Christmas Shutdown Checklist: Protecting Your Business’s Electrics Over the Break
For many Geelong businesses, the Christmas shutdown is the longest stretch the doors stay closed all year. A proper Christmas shutdown checklist protects your equipment, stock and premises while nobody’s around to notice a problem.
Smart Green Electrical provides commercial electrical services across Geelong, Ocean Grove, and the Bellarine Peninsula, helping businesses close safely and reopen without surprises.
Quick answer: A Christmas shutdown checklist for business electrics should cover switching off and unplugging non-essential equipment, leaving fridges, servers and security running, fitting surge protection and making sure alarms alert someone. Use the break for compliance work such as testing and tagging, emergency lighting tests and thermal imaging of switchboards.
Before You Close the Doors
The last person out shouldn’t be guessing what to switch off.
Switch Off Safely:
- Turn off and unplug non-essential equipment, including computers, kettles, heaters and printers
- Leave fridges, freezers, servers, alarms and security cameras running
- Check nothing is left charging in staff rooms or on desks
- Put outdoor and signage lighting on timers
Label anything that must stay on, so nobody switches it off on the way out.
Protect Against Summer Risks
An empty building still faces storms, heatwaves and power surges.
Reduce Your Risk:
- Fit surge protection to guard equipment against storm damage
- Check your safety switches have been tested recently
- Make sure security systems send alerts to someone’s phone
- Nominate a contact who can respond to alarms or outages
Our guide to storm season electrical safety explains how surges damage equipment.
Use the Break for Compliance
The quietest week of the year is the best time for jobs that would otherwise disrupt trading.
Book During Shutdown:
- Testing and tagging of portable equipment and RCDs
- Emergency and exit lighting tests, required every six months under AS/NZS 2293
- Thermal imaging of switchboards to catch hot connections early
- Lighting upgrades and new power or data points
Read why testing and tagging matters for Geelong businesses.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a business switch off over Christmas?
Computers, kettles, heaters, printers and other non-essential equipment. Leave fridges, freezers, servers, alarms and cameras running.
How often does emergency lighting need testing?
Emergency and exit lighting must be tested every six months under AS/NZS 2293.
When is the best time for testing and tagging?
During a shutdown or quiet period, so testing doesn’t disrupt trading.
Why Choose Smart Green Electrical?
With more than 20 years of experience across Geelong, Ocean Grove, and the Bellarine Peninsula, Smart Green Electrical works around your shutdown dates, completes compliance work while you’re closed, and hands you the records ready for the new year.
Get Started Today
Shutdown slots fill fast. Call Smart Green Electrical on 0483 939 131 or email service@smartgreenelectrical.com.au to book compliance and electrical work during your Christmas break.
Close safely, reopen ready.
