We might have a pretty basic idea about what an electrician does, but things get a little more complicated when commercial electricians, residential electricians, and industrial electricians are thrown into the mix.
An electrician is a tradesman who specializes in installing, maintaining and managing electrical power. They are an essential part of any commercial, industrial or residential property.
There are three different types of electricians: commercial electricians, residential electricians and industrial electricians with each type serving a different function in the industry.
But what is the difference between commercial, residential and industrial electricians?
This blog post talks about the 3 types of electricians and goes over the differences between each type so you can find the best one for your needs!
Electricians are those who install, maintain and repair all the electrical systems in commercial, residential and industrial buildings.
They may work on the power distribution or electrical services: installation and repair, as well as wiring for special purposes (e.g., data networks) to bring electricity from a central plant into commercial or industrial buildings.
Electricians working on installations, reconfiguration, and repairs typically start by reading blueprints that tell them where the components will go. After planning the layout of wires and components, electricians install and connect these parts to one another before finishing installation by inspecting work for safety violations.
Hiring an electrician is vital for commercial, residential and industrial properties. People normally hire electricians to help them with electrical issues, general maintenance and repair work.
- commercial electricians are needed to install or fix commercial power systems for large buildings like office towers that may have more than one floor. In this case the commercial electrician specializes in larger projects requiring higher voltages of electricity, such as 220 volts. They also need a commercial
Commercial property owners should hire commercial electricians to help oversee safety protocols in commercial buildings such as malls or office buildings. Residential property owners should hire a residential electrician if they want installation of lighting fixtures, wiring outlets, etc., while industrial property owners need an industrial electrician for commercial buildings that use large quantities of electricity.
An electrician can also be hired to maintain electrical systems in commercial, residential and industrial properties by checking the wiring periodically for safety issues or potential problems.
Commercial property owners should hire commercial electricians to help oversee safety protocols in commercial buildings such as malls or office buildings, while residential property owners should hire a residential electrician if they want installation of lighting fixtures, wiring outlets, etc. Industrial property owners need an industrial electrician for commercial buildings that use large quantities of electricity.
An electrician can also be hired to maintain electrical systems in commercial, residential and industrial properties by checking the wiring periodically for safety issues or potential problems.
Electricians often specialize in different areas like commercial electrician, residential electrician, and industrial electrician.
The commercial electrician is responsible for carrying out electrical installations in commercial buildings such as offices, schools and retail establishments. They may work on supplying electricity to equipment like elevators or commercial kitchens via power distribution systems within these premises. Commercial electricians will also manage the installation of emergency lighting systems (e.g., exit signs) and some commercial electrical installations which must be carried out by a licensed electrician.
Residential electricians work on the installation and maintenance of residential properties for their clients, such as new home builds or extensions to existing homes. They may also install wiring systems inside commercial buildings in order to provide power supply to commercial establishments like restaurants and supermarkets.
Industrial electricians install and maintain all the electrical systems in commercial, residential and industrial buildings. They may work on power distribution or electrical service installation, as well as wiring for special purposes (e.g., data networks) to bring electricity from a central plant into commercial or industrial buildings.
Finding the right commercial, residential or industrial electrician for you can be difficult. But if you follow these three steps and know what to look for in each type, it should make the process a lot easier.
First of all, are there any certifications that they have? If so, which ones? This is important because just because someone has a commercial electrician certification, it does not mean they are qualified for residential work.
Commercial electrical contractors will generally be certified by one or more organizations including: IAEI (International Association of Electrical Inspectors), NECA (National Electrical Contractors Association) or CECBEE (Canadian Electrical Contractor's Board of Examining Engineers and Electricians).
Key factors commercial electrician considerations include: number of employees on staff, the commercial contractor's professional liability insurance, the commercial electrician company's certifications and its past performance.
Secondly, ask about how many years of experience they have in the field that you need them to do. Experience is essential because what an inexperienced commercial electrician might miss can cost your company lots of money and time down the line.
If you are looking for a residential electrician, you'll want to be sure that whoever is hired has experience with the area's codes and requirements, as well as a commercial electrician who is licensed and insured. If you are looking for an industrial electrician, it will be important to find one experienced in large-scale projects like utility expansions or power plants.
The third and last thing to do is ask about the types of work they have done. This way, you can tell whether they are a commercial electrician who has experience in residential or vice versa.
A commercial electrical contractor will usually be qualified for a given project based on their experience with similar projects in terms of scale (size), complexity (type of electrical systems) and environment.
First and foremost, make sure you use a commercial electrician for commercial work. If it's residential electrical wiring or installation that needs to be done, then call on a residential electrician instead. Industrial jobs are best handled by an industrial electrician because of the specialized equipment they need to install such as generators or drive motors (there is no commercial or residential equivalent).
Professional electricians are required to be licensed, and commercial electricians need a commercial master’s license. They take about two years of apprenticeship work before they're eligible for that commercial master's license.
The electrical equipment commercial electricians work with is commercial grade, meaning it has much higher voltage than residential electrical equipment.
You can ask questions like:
If you want to find a commercial electrician, then make sure they're experienced handling commercial electrical wiring or installation. More importantly, make sure they have commercial experience in the past six months. You can find qualified commercial electricians who are experienced in that field.
If you want to find a residential electrician, then ask them what their qualifications and experience is like with residential electrical wiring or installation. Make sure they've been doing it for at least three years so that they have the experience necessary for commercial and residential.
If you want to find an industrial electrician, then ask them what their qualifications and experience is like with commercial electrical wiring or installation on projects that require specialized equipment such as generators or drive motors. Again, make sure they're experienced in this field within six months of when you contact them because it's an industry that is always changing with new commercial buildings or industrial parks being built.
If you want to find a commercial electrician who has commercial experience in the past six months, then make sure they have references from commercial customers like yours and it's recent work within six months of when you contact them so that their knowledge level on this topic isn't outdated.
Before hiring an electrician, you'll want to know what the rates are and how much they charge. Residential electricians can typically cost anywhere from $50-100 per hour, commercial electricians usually charge a flat rate of around $150 per hour, while industrial electrician's rates vary depending on many factors.
A licensed electrician will be required to provide you with a written estimate before any work begins that will include the cost for materials, labor and overhead.
A commercial electrician charges $90.00 per hour, plus the costs of materials and other equipment needed for the project (or an hourly fee). A residential electrician charges between $70-80 per hour, depending on if they're in a major metropolitan area or not. And an industrial electrician can charge anywhere from about $60.00 to $120.00 per hour, and they tend to charge by the project or job instead of taking hourly rates.
This is because commercial electricians are often on a tight timeline for finishing projects within deadlines, so their services cost more than residential ones do (which can be done at any time). And industrial electrician jobs usually involve larger commercial buildings or businesses, which also costs more than a residential electrician can charge.
Basically, electrician rates vary depending on the type of commercial electrician you're looking for, but commercial rates are usually higher than residential ones because they have to work more quickly. Electrical equipment is also more expensive for commercial buildings than residential ones.
Even in the era of the internet wherein the answers to any questions are a Google search away, there is still the misconception that commercial and residential electrical work is pretty much the same.
The common assumption by homeowners or commercial property owners is that commercial electricians do not know how to handle wiring in homes and vice versa. The truth of the matter though, as shown through years of experience on the field, is that commercial electricians are able to distinguish between the two and know how much time and effort different types of wiring require.
The common misconception that commercial electricians lack in knowledge when it comes to handling residential wiring is debunked by the fact that commercial electricians have a different training. While residential wiring is done with copper wire, commercial electrician's work involves installing PVC or PEX piping to connect homes to power lines outside
The common misconception that commercial electrical services are cheaper than residential ones also has no basis in truth as commercial jobs usually involve more materials and parts which consequently means that commercial services are often more expensive
Another common misconception is that commercial electrical wiring doesn't need to be grounded. Again, as shown through years of experience and training on the field, grounding or bonding commercial wires has a lot in common with residential work
The truth about commercial electricians though is that they have knowledge when it comes to commercial wiring, commercial lighting, and commercial motors.
There are three major types of electricians you can get electrical services from. As with any profession, it’s important to choose a professional that is experienced in your specific type of project. It is essential that you know what you need and who to hire before picking the phone.
If you need commercial electrical services, hire a commercial electrician! If you need residential electrical work done on your home or property contact a residential electrician for help with the job. Industrial electricians specialize in commercial and industrial buildings and commercial complexes.
It’s important that you get a skilled and licensed electrician, regardless of what type residential service or repair you need. Hiring an electrician that specializes in commercial electrical work isn’t going to be helpful if you need residential electrician services. It could cost you more time and money in the end if you hire the wrong person to do the work.
At Edgar Electric, we have experts for all three different types and can help guide you through hiring an electrician based on what will work best for your needs! If you need more information about how to hire an electrician or want to ask us anything else, please don't hesitate to get in touch with our team today.
