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Coordination is key in electrical installation. Electrical works are seldom done in isolation and require coordination with multiple contractors.
One team may be working on the HVAC, while the other may be working on the ceiling, and yet another one may be working on plumbing. These contractors need to work at the same time to get the project done within a reasonable timeframe.
This is why coordination matters.
Without having a solid plan or a workflow management system, commercial and residential electrical works can see significant delays and even confusion that can cost inefficiencies and omitted tasks.
Read below to learn more about how to manage electrical works alongside other contractors and how to get ahead of the installation without disruptions:
Successful electrical contractors in the UK are usually the ones who can coordinate effectively while still maintaining compliance with the British Standards, specifically the BS 7671 and CDM regulations.
Not to mention that they must do all of this while working within project deadlines. This is why commercial and industrial projects are now highly integrated using an omnichannel approach.
This approach makes sure that every team working on a site is well-coordinated and follows a singular layout or blueprint for the project.
In general, when electrical work is being conducted on a property, the electrical systems will interface with the following:
This means that the electrical system will have a severe impact on every team working on the project. This is where sequencing comes in.
Projects involving multiple teams must require clear interface management and sequencing to avoid clashes and downtime. For example, ceiling contractors may need containment completed before grids are installed. Similarly, HVAC installers may require electrical isolators and control wiring before commissioning.
These are just some of the ways that teams can properly plan and sequence their activities so as not to hinder the overall deadline of the project.
Here are several coordination problems that building owners may face during the project:
When multiple workers or teams need access to the same room, riser, or ceiling void at the same time, you can expect trouble!
Access conflict issues include something as simple as cable trays blocking ductwork routes, pipework installed across access panels, and even serious access problems, such as scaffold or MEWP access being unavailable.
A great way to avoid this problem is to sequence the activities and use a revolving task strategy. For example, one team may work on the ground floor of the property and then move on to the next floor while another team takes over their tasks on the ground floor. This cycle continues until all the teams are done with their tasks.
Slippage is a real problem in any type of project and can cause frustration and unnecessary delays.
In electrical works, slippage can happen if builders, steelwork teams, or HVAC installers fall behind.
In this case, electricians may lose planned installation windows and need overtime or weekend work to finish their tasks. When working with tough deadlines, this issue can be exacerbated when teams rush the project and face compressed testing and commissioning periods.
Poorly coordinated drawings and floor plans can cause unwanted delays when multiple contractors are working on the same site.
This can happen when there have been undeclared changes to the design drawings of the property. For example, to work around an issue, the plumbing contractor may go ahead and choose a different layout for laying pipes.
While this may not be an issue in larger properties, smaller properties with tighter spaces may run into problems due to the overlapping of equipment that runs inside the walls or flooring.
This is why a unified plan is so important. The primary design plan will keep all the contractors working more efficiently without causing disruption to other teams working on the site.
Even if one team faces a problem that they have to address by altering the plan, they should always share the changes with the project manager, who will then communicate, coordinate, and update the primary drawings accordingly.
Setting responsibilities for each team is vital when working alongside other contractors.
On multi-level projects, disagreements can arise over who provides containment supports, which contractor supplies the isolators, and the temporary power arrangements for the teams working on a particular area in the property.
A workable solution to this problem is to appoint a key responsible person for each team. This person will be the liaison between the other responsible people appointed by the other teams.
This strategy works well because it allows only the responsible people to share communication while the other personnel focus on the work at hand. These liaisons will quickly go over any pending disagreements and convey a mutually decided plan. The liaisons will then go back to their teams and communicate the changes in the plan, if any.
Working with other contractors can be frustrating, especially when you are dealing with amateurs or inexperienced installers.
However, installation companies like Calder Electrical are specifically experienced with working on large projects. Trained technicians provided by professional companies know how to work with the team and follow all the required best practices.
Here are some of the most effective strategies used when working alongside other contractors:
Meetings are crucial when working with multiple teams. The electrical team must aim to frequently attend meetings so that they are always in the know of the changes in the floor plan or design drawings.
As a best practice, teams should meet before the project starts. This meeting is called the pre-start meeting and is an excellent way to discuss the scope of the project with other contractors.
The contractors should also set weekly site coordination meetings where they share the progress with the stakeholders and communicate any hindrances in the project. The weekly meetings are the gold standard for keeping everyone aligned and making sure that everyone works according to the most updated plans.
Other key topics include discussing access requirements, delivery schedules, sequencing activities, health and safety risks, and testing and commissioning windows.
Sequencing is what allows multiple contractors to work seamlessly.
Good sequencing reduces the chances of disruption and enables the teams to work effectively.
Here is the order that is typically followed in most projects:
By following this sequence, each team can work independently and without the fear of disrupting other tasks around the property.
However, sequencing isn’t set in stone. Since there are risks of delays due to supply chain problems or disruptions in the delivery of materials, the sequence may be broken. A good way to fix this is to come up with multiple sequences that are made according to the most likely problems the project will face.
For example, if the HVAC system components are likely to be delayed due to slow shipment, then the team can use an alternative sequence plan to accommodate the changes.
When it comes to projects that involve multiple contractors, safety is key.
Electrical contractors in the UK must coordinate safely under CDM 2015 requirements. The principal contractors are responsible for coordinating the site activities safely.
However, the electrical contractors will still have duties to cooperate with other trades, share risk information, prevent unsafe overlaps, and manage isolation correctly.
Electrical work involves the most coordination because it is linked to most of the teams working on the site. For example, when laying down wiring, the electrical team will have to coordinate with the ceiling, HVAC, and even plumbing team so that they lay equipment according to the primary blueprint to avoid overlaps with concealed wiring.
Since the electrical team’s scope is so diverse, they also need to communicate the safety protocols and work according to the health and safety standards mutually decided upon at the start of the project.
The electrical team must work alongside the contractors to clearly define the scope boundaries, exclusions, attendance requirements, and handover procedures.
These aspects need to be communicated clearly to avoid delays in the electrical works. In most cases, the electrical team will also have to highlight the work responsibilities and temporary power obligations, along with the testing responsibilities, during the project.
Without sharing these parameters, the electrical team may be held accountable for delays in the project. This is why we recommend that you go with a professional installation company like Calder Electrical, who are specifically trained to work in complex environments.
Professional electricians share the details of their scope beforehand and clearly communicate their role and obligations in the project so that there are no disputes or delays.
By now, you may have an understanding of the complexity involved in sites that require multiple contractors.
However, for professionals, this is just a normal Monday!
When picking the right company, you must look at the overall experience of the team and their previous projects.
These two factors can give you a quick overview of the installer’s capabilities and work ethic. Here are some other important factors to consider:
One of the key annoying points about working with unprofessional electrical teams is that they are not proactive at all. Since they do not have a shared vision for the project, they work by winging it and fixing errors as they arise.
This approach can cause delays and a lot of money for the property owner. Instead, you should opt for teams that coordinate proactively and get things done beforehand.
These teams will take on the responsibility for communicating with other contractors themselves and will work in the interest of the property owner to get the job done as quickly and effectively as possible.
When teams don’t work together, they tend to cause significant delays. Collaboration is a skill, not an activity. Professional electrical teams work with collaboration in mind. For example, if they are working in an area that overlaps with the HVAC system, the team can coordinate with the concerned people to get the job done quickly.
This allows the electrical team to avoid issues and, in fact, work in a way that increases the efficiency of the installation.
It’s easy to say that you know how to work with other teams, but when you actually work in multi-trade environments, you will realise that these types of projects are like no other. They are highly complex and prone to errors if not done correctly.
This is why you should always opt for contractors who know what they are doing and have worked extensively in multi-trade projects.
Electrical installations mean little when they are not backed by the necessary documentation required to attest to the quality of the installation.
When working with multiple contractors, electrical teams must work together with all the other teams on the property to get to the testing and commissioning stage as soon as possible.
If things go right, then the electrical team will likely be the last ones to conduct the tests and determine the overall health of the installation. Professional installers can work with other contractors to divide the testing phase into multiple stages. For example, the team can coordinate with contractors to determine the first section of the property to be completed.
They can then run tests and begin building the Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR), and then run a final full property test when everything is done.
Wiring and electrical installations are tasks that require a certain skill set to be performed successfully. When hiring an electrician to plan and conduct a full electrical installation for your property, make sure that they are fully certified and qualified, and that they understand your requirements.
At Calder Electrical, we have been providing electrical services to residential, commercial, and industrial properties for over 40 years and are specialists in all aspects of electrical installations, maintenance, and testing.
All our work is fully insured, and we work to meet the standards set by the NICEIC to make sure all your electrical installations meet the current regulations, and all the notifiable work is signed off by the local authorities.
If you have unplanned issues within your home or business, we can provide a call-out service to rectify and solve any problems, such as circuit tripping, loss of power, broken items that need repairing, or to check if you feel something is unsafe or a potential hazard.
Our team can generate a Visual Inspection Report (VIR) to identify anything visual that does not comply with the standards or looks unsafe, as well as a full Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR), where we will identify and test each circuit to make sure they are not deteriorating and are safe for use within the current standards and regulations set by the BS 7671.
We can also provide PAT testing of appliances to make sure that any items such as kettles, computers, and microwaves are safe for use in the home and workplace.
Contact us here or call us at 0800 612 3001 to get in touch with our professional electricians for more information on planning an electrical installation for a property and managing electrical works alongside other contractors.
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