the electrical system outlet or fixture.

Schools, contractors, or electricians should check local codes for appropriate cable sizes for the distance the cable needs to run, or check an online calculator, such as VistaPro’s Basic Voltage Drop Calculator here. Before installing low voltage systems, contractors will need to know the voltage traveling on the line. In addition, installers will need to know the distance between the transformer and the outlet. This information will allow them to use the calculator to figure out the appropriate cable size for any new cable run.

The Importance of Low Voltage Wiring Boxes

When installing a low voltage system at a school, consider the number of low voltage plates necessary. In order to accommodate the classroom’s needs, rooms should have low voltage plates installed all over the room. That simple step will ensure that kids will be as safe as possible around power cables, cords, and other equipment.

Audio/Visual equipment in particular can be a real hazard in classrooms. Teachers will often have a number of wires and cables running near the front of the room. These cords allow them to use the TV, projector, DVD player, smart board, and more. Unfortunately, all those cords can create a hazard for kids and staff. 

Recessed wall plates make it very easy for all of the necessary power cables to be right at hand. At the same time, the plates keep cords organized and concealed from view. This make the wiring look nicer in the room, as well as making sure children aren’t playing with wires, plugs, or cords.

With Low Voltage Plates, High-Quality Construction Counts

No school, teacher, or electrician wants to be constantly replacing low voltage plates. With high-quality plastic low voltage plates from companies such as Buyer’s Point, the people responsible for keeping schools safe won’t have to worry about replacing wall plates. Manufacturers make high-quality wall plates from a very durable plastic that will last for a long time. This virtually eliminates the need for replacement. In addition, because the wall plates recess into the wall, all cables stay tucked securely behind the wall. Screwing the plates into low voltage wiring boxes completes the setup. These boxes are specially designed to house these low voltage wires safely. Between the wiring and the plates, a low voltage system ensures total safety for kids, teachers, and administrators alike.