Howtoestimatethecostofinstallingan

ElectricalDistributionCenter(EDC)
CandidateNumber0112233
June2012

TableofContents

1)
2)
3)
4)

Introduction

TypesandMethodsofMeasurement
SpecificFactorsinTakeoffandPricing
OverviewofLabor,Material,Equipment,
IndirectCosts,andApproachtoMarkups
5) SpecialRiskConsiderations

6) RatiosandAnalysis

7) Misc.PertinentInformation

8) SampleSketch

9) SampleTakeOffandPricing

10) Glossary

3
35
56
68
8
8
8
9
10
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3
1. Introduction
Thepurposeofthefollowingtechnicalpaperistoprovidethereadersomegeneralinformationonhow
toproperlyestimatetheinstallationofanElectricalDistributionCenterorEDCasitisoftenreferredin
theconstructionindustry.
MainCSIDivision

Division16000
SpecificSubDivision:CodeandName

Division16050BasicElectricalMaterialsandMethods

Division16100WiringMethods

Division16405ElectricalDistributionCenter

TheElectricalDistributionCenterorEDCwasintroducedtotheconstructionindustryasatime
saver,andtimeismoney.TheseEDChousesareconstructedasasingleunitcontaining
switchboards,panelboards,drytype,stepdowntransformers,groundingconductorsfromeach
transformertogroundchasethroughtheflooroftheEDC,plywoodmountingboardsforthelowvoltage
systems,generaldutyservicereceptacles,lightfixtures,andswitches.Nearlyallswitchgear
manufacturershaveEDCunitsavailable,rangingfromlarge4,000Aunitstosmaller400Aunits.Each
unitisULlistedandispreassembledandeachEDCisspecificallydesignedatanoffsitemanufacturing
facility,accordingtothespecificneedsandrequestsoftheowner.ThelargerEDChousesarealso
constructedwithdetachableliftconnectionsforeasierinstallations.Theotherkeyaspectofthedesign
oftheEDChouseisthateachoneismanufacturedanddeliveredasweatherproofunits.Itisimportant
tomaintaintheseunitsintheirweatherproofconditionuntilthebuildingisfullyenclosed.Thisallows
theswitchgeartobeheatedupearlyandusedasthemaintemporarypowersource.
Intodayscommercialconstructionmarket,timeistrulyoftheessence.Ownersareexpecting
theirprojectscompletedfaster,andatthesametimeexpectingtheirprojectstobebuiltforlessmoney.
Historically,thetypicallargeboxretailstoreswereconstructedwiththescheduleinmindandthecost
forconstructionwaslessimportant.Thatisnottosaythatmoneywasnoobject,notatall,butthe
ownerwantedtosellhismerchandiseasquicklyaspossible.Therefore,manyovertimehourshadtobe
figuredinordermeetcriticalgrandopeningdates,whichdrivesupthecostofaproject.Today,
however,thesesamelargeboxretailownersaregettingboth,quickconstructionschedulesaswellas
lessexpensiveprojects.Inthisarticle,wewilldiscussandcomparehowtheinstallationofEDCunitsis
oneofthewaysthatownershavebeenabletoachievethisgoal.
2. TypesandMethodsofMeasurements

TherearemanyfactorsthatcomprisethecompleteinstallationofanyEDCsuchasthe
undergroundroughinofconduitstootherEDCunitsorpanelboards,aswellastheoverhead
installationofrooftopunits.However,thispaperwillonlyfocusontheactualinstallationofanEDC
unit.Anypieceofswitchgearcannotactuallybeconsideredinstalleduntilithasbeenfedfromits
powersource.

Forourpurposesinthisarticle,wewillfocusontheinstallationofa3,000Aunitthatwillbe
installedinsidealargeboxretailstore.Hereareafewthingsthatanestimatorwillneedtoknowin
ordertoproperlyaccountforthematerialandlabortoinstallthisunit:

Itisimperativetoobtainthemanufacturersshopdrawings,riggingdiagrams,andequipment
specificationsoftheunit.
Itisalsoimportanttoknowtheweightoftheunit(wewilldiscussreasonslateron).
Ifatallpossible,theestimatorshouldtouranexistingstorewhichhasanEDCinplaceorbetter
yet,requestpermissiontoviewtheinstallationprocessduringanongoingconstructionprocess.

AftertheestimatorhasreviewedthespecificationsregardingtheEDChouseanditsphysical
layout,itisnowtimetoreviewtheEDChousethatisdrawnwithintheelectricalsheetsoftheproject.
WhenweturntotheonelinedrawingschematicofthisEDChouse,wewillnoticeseveralthingsof
importance(refertosheet9forschematicdrawing).

Oneofthefirstthingstheestimatorwillnoticeisthebolderdashedlinethatdesignatesallthe
panelboardsandotherequipmentlocatedwithintheEDCHouse(EDC1perthesketch).Theseitems
haveallbeenpreinstalledfromthefactory.Theseconditemtonoticeisthesmallerdashedlines
runningfromtheMSBtootherpanelboardsorequipmentwithintheunit.Theselinesrepresentthe
conduitandwiringthathasbeeninstalledbytheEDCmanufacturerofthespecificunitatthefactory.
However,itisimportanttoknowthatpertheelectricalspecifications,theinstalleroftheEDCunitis
responsibletocheckeveryterminationthatwasmadeatthefactoryandretorque,ifrequired,perthe
manufacturersinstructions.

ThenextphaseoftheestimateweconsideristheroughinportionoftheEDChouse.Thereare
typicallymanyundergroundfeedersleavingalargeEDCunit,suchasweareestimatingtoday.Any
looseswitchboard,panelboard,orothersmallerEDCunit,whichisnotinstalledwithinthemainEDC
unit,willeitherbefedunderground,suchasthesecondaryserviceentrance,oroverheadtopowerthe
AHU.Theonelinediagramshowsanexampleofthesetwofeeders.

FortheMainSwitchboardwithintheEDC1unit,weareinstallinga3000amp,480/277V,3
phase,4wiresystem.Thereforewearetoinclude(8)setsof4PVCschedule40conduitswitheach
conduitcontaining(4)#750kcmilaluminumwires.Theestimatorwillnoticethatonthisoneline
diagram,anoptiontoruncopperoraluminumisoffered.Tobemostcompetitive,aluminumwiring
shouldbechosen,duetothefactthataluminumwiringislessexpensivetopurchasethancopper
wiring.Typically,thissecondaryservicewillbeoneofthelargestsingleassembliesinyourestimate;so
muchconsiderationshouldbegiveninordertoestimateitaccuratelyandcompetitively.

Forthispaperhowever,wewillonlyfocusonthesettinginplaceoftheEDCunitandthehours
andmaterialsassociatedwithit.

Oncetheestimatorcompletestheundergroundroughinportionoftheestimate,thatisany
feederenteringorleavingundergroundfromtheEDCunit,includingthegroundingtofootersandwater
pipe,aswellasanystuboutsforthetelephoneservice,itistimetoreviewtheinstallationofthe3,000A
EDCunit.

Itmustbeunderstoodthatcertainscopesofworkmustbecompletedinsequencetoallowfora
smoothproject.Allpartieshavetheirroletoplay.Thebuildingpadhastobeprepared,thenthe
conduitsaretoberoughedinplace,afterthistheconcretecanbepouredaroundtheconduits.Once
theblockwallshavebeeninstalled,wearereadytoplacetheEDCunit.

OnthedayofthearrivaloftheEDCunit,severalhourswillberequiredtoensurethatthereisa
smoothtransitionandplacementoftheEDCunitontothepadsafelyfromthedeliverytruck.A10ton
craneisrecommendedtounloadanEDCunitofthissize.Itisrecommendedthattheestimatorsubout
thisportionoftheproject.Acranecompanyistypicallymoreexperiencedinsettinglargeequipment,
andthereforeabletoperformthetaskofunloadingtheunitwithmoreefficiencythanthatofthe
ElectricalContractor.Theestimatorshouldincludeinhisestimateacompanythatisfamiliarwith
unloadinglargepiecesofequipmentandislicensedandinsured.Acrewof34experienced
techniciansisrequiredtoassistthecranecompanywiththesettingoftheunitinitscorrectlocation.
Thisprocesswillrangeintimefrom14hoursdependingonthesizeoftheEDCunit.Itisrecommended
fora3,000Aunit,4hoursfor4menbeincluded.

DuringtheshippingprocessoftheEDCunitfromthefactorytothejobsite,itisverylikelythat
someofthefactoryterminationshaveworkedloose,andthereforetheverificationprocessofeach
terminationfallsontheresponsibilityoftheelectricalcontractor.Documentationmustbedoneinthe
fieldverifyingthisworkwasinspectedandcompleted.
3. SpecificFactorsinTakeoffandPricing

ConsiderationfortheinstallationoftheEDChouseneedstooccurmanyweekspriortothe
completionoftheundergroundroughin.Itistypicallytheresponsibilityoftheelectricalcontractorto
ensureproperdeliveryoftheunit.TheestimatorwillneedtoincludethecostforacranetosettheEDC
houseinplace.Itisrecommendedthattheestimatorcallpriortobiddayforpricingfromatleasttwo
differentsources,andshouldonlydealwiththosefirmswhoarefamiliarwithsettinglargerEDChouses.
Theestimatorshouldensurethatthecranecompanyisincludingacranelargeenoughtopickupthe
EDChousefromthedeliverytruckandsetitdirectlyonthepad.Theestimatorshouldalsoverifythe
pricingincludesspreaderbarstoeliminatethepossibilityoftheslings,whichareusedtohoisttheunit,
frompinchingthesidesanddamagingtheunit.

Fluctuationofmaterialcostsisalwayssomethinganestimatorshouldconsider.Steel,copper
andevenaluminumproductstendtofluctuateonaweeklybasis.Itisrecommendedthattheestimator
sendouthisbillofmaterialfortheseproductstoanelectricalsupplyhouseforaccurateanduptodate
pricing.

Historically,eachEDCisfurnishedbytheowner.Eventhoughtheunitisprovidedbyothers,
thisissomethingthattheestimatorshouldconsider.Whentheestimatorhascompletedthetakeoff
andhasarrivedatjobcost,thepercentageofmarkupsshouldbeadjustedslightlyhigherduetothe
factthattheelectricalcontractordoesnotgettoincludemarkuponthequotedmaterials.
4. OverviewofLabor,Material,Equipment,IndirectCostsandApproachtoMarkUps

ThetotalpricetoinstallanElectricalDistributionCentercanbrokendownintothefollowing
categories:labor,material,equipment,indirectcosts,andmarkups(overheadandprofit).Anelectrical
estimatorshouldtaketimetoreviewallplandocumentsandspecificationstoaccuratelyprovidea
proposaltotheGC.Wewilltakeadetailedlookateachofthesecategories.

Labor

Laborisobviouslyacriticalpartinanysuccessfulproject.Asmartcrewleader,alongwith
competentskilledelectriciansisthekeytosuccess.Thecrewiscomposedofmanymen,allwithvarying
degreesofskill,experience,andhourlycompensation.Theestimatorisrequiredtoknow(oratleast
closelyanticipate)thecrewrateforeachprojectinordertoprovidetheelectricalcontractorwiththe
bestchanceofsuccess.Belowisanexampleofhowacrewratewasderivedfortheinstallationofa
3,000AEDCunit.

LaborType
Crew Hours Rate$ Subtotal
Brdn BrdnTotal
Total FullRate
FOREMAN
1
17.15 $30.00 $514.50
30% $154.35
$668.85$39.00

JOURNEYMAN
2
34.30 $25.00 $857.50
30% $257.25
$1,114.75$32.50

APPRENTICE 2
34.30 $15.00 $514.50
30% $154.35
$668.85$19.50

Itisimportantfortheestimatortobefamiliarwiththeburdenratethatisaddedontopofthe
hourlyrateperelectricianandtomakesurethiscostisincludedinhis/herestimate.

Eachprojectcould,andmostlikelywill,requiredifferentcrewrates.Thelargerprojectscould
haveonetotwoadditionalforemen.AdiscussiononbiddaywiththeGeneralSuperintendantscanbe
veryadvantageousfortheestimator.Forexample,theGeneralSuperintendantcaninformthe
estimatorofcertainemployeesthatwillbeavailableforthisprojectshoulditbeawardedinthefuture.
Iftheestimateisbuiltaroundthisfactor,itwillincreasethechanceofsuccess.

TheestimatorisalsorequiredtoknowwhethertheprojectwillrequirePrevailingWageRates,
suchasforagovernmentfacility.Ifso,theestimatorshouldfamiliarizehimselfwiththeDavisBacon
Act.Thisdocumentwillinstructhimonthehourlyraterequiredtopay,aswellasthefringebenefits.

Material

Accuratelyestimatingthecostofmaterialsformostprojectscanbedifficult.Withthedailyups
anddownsinthecommoditymarkets,agoodestimatecangosouthovernight.Thejobofanestimator
istogetthebestpriceofhis/hermaterialonbiddayandconsiderthefollowing;whenwillthisproject
beawarded?Thisanswercandeterminehowaggressivetheestimatorcanbewiththematerials.Itis
recommendedanotebeaddedtothescopeletterindicatingtheelectricalproposalisgoodfor30days,
whichisstandard.

Equipment

Foreveryprojectcarefulconsiderationshouldbegiventowhattypeofliftswillberequiredand
howmanyliftswillbeneededtosuccessfullymeetcriticaldeadlines.Havingtherightequipmentonsite
canleadtoasuccessfulproject.Forexample,utilizingcranestosettheEDCinsteadoftwoskytracks
willsavemoneyandtime,butgreatestofallisitissafermethodofinstallation.

IndirectCosts

Indirectcostsaresimplythosecostsnotdirectlyassociatedwiththeconstructionoftheproject,
atleastnot100%ofthetime.Forexample,someofthemajorindirectcostsofaprojectwillbethe
ProjectManagerandtheGeneralSuperintendant.Neitheroneofthesepositionsislocatedonthe
constructionsitefulltime,yetbotharecriticalinthesuccessoftheproject.Toproperlyaccountforthis
cost,apercentageofhoursshouldbeincludedintheestimate.Projectsthatwillrequiredailywork
fromtheProjectManagerorweeklyjobsitevisitsbytheGeneralSuperintendantwillrequireahigher
percentage.Atypicallargeboxretailstoreshouldinclude5%oftheoverallestimatedhoursforeachof
thesepositions.Atypicalgovernmentfacilityprojectshouldinclude15%oftheoverallestimatedhours.

Largerprojects,thoseover10,000manhoursshouldalsoconsidertimeforamaterialpersonon
site.Manyhoursarewastedbyanelectricianonadailybasisroundingupthematerialhe/sheneedsto
install.Amaterialpersoncanhelpalleviatethesewastedhours.

MarkUps

Aprojectcanbedeemedsuccessfulindifferentwaysandfordifferentreasons,butultimately,
thesuccessofaprojectisdeterminedbytheprofitsattheendofanyproject.Everyestimateshould
includemarkups,alsoknownasoverheadandprofits.

Thepercentageofprofitsthatanestimatorshouldincludeisbasedonthedifficultyofthe
project.Someotherfactorsthatshouldbeconsideredarethedurationandlocationoftheproject.A
10%markupforoverheadand5%markupforprofitsisgoodstartingpoint.Difficultprojectsshould
haveincreasedlevels.

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5. SpecialRiskConsiderations

Thereareseveralitemstoconsidershouldyoubeawardedthisproject.Firstisthedeliveryof
theEDCunittothejobsite.Inordertobeasefficientaspossible,andtomaintaintheprofitsincludedin
theestimate,thepadfortheEDCshouldbepouredandreadytoreceivetheEDCunitwhenitarrives.If
thepadisnotready,andtheEDCunitarrives,theonlychoiceistounloadtheEDCunitandsetitoffto
thesidewiththecrane.Thenwhenthepadisready,thecraneisneededforasecondtimetoputthe
EDCunitinplace.Thissecondtripforthecrane,isnotincludedintheoriginalestimateandnorshould
itbe,thereforeitcanonlybepaidoutoftheanticipatedprofitsfigured.Coordinationwithallother
subsisimperativetoensureaprofitableproject.Asecondconcernisthattheroofofthebuildingnot
beinstalledpriortotheEDCunitarrival.Ifso,usingacraneisnolongeranoption,andthiswillbring
aboutadditionallaborhourstoinstalltheEDCunit.ItismandatoryfortheECtokeepupwiththe
projecttoensureitmeetsthesecriticaldatesoftheproject.
6. RatiosandAnalysis

Anestimateisjustthat,anestimate.Theonlymethodthatisproventodeterminean
estimatesaccuracyisthehistoricaldatafromsimilarpreviousprojects.However,itisimperativeto
knowthatevenprojectsthatareidenticalasfaraslayout,otherfactorsshouldbeconsidered.The
locationoftheprojectshouldbeconsideredforthedeliveryofmaterialstothejobsiteinatimely
manner.TheGeneralContractorisanothervariabletoconsider.AnexperiencedGeneralContractor,
whomaintainstheschedulecanincreasethebottomlineforasubcontractor.
7. Misc.PertinentInformation

Onethinganestimatorneedsinordertoperformanaccurateestimateistime.Todaymany
contractorsaretryingtobidtoomanyprojectsandnotallowingtheestimatorsufficienttimefor
thoroughbidprocess.Timeisrequiredinordertoreviewallprojectdocumentsincludingthe
architecturaldrawings.


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8. SampleSketch

9. SampleTakeOffandPricing
Description

#12WIREPOWERTERM
#10WIREPOWERTERM
#8WIREPOWERTERM
#6WIREPOWERTERM
#4WIREPOWERTERM
#3WIREPOWERTERM
#2WIREPOWERTERM

Qty
240
130
30
14
2
2
6

U
E
E
E
E
E
E
E

Cost
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

Labor
0.09
0.11
0.14
0.17
0.21
0.23
0.25

Unit
E
E
E
E
E
E
E

TotalMat
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

TotalHrs
21.60
14.30
4.20
2.38
0.42
0.46
1.50

10

#1WIREPOWERTERM
#1/0WIREPOWERTERM
#3/0WIREPOWERTERM
#4/0WIREPOWERTERM
#250WIREPOWERTERM
#350WIREPOWERTERM
UNLOADEDCANDSETPLACE
CLEAN/WIPEDOWNEDC
REMOVEWPROOF

REMOVEDOORPACKAGING

LaborType
Crew Hours
FOREMAN
1.00 17.15
JOURNEYMAN
2.00 34.30
APPRENTICE 2.00 34.30

5
85.76

IndirectLabor
Lbr%
PROJECTMANAGER
5.000
GENERALFOREMAN 5.000

Equipment

CRANE10TON(perHour)

FinalPricing

DatabaseMaterial

MaterialTax9%

MaterialTotal

DirectLabor

IndirectLabor

LaborTotal

Equipment

TotalCost

Overhead10%

Subtotal

Profit5%

SellingPrice

4
8
16
6
4
12
1
1
1
1

E
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
E

0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
5.00
0.00
0.00

0.29
0.32
0.39
0.43
0.47
0.54
16.00
1.00
2.00
1.00

E
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
E

Rate Sub
Brdn% BrdnTot
$30.00 514.50 30.000 154.35
$25.00 857.50 30.000 257.25
$15.00 514.50 30.000 154.35
$22.00 1,886.50
565.95
Hrs
4.29
4.29
8.58

Qty
1.00

0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
5.00
0.00
0.00
5.00

Total
$668.85
$1,114.75
$668.85
$2,452.45

1.16
2.56
6.24
2.58
1.88
6.48
16.00
1.00
2.00
1.00
85.76
FullRate
39.00
32.50
19.50
28.60

Rate
Total
$25.00
107.25 (Notethatsincethesepositions
$35.00
150.15 aresalaried,thereisnoburden)
$30.00
$257.40

Hrs
P/Hr
Total
4.00 $200.00
$800.00

Value($)
5.00
0.45
5.45
2,452.45
257.40
2,709.85
800.00
3,515.30
351.53
3,866.83
193.34
4,060.17

11
10. Glossary
EDCorElectricalDistributionCenter:apreassembledunitofacertainampacitythatmayinclude480V
panels,stepdowntransformers,208Vpanels,communicationboards,lighting,andreceptacles.All
itemsareprewiredfromtheEDCmanufacturersfacilityandshippedcompletetoanylocation.
LooseSwitchgear:anypanel,480Vorotherwise,thatisnotincludedwithintheEDCunit.
AHU:AirHandlingunit
Feeders:theconduitandwiringthatisinstalledfromonepanelorpowersourcetoanother.Feeders
canbeinstalledundergroundoroverhead.
GRC90:GRCisanacronym,itstandsforGalvanizedRigidConduit.90isatermusedintheroutingofa
feeder.Theconduitfeederturns90degrees.AGRC90isafittingthatisusedonlargerconduitsinlieu
ofbendingtheconduitto90degrees.
GeneralSuperintendant:apositionwithinanorganizationwhooverseesnumerousprojectsatatime.
AjobsiteSuperintendantwillworkdirectlyforaGeneralSuperintendant.
FringeBenefits:isthecompensationtoemployeesinadditiontotheirhourlyrateofpay.Thefringe
benefitsofaprojectvaryfromonetotheotherandfromcitytocityandstatetostate.
Overhead:simplystated,overheadisthecostofdoingbusinessonadailybasis.