# 11.5 Fuse Box & Circuit Breaker Management
**Version:** V2
**Date:** October 2025
**Section:** 11 – Electrical
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## Purpose
To establish procedures for managing fuse boxes and circuit breakers at Little Coffee Bean Co locations, ensuring electrical safety and proper equipment operation.
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## Scope
This SOP applies to all staff, managers, and franchisees responsible for electrical safety and equipment management at fixed shop locations and mobile Tuk Tuk units.
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## Fuse Box Overview
### What is a Fuse Box/Circuit Breaker?
A fuse box (or circuit breaker panel) is the central electrical distribution point for a location. It:
– Controls power distribution to different circuits
– Protects electrical systems from overload and short circuits
– Allows isolation of circuits for safety and maintenance
### Types of Fuse Boxes
**Modern Circuit Breaker Panels:**
– Individual switches (breakers) for each circuit
– Switches move to OFF when circuit is overloaded
– Safer and easier to manage than older fuse boxes
**Older Fuse Boxes:**
– Use replaceable fuses instead of switches
– Fuses blow when circuit is overloaded
– Require replacement with correct amperage fuse
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## Location and Access
### Finding Your Fuse Box
1. Refer to **Local Electrical Operating Procedures** for exact location
2. Common locations:
– Inside: Near main entrance, kitchen, utility room, or basement
– Outside: On exterior wall or in external cabinet
– Mobile units: Inside Tuk Tuk, typically near entrance or power supply
### Ensuring Safe Access
1. **Keep area clear:**
– Remove boxes, equipment, or obstructions
– Ensure 1 meter clearance in front of fuse box
– Keep area dry and free from moisture
2. **Labeling:**
– Ensure fuse box is clearly labeled
– Keep circuit labels visible and legible
– Update labels if circuits change
3. **Security:**
– Lock fuse box if required by local procedures
– Restrict access to trained staff only
– Keep key in secure location
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## Understanding Your Circuits
### Circuit Identification
1. **Locate circuit map/diagram:**
– Usually inside fuse box door
– Shows which circuits control which areas/equipment
– Update if equipment changes
2. **Common circuits in coffee shops:**
– **Lighting circuits:** Lights throughout location
– **Power circuits:** General outlets and equipment
– **Kitchen circuits:** Coffee machines, grills, fryers
– **Refrigeration circuits:** Fridges, freezers, display units
– **Water heater circuit:** Hot water systems
– **Emergency circuits:** Emergency lighting, alarms
3. **Circuit capacity:**
– Each circuit has a rated amperage (e.g., 10A, 16A, 20A)
– Do not exceed rated capacity
– Overloading causes breaker to trip
### Documenting Circuits
Maintain **Local Electrical Operating Procedures** document showing:
– Circuit number and location
– What equipment/area each circuit controls
– Amperage rating
– Any special requirements
– Emergency contact for electrician
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## Daily Fuse Box Checks
### Opening Checks
1. **Visual inspection (2 minutes):**
– Check all breakers are in normal position (ON)
– Look for any tripped breakers (middle or OFF position)
– Check for signs of burning, damage, or moisture
– Ensure area is clear and accessible
2. **If breaker is tripped:**
– Note which circuit is affected
– Check if equipment on that circuit is faulty
– Do not reset immediately
– Report to manager
### Closing Checks
1. **Final inspection (2 minutes):**
– Verify all breakers are in normal ON position
– Check for any new issues
– Ensure area is secure and clear
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## Resetting a Tripped Circuit Breaker
### When to Reset
A circuit breaker trips when:
– Circuit is overloaded (too many devices)
– Equipment has a fault
– Short circuit has occurred
### Safe Reset Procedure
**Only reset if:**
– No signs of damage or burning
– No water or moisture present
– You have been trained to do so
– Manager has approved
**To reset:**
1. **Identify the tripped breaker:**
– Look for switch in middle or OFF position
– Note circuit number from label
2. **Investigate the cause:**
– Check if equipment on that circuit is faulty
– Look for damaged cables or plugs
– Unplug any suspicious equipment
3. **Reset the breaker:**
– Switch breaker firmly to OFF position
– Wait 10 seconds
– Switch firmly back to ON position
4. **Monitor:**
– Watch breaker for 2 minutes
– If breaker holds (stays ON): Circuit is safe
– If breaker trips again: Do not reset again
### If Breaker Trips Immediately After Reset
**Action:**
1. Do not reset again
2. Report to manager immediately
3. Contact qualified electrician
4. Do not use equipment on that circuit
5. Follow Troubleshooting Escalation Protocol (Section 1.3)
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## Isolating Circuits
### When to Isolate a Circuit
Isolate a circuit (turn breaker OFF) when:
– Equipment on that circuit is faulty or damaged
– Maintenance or repair work is needed
– Power needs to be cut for safety reasons
– Following instructions from qualified electrician
### Safe Isolation Procedure
1. **Inform relevant staff:**
– Tell staff that circuit will be isolated
– Identify which equipment will be without power
2. **Locate the breaker:**
– Find correct breaker using circuit map
– Double-check circuit number and equipment
3. **Switch breaker OFF:**
– Switch firmly to OFF position
– Verify equipment loses power
4. **Label the breaker:**
– Place “DO NOT SWITCH ON” label if available
– Inform all staff not to switch on
5. **Document:**
– Record date, time, and reason for isolation
– Note which circuit was isolated
– Update maintenance log
6. **Re-enable when safe:**
– Only after repair/maintenance is complete
– After qualified electrician approval
– Switch breaker firmly back to ON
– Verify equipment has power
– Remove “DO NOT SWITCH ON” label
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## Overloaded Circuits
### Signs of Overloading
– Breaker trips frequently
– Burning smell near fuse box
– Lights dimming when equipment switches on
– Equipment not working properly
– Hot cables or plugs
### Preventing Overload
1. **Know circuit capacity:**
– Refer to circuit map for amperage rating
– Calculate total load of equipment on circuit
2. **Distribute load:**
– Do not plug too many high-power devices into one circuit
– Use separate circuits for high-power equipment
– Consult electrician if unsure
3. **Avoid extension leads:**
– Minimize use of extension leads and power strips
– Never chain multiple extension leads
– Use proper wiring instead
4. **Regular checks:**
– Monitor for signs of overload
– Report frequent breaker trips to manager
– Contact electrician if pattern continues
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## Maintenance and Record Keeping
### Regular Maintenance
1. **Monthly:**
– Visual inspection of fuse box area
– Check for signs of damage or moisture
– Verify all breakers in normal position
– Ensure area is clear and accessible
2. **Quarterly:**
– Review circuit map and labels
– Update documentation if changes made
– Check for any recurring issues
3. **Annually:**
– Professional electrical inspection (by qualified electrician)
– Review and update Local Electrical Operating Procedures
– Test emergency circuits if applicable
### Record Keeping
Maintain records of:
– Date and time of any breaker trips
– Reason for trip (if known)
– Actions taken
– Equipment affected
– Any repairs or maintenance performed
– Professional inspection reports
**Storage:** Keep records securely and accessible for inspection by Health and Safety Team or regulatory authorities.
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## Responsibilities
### All Staff
– Report any breaker trips immediately
– Do not attempt to repair fuse box
– Keep fuse box area clear
– Follow isolation procedures
### Managers
– Maintain circuit map and documentation
– Investigate frequent breaker trips
– Coordinate professional maintenance
– Ensure staff are trained
### Franchisees
– Maintain Local Electrical Operating Procedures
– Budget for professional maintenance
– Ensure compliance with all procedures
– Keep records for audit
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## Escalation
If any of the following occur:
– Breaker trips repeatedly
– Signs of burning or damage
– Water or moisture near fuse box
– Unusual sounds or smells
– Equipment not functioning after breaker reset
**Action:**
1. Do not attempt to fix
2. Report to manager immediately
3. Follow company Troubleshooting Escalation Protocol (Section 1.3)
4. Contact qualified electrician
5. Isolate affected circuit if safe to do so
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## Safety Notes
– **Never** attempt to repair fuse box or breakers
– **Never** reset a breaker more than once
– **Never** ignore burning smells or signs of damage
– **Never** allow untrained staff to access fuse box
– **Never** block access to fuse box area
– **Always** prioritize safety over business continuity
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## References
– Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Electrical Safety Guidance
– BS 7671 Requirements for Electrical Installations
– Company Troubleshooting Escalation Protocol (Section 1.3)
– Local Electrical Operating Procedures (location-specific)
– Daily Electrical Safety Checks (Section 11.2)