Key Issue

ELECTRICAL SPECIFIERS: WHEN’S THE RIGHT TIME TO CALL ON EXTERNAL EXPERTISE?

Electrical engineers ensure electrical installations are safe and guarantee a smooth run of operations and proper function of electrical systems. Unfortunately, not every installation is the same and some are more complex and demanding in terms of attention to detail needed, writes Stewart Gregory, VP Power Products at Schneider Electric UK&I.

Low voltage switchboards can be installed following regulations easily found on websites, like IEC 61439-1&2. However, when we look at a bigger installation, like a building’s wiring system, these can be more complex, requiring compliance with installation and calculation standards.

Indeed, the priorities for any specification project are two-fold – efficiency, and safety. For both, the latest digital tools can unlock significant amounts of untapped potential and give professionals a competitive edge. However, it is near impossible for specifiers to keep up to date with the newest innovations on their own. That is why it is vital to find the balance between being independent and knowing when to call on external experts.

Solving complex calculations

Electrical installations require complex calculations, taking into consideration data such as voltage and current electrical requirements, as well as length of the run and environmental conditions, with calculations being compliant with IEC standards.

Professionals must also analyse circuit breakers - if coordination and discrimination between circuit breakers are not properly calculated and installed, the entire electrical network could go down with a minor incident, like tripping one branch circuit breaker that would then trip the main one. To navigate these installations, many busy electrical designers consult third party specialists for support, to ensure accuracy and be more time efficient.

Weak points for design firms

A recent survey conducted by Schneider Electric aimed to determine what the ideal balance between independence and this kind of third-party support looks like for electrical consultancy firms. Unsurprisingly, one of the key aspects was time sensitive issues. When a professional is out in the field, the goal is to try and resolve a problem as promptly as possible to minimise the time of the disruption. If the installation requires electricians to consult with experts, the outcome might not be as fast as it needs to – the website might be confusing and overloaded with information, making it a time-consuming process to scroll through all the products and solutions.

Many busy electrical designers consult third party specialists for support

Another common issue that called for outside support was the complexity of some products. The survey found that, “The issue is sometimes that contractors hand over entire catalogues and it’s impossible to find out exactly which products they have included.”

Electrical products are complex in nature, especially when you consider larger and more complex systems like building wiring. Consulting with specialists can help narrow down the options to better suited ones, avoiding the risk of incorrect products being used that could potentially endanger the entire electrical system or risk its efficiency in the long run.

Across the board, small specifier firms value fast, face-to-face expert support, “It’s key to have someone to call. They know about products that may not be on the website or at least can help us find them.” The online world is a huge benefit for specifiers day-to-day, but trailing through a website for hours is undoubtedly an inefficient use of precious time when speaking directly to someone who understands the products can take just minutes.

Finding the right balance

When specifying a project, it is important for professionals to understand the stages where external expertise must be relied on, to save time for the stages where more independent work is required. According to Schneider Electric’s small specifier survey, third party support is most valuable when looking for specific product information in large catalogues and libraries, translating design into detailed specifications and determining the overall price of the project, and staying up to date with industry norms and trends.

In contrast, it is critical for electrical specifiers to identify their strong areas. Identifying market demands and potential new business prospects, documenting essential design components, discussing innovative ideas and technical applications with suppliers, and establishing lists of vendors and goods to be included in the design appear to be significant process factors. Electrical designers are also more than capable in assisting throughout the project process, as well as participating in webinars and training. This final point is particularly important since it demonstrates a commitment to continue developing and learning in order to stay current with the industry’s latest insights and trends.

No electrical specifier can or should know everything. They should, however, know where to go to receive the information they need in order to work in the most efficient, safe, and successful manner possible.