The Essentials: What to Expect from Qualified Commercial Electricians
The total U.S. electricity consumption in 2022 skyrocketed to an unprecedented 4.05 trillion kWh. A staggering 14-fold increase from the modest power utilization of 1950.
As our reliance on electricity intensifies, so does the need for skilled professionals who can navigate this intricate web of energy. There’s a growing demand for qualified electricians in every sector. Whether you own a small business or run a large corporation, reliable professionals are essential for handling your electrical needs.
But what exactly can you expect from qualified commercial electricians? What electrical services do they offer, and how can they help you achieve your goals?
This guide will answer these questions and more. Here are the essentials you should know about qualified commercial electricians.
Accessibility for Timely Support
When you hire local commercial electricians, you’re getting experts who know your area well. They understand the local regulations that govern electrical work. This includes building codes, processes to get permits, and the licenses needed for electrical jobs.
Being close by also means they can come quickly when you need them. These electricians can bring teams to install things, do upkeep, and fix emergencies fast. This is important because any business disruptions could mean losing money.
It’s estimated that electrical problems cause around 28,000 fires yearly. Working with local electricians means that you can limit the damage. The best offer 24/7 services, ensuring you get your power back as soon as possible.
Wide Range of Electrical Services
Professional commercial electricians can manage a wide range of electrical tasks for businesses. They offer services from basic repairs to advanced installations.
Electrical Design and Installation
An expert can help you plan and execute the electrical layout and wiring of your new or renovated commercial space. They can also advise you on the best types of electrical systems and devices for your specific business needs and goals.
Electrical Maintenance and Repair
Electricians inspect and test your electrical systems and equipment regularly. They help identify any problems and fix them. You can also rely on them for preventative maintenance services to avoid costly breakdowns in the future.
Electrical Upgrades and Improvements
Electricians play a vital role in ensuring your systems and devices are efficient. They provide ongoing upgrades, ensuring you can always rely on your system. They also customize the upgrades to your needs and preferences.
Electrical Emergency Service
Commercial electricians can respond to electrical emergencies and restore your power as soon as possible. They are available 24/7 for your convenience and peace of mind.
Safety and Compliance
Safety is incredibly important when dealing with electricity. Mishandling it can lead to injuries, damages, and even fatalities. Working with qualified commercial electricians reduces these risks.
They have the training to handle electrical work safely and effectively. Moreover, they are certified and insured. This gives you peace of mind that they adhere to best practices to prevent accidents.
Electrical service providers also have an intimate knowledge of relevant regulations. This includes local, state and federal codes that govern electrical systems.
They can help you obtain the right permits, licenses, and approvals for your projects. You can also rely on them to ensure your system is always in good condition.
Efficiency and Minimized Downtime
Another benefit of professional commercial electricians is their ability to improve efficiency and reduce downtime. Electrical systems are crucial in ensuring the smooth operation of a business. Any outage or malfunction can reduce productivity, leading to loss of money.
Local commercial electricians provide a fast and reliable service. This helps prevent the above issues. They can also help optimize your system for maximum performance.
A professional can advise you on the best solutions for:
Power quality
Regulating voltage
Load capacity
They can even install energy-efficient devices to reduce your costs.
Cutting-Edge Technology and Innovation
The field of electricity is always evolving, with new equipment, methods, and innovations. Continuing education is essential for electricians to keep delivering their best work. It’s a lifelong process of acquiring new skills and knowledge.
As a result, they can adapt to your evolving needs. Electricians can help you take advantage of evolving technologies, such as:
Smart lighting controls
Solar panels
Electric vehicle charging stations
High-efficiency LED lighting
This can be incredibly beneficial for your business. It can help you cut costs and achieve your sustainability goals.
Reliable Electric Repair Services
Qualified commercial electricians are not only good at installing new electrical systems. They are also great at repairing existing ones. They have the diagnostic skills and equipment to identify and fix any electrical issue quickly and accurately, such as:
Faulty wiring or outlets
Damaged or blown fuses or circuit breakers
Malfunctioning or flickering lights
Tripping or buzzing switches
Broken or loose connections
Overheating or sparking devices
Commercial electricians can also provide preventive maintenance and services. This can help ensure your system is always functional and prevent costly failures.
Partnership for Long-Term Success
Experienced commercial electricians also play a vital role in your long-term success. As skilled service providers, they build relationships based on trust, respect, and communication.
They are always available to respond to your needs and concerns. Moreover, electricians are flexible and easily adapt to your evolving needs.
Their extensive training allows them to identify and fix problems efficiently. This minimizes downtime and disruptions.
Their commitment extends beyond a single project. The best electricians should support your ongoing electrical needs. They provide valuable advice and feedback to help you achieve your goals.
You also benefit from warranties, guarantees, and follow-ups to ensure your peace of mind. As a result, you will save big on your electrical repairs, installations, and projects in the long run.
Your Go-to Commercial Electricians
If you’re looking for qualified commercial electricians, look no further than Huston Electric. We take pride in installing, repairing, and maintaining commercial electrical systems in Indiana.
Our team comprises of experienced and certified electricians who can handle any project. We also offer competitive pricing, free estimates, and 24/7 emergency service.
Don’t settle for less than the best. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and discuss your needs. We are here to serve you with the utmost respect and professionalism.
News from our Pre-Fab Shop
Here at Huston Electric, we have the mindset of “It’s not how good you are, it’s how good do you want to be.” We encourage our team to own their quality of work and take pride in it. Many years ago, Huston Electric launched our pre-fab department as a way to be leaders in our industry and set the example of what could be done to make our job site run more efficiently. It first started with building various small assemblies for a few jobs here and there, and now the past few months we have never been busier! We are always trying to find new ways to grow and get better at what we do! Huston strives to be the best in the area by taking measures to ensure we are powering innovation on and off the job site!
We have had several conduit assembly projects recently and up next is “our bread and butter” so to speak. Huston won the bid for a large Apartment Complex job in Bloomington called the “Standard at Bloomington”. A three building, 439-unit, 1,800 bedroom, apartment complex that has anything from a studio apartment to a 5-bedroom apartment.
This project has over 50 different unit layouts, which requires a lot of work up front from the design side of the pre-fab world. That work includes measuring the layouts of each unit type and adding them to a standard operating procedure (SOP) for not just wall assemblies, but from the electrical panel for each apartment to the first wall assembly on each circuit. In the electrical trade, we refer to this as “the home run.” After each one is measured, a panel schedule is created that shows circuit breaker size, wire size, and length. Our pre-fab team can then build the entire panel and ship it out to the job site.
For wall assemblies, we design the receptacles to daisy-chain together, and we try and completely build the lighting switches in house to minimize time in the field. We tail these devices, which includes making up the connection to the device with wire and placing a push-in connector on the other end. This allows the field electrician to daisy-chain the devices around the room at a much faster rate. All they need to do is run the wire to the next assembly in line, strip the wires back and push them into the push-in connector. Once finished, they place the device back in the box with a metal protective cover. There is no need to mess with the device again until trim out. This allows us to have a more efficient and safer job site. Huston’s number one value is Safety First. Taking steps to pre-fab assemblies ensures that we are taking extra precautions to make our job sites cleaner, which in turn helps us maintain a safe job site. After everything was designed, we ordered nearly 20,000 devices, over 630,000’ of wire, that is nearly 120 miles of wire! That would easily stretch from our Lafayette Pre-fab shop to the job site in Bloomington!!
Huston Electric BIM group helps streamline field installation:
One of our most recent projects for our Pre-Fab team has a lot of gear and specialized equipment that needs a generous amount of power. After receiving the model of the building and the original trade models, the coordination team from each trade began meeting once a week via a video conference call. After 6 weeks of coordination effort, decent progress was made. In the BIM process, each trade designs everything being put in the building based on the submittal files. Each submittal shows a detailed drawing of what the product will be that will be installed. The Electrical BIM modeler takes each submittal for transformers, generator, electrical panels, lights, main switchboards, life safety gear, etc. and models it correctly in the building. Along with this, all the equipment needs power, so the conduit is drawn in. Using the BIM process to coordinate each trade really helps streamline the installation for everyone. See below an example from a recent project.
Huston’s Role in Construction of Grand Junction Plaza
We had the great privilege of assisting in the construction of Westfield’s new Grand Junction Plaza. Grand Junction Plaza is a new development that opened to the public at the end of 2021 in the heart of downtown Westfield. The plaza includes a six-acre park complete with an amphitheater, walking trails, and an immersive playground. Three structures were built on the property to house public amenities and the necessary equipment in storage rooms. Huston Electric was awarded the entire electrical scope of work for this project.
For Huston, this project started in the summer of 2020 and was completed at the beginning of this year. Huston’s role in this project was to run power and install all the electrical components in the park including the light poles that line the perimeter and walking trails. Each pole is connected to a lighting control system installed in one of the electrical rooms. Three structures were constructed in the park; Huston handled all the electrical for each. One of the structures is set up to hold public amenities like restrooms, lockers, a café, and a temperature-controlled gathering space. Inside that structure, Huston installed linear LED light fixtures and floor lighting around the indoor perimeter (pictured in the gallery below).
Huston Electric installed over 35,000 feet of PVC conduit underground during this project (just over 6 ½ miles) that provided raceways for power, lighting, emergency power, telecommunications, A/V and fire alarm. As well as power to 76 light poles and 3 structures. With (2) directional bores and (28) Quazite boxes ranging from 11″ X 18″ to 36″ X 36″ Huston Electric was able to successfully distribute all necessary power and communications throughout this challenging project. Huston Electric also provided and installed a 35Kw generator located 450′ away from the Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS), for emergency power to Café building and select site lighting.
Huston Tech, our specialized technology division was also included on this project. Huston Tech was responsible for providing the copper and fiber infra-structure for voice / data transmission. The fiber cabling was run underground to connect each data box and each structure to control systems. In addition to Huston Tech installing data boxes on some of the light poles, they also installed other devices such as wireless access points, speakers, and security cameras. In the amphitheater space, Huston Tech installed the theater cabling system to support line, mic, and speaker level audio signals.
The City of Westfield has big plans in the works for how they will utilize the new park to entice visitors which include plans for an ice-skating rink and corresponding amenities in the winter. In addition, to the already determined uses for this park, further development is projected for this site as well, including construction of possible additional structures. Residents of Westfield and the surrounding communities look forward to seeing all the wonderful things that will happen at this community space. Next time you are in downtown Westfield, make a point to visit Grand Junction Plaza!
New Process News from Huston’s Pre-Fab Shop
When you think of prefabrication, do you think it can only be done for MC cable and Romex assemblies? Think again! We received two separate requests from foreman to pre-fab pipe assemblies. The first request came from our Hagle Hall job. The second was from our foreman in charge of the Logansport Intermediate School project.
For Hagle Hall, our Pre-Construction Services Engineer, Eric, took every device room by room and created a build sheet for it based on our pre-fab SOP (standard operating procedure). He gave each assembly a device type, raceway type, a circuit number, quantity, and to the request of the foreman for the job, Adam Robbins, marked whether it had an offset.
Adam came to prefab asking for an offset on the pipe assemblies to gain access to the device in the wall from above the ceiling. A simple 3-1/2” offset near the top end of the assembly was all that was needed. This building also had window pockets around the entire exterior of the building. Instead of an offset there, we gave Adam a 90-degree bend above the window pocket and out 3’ to be able to access the device. Both assembly types were made with wire already in the conduit sticking out 16” to 24” so the field install only consisted of mounting the device box at the correct height, securing the conduit inside the wall, mounting a junction box to the other end of the conduit, and connecting the wires from the power source.
We could have easily put a 10’ stick of conduit and been done with it but we wanted to expand the potential of what we can do in pre-fab shop As you may recall from the last Pre-Fab Blog, BIM coordination was completed on this job so we took the pre-fab one step further. We flew through the coordinated 3D model of the building and looked above the ceiling of every single device. If there was an HVAC duct, fire main, plumbing lines, etc. up against the wall above a device, we measured from the top of the device box to the item in the way and marked the build sheet with enough conduit to get either above or below the obstruction based on how close to the ceiling it was. This greatly helped in the area above the “World’s Largest Drum Display” where the ceilings were 20’+ with massive windows and very little space to access the required power devices down low.
As for Logansport Intermediate School, the foreman, Avery Zink, requested pipe assemblies with 4-11/16 boxes with extension rings above the ceiling to gain access to those devices. We had several different device types for this job which included the typical power assembly, power/data Assembly, data only, wireless access points, and projector locations.
New to the pre-fab shop were the wireless access points and the projector locations. The wireless access points (WAP) are a simple T-bar ceiling grid hanger bracket with a 4SQ electrical box. The most challenging component was the projector assembly which required a more complex assembly. The specification for the assembly was a 4SQ box for the power with two duplex receptacles on the same bracket as a 5SQ box for the data portion. If you do some research for a bracket that holds both, you will find there is not a lot of options. In Pre-Fab we are fond of the typical adjustable spanner bracket but being as the two different boxes are separate depths this would not work. So, we found a three hole bracket that fit both boxes, we put the power on one side, the data on the other side using a 5SQ and a two gang mud ring with 2, 1-1/4” conduit stubs out of the top of the box. All the electrician in the field must do is mount the bracket to the studs at the correct height and run the data cables. A very simple and clean install.
What can Huston Pre-Fabrication do for you?
Huston’s Prefabrication for Hagle Hall at Purdue
Hagle Hall is a building on Purdue University’s Campus specifically designed for the Purdue Marching Band. Huston Electric bid the project, won the job, and began the work soon after. From the beginning it was clear that this job required BIM Coordination to help ease the installation process between trades.
During the BIM process, Adam Robbins, Foreman of the project, decided he wanted to try a new conduit support system, the B-Line Conduit Trapeze support. Adam simply provided me with the amount of homerun conduits going down the hallway and Eric Purtzer, Huston’s Pre-Construction Services Engineer, found the correct size of support. Eric was able to find the actual model of the bracket and place it in our REVIT model.
Drake Lindsey, a technical specialist, then used the Trimble Total Station marking the mounting holes and then a worker placed blue banger hangers on these marks. Coordination allowed us to run conduit tight to the deck, so next, concrete was poured, forms were removed, and Adam was able to bolt these hangers directly to the deck. No threaded rod was needed to install these supports as we could run tight to the deck
This turned out very well and was very quick to install in the field. Two guys installed the hangers and ran about 1,000 feet of conduit in one day. Soon after that, Adam was asking if we could translate more of the BIM model to the field. We took it to the next level by attempting to bend feeder conduits in Prefab with dimensions straight from the building model.
Working with both Adam and Rob Melin, a journeyman electrician with over twenty years in the industry, Eric got drawings created with the dimensions needed and Huston’s Prefab Shop got to work bending these 2-1/2” IMC feeders. With some additional software to REVIT, which Huston uses to do 3D modeling for coordination. Eric was able to place regular strut hangers in the model, which were also marked before concrete was poured. The add-on software created a build schedule of the hangers, and the prefabrication process allowed our team to cut the strut and threaded rod to length and even completely assemble the smaller ones. This process is not new as we were able to prefabricate nearly 3,500 hangers for Foundational Sciences Building at Ball State. On that project, we sent the bent feeders and hangers marked with a number and an installation drawing showing where each hanger needed to be installed. This process made installation a breeze
We hope to continue to utilize BIM in more jobs in the future to help ease the installation process. In the meantime, what can Huston’s Prefab Shop do for you?
Huston provides electrical and lighting solutions for new bakery
Petite Patisserie, downtown Kokomo, is opening soon! We were fortunate to help them turn a school supply store into a full bakery.
We installed a full service kitchen in the back. Huston powered a brand-new walk in freezer and cooler. We also retrofitted the existing down lights to LED and installed the new crystal chandeliers. The massive amount of electrical we ran under the countertops allows them to power espresso machines, a panini press, a crêpe maker, a juicer and many more pieces of equipment. We are so excited to stop in for a sweet treat once they open!
Huston Solar, a NEW division
Huston is proud to announce a new addition to our company’s divisions, Huston Solar. This new division will focus on providing alternative energy solutions through solar installations and maintenance. We have been proudly serving central Indiana with all their electric needs for the past 80 years. In order to keep up with ever-changing technology that goes into powering a home or business we have made a commitment to train and certified some of our electricians in solar technology.
We can now provide our customers with a more innovative and eco-friendly option to power their world. Our solar division is proud to be certified with the NECEP, The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners. Huston Solar is fortunate enough to be a premium installer of one of the leading-industry solar manufacturers, Panasonic Solar. As well as a certified installer of Tesla Energy products. Our highly trained installation crews take pride in delivering beautiful, well-engineered solar arrays. They are committed to providing quality workmanship and will deliberately consider every piece of your installation so you can rest easy throughout its many years of service.
In fact, we are pushing towards more innovation within our own company. Our solar division installed a 7.7 kWAC solar system on top of our newly remolded pre-fabrication building at our Lafayette location. The design and installation of this system will ultimately make this building net-zero for electrical consumption. Huston sees the value in generating alternative energy for our company as well as the environment. This is the first installation of solar panels on one of the buildings, but we do have plans to do more at our other locations. We have received many positive comments on our new addition as it can be seen by the road.
Have you thought about installing solar panels for your home, business or institution? Huston Solar is a turn-key solar developer and installer. We will handle all the local jurisdiction permitting, interconnection agreements with the utilities, and designing to ensure a smooth process from start to finish. We have experienced technicians and designers who are always available over the phone or in-person to help pick the system that best fits your needs. Contact us today or request a quote.VISIT OUR NEW SITE: www.hustonsolar.com
Huston Dives In To Help On Purdue Aquatic Center
In August, Huston Electric provided and installed new LED lighting over the competition pool and diving well in the Purdue Aquatic Center. After being awarded the project, Huston got the right to work acquiring fixtures and planning ahead. The schedule only allowed for 3 weeks with completion required by the middle of August. The first step was to demo the existing large and heavy light fixtures and frames.
In their place, Huston provided and installed new Lux Dynamics Wave LED light fixtures. From demo to final clean up the project took 2.5 weeks to complete. This was thanks to a great Purdue staff, our skilled electricians, and the help of two 77’ atrium lifts. The new, LED lights should pay for themselves in a short 14 months and with the new fixtures weighing only one-third of the old, Purdue has even mentioned using the roof for alternative purposes. The Purdue University staff seem very pleased with Huston’s ability to provide a high-quality product within the time restraints given. David Boudia, Olympic diver and Purdue Alum were excited about the new lighting in the Aquatics Center and even took to social media to applaud Purdue on the new upgrade.
Huston plays big role in Rise on Chauncey build
Huston Electric’s involvement with the build of The Rise on Chauncey began at the end of 2017. As a design-build job, Huston played a large role early on in designing the electrical layout of the building. Once the plans were complete, Huston’s prefab team started early on prepping all the power and lighting for the 281 apartments and main spaces.
Not only did Huston provide all the electrical work and power but all of Huston’s divisions played a role in what you see today. Huston Generators installed two permanent backup emergency generators. Huston Tech installed all of the CATV, voice/data cabling, WIFI access points and fire alarm systems. Huston Signs installed two sets of channel letters, a perpendicular sign, and a set of custom exposed neon letters. The building was completed in August of 2019 and stands as one of the best examples of Huston’s quality workmanship. Through collaboration within our divisions Huston can be the solution to a lot of the problems with constructing a new building. We will continue to provide service for all of The Rise’s future needs in the fields of electrical, TeleTech, generators and signage.
WiFi For Your Winter Wonderland
Many people have an under performing ISP provided wireless gateway modem/router combo sitting in their basement or office. Family members who are far away from it are always complaining how the internet is too slow or down.
Even when you move to the other side of the house the signal speed isn’t really that great. Many of these basic devices provided by your internet provider offer economic, easy solutions but not the best performance quality. Installing your own router can help but still may struggle through floors and walls. WIFI signal functions like sound waves. You wouldn’t want to listen to your sound system through three walls, right? Therefore, adding additional wireless access points in the house can tremendously improve your wireless experience. A robust dual band AC gigabit router with a built-in wireless controller can even hand off your devices from point to point as you move around your house. Your devices won’t remain connected to a faraway access point resulting in seamless roaming through-out your home. The wireless specification means that the network equipment has support for the latest 802.11 ac networking standard, which offers faster WIFI network connections on the 5GHz frequency. The dual band feature maintains support for legacy 2.4Ghz devices. Also, if you have a guest house, garage, or boat dock you can even network wirelessly across the distance with a wireless bridge. Huston Tech uses quality residential system brands such as Pakedge, Araknis, Ubiquiti, and Luxul to provide you with a high performance and reliable home network. For Christmas this year, consider giving you and your family a reliable and robust wireless experience.