UNIT

Electrical Systems
3

Objectives

After studying this unit, the student will:

1. Understand fundamentals of electricity.

2. Identify power distribution systems and equipment.
3. Be familiar with commonly used electrical material.
4. Recognize electrical symbols shown on electrical plans.
5. Be able to interpret electrical plans and specifications.
6. Acquire knowledge about the basic electrical systems common to most types of buildings.
7. Understand electrical estimating procedures.

Introduction

It is important that project managers and superintendents have a basic understanding of the
fundamentals of electricity and how electrical systems work. You don’t have to be an electrician
or electrical engineer to understand how electrical systems work or to understand what is being
installed and why.

Like many fields electrical contracting is very broad and it is nearly impossible for an individual
to know everything, even after a lifetime of working in the industry, about electrical construction.
Changes in the industry do occur and new systems are continually on the horizon. However, the
principles on which all electrical systems work and the basics of electricity stay the same, even as
more sophisticated applications are developed and installed every day.

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Fundamentals of Electricity
In order to understand electrical systems and to confidently coordinate with your subcontractors, it is
important that you have a working knowledge of the fundamentals of electricity.

For electricity to flow there needs to be a source, a load, and a completely closed path. Think about
what happens when you “flip” on your bedroom light switch. The switch when in the off position
opens the path and stops the source from being able to force the flow of electricity through the
load (the lightbulb). When the switch is closed, it completes the path from the service panel located
somewhere in your house that is energized by the local utility company, and current flows through
the load (the lightbulb). This system is a simple electrical circuit.

50W
120V

I
120 V

SW
Figure 1A: Simple Circuit - Switch Open
The Current (I) is zero I = 0 Amps

50W
120V

I
120 V

SW
Figure 1B: Simple Circuit - Switch Closed
The current (I) is calculated using the equation: Power = Current x Voltage (Watts Law) or P = I x E
I = P / E = 50 Watts ÷ 120 V = 0.4167 Amps

2
Circuits
A circuit is an arrangement of closed path(s) through which electricity (i.e., electrons) can travel. Most
complete circuits include an energy source, conductors, insulators, loads, a switch or other control
device, and a protective device (i.e., fuse).

A simple circuit consists of only one energy source, one conductor, and one load.

A series circuit has at least two loads. The conductor, loads, and control and protective devices are
connected end-to-end to make up a single path through which electricity can travel from and back to
the energy source. If a series circuit is interrupted at any point, electricity will not flow.

R1 R2

IT
Es

Figure 2: Series Circuit

A parallel circuit has two or more independent paths. If one path is interrupted, electricity can still
flow through the remaining path(s).

IT
I1 I2
Es R1 R2

Figure 3: Parallel Circuit

A series – parallel circuit has a combination of a series path and two or more independent parallel
paths. Depending on the arrangement of the loads and where a path interruption occurs the current
may or may not continue to flow through the loads.
R1

IT I2
I1
Es R2 R3

Figure 4: Series - Parallel Circuit

3
Electrical Quantities
The basic quantities used to measure electricity are current, voltage, resistance, and power.

Current (I) is the rate at which electricity flows through a circuit. Current is measured in amperes or
amps.

Voltage (E) also called “electromotive force” or “emf” is the force that causes electricity to flow.
Voltage is measured in volts. In formulas, voltage is represented by either E or V. E will be used in
this course.

Resistance (R) Most materials making up a circuit resist the flow of electricity. The amount of this
resistance depends on the type of material and its dimensions. Resistance is measured in ohms. The
symbol for ohms is the Greek letter Omega (Ω).

Power is the rate at which electrical energy is transformed; it is the rate of doing work and is
measured in watts.

Direct Current
Direct current (DC) is the constant flow of electricity through a conductor in one direction. A dry-cell
battery connected to a light bulb is an example of a simple DC circuit.

Ohm’s Law
Ohm’s Law states the relationship between the current, voltage, and resistance of a simple DC circuit.

E=RxI R=E/I and I = E / R

where: I = current (intensity) in amps, A

E = voltage (electromotive force) in volts, V
R = resistance in ohms, Ω

Watt’s Law
The basic form of Watt’s Law states that the electrical power (P) in a simple dc circuit is the product of
current and voltage.

P=IxE I=P/E and E = P / I

where: P = power in watts, W

I = current (intensity) in amps, A
E = voltage (electromotive force) in volts, V
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Two other important power formulas can be derived from Ohm’s and Watt’s Laws:

P = I2 x R

Derivation P = I x E (Watt’s Law) and E = I x R (Ohm’s Law). Since E = I x R, substitute I x R for E in

the Watt’s Law formula: P = I x I x R = I2 x R.

P = E2 / R

Derivation P = I x E (Watt’s Law) and I = E/R (Ohm’s Law). Since I = E/R, substitute E/R for I in the
Watt’s Law formula: P = E/R x E = E2 / R.

Ohm’s Law and Watt’s Law problems involving simple, series, or parallel circuits usually consist of
calculating an unknown quantity (i.e., voltage) based on two or more known quantities (i.e. current,
resistance, or power).

Simple Circuits
The basic Ohm’s Law and Watt’s Law formulas can be applied directly to problems involving simple
DC circuits.

PROBLEM: A simple DC circuit has a resistance of 3 ohms and a voltage of 12 volts.

(a) What is the current?

(b) What is the power rating?

SOLUTION: (a) I = E / R = 12 volts ÷ 3 ohms = 4 amps

(b) P = I x E = 4 amps x 12 volts = 48 watts

I R=3Ω
12 V

Figure 5: Simple DC Circuit

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DC Series Circuits
Four rules apply to DC series circuits:

(1) The total voltage is the sum of the voltages across each load.
(2) The current is the same in all parts of the circuit.
(3) The total resistance is the sum of the individual load resistances.

(4) The total power is the sum of the powers used by the individual loads.

PROBLEM: In the DC series circuit illustrated in Figure 6, I = 6 amps, R1 = 4 ohms, and R2 = 2 ohms.

R1 R2

I
Et

Figure 6: Series Circuit

(a) What is the total resistance (Rt)?

(b) What is the total voltage (Et)?
(c) What is the total power (Pt)?

SOLUTION: (a) Apply Rule 3 (Rt = R1 + R2):

Rt = 4 ohms + 2 ohms = 6 ohms

(b) Apply Rule 1 (Et = E1 + E2) and Ohm’s Law:

E1 = I x R1 = 6 amps x 4 ohms = 24 volts

E2 = I x R2 = 6 amps x 2 ohms = + 12 volts
Et = 36 volts

(c) Apply Rule 4 (Pt = P1 + P2) and Watt’s Law:

P1 = I x E1 = 6 amps x 24 volts = 144 watts

P2 = I x E2 = 6 amps x 12 volts = + 72 watts
Pt = 216 watts

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DC Parallel Circuits
The rules for DC parallel circuits are:

(1) The voltage across each load is the same.

(2) The total current is the sum of the currents in each load.
(3) The total resistance is always lower than the smallest load resistance. The formula for
calculating total resistance (Rt) is:

(4) The total power is the sum of the powers used by the individual loads.

PROBLEM: In the DC parallel circuit illustrated in Figure 7, I = 3 amps, R1 = 4 Ω, and R2 = 1 Ω.

I R1 R2
Et

Figure 7: Parallel Circuit

(a) What is the total resistance (Rt)?

(b) What is the total voltage (Et)?
(c) What is the total power (Pt)?

SOLUTION: (a) Apply Rule 3 formula:

Rt = 1 = 1 = 4 = 0.8 ohm
1 + 1 5 5
4 1 4

(b) According to Rule 1, the voltage across each load is the same. Apply Ohm’s Law
just as you would to a problem involving a simple dc circuit where I = 3 amps
and R = 0.8 ohm.

Et = I x Rt = 3 amps x 0.8 ohm = 2.4 volts

(C) Apply Rule 4 (Pt = P1 + P2) and the formula P = E2 / R

P1 = E2 / R = 2.42 volts / 4 ohms = 1.44 watts
P2 = E2 / R = 2.42 volts / 1 ohms = + 5.76 watts
Pt = 7.20 watts

7
Alternating Current
Alternating current (AC) is the flow of electricity back and forth in a conductor at regular intervals.
The rate of flow reversal is called “frequency”. Nearly all AC power systems in the United States
operate at a frequency of 60 cycles per second. This means that the electricity flows in one direction
for 1/120 of a second and then in the other direction for 1/120 of a second. The current makes one
complete cycle in 1/60 of a second or 60 complete cycles in one second.

The sine wave is commonly used to illustrate alternating current. The graph below shows the sine
wave for a single-phase (1ϕ) AC current. The complete AC cycle is divided into two half cycles - - the
first is given a positive value and the second a negative value. The first half cycle (+) begins at zero
and rises to a peak value before returning to zero, at which point the second half cycle (-) peaks and
returns to zero again.

The disadvantage of single-phase AC is that the electrical power is cut off each time the current
reaches “0”. This problem can be avoided with three-phase (3ϕ) ac systems that provides overlapping
cycles. The power supplied to a motor or other device is never cut off because when one phase
reaches “0”, the other two phases are either positive or negative.

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In-Phase AC Circuits
The voltage and current of an AC circuit can be depicted on the same graph as separate sine waves.
When the voltage and current begin and peak at exactly the same time, they are said to be “in phase”.
For all practical purposes, the “in phase” circuit consists of only resistance, the loads being devices
such as light bulbs, toasters, or heaters.

Reactance and Out-of-Phase AC Circuits

A circuit can be put “out of phase” by inductive or capacitive reactance. “Reactance” is the term used
to describe opposition to voltage and current caused by capacitors and inductors.

A simple capacitor consists of two conductor plates separated by a dielectric (insulator). Each plate
stores energy in the form of electric charges when electricity flows through the capacitor. One plate
becomes positively charged and the other negatively charged. The opposite charges on the plates
produce a voltage in the capacitor that opposes changes in the circuit voltage.

Because changes in the circuit voltage are opposed by capacitive reactance, the peak of the current
wave occurs ahead of the peak of the voltage wave. In other words, “Current leads voltage”.

Inductors are usually coils. The flow of electricity in an inductor produces a circular magnetic field
that is proportional to the current. When the current increases, the size of the magnetic field increases
and induces a voltage in the inductor. When the current decreases, the field collapses. The collapsing
field reverses the polarity of the induced voltage, which opposes the decrease in current.

Because the changes of current are opposed by inductive reactance, the peak of the current wave
is delayed and arrives after the peak of the voltage wave. In other words, “Current lags behind
voltage”.

9
Power Factor
The power factor (PF) is the ratio of the “true” power to the “apparent” power:

PF = true power (watts)

apparent power (I x E) VA

When a circuit is in phase, the true power equals the apparent power, which means that the power
measured by a wattmeter would be the same as the power calculated with the formula P = I x E. In
this case, the circuit is said to have a “unity” power factor or a power factor equal to 1 or 100%. If
the circuit is out of phase, the power measured by the wattmeter will be less than the apparent or
calculated power, and the power factor will be less than unity.

PROBLEM: An AC circuit draws 20 amps from a 240-volt source. The wattmeter measures
3,360 watts. What is the power factor?

SOLUTION: (1) Apparent power = I x E

(2) 20 amps x 240 volts = 4,800 watts
(3) True power = 3,360 watts
(4) PF = true / apparent = 3,360 ÷ 4,800 = 0.7 = 70%

Power Formulas for AC Circuits

The Watt’s Law formulas for DC circuits also apply to single-phase (1ϕ) and three-phase (3ϕ ) AC
circuits containing only resistance.

If inductance or capacitive reactance puts the circuit out of phase, the power factor must be added to
the basic power formula:

P = I x E x PF

PROBLEM: A single-phase AC circuit draws 8 amps from a 120-volt source. If the power factor is
60%, what is the power rating in watts?

SOLUTION: (1) P = I x E x PF

(2) P = 8 amps x 120 volts x 0.6 = 576 watts

The formula for a three-phase (3ϕ) system includes another term called the “three-phase factor”,
which is a constant equal to the square root of 3, or 1.73.

P3ϕ = I x E x PF x 1.73

PROBLEM: What is the power rating in watts of a 3ϕ circuit that draws 15 amps from a 120-volt
source if the power factor is 70%?

SOLUTION: (1) P3ϕ = I x E x PF x 1.73

(2) P3ϕ = 15 amps x 120 volts x 0.7 x 1.73 = 2,179.8 watts

10
Transformers
Transformers consist of primary and secondary windings (coils) that are not connected to one
another. The primary winding receives power from a primary source (i.e. a generator) and transfers
(induces) it to the secondary winding, which is connected to a load.

A transformer can be either a step-up transformer that receives power at a low voltage and delivers it
at a higher voltage, or a step-down transformer that receives power at a high voltage and delivers it
at a lower voltage.

The voltage of the primary winding will be the same as the source voltage. The voltage of the
secondary (ES) is equal to the primary voltage (EP) times the ratio of the number of turns (NS) in the
secondary to the number of turns (NP) in the primary.

PROBLEM: The primary and secondary windings of a step-up transformer are shown below. If a
voltage of 120 volts (EP) is applied across the primary, how many volts (ES) will be induced across the
secondary?

SOLUTION: (1) ES = EP x NS / NP

(2) ES = 120 volts x 1,000 / 100 = 1,200 volts

PROBLEM: The primary and secondary windings of a step-down transformer are shown below. If a
voltage of 120 volts (EP) is applied across the primary, how many volts (ES) will be induced across the
secondary?

SOLUTION: (1) ES = EP x NS / NP

(2) ES = 120 volts x 10 / 100 = 12 volts

11
The power of the primary winding equals the power of the secondary winding. Voltage and current
calculations are based on this principle.

PROBLEM: The primary of a step-down transformer has a voltage (EP) of 2,400 volts and a current
of 20 amps. If the voltage (ES) across the secondary is 240 volts, what is the current (IS)?

SOLUTION: (1) PP = 20 amps x 2,400 volts = 48,000 watts

(2) Primary power equals secondary power:

PP = PS = 48,000 watts

(3) IS= PS / ES = 48,000 watts ÷ 240 volts = 200 amps

Transformers convert electricity from low to high voltage for long-distance transmission, then convert
it back to low voltage for use in homes and other facilities.

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Power Distribution
Electrical Power Distribution will help you to understand how utility power is generated and
distributed and the main system components required to distribute power throughout a building.

Power distribution and connecting the building to its permanent power source are critical items that
must be considered early in the project design phase. HVAC equipment, elevators, motors, lighting,
fire protection, and numerous other systems cannot be tested and inspected until permanent power
has been connected. Working successfully with the electrical and mechanical superintendents
requires that you have a thorough understanding of the scope of work that must be accomplished
and that you are able to communicate with them efficiently.

When electrical power is distributed to its point of utilization, it is either in the form of single-
phase or three-phase AC voltage. Single-phase AC voltage is distributed into residences and other
small commercial buildings. Normally, three-phase AC voltage is distributed to larger commercial
buildings and industrial sites.

Energy, Work, and Power

An understanding of the terms energy, work, and power is necessary in the study of electrical power
systems.

Energy means the capacity to do work. For example, the capacity to light a light bulb, to heat a home,
or to move something requires energy. Energy exists in many forms, such as electrical, mechanical,
chemical, and heat. Energy of an object in motion is called kinetic energy. Energy due to the position
of an object that is not yet moving is called potential energy.

Work is the transferring or transforming of energy. Work is done when a force is exerted to move
something over a distance against opposition, such as moving a desk from one side of a room to
the other. An electric motor used to drive an elevator cab performs work. Work is performed when
motion is accomplished against the action of a force that tends to oppose the motion. Work is also
done each time energy changes from one form into another.

Power is the rate at which work is done. It considers not only the work that is performed but the
amount of time in which the work is done. For instance, electrical power is the rate at which work is
done as electrical current flows through a wire. Mechanical power is the rate at which work is done as
an object is moved against opposition over a certain distance. Power is either the rate of production or
the rate of use of energy. The watt is the unit of measurement of electrical power.

13
Generation and Distribution of Electrical Power
Power is produced at a generating plant (source). Distribution occurs between the power generating
plant and the consumer by transmission lines and substations. Transformers are used to control the
voltage and current levels. Conversion of electrical power to another form (light, heat, mechanical)
occurs at the customer end.

Electrical Service Types and Voltages

Electrical service (service entrance) is the point of receiving power from the serving utility company.

Classification of Electrical Services

Alternating current (AC) electric power distribution systems can be classified by the following
properties:
• Frequency: 50 Hz or 60 Hz
• Number of phases: single or three phase
• Number of wires: 2, 3, or 4 (not counting the safety ground)
• Neutral present:
◦ Wye connected systems have a neutral
◦ Delta connected systems typically do not have a neutral
• Voltage levels:
◦ Low Voltage: 600 volts or less
◦ Medium Voltage: 601 volts to about 34,500 volts
◦ High Voltage: 46,000 volts and up

Power provided from the U.S. electrical grid (the grid) is based on a frequency of 60 Hz.

U.S. Electric Power Grid

The U.S. electric power system is the centerpiece of the Nation’s economy. Virtually every aspect
of American commerce and industry depends on the continuous availability of affordable electric
power. This incredible feat is achieved through an extensive infrastructure of more than 19,000
generators, 55,000 transmission substations, 642,000 miles of high-voltage lines, and 6.3 million miles
of distribution lines that serves more than 145 million customers.

Learn more about the “Grid” at the Department of Energy Web site.

14
Common Electrical Distribution Systems
120/240-Volt, Single-Phase, Three-Wire system is the
most common distribution method for residences.
Most appliances and home equipment use 120 V power
supplied to power receptacles. Dryers, ovens, hot water
heaters, hot tubs, and other higher current requiring
equipment may use the 240 V power.
Most commercial and industrial buildings use three
phase power. The most commonly used incoming service
voltage system is the 277/480 V Three Phase Four Wire
(WYE Connected). A step-down transformer is needed
to reduce the voltage to 120/208 for receptacles and other
lower voltage equipment.

15
16
Power Distribution System Equipment
Power distribution systems are used in every residential, commercial, and industrial building to
safely control the distribution of electrical power throughout the facility.

Residential Power Distribution

Power, purchased from a utility company, enters the house through a metering device and is applied
to a load center. This is the service entrance. Residential service can come from an overhead utility
transformer or from a lateral service run underground.

The power is then distributed by a load center to various branch circuits for lighting, appliances, and
electrical outlets.

17
Commercial and Industrial Power Distribution
Power distribution systems used in commercial and industrial facilities are more complex than
those used in single-family homes and must be capable of handling higher levels of current and
voltage. Although some small facilities usually do not require switchboards, medium and large
facilities commonly use switchboards to safely distribute power to transformers, panelboards, control
equipment, and, ultimately, to system loads.

Switchgear
A coordinated design consisting of switching and interrupting devices and associated equipment
such as control and protective devices and metering.

Switchboard
A large panel or assembly of panels containing switches, overcurrent protective devices, buses, and
associated instruments. Unlike panelboards, switchboards sometimes must be mounted away from a
wall to allow access to rear-mounted equipment.

18
Panelboard
A panelboard is a type of enclosure for overcurrent protection devices and the busses and
connections that provide power to these devices and their associated circuits. According to the
National Electrical Code® (NEC®), a panelboard is:
• Used to control light, heat, or power circuits
• Placed in a cabinet or cutout box
• Mounted in or against a wall
• Accessible only from the front

For additional information, refer to National Electrical Code® Article 408, Switchboards and
Panelboards.

Panelboards are frequently divided into two categories:

• Lighting and appliance branch-circuit panelboards
• Power panelboards (also called distribution panelboards)

There are three types of panelboard main configurations:

main lug only, main breaker, and main switch

19
 In a Main Circuit Breaker (MCB) panelboard
the entire panel can be de-energized by
switching the main breaker off.

In a Main Lug Only (MLO) panelboard there

is no main breaker and each individual circuit
breaker must be switched off to turn off the
power feeding each branch circuit.

Overcurrent Protection Devices

Excess heat is damaging to electrical conductors. For that reason, conductors have a rated continuous
current carrying capacity or ampacity. Current beyond the rated capability of a conductor is referred
to as overcurrent. Overcurrent can result from a short circuit, an overload, or a ground fault.

Fuse - A device designed to open a circuit when its rated current is exceeded. This is usually
accomplished when a metal link in the fuse melts. Renewable fuses allow the user to replace the link
and non-renewable fuses do not. Fuses are available in various sizes and types. Some have a time
delay.

Fuse Class - A letter designation given to a fuse to identify its operating and construction
characteristics.

Circuit Breaker - A device that can be used to open or close a circuit manually and also opens a circuit
automatically when it senses an overcurrent.

20
Single-Phase Main Breaker Panelboard

21
Grounding and Bonding
Grounding is the action of electrically connecting something
to a grounding electrode, which is a conductive object used to
create a direct connection to ground--typically a ground rod.

A grounded conductor is a circuit conductor (wire) which is

intentionally grounded.

In grounded electrical systems, like virtually all electrical

systems in residential and commercial structures, the
grounded conductor is the white (or gray) wire, which is
commonly referred to as the “neutral” or most correctly
referred to as a “grounded neutral conductor”. A grounded
wire is required by the National Electrical Code to be white or
gray in color on the customer side of the meter.

Since the neutral is a necessary part of the electrical path for

the current to return to the source, neutral conductors carry
current under normal operating conditions.

A “grounding” wire on the other hand is a safety wire that

has intentionally been connected to earth. The grounding wire
does not carry electricity under normal circuit operations. It’s
purpose is to carry electrical current only under short circuit or
other conditions that would be potentially dangerous.

Grounding wires serve as an alternate path for the current

to flow back to the source, rather than go through anyone
touching a dangerous appliance or electrical box.

Confusion arises because it is commonly referred to as

a ground wire even though it is more correctly called a
“grounding” wire. Some people will refer to this wire as the
“case ground” since this wire is typically connected to the
cases or outer parts of electrical boxes and appliances and
tools.

The grounding wire is required by the National Electrical Code

to be a bare wire, or if insulated, a green or green with yellow
colored insulation.

Grounding also serves another purpose which is not really

related to safety: It provides a common reference point for
voltage. If an electrical device’s only connections are to the
two ends of its power source, it is electrically unstable and the
voltage levels may vary. Neither one would be at zero volts.
Because planet Earth stays at a common voltage, it provides
a universal voltage reference point. (The planet is usually
considered to be at zero volts, even though this is not perfectly
true, as Earth itself is something of a conductor.)
22
Bonding, or equipotential bonding, is essentially an electrical connection maintaining various
exposed conductive parts and extraneous conductive parts at substantially the same potential. An
earthed equipotential zone is one within which exposed conductive parts and extraneous conductive
parts are maintained at substantially the same potential by bonding, such as that, under fault
conditions, the difference in potential between simultaneously accessible exposed and extraneous
conductive parts will not cause electric shock. Bonding is the practice of connecting all accessible
metalwork – whether associated with the electrical installation (known as exposed metalwork) or not
(extraneous metalwork) – to the system earth.

In a building, there are typically a number of services other than electrical supply that employ
metallic connections in their design. These include water piping, gas piping, HVAC ducting, and
so on. A building may also contain steel structures in its construction. There is thus a possibility
that a dangerous potential may develop between the conducting parts of non-electrical systems
including building structures and the external conducting parts of electrical installations as well as
the surrounding earth. This may give rise to undesirable current flow through paths that are not
normally designed to carry current (such as joints in building structures) and also cause hazardous
situations of indirect shock.

It is therefore necessary that all such parts are bonded to the electrical service earth point of the
building to ensure safety of occupants. This is called equipotential bonding. There are two aspects
to equipotential bonding: the main bonding where services enter the building and supplementary
bonding within rooms, particularly kitchens and bathrooms.

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Components of an Effective Grounding System
An effective grounding system is one of the most important aspects of ensuring lightning protection.
The purpose of this system is to provide a pathway for the lightning energy to safely flow to earth,
as if this is not effective the extreme current -given the conditions- can find alternate pathways. If the
current does deviate, the damage can range from electromagnetic interference on sensitive equipment
and overloading circuits to electrical fires, arc flash and electrocution. For this reason, it is crucial to
consult professionals when implementing one of these systems.

1. Earthing network conductor. Conductor must have the current carrying capacity for the
maximum fault current for the total clearing time of the fault. Copper or copper-bonded steel
conductors are characteristically used for this purpose. WAPP offers various types of conductors
for earth grids and bonding ranging from flat copper tape, various copper earth cables to
proprietary ERICO Smoothweave cables.
2. Interconnecting Joints. Connections between grounding conductors are essential to the
functionality and reliability of the system, this is how the elements of the grounding system tie
together. Exothermically welding the connections, by use of CADWELD provides a superior bond
on a molecular level ensuring that it will never corrode or loosen which would otherwise damage
the integrity of the electrical continuity. A more economical and procedurally simple alternative
are mechanical connectors, these are of bolted, wedge and crimp type which, rely on the physical
surface contact to maintain electrical connection. For above ground connections (e.g. fence
clamps), this is an acceptable way of bonding.

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3. Grounding Electrode. The grounding electrode (or
sometimes referred to as rod/stake provides electrical
connection to the ground and acts to dissipate current
to it. Electrodes can be categorised as either “natural” or
“made”. A natural electrode is intrinsic to the structure
this could be metal underground water piping, effectively
grounded metal framework of the facility, and/or the
steel in reinforced concrete foundations. An electrode is
considered made when it is implemented for the express
function of improving the performance a grounding
system this includes buried metal plates, buried mesh
conductor and rods or pipes driven into the ground.

The ground rod is the single most used, efficient and

effective grounding device in the practice today. ERICO
has developed bonded ground rods impervious to
many issues common in cheaper ground rods, further
information see copper ground rods.
4. Soil Composition. The soil resistivity rating, a measure of
ohm-meters, has a large impact on the performance of a
grounding system and is to be known prior to engineering
a proper grounding system. Based off the soil resistivity
the design engineer will locate the area of the most
conductive soil and from this, determine the depth the
electrodes required to be placed accordingly.

The best solution to improving earth composition can be

altered to decrease its resistivity through the use of the
cost effective Ground Enhancing Material (GEM). The
optimal solution is the effective implementation of GEM to
reach the desired resistance. There are other solutions such
as bentonite which perform the same task however, are
deemed inferior, for more information on this see GEM vs
Bentonite.
5. Electrode to Earth Resistivity. Rod surface area and earth
composition are the main contributing factors. Doubling
radius of the driven rod will reduce resistance by merely
10% and is not a cost-effective option. Doubling the rod
length however, will theoretically reduce resistance by
40%. Placement of numerous rods that are driven to a
predetermined depth in low resistivity soil.

More information can be found at: https://www.erico.com/

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Electrical Material
An electrical contractor is a business person or firm that performs specialized construction work
related to the design, installation, and maintenance of electrical and communication systems.

An electrician is someone trained (and usually licensed) to perform electrical work. Electrical work is
a highly technical profession that requires a thorough understanding of how electricity works and the
materials and components used to deliver power, as well as electrical safety and standards.

An electrician can be employed by an electrical contracting firm or self-employed as an individual

electrical contractor.

To organize an electrical estimate and efficiently order and supply the correct material needed for a
job, electrical material is typically categorized.

National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA)

The National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) is the voice of the $171 billion industry
responsible for bringing electrical power, lighting and communications to buildings and communities
across the United States.

NECA members are electrical contractors who work in all aspects of electrical construction. While
most qualify as small businesses, large, multi-area electrical contracting firms are also members of the
association.

NECA contractors are the technical professionals responsible for the most innovative and safest
electrical construction in the U.S. They hold a high standard for superior performance and are
committed to delivering quality results.

NECA Manual of Labor Units

The NECA Manual of Labor Units (MLU) has been developed,
published and utilized by electrical contractors since 1923. The MLU
provides an experience-based reference for estimating the electrical
construction labor required to install typical electrical and
communications systems. The data is intended to serve as a general
guide to the labor necessary for the installation of specified items
under the project conditions defined in the manual. The extent of the
applicability of the data to any particular project situation is entirely at
the discretion of each user.
Selected areas within the manual are reviewed and updated bi-annually by estimating experts from
among the NECA electrical contractors located across the country. These individuals represent many
years of experience in estimating, tracking the applications of labor units to construction projects and
the installation of materials for a broad range of conditions and locations. The resulting labor unit
determinations represent a national consensus baseline of estimated labor requirements for each item
under the conditions stated.

26
Labor Units Defined
All labor data in this manual are in units of man-hours. Each table of labor units indicates whether
the labor units are for the installation of:
E = One, or per each item
C = Per hundred items or per hundred linear feet of the item
M = Per thousand items or per thousand linear feet of the item
LF = Linear Foot
CY = Cubic Yard

Arrangement of the Labor Unit Tables

All labor units within the manual have been organized to correspond with the Construction
Specification Institute’s MasterFormat, 2018 Edition, and the manual has been laid out accordingly.

Labor Unit Data

Section 1: Division 01—General Requirements
01 51 00: Temporary Utilities

Section 2: Division 03—Concrete

03 21 00: Reinforcement Bars
03 22 00: Fabric and Grid Reinforcing

Section 3: Division 11—Equipment

11 11 00: Vehicle Service Equipment

Section 4: Division 13—Special Construction

13 47 00: Facility Protection

Section 5: Division 21—Fire Suppression

21 05 00: Common Work Results for Fire Suppression

Section 6: Division 22—Plumbing

22 05 00: Common Work Results for Plumbing

Section 7: Division 23—Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC)

23 05 00: Common Work Results for HVAC
23 09 00: Instrumentation and Control for HVAC
23 34 00: HVAC Fans
23 82 00: Convection Heating and Cooling Units
23 83 00: Radiant Heating and Cooling Units

Section 8: Division 26—Electrical

26 05 00: Common Work Results for Electrical
26 05 05: Selective Demolition for Electrical
26 05 13: Medium-Voltage Cables
26 05 19: Low-Voltage Electrical Power Conductors and Cables
26 05 23: Control-Voltage Electrical Power Cables
26 05 26: Grounding and Bonding for Electrical Systems
26 05 29: Hangers and Supports for Electrical Systems
26 05 33: Raceway and Boxes for Electrical Systems
26 05 36: Cable Trays for Electrical Systems
27
26 05 39: Underfloor Raceways for Electrical Systems
26 05 43: Underground Ducts and Raceways for Electrical Systems
26 05 44: Sleeves and Sleeve Seals for Electrical Raceways and Cabling
26 05 83: Wiring Connections
26 06 00: Schedules for Electrical
26 09 00: Instrumentation and Control for Electrical Systems
26 12 00: Medium-Voltage Transformers
26 13 00: Medium-Voltage Switchgear
26 21 00: Low-Voltage Electrical Service Entrance
26 22 00: Low-Voltage Transformers
26 24 00: Switchboards and Panelboards
26 25 00: Low-Voltage Enclosed Bus Assemblies
26 27 00: Low-Voltage Distribution Equipment
26 28 00: Low-Voltage Circuit Protective Devices
26 29 00: Low-Voltage Controllers
26 31 00: Photovoltaic Collectors
26 32 00: Packaged Generator Assemblies
26 33 00: Battery Equipment
26 35 00: Power Filters and Conditioners
26 36 00: Transfer Switches
26 41 00: Facility Lightning Protection
26 43 00: Surge Protective Devices
26 51 00: Interior Lighting
26 52 00: Safety Lighting
26 54 00: Classified Location Lighting
26 55 00: Special Purpose Lighting
26 56 00: Exterior Lighting

Section 9: Division 27—Communications

27 05 00: Common Work Results for Communications
27 11 00: Communications Equipment Room Fittings
27 13 00: Communications Backbone Cabling
27 15 00: Communications Horizontal Cabling
27 16 00: Communications Connecting Cords, Devices and Adapters
27 21 00: Data Communications Network Equipment
27 22 00: Data Communications Hardware
27 24 00: Data Communications Peripheral Data Equipment
27 31 00: Voice Communications Switching and Routing Equipment
27 33 00: Voice Communications Messaging
27 41 00: Audio-Video Systems
27 51 00: Distributed Audio-Video Communications Systems
27 52 00: Healthcare Communications and Monitoring Systems
27 53 00: Distributed Systems

Section 10: Division 28: Electronic Safety and Security

28 05 00: Common Work Results for Electronic Safety and Security
28 14 00: Access Control System Hardware
28 15 00: Integrated Access Control Hardware Devices
28 16 00: Access Control Interfaces
28 20 00: Video Surveillance
28
28 21 00: Surveillance Cameras
28 25 00: Video Surveillance Positioning Equipment
28 31 00: Intrusion Detection
28 46 00: Fire Detection and Alarm

Section 11: Division 31—Earthwork

31 05 00: Common Work Results for Earthwork
31 23 00: Excavation and Fill
31 25 00: Erosion and Sedimentation Controls
3 1 41 00: Shoring

Section 12: Division 32—Exterior Improvements

32 17 00: Paving Specialties

Section 13: Division 33—Utilities

33 05 00: Common Work Results for Utilities
33 71 00: Electrical Utility Transmission and Distribution
33 73 00: Utility Transformers
33 77 00: Medium-Voltage Utility Switchgear and Protection Devices
33 79 00: Site Grounding

Section 14: Division 34—Transportation

34 41 00: Roadway Signaling and Control Equipment
34 43 00: Airfield Signaling and Control Equipment
34 71 00: Roadway Construction

Section 15: Division 48—Electrical Power Generation

48 14 00: Solar Energy Electrical Power Generation Equipment
48 15 00: Wind Energy Electrical Power Generation Equipment
48 18 00: Fuel Cell Electrical Power Generation Equipment
48 30 00: Combined Heat and Power Generation

29
The NECA labor unit tables include three different labor units for each item:
NECA 1 Normal N
NECA 2 Difficult D
NECA 3 Very Difficult VD

Normal Installation Conditions – When all of the conditions associated with the installation of an
item will permit the maximum productivity of the electricians on a project, these “normal” column
labor units are applicable.

Examples of these normal conditions might include the installation of surface mounted items up to a
height of ten feet above the floor, the use of a rolling scaffold or six-foot ladders, a repetitive layout,
a minimum of required measurements, a minimum of interference by structural or mechanical
obstacles, etc.

Occasionally there are unusual installation conditions when a labor unit that is less than the “normal”
column labor unit is justified. For example, when an abnormally large quantity of parallel conduits,
without bends or offsets, are to be installed on trapeze hangers, labor units slightly smaller than the
“normal” column labor units might be appropriate.

Difficult Installation Conditions – When one or more of the conditions associated with the
installation of an item will permit less than maximum productivity of the electricians on a typical
project, these “difficult” column labor units are applicable.

Examples of the difficult conditions might include the installation of surface mounted items up to a
height of twenty feet from the floor, the use of fixed scaffolding installed by others, the use of ten-
foot ladders, a non-repetitive layout, a moderate amount of interference by structural or mechanical
obstacles, etc.

Users of this manual are also encouraged to consider using labor units whose magnitude are
somewhere between the normal column labor units and the difficult column labor units when
conditions justify this consideration.

Very Difficult Installation Conditions – When one or more of the conditions associated with the
installation of an item will permit substantially less than maximum productivity of the electricians on
a typical project, these “very difficult” column labor units are applicable.

Examples of the very difficult conditions might include the installation of surface mounted items
greater than the height of twenty feet above the floor, the use of fixed scaffolding installed by others,
the use of man-lifts, an individual location of each item, a substantial amount of interference by
structural or mechanical items, a difficult fastening method, etc.

Users of this manual are also encouraged to consider using labor units whose magnitude are
somewhere between the difficult column labor units and the very difficult column labor units when
the conditions justify this consideration. It is also essential that users of this manual select labor
units that are greater than the very difficult column labor unit when conditions justify the need.

For more information on adjusting labor units and how to use the guide see: Introduction to the
NECA Manual of Labor Units, in the NECA 2019-2020 MLU.

30
NECA Categories of Work
Prior to 2018 the NECA Manual of Labor Units was organized into 14 categories of electrical material.

SECTION TITLE
01 Integrated Building Systems
02 Conduit, Raceways, Fittings, & Related Items
03 Wire, Cable, Lugs, Terminations, Busway & Bus Duct
04 Switchboards, MCC’s, Panelboards, & Power Equipment
05 Lighting Fixtures, Poles, Parking Lot Lighting
06 Wiring Devices
07 Hazardous Systems
08 Grounding & Lighting Protection Systems
09 Heating Equipment Connections
10 Temporary Power & Lighting
11 Outdoor Overhead and Underground Systems
12 Equipment Installation and Connections
13 Industrial Control and Instrumentation
14 Alternative Energy Systems

Many electrical contractors use a different breakdown of electrical material for estimating purposes.
The beginning estimator should consult with the chief estimator and follow the system established by
their company for preparing their estimates.

The same information can be found in the newer version (NECA Manual of Labor Units 2019-2020
Edition) under the Construction Specification Institute’s MasterFormat, 2018 Edition. For example,
Section 06 Wiring Devices can now be found in Section 8: Division 26 - Electrical: 26 27 00: Low-
Voltage Distribution Equipment.

Section 8: Division 26 - Electrical addresses labor units related to general electrical workings as well
as more specific areas of electrical construction. Labor units in this Division were previously found in
nearly all sections of the previous versions of the NECA Manual of Labor Units.

31
 NECA Manual of Labor Units
2015-2016 Edition

Section 6 - Wiring Devices

Very Company
Description Rev Normal Difficult Difficult Experience Unit

Single Receptacle - Straight Blade or Twist Lock

15 Amp 3 Wire 25.00 31.25 37.50 C
20 Amp 3 Wire 30.00 37.50 45.00 C
20 Amp 4 Wire 35.00 43.75 52.50 C
20 Amp 5 Wire 40.00 50.00 60.00 C
30 Amp 3 Wire 40.00 50.00 60.00 C
30 Amp 4 Wire 45.00 56.25 67.50 C
30 Amp 5 Wire 50.00 62.50 75.00 C
50 Amp 3 Wire 50.00 62.50 75.00 C
50 Amp 4 Wire 55.00 68.75 82.50 C
60 Amp 3 Wire 60.00 75.00 90.00 C
60 Amp 4 Wire 70.00 87.50 105.00 C

Duplex Receptacle - Straight Blade

15 Amp 3 Wire 25.00 31.25 37.50 C
15 Amp GFCI or AFCI X 30.00 37.50 45.00 C
20 Amp 3 Wire 30.00 37.50 45.00 C
20 Amp GFCI or AFCI X 35.00 43.75 52.50 C
15 Amp 3 Wire with USB Ports X 25.00 31.25 37.50 C
20 Amp 3 Wire with USB Ports X 30.00 37.50 45.00 C
GFCI - Blank Face X 30.00 37.50 45.00 C

6
Split Wired Receptacle - Straight Blade
15 Amp 3 Wire 35.00 43.75 52.50 C
20 Amp 3 Wire 40.00 50.00 60.00 C

Plugtail Wired Receptacles-Straight Blade

15 Amp 3 Wire X 15.00 18.75 23.44 C
15 Amp GFCI X 20.00 25.00 31.25 C
20 Amp 3 Wire X 20.00 25.00 31.25 C
20 Amp GFCI X 25.00 31.25 39.00 C

Plugtail Wired Switches

15 Amp 1 pole X 10.00 12.50 15.00 C
20 Amp 1 pole X 15.00 18.75 22.50 C
15 Amp 2 pole 20.00 25.00 30.00 C
20 Amp 2 pole 25.00 31.25 37.50 C
15 Amp 3 Way 25.00 31.25 37.50 C
20 Amp 3 Way 30.00 37.50 45.00 C
15 Amp 4 Way 30.00 37.50 45.00 C
20 Amp 4 Way 35.00 43.75 52.50 C

Plugtail Connectors
6" angle solid wire 10.00 12.50 15.00 C
6" stranded wire 10.00 12.50 15.00 C
6" angle solid wire with wago connector 10.00 12.50 15.00 C
6" angle stranded wire with wago connector 10.00 12.50 15.00 C

© 2015 National Electrical Contractors Association 6-5

32
 NECA Manual of Labor Units
2019-2020 Edition

Section 8: Division 26—Electrical

Very Company
Description Rev Normal Difficult Difficult Experience Unit

Single Receptacle - Straight Blade or Twist Lock

15 Amp 3 Wire 25.00 31.25 37.50 C
20 Amp 3 Wire 30.00 37.50 45.00 C
20 Amp 4 Wire 35.00 43.75 52.50 C
20 Amp 5 Wire 40.00 50.00 60.00 C
30 Amp 3 Wire 40.00 50.00 60.00 C
30 Amp 4 Wire 45.00 56.25 67.50 C
30 Amp 5 Wire 50.00 62.50 75.00 C
50 Amp 3 Wire 50.00 62.50 75.00 C
50 Amp 4 Wire 55.00 68.75 82.50 C
60 Amp 3 Wire 60.00 75.00 90.00 C
60 Amp 4 Wire 70.00 87.50 105.00 C

Duplex Receptacle - Straight Blade

15 Amp 3 Wire 25.00 31.25 37.50 C
15 Amp GFCI or AFCI 30.00 37.50 45.00 C
20 Amp 3 Wire 30.00 37.50 45.00 C
20 Amp GFCI or AFCI 35.00 43.75 52.50 C
15 Amp 3 Wire with USB Ports 25.00 31.25 37.50 C
20 Amp 3 Wire with USB Ports 30.00 37.50 45.00 C
GFCI - Blank Face 30.00 37.50 45.00 C

Split Wired Receptacle - Straight Blade

15 Amp 3 Wire 35.00 43.75 52.50 C
20 Amp 3 Wire 40.00 50.00 60.00 C

Plugtail Wired Receptacles - Straight Blade

15 Amp 3 Wire 15.00 18.75 23.44 C
15 Amp GFCI 20.00 25.00 31.25 C
20 Amp 3 Wire 20.00 25.00 31.25 C
20 Amp GFCI 25.00 31.25 39.00 C

8
Plugtail Wired Switches
15 Amp 1 Pole 10.00 12.50 15.00 C
20 Amp 1 Pole 15.00 18.75 22.50 C
15 Amp 2 Pole 20.00 25.00 30.00 C
20 Amp 2 Pole 25.00 31.25 37.50 C
15 Amp 3 Way 25.00 31.25 37.50 C
20 Amp 3 Way 30.00 37.50 45.00 C
15 Amp 4 Way 30.00 37.50 45.00 C
20 Amp 4 Way 35.00 43.75 52.50 C

Plugtail Connectors
6-inch Angle Solid Wire 10.00 12.50 15.00 C
6-inch Stranded Wire 10.00 12.50 15.00 C
6-inch Angle Solid Wire with Wago Connector 10.00 12.50 15.00 C
6-inch Angle Stranded Wire with Wago Connector 10.00 12.50 15.00 C

©2019 National Electrical Contractors Association 283

33
Section 8: Division 26 - Electrical
26 05 33: Raceway and Boxes for Electrical Systems
General Information
Conduit, Raceways, Fittings and Related Items
• Measuring, cutting, threading and handling conduit
• Material assembly and installation
• Conduit offset bending

Electrical conduits are used to protect and provide the route of electrical wiring. Electrical conduits
(ECs) are made of metal, plastic, or fiber and can be rigid or flexible. The National Electric Code
(NEC) sets standards for the installation for conduits and other raceways.

Common Types of Conduit

Steel Conduits
Steel conduit has been in use as a “raceway system” for electrical conductors since the early 1900s.
The strength of steel makes galvanized steel rigid conduit, intermediate metal conduit and electrical
metallic tubing the wiring methods recognized as providing superior mechanical protection to the
enclosed wire conductors. Additionally, a properly installed metal raceway system is recognized by
the National Electrical Code® (NEC) as an equipment grounding conductor. The basic types of steel
raceways in use today are steel rigid metal conduit (RMC), intermediate metal conduit (IMC) and
electrical metallic tubing (EMT).

Rigid Metal Conduit (RMC)

Steel RMC has the thickest-wall of the steel raceways. It is
available with either a straight-tapped or integral coupling.
Galvanized Steel RMC may have a primary coating of zinc
on the exterior and interior of the conduit; a combination
of zinc and nonmetallic coating are also permitted.
Supplementary coatings can be applied for additional
corrosion protection.

Electrical Code Compliance

The National Electrical Code® Article 344 covers rigid metal conduit, which includes galvanized and
stainless steel, aluminum and red brass. Steel RMC is permitted in all atmospheric conditions and
occupancies. The listing label for this product will be identified with one of the following: “Electrical
Rigid Metal Conduit” or “ERMC-S”.

RMC Trade Sizes

RMC is available in trade sizes 1/2 through 6, and 10′ and 20′ lengths. RMC is threaded on both
ends, with a coupling applied to one and a color-coded thread protector on the other. The industry-
established color-coded thread protectors aid in product and trade size recognition. Thread protectors
for trade sizes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 are color coded blue; trade sizes 1/2, 1 1/2, 2 1/2 and 3 1/2 are black;
and trade sizes 3/4 and 1 1/4 are red.

Steel RMC Corrosion Protection

A variety of coating options are available to protect galvanized steel RMC against corrosion. ERMC-S
is provided with zinc, zinc-based, nonmetallic, or other alternate corrosion-resistant exterior coating
and an organic or zinc interior coating.

Other Trade Names: Galvanized Rigid Conduit (GRC), Galvanized Rigid Steel (GRS)
34
Intermediate Metal Conduit (IMC)
IMC was developed in the 1970s as a thin-wall alternative to
rigid metal conduit (RMC) that weighs about one-third less.
IMC ships with either a straight-tapped or integral coupling.
It features a galvanized OD and corrosion-resistant ID
coating.
Electrical Code Compliance
IMC is covered under Article 342 in the NEC®.

IMC Sizing
IMC is available in trade sizes 1/2 through 4, and 10′ lengths. Threads on the uncoupled end are
covered by industry color-coded thread protectors to protect the threads, keep them clean and sharp,
and aid in trade size recognition. Thread protectors for trade sizes 1, 2, 3 and 4 are color-coded
orange; trade sizes 1/2, 1 1/2, 2 1/2 and 3 1/2 are yellow; and trade sizes 3/4 and 1 1/4 are green.

Using IMC as a Substitute for RMC

IMC is interchangeable with galvanized RMC. Both have threads with a 3/4-inch-per-foot taper, use
the same couplings and fittings, have the same support requirements and are permitted to be used in
the same locations.
Electrical Metallic Tubing (EMT)
Electrical metallic tubing (EMT), also commonly called
thin-wall, is a listed steel raceway of circular cross section,
which is unthreaded, and nominally 10′ long. 20′ lengths
are also available. Covered by Article 358 of the NEC, EMT
is available in trade sizes 1/2 through 4. The outside is
galvanized for corrosion protection and the inside has an
approved corrosion-resistant organic coating.

EMT is installed by use of set-screw or compression-type

couplings and connectors. It is permitted to have an integral
coupling comprised of an expanded, “belled” shape tube
on one end with set screws. EMT with integral couplings is
available in trade sizes 1-1/4 through 4.

Electrical Code Compliance

EMT is covered by Article 358 of the NEC®.

EMT Sizing
EMT is available in trade sizes 1/2 through 4, and 10′ and 20′
lengths. Some manufacturers also produce EMT in a range
of colors for easy system identification.

35
Rigid Aluminum Conduit (RAC)
Rigid aluminum conduit provides lightweight, nonmagnetic
wiring solutions for dry, wet, exposed, concealed or
hazardous locations that comply with the National Electric
Code® (NEC).

Aluminum Rigid Conduit shall be supported at least

every 10 feet and within 3 feet of each outlet box, junction
box, cabinet, or fitting, except for straight runs of conduit
connected with couplings which may be supported in
accordance with NEC Table 344.30 (B)(2), provided such
supports prevent transmission of stresses to termination
where conduit is deflected between supports.
Flexible Steel Conduit (FSC or Greenfield)
When you decide to use “Greenfield” on the job you are
really dating yourself, so I would just call it “flex”. It was
invented in 1902 by Harry Greenfield and Gus Johnson
and when it was listed by Sprague Electric Co. it was called
“Greenfield flexible steel conduit”.

Today the term “Greenfield” is commonly used for all

FMC (flexible metal conduit-NEC Art. 348). FMC is also
manufactured in both aluminum and steel.

The NEC defines FMC as “A raceway of circular cross section

made of helically wound, formed, interlocked metal strip.”
Liquidtight Flexible Steel Conduit (LFSC)
Sealtite Flexible Conduit
Liquid Tight Flexible Steel Conduit is designed to hold
power, control and communications cables in dry, wet or
oily locations.

The conduit is constructed from a zinc coated galvanized

low carbon steel strip with a uniform width and thickness.

A rugged flame retardant and moisture, oil and sunlight

resistant polyvinyl chloride (PVC) jacket covers the metal
conduit.

Other colors available include grey, black, red, orange,

yellow and green.
PVC Coated Rigid Steel Conduit
PVC coated galvanized rigid conduit with urethane interior
coating protects conductors from mechanical damage and
corrosive attack. Electrical continuity is maintained across
assembled joints.

36
Plastic Conduits
Rigid PVC pipe, electrical nonmetallic tubing (ENT), and
liquid-tight flexible nonmetallic conduit (LFNC) are the
most likely plastic conduits to be found in a residential,
commercial, and industrial installations.

Because it’s approved for direct burial and—if it’s

a schedule-80 pipe—can be used to meet the NEC’s
requirement for “protection from physical damage,” rigid
PVC is run in most new underground service entrances to
the electrical meter enclosure.

Sizes range from ½ in. dia. to 3 in. dia. for common

residential applications. Rigid PVC is inexpensive; can be
worked easily without expensive tools; and can be used in
walls, outside in the sun, and underground. Connections are
made with PVC glue. Rigid PVC can become brittle in cold
weather, so check manufacturers’ acceptable temperature
ranges.

PVC Rigid Conduit

The Most Common of All Electrical Conduits
PVC is the lightest conduit material and usually the most
affordable type of conduit. PVC pipes can vary in thickness
depending on the uses and where the PVC will be installed.

The PVC conduit resists moisture and corrosion but the

tubing is non-conductive an extra grounding conductor
must be passed into each conduit.

PVC conduit has a higher thermal coefficient of expansion

allowing the conduit to expand and contract. Installing PVC
underground in multiple or parallel run configurations,
mutual heating might cause problems on cable performance.

37
Electrical Non-Metallic Flexible Tubing (ENT)
ENT, or “Smurf tube” (nicknamed because of its light-blue
color), is a corrugated, flexible PVC plastic tubing used
mostly for dry interior work or in certain places, such as
a basement or crawlspace, where moisture exists on the
interior of a building.

ENT is easier to install than rigid PVC, although it and

its fittings are about twice the price. However, not all
jurisdictions allow for residential wiring with ENT,
and there are some places in a house where it cannot be
installed—for example, it can’t be used for exposed work,
and with a few exceptions, it needs to be protected from
physical damage. However, it can be encased in concrete and
within slabs when the appropriate fittings are used, making
it a viable choice for roughing in kitchen islands on a slab.
Fiberglass Conduit
The demand for fiberglass conduit in the United States alone
has been growing significantly over the last two decades
and is forecasted to increase further as project owners
and engineers seek to serve long-term interests of their
stakeholders.

One of the benefits of fiberglass conduit is that it will not

melt or weld the wire to the inside of the conduit under fault
conditions as can happen with PVC, steel and aluminum
conduit.

Total installed longevity, faster installation time, less

expensive installation costs, lightweight, are a few reasons
why it is advantageous to use fiberglass conduit vs. PVC
coated conduit.
Liquidtight Non-Metallic Flexible Tubing (LNT)
For use in situations that call for a liquid-tight conduit that
is able to withstand vibration, movement, oil and corrosives.
Perfect for indoor/outdoor lighting, water treatment systems
and HVAC equipment.

Easy to install and cuts easily.

Approved for direct burial and in concrete trade sizes 3/8”

through 2”

38
Other Raceways
Surface Metal Raceways
Nonmetallic Surface Raceways
Metal Wireway
Underfloor Duct
Trench Duct

Cable Tray
Steel
Aluminum
Fiberglass

Metal Boxes
Metal boxes are typically used with metal raceway mainly
as a place to pull wires, splice wires, and install devices. The
types of available boxes are their applications are numerous.
For example, a 4-inch square metal box with knockouts
(concentric circles that can be removed for installing conduit)
is used extensively for installing power devices - receptacles
and lighting devices - switches, and as a back box for light
fixtures and fire alarm devices. Metal boxes come in a variety
of shapes: square, octagon, and round.

Depending on the installation other accessories may be

required such as, mudrings (p-ring), extension rings,
barhangers, covers, blank plates, connectors, and wire nuts.

Gang is used to describe the number of devices housed

inside the box. 1-Gang Box will house one device, a 2-Gang
Box will house two devices, etc.

Masonry, weatherproof, utilty (handy box), and ceiling fan

are just a few of the varieties available.

Pull/Junction Boxes are large enclosures that are used to

splice large conductors, as a place to pull wires, and to house
electrical controls.

Cast boxes are often used in hazardous locations where

ignitable gases, dusts, or fibers are present. Explosion-proof
boxes can prevent an arc inside the box from escaping and
igniting combustible material. Cast boxes are sometimes
referred to as hub boxes because they have threaded hubs
for connecting metal conduit.

Plastic Boxes
Nonmetallic boxes are typically used with nonmetallic
sheathed cable or nonmetallic raceways. They come in many
different shapes and types depending on the application.

39
Section 8: Division 26 - Electrical
26 05 19: Low-Voltage Electrical Power Conductors and Cables
General Information
• Wire, Cable, Lugs, Terminations, Busway and Bus DuctPulling cable, including set-up and
removing jacks, sheaves and cable pullers
• Testing circuits for continuity only
Building Wire
A wire is an electrical conductor made from a conductive material like copper or aluminium that is
covered with a protective insulation to prevent contact with other conductors or objects. If the wire is
bare it is being used as a grounding wire.

Single-conductor wire can be either solid or stranded. Solid wire consists of a single strand or core
of wire that is insulated with non-conductive material. Typically you will find solid core wire in
situations where the wire is not designed to be continuously flexed (i.e. your house electrical wiring,
wires for breadboards, etc.)

Stranded wire consists of a bundle of small gauge wires compressed and insulated with non-
conductive material. Typically you will find stranded wires in situations where the wire needs to be
routed through tight spaces or experiences frequent flexing/vibration (i.e. headphone cables, speaker
wire, automotive wire, appliance cables, etc.)

The AWG - American Wire Gauge - is used as a standard method denoting wire diameter, measuring
the diameter of the conductor (the bare wire) with the insulation removed. AWG is sometimes also
known as Brown and Sharpe (B&S) Wire Gauge.

The higher the number - the thinner the wire. Typical household wiring is AWG number 12 or 14.
Telephone wire is typical AWG 22, 24, or 26.

THHN Wire
T Thermoplastic
HH Hot Hot (90 degrees Celcius)
N Nylon Outer Covering

XHHW-2
X Cross Linked Polyethelyne
HH Hot Hot (90 degrees Celcius)
W Wet Locations
-2 90 degrees wet or dry locations

RHW
R Rubber
H Hot (75 degrees Celcius)
W Wet
40
Cable
Cable is a group of two or more wires wrapped in a nonmetallic sheath (NM) or an armored or
metal clad (AC, MC) protective flexible housing. Cable is both the conductor “wire” and the sheath
“conduit” fabricated together. Installation is typically faster than installing conduit “pipe” and
conductors “wire” since once installed, no additional labor is required to pull the wires through the
housing.

There are many different types of cable available to meet various installation requirements. Indoor,
outdoor, and direct burial are just a few options.

The most common cable used in residential installations is Romex®. The Romex® brand of Non-
Metallic Building Wire (“NM”) originated in 1922 with its development by the former Rome Wire
Company, a predecessor to General Cable Corporation.

41
Section 8: Division 26 - Electrical
26 27 00: Low-Voltage Distribution Equipment
General Information
The labor units in this section include the installation of the wiring device in a box already in place
and the termination of copper conductors on the wiring device. The labor units for wiring devices
which are factory mounted in enclosures include the installation of the enclosure and the termination
of copper conductors. When aluminum conductors are terminated on wiring devices the labor units
in this section must be increased.
Devices
Device. A unit of an electrical system that carries or controls electric energy as its principal function.
NEC 100. The most common example of devices used everyday are switches and receptacles.

Devices are typically selected based on the rated amperage and voltage. Exceeding either of these
values can lead to early failure or a potential hazard.

Receptacle outlets are available in a number of options: general-purpose grade, specification (spec)
grade, and hospital grade as well as a few others. The National Electrical Manufacturers Association
(NEMA) has created standards that receptacles and plugs are built to.

Tamper-resistant and weather-resistant receptacles are designed for specific locations.

GFCI receptacles provide ground-fault circit interruption. Class A GFCA devices will open the circuit
if a ground fault of 4-6 milliamperes or more occurs. GFCI receptacles are less expensive than GFCI
circuit breakers. NEC 210.8 lists the locations that are required to have GFCI protection, such as
bathroom and kitchen outlets near water.

15A, 120V 20A, 120V 20A, 120V

General-Purpose Spec Grade Hospital Grade

20A, 120V
GFCI
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Switches
Switches open and close electrical circuits, allowing power to flow through lights and appliances. The
switch used should match the amperage and voltage for the circuit they serve. Switches designated
“CU-AL” are compatible for both copper and aluminum wiring. Be sure to select compatible
switches, otherwise, they can present a fire hazard.

The simplest and most common switch is a Single Pole Single Throw Switch (SPST) used frequently
for controlling lights. Flipping the switch up completes the circuit, turning lights or appliances on,
and flipping it down breaks (opens) the circuit, turning the lights or receptacle off. A single-pole
switch has two brass terminal screws on the side that receive the black and white wires of the circuit.
(The number of terminal screws identifies the type of switch.) Modern single-pole switches also have
a green grounding screw (not shown) that connects to the circuit’s ground wire.

A switch that can operate hallway lights from either end of the hallway is called a three-way switch ;
it has an extra terminal.

Occupancy Sensors
• A occupancy sensor automatically turns the lights ON upon detection of motion and turns the
lights OFF automatically after the area is vacated
• Occupancy sensors may offer the option to switch the sensor from automatically turning the lights
ON to requiring manual button press from the occupant (Manual/Vacancy Mode)

Vacancy Sensors
• A vacancy sensor requires manual activation of the lights by the occupant, then turns the lights
OFF automatically soon after the area is vacated
• A vacancy sensor does not offer an option of automatically turning the lights ON

Why would I use a Vacancy over an Occupancy Sensor?

• ASHRAE 90.1-2010 and many other codes no longer permit the entire space to be switched on
automatically upon occupancy. Automatic ON is only allowed for up to 50% of the controlled
load. This requires a sensor that allows for Manual On capability for some or all of the load. For
most applications, an occupancy sensor will meet this requirement as long as it allows for dual
zone control and manual switch interface.
• New York City Energy Code LL48/2010 states that where occupancy sensors are required,
occupancy sensors cannot have an onboard override switch that converts from Manual On
to Automatic On functionality. In New York City, vacancy sensors must be used to meet this
requirement when used as a stand-alone solution.

Other types of switches:

4-way Switch
Dimmer Switch
Occupancy Sensor
Time Clock

43
Section 8: Division 26 - Electrical
26 51 00: Interior Lighting, 26 52 00: Safety Lighting, 26 54 00: Classified Location Lighting, 26
55 00: Special Purpose Lighting, 26 56 00: Exterior Lighting
General Information
• Lighting Fixtures, Poles and Parking Lot Lighting
• Fixture installation
• Power and grounding conductor terminations
• Original installation of lamps and fluorescent tubes, covers and lenses in new lighting fixture
installation
• Verification of fixture operation
Light Fixtures
The appropriate type of light fixture required depends on several factors; where it is installed,
purpose for lighting the area, cost, and other considerations. Most lighting designers categorize
lighting fixtures into three types: ambient, task, and accent.

Ambient light is fundamental light that brightens up a whole area. A ceiling light fixture is an
excellent example of normal lighting. An ambient light fixture may usually be able to handle light
bulbs with larger wattages than process or accent accessories.

Task lighting is the lighting you utilize to do tasks, hence the name! A desk lamp is just a excellent
example of the task light installation as it can be used especially to do work. Activity lighting tends to
be focused on small areas such as for example end tables or desks but does provide a small number of
ambient lighting.

Accent lighting is just as the name implies used to provide feature illumination. A light fixture
employed for accent lighting won’t be bright enough to provide sufficient background or task
lighting. This sort of light is used to display artwork or to enhance the atmosphere of any room.
Fixture Lamp Types
A light fixture or luminaire is a technical and professional term for the electrical fixtures used to hold
a lamp—a light bulb—the light source. Common lamps types include: Incandescent (INC), Halogen,
Fluorescent (FL), High Intensity Discharge (HID), Light Emitting Diode (LED).

Vintage LED filament

light bulb

44
Fixture Mounting Methods
Troffer
A troffer is a rectangular or square light fixture that fits into
a modular dropped ceiling grid (i.e. 2' by 2' or 2' by 4').

Troffer fixtures have typically been designed to

accommodate standard fluorescent lamps (T12, T8, or T5),
but are now more commonly designed with integral LED
sources. Also referred to as Lay-in fixtures or recessed
fluorescent.

Surface
Surface mounted fixtures are usually mounted indoors on
ceilings and walls and outdoors on the exterior of buildings.

Suspended
Fixtures can be suspended by pendant, stem, aircraft cable,
swival and canopy, wire, chain, cable, cords, or other similar
methods.

Recessed
Flush mounted fixtures are recessed into surfaces such as
gypsum board or hard lid ceilings. When installed they are
flush with the surface and blend in with the surroundng
area. Round recessed lights are called downlights or can
lights.

High-Bay
High bay lighting fixtures are designed for applications of
20 feet or more. A wide range of indoor lighting fixtures
provide specific light patterns for high bay lighting
applications, including maintenance lighting, warehouse
lighting, recreation center lighting, hangar lighting and
storage lighting.

Low-Bay
Used to light areas with lower ceilings 20 feet or less. Low
bay lighting options have diffusers at the bottom of the
fixtures. These diffuse the light, cutting down on the harsh
reflections that lower ceilings can cause. The result is a
more natural, pleasing light in rooms with low ceilings. The
applications for this technology are endless, and they are the
perfect option for any tight space.

45
Section 8: Division 26 - Electrical
26 12 00: Medium-Voltage Transformers, 26 13 00: Medium-Voltage Switchgear, 26 21 00:
Low-Voltage Electrical Service Entrance, 26 22 00: Low-Voltage Transformers, 26 24 00:
Switchboards and Panelboards
General Information
Switchboards, MCC’s, Panelboards and Power Equipment
• Rigging for reasonable lifting and hoisting
• Moving, handling and placing in position, bolting sections/bussing together and factory harness
• wiring for fans, heaters and controls.
Several pages in these sections contain labor units for handling electrical equipment and exclude the
labor for conductor terminations. The labor for conductor terminations must be added separately for
these items. When labor units in this section do include the conductor terminations, the labor units
are based on the minimum sizes of copper conductors allowed by the National Electrical Code.

Material found in these sections was covered earlier in the Power Distribution section.

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Electrical Plans
Electrical plans or electrical drawings are created by a design team to illustrate for the electrical
installer (electrician) how the electrical systems are to be installed preconstruction. The final set of
electrical drawings illustrating how the systems were actually installed are commonly referred to as
“as-built drawings”.

Electrical Construction Drawing Set

A typical set of electrical construction drawings includes the following:
1. Plan for each floor, roof, surrounding site, and other area with electrical installations.
2. Site plan(s) showing incoming utility services and substations; exterior transformers; feeders,
trunk lines and backbone cables between buildings; and site lighting.
3. Symbol list and abbreviation list.
4. Schedule(s) of lighting fixtures, mechanical equipment connections, transformers, etc. as
appropriate.

Electrical Symbols
The NEIS NECA 100 - 2006 Symbols for Electrical Construction Drawings publication describes
graphic symbols used to represent electrical wiring and equipment on construction drawings. In this
publication, the term “electrical” is used to include electrical, electronic, and communications systems
covered by the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70). This publication also summarizes recommended
drawing practices for electrical construction drawings.
Symbol Groups (From: NEIS NECA 100 - 2006 Symbols for Electrical Construction Drawings)
Group Descrption
1.0 Wiring Methods
1.1 Raceways—Indicators
1.2 Raceways—Boxes and Busways
2.0 Luminaire (Lighting Fixtures)
2.1 Luminaire Fixtures—Basic Modifiers Mounting
2.2 Luminaire Fixtures—Basic Modifiers Orientation
2.3 Luminaire Fixtures—Basic Modifiers Emergency
2.4 Luminaire Fixtures—Extended Fixtures
3.0 Outlets and Receptacles
4.0 Switches and Sensors
5.0 Motors—Controls
5.1 Motorized & HVAC Equipment
6.0 Security
7.0 Fire Alarm Communications & Panels
7.1 Fire Alarm Indicators
7.2 Fire Alarm Sensors
8.0 Distribution Equipment
9.0 Communications—Teledata
9.1 Communications—Audio/Visual
9.2 Communications—Equipment
10.0 Site Work
11.0 Schematic Fault Circuit Interrupter, Personal Protection
11.1 One-Line Diagram Symbols—Switchboard Meters
11.2 Schematic and One-Line Diagram Symbols—Switches
12.0 Miscellaneous
13.0 Abbreviations
14.0 Nurse Call System
47
Example Pages from NEIS NECA 100 - 2006 Symbols for Electrical Construction Drawings
NECA 100 Symbols for Electrical Construction Drawings

2.0 Luminaire (Lighting Fixtures)

Number Preferred Symbol Description

2.001 Luminaire: (drawn to approximate shape and to

scale or large enough for clarity).

2.002 Luminaire strip type (length drawn to scale).

2.003 Fluorescent strip luminaire.

2.004 Fixture—double or single head spotlight.

2.005 Exit luminaire fixture. Arrows and exit face as

indicated on drawings (mounting heights to be
determined by job specifications).

2.006 Light track. Length as indicated on the drawings,

with number of fixtures as indicated on draw-
ings, and as indicated in the fixture schedule.

2.007 Emergency battery remote luminaire heads.

2.008 Emergency battery unit with luminaire heads.

2.009 Single luminaire pole mounted site luminaire

fixture.

2.010 Tw i n l u m i n a i r e p o l e m o u n t e d s i t e l u m i n a i r e f i x -
ture.

2.011 Roadway luminaire—cobra head.

2.012 Bollard type site luminaire.

2.013 Outdoor wallpack.

■ 10
48
 Symbols for Electrical Construction Drawings NECA 100

2.1 Luminaire Fixtures—Basic Modifiers Mounting

Number Preferred Symbol Description

2.100 Surface mounted fixture.

Recessed fixture.

Wa l l m o u n t e d f i x t u r e .

Suspended, pendant, chain, stem or cable hung

fixture.

Pole mounted with arm.

Pole mounted on top.

In-ground or floor mounted. (Box around sym-

bol.)

2.2 Luminaire Fixtures—Basic Modifiers Orientation

2.200 A c c e n t / d i r e c t i o n a l a r r o w, w i t h o r w i t h o u t t a i l .
(Drawn from photometric center in direction of
optics or photometric orientation.)

Directional aiming line. (Drawn from photomet-

ric center and may be extended to actual aiming
point if required.)

Tr a c k m o u n t e d ; l e n g t h , l u m i n a i r e t y p e s a n d
q u a n t i t i e s a s s h o w n . ( Tr a c k l e n g t h d r a w n t o
scale.)

11 ■
49
 NECA 100 Symbols for Electrical Construction Drawings

2.3 Luminaire Fixtures—Emergency

Number Preferred Symbol Description

2.300 Luminaire providing emergency illumination.

(Filled in.)

NOTE: M o d i f i e r s a r e s h o w n w i t h s p e c i f i c b a s e s y m b o l s f o r c l a r i t y.
Each modifier can be used with any of the base symbols.

2.4 Luminaire Fixtures—Extended Modifiers

2.401 Standard designations for all luminaire fixtures.
A A NL “A” = Fixture type, refer to fixture schedule
“NL” = Unswitched night light
a 2 a 2 “2” = Circuit number
“a” = Switch control

2.402 +48” Mounting height.

2.403 Louvers.

2.404 Recessed, emergency fixture.

■ 12
50
Common Electrical Systems
There are many different electrical systems in a typical commercial, residential, or industrial building.
Listed below are examples of some of the most common electrical systems.

01 SWITCHGEAR 32 ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

02 BUS DUCT/BUS PLUGS 33 PROCESS CONTROL SYSTEM
03 EM. GEN/TR. SW./MG 34 KITCHEN EQUIPMENT
04 FEEDERS 35 MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
05 MOTOR BR. BRANCH/EQUIP. CONNECT 36 HALON SYSTEM
06 FIXTURES 37 LEAK DETECTION
07 LIGHTING BRANCH 38 GROUNDING
08 DEVICES – LIGHTING 39 LIGHTING CONTROL/DIMMING
09 MC CABLE LIGHTING BRANCH 40 LIGHTNING PROTECTION
10 MC DEVICES - LIGHTING 41 CATHODIC PROTECTION
11 LIGHTING SOFT WIRE 42 SITE WORK
12 POWER BRANCH 43 SITE LIGHTING
13 DEVICES – POWER 44 INCOMING SERVICE – POWER
14 MC CABLE POWER BRANCH 45 INCOMING SERVICE – TELEPHONE
15 MC DEVICES - POWER 46 DUCT BANKS AND MANHOLES
16 CABLE TRAY 47 TRAFFIC SIGNAL AND STREET LIGHTING
17 WIREMOLD (SURFACE RACEWAY) 48 REWORK EXISTING
18 RAISED FLOOR POWER DISTRIBUTION 49 DEMOLITION
19 TELEPHONE/DATA CONDUIT 50 TEMPORARY POWER
20 TELEPHONE/DATA CABLE 51 WALKER DUCT
21 FIRE ALARM SYSTEM 70 PV MODULES
22 PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM 71 DC WIRING
23 DR. SECURITY/CARD READER 72 COMBINER BOXES
24 DR. MONITORING.INTRUSION 73 DC DISCONNECTS
25 INTERCOM SYSTEM 74 INVERTERS
26 CCTV 75 AC SWITCHGEAR
27 MATV 76 AC WIRING
28 CLOCK SYSTEM 77 MODULE RACKING
29 NURSE CALL SYSTEM 98 OTHER
30 GAS DETECTION SYSTEM 99 DIRECT JOB COSTS
31 TEMPERATURE CONTROL SYSTEM

Numbering the systems is often used by an electrical contractor for organizing the electrical estimate
into categories or systems.
System Estimate Scope of Work
06 FIXTURES Interior building fixtures (Typically estimated by floor)
07 LIGHTING BRANCH Conduit, hangers, boxes, etc. for the lighting branch circuits
08 DEVICES - LIGHTING Lighting devices, such as switches and occupancy sensors
39 LIGHTING CONTROL/DIMMING Lighting control systems / panels
43 SITE LIGHTING Parking lot lights, bollards, etc.

Electrical Construction Drawings - Waste Management Hauling Facility

A typical set of electrical construction drawings will include an electrical symbols legend, lighting
fixture schedule, and one-line diagram. The Waste Management Hauling Facility electrical drawings
can be found in the Electrical Estimating Activities section.

51
Electrical Estimating

Steps for Estimating and Bidding Electrical Work

1. Choose the Right Work to Bid
2. Review the Specifications
3. Review the Drawings
4. Perform a Quantity Takeoff
5. Request Supplier Quotes
6. Create your Estimate
7. Add Overhead and Profit
8. Build your Proposal
9. Double Check Takeoff Quantities & Estimate
10. Submit Bid
11. Review the Results

Quantity Takeoff
The process of counting and measuring items depicted in the electrical drawings such as; light
fixtures, receptacles, conduit runs, panels and switchgear.

Quantity Takeoff Process

Study the drawings to understand the scope of work and how the items you are counting, or
measuring are installed.

For example, conduit in a slab versus conduit in the wall or fastened to a steel beam are installed
differently.

Conduit Installed in a Slab Conduit Installed Along Wall and Ceiling

52
Conduit in a slab can often use the shortest run from point A to point B and runs under the slab do
not have to be installed parallel or orthogonal to the building walls or framing.

Conduit runs in a slab are “stubbed-Up” to the device, panel, box, or location it is being connected to.
The requirement for the stub-ups is given in the specifications.

PVC conduits often must be stubbed-up with rigid elbows.

PVC Conduit Stubbed-Up with GRS Elbows PVC 90’s? Aren’t you concerned about your jet line/rope cutting through them
when you pull the wires? We always use rigid 90’s underground.

Typical Specification

Working With EMT - ELECTRICAL METALLIC TUBING and What Electricians Should Know

53
The isometric drawing below (not to scale) illustrates the horizontal and vertical installation of
conduit intalled in a ceiling (Lighting Branch) and in a slab (Power Branch).

Drop
Vertical conduit dropping
down from above is
referred to as a “drop”.

Stub-Up
Vertical conduit coming
up from below a slab is
referred to as a “Stub-up”.

Plan View

54
Takeoff Sheet
Totals of each item to be installed are organized and recorded in a takeoff sheet.

Example: Takeoff Sheet for Light Fixtures (Waste Management Hauling Facility)

Before counting or measuring items the first step is to prepare a takeoff sheet for the system to be
counted such as, light fixtures, or measured, such as Branch Lighting. Then, using the corresponding
drawing for the system to be counted or measured, count or measure all items for each drawing
where they are shown to be installed and record on the takeoff sheet. Continue until all those items
for each drawing where they are shown are counted before moving to the next item. If you find
something you missed earlier, immediately count it and adjust your previously noted quantity. Most
companies have a Takeoff Color Code for marking the items counted on the plans.

For example, color all light fixtures with a yellow highlighter and emergency fixtures with an orange
highlighter. Lighting devices (switches, etc.) color with a blue highlighter.

Example: Colored Lighting Fixture Plan

Process for Counting Fixtures

The basic process for the counting Fixtures is to choose the Fixture type to be counted. Using the
yellow highlighter, color the fixture symbol on the plan and “click” the hand tally (clicker). Continue
coloring and clicking until all fixtures of that type have been counted. Record the number in the
corresponding location on the takeoff sheet. Repeat for another type of fixture.

55
Take Off Color Code
To have a consistent process for estimating the scope of work for the different electrical systems and
indicating on plans that the components have been accounted for a take off color code is helpful.

The take off color code below shows the different color highlighters used for each system. For
example, use the pink highlighter to count power devices, such as, receptacles.

Colored pencils are used for coloring conduits that have been measured, such as, Lighting Branch,
Power Branch, Fire Alarm Branch, and Feeders.

TAKE-OFF COLOR CODES

SYSTEM HIGHLIGHTER

LIGHTING FIXTURES YELLOW

EMERGENCY FIXTURES ORANGE

DEVICES
POWER PINK
LIGHTING BLUE
TELE/DATA GREEN
FIRE ALARM RED PENCIL

DISTRIBUTION EQUIP
REGULAR POWER BLUE
EMERGENCY POWER ORANGE

DUCTS AND TRAYS GREEN

MOTORS & CONN BLUE

GROUNDING GREEN

MISC SYSTEMS DRK BLUE DARK BLUE OR ANY UNUSED COLOR

WITH NOTATION ON DRAWING

PENCIL COLORS
NM Cable
FEEDERS EMT MC CABLE PVC GRC/IMC
BRANCH RED PINK GREEN BROWN

EXISTING / FBO PURPLE

REMINDER: If it is not colored, then it is not counted!

56
 Chris Lee has an extensive background in preconstruction management as a
former specialty contractor and business owner. As the Chief Estimator at
Esticom, he has helped thousands of specialty contractors digitize their
preconstruction process to increase revenue and profitability while decreasing
unnecessary overhead.
Chris Lee

How to estimate electrical work - basic steps to do it right

In the world of electrical contracting, you must estimate and submit bids to win projects and stay in business. This
means bidding low enough to win against many competing electrical contractors, while high enough to cover all the
project costs like labor, material, equipment rentals, subcontractors, and indirect cost or otherwise known as
overhead required to run your business. And do not forget including enough profit for taking on the risk and of
course growing the business. In the steps below, we have outlined a proven electrical estimating system to help you
get started.
1. Choose the Right Work to Bid
2. Review the Specifications
3. Review the Drawings
4. Perform a Quantity Takeoff
5. Request Supplier Quotes
6. Create your Estimate
7. Add Overhead and Profit
8. Build your Proposal
9. Double Check Takeoff Quantities & Estimate
10. Submit Bid
11. Review the Results

11 Steps to Estimating Electrical Work

1. Choose the Right Work to Bid - The first step in the electrical estimating process is selecting the right type of
work to bid. You should avoid bidding electrical projects where you have limited experience and are more likely
to make mistakes during the estimating process and project execution should you win the electrical construction
project. There is a learning curve for electrical estimators and your field staff when taking on any new type of
work that can eat into your profit.

2. Review the Specifications - Thoroughly review the Division 01 general specifications in addition to the Division
26 specifications and pay close attention to contractor qualifications, payment terms, bonding capacity,
insurance requirements and make sure you can meet the qualifications and live with the legal language should
you win the construction project. When you are finished with the general specifications, it is time to move onto
the Division 26 specifications and make a note of the material grade, installation methodologies and
responsibilities of costs (who provides fire alarm, communications, etc.) Generally, the specs will determine the
quality of materials while the drawings determine quantities. It is important to highlight anything out of the
ordinary and make sure you include these items in your bid. I have seen many contractors take a black eye on an
otherwise profitable project because they bid a less expensive material grade only to find during the project
execution that it was significantly more expensive. If you intend to offer an alternate option, make sure it is
approved first and in writing because they will hold you to the specified material grades.

3. Review the Drawings - Look over the drawings at a high level to get an idea of the full scope of work. You should
review the architectural in addition to the electrical drawings to understand working heights and elevations that
will affect labor costs, material pricing and equipment requirements. Once you understand the general
construction (think birds eye view of the project) it is time to review the Division 26 drawings taking note of any
technical details that are depicted and watch for any discrepancies between the drawings and specifications and
write this down.

57
1
 4. Perform a Quantity Takeoff - Pull out your highlighters, scale master or your favorite takeoff software to begin
the process of counting and measuring items depicted in the electrical drawings like light fixtures, receptacles,
conduit runs, panels and gear. Start with one item (we suggest light fixtures) and count all items sheet by sheet
keeping totals per sheet before moving to the next item. If you find something you missed earlier, immediately
count it and adjust your previously noted quantity. Now total your quantities for each sheet and move to a
quantity takeoff sheet, example excel sheet below. Note: Are you responsible for HVAC hookups or any low
voltage?

5. Request Supplier Quotes - One of the reasons we suggest getting your lighting counts first is to speed up
receiving a quote for these items because they are generally quoted independently of the rest of your materials.
A couple things to note, do not worry about getting the specifics on the light fixtures, rather note the
designations used to identify the fixtures on the plans i.e. A1, B1, C1, etc. The lighting firm will reference the
lighting schedule and look up the item details and provide a lump sum quote. It is in your best interest to build a
relationship with your local lighting firms to ensure you are getting competitive pricing in a timely manner.

6. Create your Estimate - Now that you have the quantities laid out, you will need to determine the unit cost for
each item. To accomplish this, you need to determine the material and labor costs associated with each task and
extend those out by the task quantity. Determining the material cost is simple, a quick call to your supplier or
pricing service can give you this data, but the labor cost requires that you know how long it takes to install the
material. This requires past production history and experience, or if you do not have past production history and
limited field experience we suggest purchasing NECA’s Manual of Labor Units to use as a guide. Once the labor
unit is determined you will multiply that by the burdened labor cost to determine the labor cost for the task. See
the simple excel example quantity takeoff sheet below that includes material and labor costs per task and the
totals summarized. Now you will want to summarize the total material cost and total labor hours for all the
items, and you’ll multiply the labor hours by your fully burdened hourly labor cost to get your total labor cost for
the task. Add these two numbers together to determine your total direct costs for the project and the basis for
your estimate. Keep in mind, you will need to add line items for any other direct costs required for the
installation like equipment rentals or subcontractors.

7. Add Overhead and Profit - Now that we have our estimated job cost (direct costs) we need to add profit and
overhead to those costs to arrive at our sales price. While profit is self-explanatory, overhead is not and is the
total of all the other indirect expenses that are required to run your business including your office lease,
estimating, sales, marketing, bookkeepers, and other expenses that must be paid to keep your business
operating smoothly. Like profit, overhead is a percentage that you add to the project costs to land at your sales
price. Small contractors commonly believe they do not have overhead and shouldn't charge for it and this is not
correct. You are leaving money on the table and it's in your best interest to figure out the overhead required to
run your small business with an accountant that specializes in construction.

8. Build your Proposal - Now that we have our sales price, we need to create a proposal that details what is
included in our bid in clear and concise terms. We suggest using similar language to what was used in the project
specifications and drawings. This makes it easier for the General Contractor reviewing your proposal to ensure
you have covered everything and that nothing major is missing and he can therefore trust your price. Electrical
contractors provide lump sum bids. This means you provide a fixed fee to cover everything outlined in your bid.
This is where it is important to clarify anything that you have included or excluded to avoid any confusion once
the project is awarded. Free Electrical Proposal Template Here

9. Double Check Takeoff Quantities & Estimate - It is always a good idea to get a second set of eyes from your
estimating team to review your work prior to submitting your bid to make sure you have not missed anything.
This review should involve a counterpart taking off the project’s major systems and ensuring that nothing was
missed during the original takeoff. We suggest keeping a bid log (simple excel spreadsheet) that shows recent
and successfully completed projects by type and size with the price per sq ft listed for reference. While you
should never bid projects this way, you can compare a previously completed project against your current project

58
2
 to see if there is a large variance in price. If there is a big delta, it is worth looking into to figure out why. Note:
you can use this log to help with preliminary budget numbers.

10. Submit Bid - Once you have double checked your work it is time to submit your bid. Today, everyone submits
bids electronically either through the bid site that they received the bid or via email. We suggest that you read
the Division 01 specifications again and looking for any bid instructions and follow them to a tee.

11. Review the Results - In the beginning it can be tough to determine where you are in the mix compared to other
electrical contractors bidding the same work. Remember, General Contractors go with numbers from vendors
they trust, potentially years of experience working together, more than the low number, so it might take a
couple bids to gain a General Contractors trust. When you lose a project, it is always a good idea to ask the
General Contractor how you stack up against the competition, sometimes they will send you the bid tabs with
your competitors’ numbers and other times they will tell you that you are high or too low for comfort. Unless it
is a public bid, they are not required to provide this information, but if you ask in a respectful manner you will
receive feedback, and this will help you with adjusting on future bids. Note: It is a good idea to request bid tabs
on awarded projects as well to see if you are leaving money on the table by bidding too low.

How to Estimate Electrical Work More Easily and Accurately

If you are thinking that estimating seems like a lot of work, you are right. Electrical estimating requires a serious time
commitment, and this goes up significantly if you do not have an electrical estimating system in place. Electrical
estimating software provides you with an easier way to get your work done using a prebuilt system and
methodology. Good electrical estimating software gives you on screen takeoff, estimating and quoting all in a single
package with features like auto-count, a full electrical labor and material database and a way to track your bids. If
you are new to electrical estimating, this can provide a framework to get you started and generally electrical
contractors see a 2-3x increase in speed over manually estimating projects with paper plans and excel. Usually, it is
less expensive than the cost of printing out plans. With the advent of cloud-computing, you now have access to
several web-based applications like Esticom that allow you to estimate projects on day one without any heavy
upfront costs, set up or implementation. We have a free 14-day evaluation giving you access to the same tools big
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