These days, you simply can't find a business that doesn't need electricity to operate and succeed. All businesses have electrical demands, and, for many, those demands are continuously growing every day. To meet the evolving needs of your business, you'll need to work with industrial electrical contractors to design, implement, and maintain your electrical systems and solutions.
If you're new to business ownership or property management, you may be unclear on how these contractors operate, how they design electrical systems, and how they'll work with you. This article will help clear the air on the processes of industrial electricians, so you know exactly what to expect when working with one.
What Does Industrial Electrical Contracting Include?
While the specific offered services of industrial electricians can vary from one business to the next, these professionals generally offer a wide range of electrical services that are essential for businesses and industrial facilities. These types of electricians typically design, install, maintain, and repair electrical systems and equipment within commercial and/or industrial properties. They are trained to work on all electrical components such as power distribution systems, lighting systems, HVAC systems, machinery controls, and more.
They can create custom system designs for your entire facility to meet your evolving electrical needs and optimize productivity in one go. With their expertise, you can rest easy knowing that your facility is up to code and running smoothly.
Understanding the Process of Industrial Electricians
Every electrical project is unique, and each electrician can follow a different approach when planning, designing, and installing any electrical solutions for industrial operations. In general, you can expect your electrician to follow these 3 key steps:
- Initial In-Person Consultation and Site Survey
- Technical Design and Estimation
- Build and Install the Custom Design
Let's dive a little deeper into each step of the process.
Consultation and Site Survey
Whenever you request an estimate from an industrial electrical contractor, they'll have to first visit the property in-person to evaluate the space and understand your needs. During your initial in-person consultation, the contractor will conduct a comprehensive survey of your facility that may last an hour or longer. They'll take the time to closely assess your current electrical systems, discuss your specific needs and requirements, and provide recommendations for potential solutions.
This is a crucial step in understanding the scope of work and ensuring that both parties are on the same page about the direction of the project before moving forward. You can expect your electrician to ask you all kinds of questions like:
- Can you describe the electrical challenges you are facing?
- What are your plans for growth over the next few years? And how will that impact your production?
- Where are the bottlenecks in your industrial processes?
These questions will help your industrial electrician develop a clearer understanding of your most pressing needs and create personalized recommendations to improve operations in your facility.
Project Design and Estimation
Once the consultation is complete, your electrical specialist will work collaboratively with their internal team of master electricians to generate a series of technical drawings and blueprints for your custom electrical solutions. These technical drawings will outline the new electrical layout for your facility, the placement of key electrical equipment, and details on wiring and safety requirements for your industrial facility. The plans will also take into account future growth projections for your operations and will optimize efficiency and productivity in your facility.
Your industrial electrician will then present these plans to you alongside estimated costs for the project based on labor, materials needed, and any additional required services. During this phase of the process, you will have to review and approve the design plans in a timely manner before moving forward with any construction or installation work. Your input and feedback are crucial in ensuring that the final design meets your expectations and requirements.
As you provide feedback, your contractor will refine and update the plans as needed to accommodate your needs. After a few iterations, the design plans will be finalized, and the work can begin.
Build and Install Your Custom Design
Now for the exciting part: the construction phase. You can expect your industrial electrical contractor to handle every step of the building and installation of your tailored electrical systems. They will procure all necessary materials, coordinate with suppliers, schedule labor, and oversee the installation process. The electricians will work diligently to ensure that all electrical systems are installed, tested, and ready to handle your electrical needs.
Please note that, in some cases, subcontractors may be called upon to install various components or specialized materials. If you'd prefer to avoid subs, make sure you get a good sense of your contractor's capabilities during the site survey and whether they can handle all the work for you or not.
Explore our Approach as One of the Top Industrial Electrical Contractors
At P&L Electric, we’ve assembled a dynamic team of highly experienced electricians and technicians who can develop custom solutions to your electrical needs. We promise to always be honest and professional, and we will deliver the highest quality work within your budget. If you’re looking to enhance the electrical capacity of your facilities, our team is ready to help.
Contact P&L Electric today to schedule your in-person consultation with our industrial electrical specialists.