Estimating in Building Construction

Chapter 17 Electrical
 ELECTRICAL WORKS
• All electrical work must be installed in accordance with the code regulations
of a given area.
• Throughout the United States, the National Electric Code (NEC) is used
extensively.
• Often the specifications will require that “all work and installations be in
conformance with all applicable national, state, and local codes.”
• This statement means that contractors are responsible for compliance with
the laws; if they are responsible for them, then they better be familiar with
them.
 ELECTRICAL WORKS
• Field experience in construction will be helpful in understanding the problems
involved in electrical work and how the electrical aspect should be integrated
into the rest of the construction.
• Without field experience, an understanding of the fundamentals of electrical
work, and an ability to read and understand the drawings and specifications, it
will be difficult to do a meaningful takeoff on these items.
 SINGLE CONTRACT
• The selection of an electrical subcontractor should not be based on price
alone, although price is an important consideration.
• Other factors, such as the speed with which the subcontractors complete their
work and the cooperation they show in dealing with the prime contractor and
other subcontractors, are also important.
• Nothing causes hard feelings faster than subcontractors who are
uncooperative. Because prime contractors are responsible to the owners for
all work, it is in their own best interest to consider all factors while selecting
an electrical subcontractor
 SINGLE CONTRACT
• The wiring is considered the rough work, and the fixtures are considered the
finish work.
• The wiring will usually be concealed in a conduit, which is installed throughout
the building as it is erected.
• The wiring is pulled through the conduit much later in the job.
• Cables are installed when the building is being erected.
 SINGLE CONTRACT
• To work up an estimate, estimators go through the plans and specifications in
a systematic manner, taking each different item and counting the number of
each.
• The estimator must not hesitate to check off (lightly) each item as they count
it to reduce the possibility of estimating the same item twice.
• Included in the list are all outlets, floor plugs, distribution panels, junction
boxes, lighting panels, telephone boxes, switches, ELECTRICAL CHAPTER
SEVENTEEN television receptacles, fixtures, and any other items, such as
snow-melting mats.
 SEPARATE CONTRACT
• The electrical contractor does the takeoff and bidding, but this does not mean
that the estimator for general construction should not review the drawings
and specifications for this work.
• Often, when projects are being bid under separate contracts, the contractors
for each phase receive the drawings only for that phase (or portion of work)
on which they will be bidding.
• Even under separate contracts, there are many areas of mutual responsibility
and coordination.
 CORDINATION REQUIREMENT
• Coordination of work among the electrical, HVAC, and plumbing contractors
themselves is also important, since the electrical, HVAC, and plumbing
contractors may all have work to do on a particular piece of equipment.
• For example, the HVAC contractor may install the boiler unit in place, the
electrical contractor may make all power connections, and the plumbing
contractor may connect the water lines.
• Coordination and an understanding of the work to be performed by each
contractor are important to a smooth-running job.
 CHECKLIST
• Conduit (sizes and lengths)
• Wire (type, sizes, and lengths)
• Outlets (floor, wall, overhead)
• Switches (2-, 3-, and 4-way)
• Panel boards
• Breakers (size, number of each)
• Outlets, weatherproof
• Control panels
• Power requirements
SYMBOLS
SYMBOLS
COORDINATION REQUIREMENT
Thank You