Electrical Contractors’ Association

Bids received can vary by up to 100 per cent over a range of hrms. The higher bids may be from hrms who do not want the job but wish to keep contact with the client. Where there is a difference of more than 10 per cent between the lowest and second-lowest bidder, this can cause problems. For example, the Electrical Contractors Association offer a guarantee of completing through their members, at no extra cost, in the event that a member is unable to do so, but only if the difference between the contractors appointed and the next bid is not more than 10 per cent. In some instances, this could be enough to seriously consider not accepting the lowest bid. 

The detailed-t eoff method can rarely if ever be used. When detailed drawings are available, costs may be estimated by pricing materials and components from suppliers catalogs or, for special items, from quotations. Handbooks are available which give typical values of the labor-hours required to perform units of installation work, such as installation of switches, starters, motors, conduit wiring, and push buttons of various sizes, for both hazardous and nonhaz-ardous areas. Labor rates can be obtained from various government statistical sources or elsewhere. For the United States the National Electrical Contractors Association publishes an excellent manual of electrical costs. From the complete plans and specifications, the estimator can take off materials, estimate the labor cost, apply appropriate factors for labor efficiency, productivity, and local conditions, and achieve good results. 

National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) (National Electrical Installation Standards, NEIS)... 

NECA Electrical Design Library Fault Detecting and Disconnecting Devices, National Electrical Contractors Association, Washington, D.C., June 1977. 

NECA Wiring Symbols Standard, National Electrical Contractors Association,Washington,D.C.,May 1976. 

The lack of prescription in the legislation is meant to be offset by the provision of comprehensive guidance and the setting of benchmark standards by bodies such as the Health and Safety Commission/Health and Safety Executive (HSC/HSE) and the British Standards Institution (BSI). Trade associations and other similar organisations have an important role in this respect, and guidance material published by bodies such as Electrical Equipment Manufacturers and Users Association (EEMUA), the Institution of Electrical Engineers (lEE), the Electrical Contractors Association (ECA) and Electrical Contractors Association of Scotland (SELECT) is extremely useful. 

On new premises the electrical contractor may install sockets and the associated wiring to the point of intended line entry, but the connection of the incoming line to the installed master socket must only be made by the telephone company s engineer. 

Photovoltaics may provide a revolution in the supply of electric power. Still, to ensure that new buildings contribute to sustainable development a less cautious bureaucracy is needed, which is less resistant to new ideas and not associated with vested interests, especially in the non-renewable electricity industry. Logistical problems have also damped solar energy growth. This includes the difficulty of finding reputable contractors to install solar panels. 

Nil took the position that any contracts for services essential to the safe operation of the sites would need to be re-established by the new licensees (Nuclear Electric and Scottish Nuclear, who held sole responsibility for safety under their licenses), not by the parent holding company. Nil reasoned that contractor failure could not release a licensee from the responsibility associated with its site license. Nil ultimately judged the new contract arrangements to be satisfactory. 

If demolition or refurbishment is to be undertaken, then hazards associated with structural collapse, fire, working at height, lifting and carrying and electricity must be considered together with health hazards from lead, asbestos, vermin and insects. As mentioned in Chapter 10, a structural survey before work commenced should reduce the risk of unintentional structural collapse. The issue of hot work permits, provision of fire-fighting equipment and suitable storage facilities for flammable substances should control the fire risk. Health risks can be controlled, for example, by the use of licensed contractors for the removal of asbestos, specialist contractors to eradicate vermin and the provision of suitable personal protective equipment. 

Organization. Many large Japanese companies, including those in the civil, electrical and component manufacturing areas, were involved in the construction of Monju, so it was truly a national project. There were about 20 main contractors and around 300 associated companies. The daily number of workers peaked at about 2700 in the busiest period of construction. Responsibilities for the construction of the mtun components and electrical facilities were shared as follows (these also apply for design and fabrication) ... 

Herman v. Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc., 172 F.3d 1078 (8th Cir. 1999). But see United Energy Services, Inc. v. FMSHRC, 35 F.3d 971 (4th Cir. 1994) (affirming MSHA jurisdiction over contractors at electric cogeneration power plant). 

Another type of accident common to all types of excavation work is that caused by machinery or operatives striking buried electric power cables. Fortunately injuries from such accidents are usually limited to burns, fatalities being relatively few compared with the high proportion of fatal accidents when overhead power cables are struck. Nevertheless the buried cable (or gas and water main) hazard remains a serious one and is a frequent cause of delays and high costs to the contractor. It is the subject of a special study by the Construction Industry Research and Information Association. 

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