We’ve launched our Annual National Survey of electrical contractor Charge-out Rates and Revenues, and we need your input!
The survey continues to deliver insights about the business of electrical contracting in Canada, not to mention your fellow EBMag readers. For example, last year we learned and/or confirmed:
• Electrical contractors overwhelmingly tend to be small- to medium- sized enterprises (1-9 employees).
• 1/5th of respondents believed it will take at least two years for things like bidding, productivity, revenues, etc., to return to pre-pandemic level... and this was before the second and third waves!
This year, we’ve added a few new questions, addressing issues such:
• Shipping delays, limited quantities, unexpected price increases, etc.
• Limiting the hold on prices on tenders to shorter periods.
This survey takes only about 5 minutes and is completely anonymous.
Please visit research.net/r/L2Z96F2 for the survey, or zap this handy QR code:
We will also include links at EBMag.com. The survey deadline is July 30. The results will be shared with everyone in our September edition.
Meantime, wherever you are in Canada, please have a safe summer, and don’t forget: we publish news and stories at EBMag.com all the time. While there, sign up for our weekly newsletter and stay informed until we meet again in the pages of Electrical Business. How’s the
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COLUMNS
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Interoperable battery electric buses?
Brampton Transit has deployed the world’s largest fleet of interoperable and standardized BEBs.
Youth, skilled trades and government consultations
Consultations won’t lead to success in attracting youth to the skilled trades, says our panel.
The rise of lighting centred on humans
Human-centric lighting is poised to transform our institutional spaces... and then some.
Why today’s wire & cable prices are what they are
Shelley Bacon, CEO of Northern Cables, explains why “We’re living the perfect storm”.
3 simple steps for troubleshooting your industrial cable plant
The quicker you get everything up and running, the better for avoiding unplanned downtime.
Seizing end-of-life opportunity for major conversion
A significant portion of Laval’s streetlighting has reached end of life. Time for a conversion.
29 Estimating 101
Oh no! Material costs jumped since I won the bid!
30 Code File
Good-bye and good riddance to Table 39
In European classrooms that have deployed human-centric lighting (elementary up to university), students achieved 14% higher scores.
to see discernible benefits.
“There is quite a bit of data out in the market. The property manager CBRE has implemented some human-centric lighting in different ways, and they’re gauging the positive effects it may have on employees in their offices. They conducted a poll, and 78% of participants felt more energized, 66% felt happier, and 52% felt healthier with human-centric lighting.”
In a 2015 study, Kearney discovered absences and sick leave went down 1% under HCL, and retention was increased by one year. In European classrooms that have deployed HCL (elementary up to university), students achieved 14% higher scores, Linda adds.
“I’ve worked with schools throughout the province, and some will say ‘We have to go with 4100 K’ while another says ‘We’re going to do 3000 K in our schools’, but imagine they had human-centric lighting capability within their classrooms that changed all by itself throughout the day?”
What constitutes an HCL solution?
When an electrical contractor’s
client says “I’ve been reading about HCL, and I want it in my classroom” what is the contractor looking at? What are the components that make up a human-centric lighting solution?
“ Basically, a human-centric lighting solution is a control system. First, you need the right luminaire; one with extra LED chips on board so it can change colour from, say, 2000 K all the way to 6500 K,” says Linda. “Then you have a control aspect that is attached to the fixture, which then communicates with the controller or the wall pad. That’s basically all you need for an HCL system in a room.”
“ In terms of installation, it’s not difficult for the contractor, especially when they have controls knowledge. A lot of electrical contractors have installed some of these lighting control systems for entire buildings, and it’s basically a control unit that you attach to the fixture that speaks directly to the controller on the wall,” Linda adds, noting both wired and wireless solutions exist in the market.
A whole building would be a little more complicated, she
“With the emphasis on mental health these days, humancentric lighting seems a good step in the right direction.”
says, and would likely involve an expert in controls for whole-building, floor-by-fl oor, and zone controllability.
Are we too focused on energy?
You’ll get no argument from Linda that energy efficiency is important, but is it the end all and be all?
“I think we sometimes focus too much on energy and end up not lighting our spaces well enough,” Linda muses. “If we don’t have enough light during the day, it affects our melatonin levels.When our melatonin levels fall too low, we don’t sleep well. Then we’re tired, sluggish, or listless the next day, and we don’t perform as well as we can. And if someone’s feeling anxious or sluggish, they’re more likely to call in sick, right?”
W hich translates into lost productivity which, like energy spend, is a crucial metric that should not be dismissed.
“So we have to watch energy, obviously, but we also have to make sure we’re getting enough light. It’s not only about energy savings.”
2021 TRANSIT
Count on the dependable and versatile Ford Transit to help make building your business easier. We’ve also loaded our cargo vans with an available suite of smart driver-assist technologies*, so when you’re ready to get to work, you can be condent behind the wheel.
3 HEIGHTS 3 LENGTHS MULTIPLE CONFIGURATIONS AVAILABLE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE
“WE’RE LIVING THE PERFECT STORM”
Why today’s wire & cable prices are what they are / ANTHONY CAPKUN
Wire & cable prices continue to climb, making estimating, quoting— heck, even getting product inhand—a challenge for electrical professionals.
To quote from our May 2021 edition, one electrical distributor highlights unpredictable price increases as the reason it cannot offer any price protection. Some electrical contractors are holding their prices for just 3 to 5 days, rather than 60. Meantime, “Copper wire and cable” shows a 4.1% increase from just February 2021 to March 2021 (U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics’ Producer Price Index, Table 9).
To better understand what is happening in the wire & cable market, I turned to Shelley Bacon, the CEO and chair of Brockville, Ont.-based Northern Cables.
Shelley, you’ve been in the industry a long time; you live and breathe wire & cable. What’s going on around the world that’s causing the strain on something as important to the electrical trade as wire & cable?
Shelley: It’s certainly a topic we discuss with customers and suppliers, and anybody related to this industry. First and foremost, we have to recognize the actions of governments and businesses around the world. Going back to the early days of the pandemic, there was a lot of infrastructure shuttering, including blast fur-
“The best thing I can suggest is this: the problem is going to solve itself. But it may not solve itself in a nice, gentle way,” says Shelley Bacon, CEO and chair of Northern Cables.
Electrical contractors are at tremendous risk if they do any type of fixed-price contract.
naces and aluminum pot lines. When you close down something that makes all of your iron, which goes into into steel-making, or stop your ability to produce aluminum on a pot line... well, these are facilities that you don’t just close down for the weekend! These types of facilities go down for months, if not years. So the act of closing or shuttering even one of these is a big event, not to mention costly.
We’ve also been in an era of zero to 1% interest rates for a long period, and we have pentup demand for new products. People have moved past the initial shock of the virus; they want new cars, new houses, a new
vacation place, so the consumer is driving a lot of new, unplanned demand.
In short, the effects of the pandemic are building upon themselves. We are living the perfect storm.
So is it a case that some of these facilities that produce the raw materials you use to make wire & cable have been shuttered, and maybe haven’t come back online yet? Has existing supply been all bought up?
Shelley: Not exactly. It’s a combination of events. The majority of our copper comes from South
America these days. Yes, there are copper mines around the world, but primarily it comes from South America. They, too, have been dealing with Covid, and some of the copper mines have had outbreaks, as well as some labour disruptions.
Copper is one of the first metals that analysts observe, and if there’s something going on with copper, everybody jumps to conclusions. Plus, not all manufacturers are up to speed, and many industries report they cannot find employees to staff their operations.
As a manufacturer of wire and cable, how are you rolling with the punches?
Shelley: As you can imagine, we consume a lot of copper and aluminum. These are not things that you can simply choose to buy from one vendor one day, and not the next. To buy the amount of metal we consume, we have to sign long-term contracts with producers, and we have multiple sources and multiple contracts in place.
This means we agree to purchase so much metal per week, per quarter... whatever the case may be. In our case, our contracts stipulate that we buy our metal on the average. So, as the price of metal changes every day of the month, the supplier will average out those daily prices by the number of days in the month. This is the average price.
Keep in mind, we don’t get extended terms to pay for metal; it’s a short payment schedule.
Now, anyone can look up copper or aluminum prices on the COMEX (commodity exchange) today, last week, and so on, and conclude those are the actual prices. But we don’t get to pick the price of metal because we buy it on the average.
Now, here is what on the average means for us: we buy metal in the first week of the month for the going rate. As the weeks
progress, let’s say the price of metal goes up 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 cents a pound... when we get to the end of the month, our supplier will do the math and say, “By the way, you know that metal we sold you in the first week of the month, which you’ve already converted into product and sold? Yeah, we didn’t charge you enough for it, so we’re sending you another invoice to make up for the shortfall”.
But that’s impractical, because there’s neither enough space nor enough money to buy all the raw materials you’ll need. So we’re really in a very difficult situation.
This may sound overly simplistic, but it sounds like—just as you are subject to the whims of the raw material providers—so, too, are electrical contractors.
If you’re in this business, be very careful what you’re buying, what you’re building, and what you’re selling
it for.
And all of those numbers fluctuate month over month. Let’s say a snowstorm delays my shipment; it was scheduled to arrive April 30, but it arrives May 1. Well, now we pay a different price, because we flipped into another month under the program.
Some people suggest buying futures contracts for these commodities—and we have done that for very specific applications at specific points in time—but the danger is getting stuck with that contract.
With a futures contract, I could buy metal three months out—and pay a hefty premium to do so!—but it is not reflective of current prices. So a customer may see the price of copper go down, yet we’re stuck with an inflated price because of our contract, and we lose that customer’s business. As a manufacturer, we have very few, if any, protections.
So starting right from where the product is made, there really isn’t much wiggle room, and definitely no practical price guarantees for someone like yourself. I now understand why price guarantees are hard to come by these days. I’m glad you explained that for me.
Shelley: The only true guarantee on pricing—the only way to protect yourself—is to buy all the raw materials you need today . You know what you paid for it, and you put it on your floor.
Shelley: I would not want to be in their shoes, having to bid on a major project, where a lot of the materials are subject to unpredictable price escalation. Electrical contractors are at tremendous risk if they do any type of fixed-price contract.
The truth of the matter is any kind of price guarantee comes at somebody else’s expense. It will be borne by the manufacturer or the distributor, but somebody has to wear that risk. Sadly, it’s just the nature of the business.
Is there anything that you see in the market that gives you a glimmer of hope? That there may be a light at the end of the tunnel?
Shelley: For now, we have to continue to raise our prices; not because we’re sitting here trying to be greedy, but because the price increases are hitting us so fast. Some people may focus on prices last week or last month, but those prices are already ancient history.
If you’re in this business, be very careful what you’re buying, what you’re building, and what you’re selling it for. If you have inventory that you think you can sell for a profit, think again; your replacement cost will exceed your profit.
The world cannot continue to absorb this type of escalation; something has to happen. The best thing I can suggest is this: the problem is going to solve itself. But it may not solve itself in a nice, gentle way.
3 SIMPLE STEPS FOR TROUBLESHOOTING YOUR INDUSTRIAL CABLE PLANT
MARK MULLINS
With the growing adoption of the industrial internet of things (IIoT) and its ability to seamlessly transmit and share supervisory and control data (SCADA) across the entire factory floor, industrial Ethernet has rapidly become the communication protocol of choice in the manufacturing and processing industries.
While industrial Ethernet commonly leverages twisted-pair copper cabling systems that have been hardened to stand up to factors such as vibration, dust and liquid ingress, chemicals, and electromagnetic interference found in the industrial environment, problems within an installed cable plant can and do still arise, bringing production to a standstill.
Troubleshooting an industrial Ethernet network quickly and effectively can mean the difference between an hour of unplanned downtime versus days, which can translate into millions of dollars of lost revenue. Following these three simple steps can help plant managers quickly identify and locate problems to expedite fixes.
Step 1: Look for the obvious first
More than half of industrial Ethernet problems are related to the cabling, and the first step in troubleshooting is to check for obvious issues like length and connectivity.When a cable is too long for a given application or environment, signals may be too weak by the time they reach the far end, leading to hard failures or intermittent problems.When each of the cable’s conductors is incorrectly connected to its corresponding pin, it can prevent the signal from reaching the other end.
Verifying connectivity is achieved with a simple wiremap test that looks for opens that occur when a conductor is not connected or has been broken; shorts that occur when the signal crosses from one conductor onto another; and miswirings, such as reversed pairs, crossed pairs, and split pairs caused by connecting conductors to the wrong pins at the far end.
Wiremap testing is especially essential for identifying a split pair that maintains pin-to-pin continuity but separates the physical pairs. However, a simple DC continuity test will Pass but not identify the problem. In the industrial environment, where shielded cabling is prominent, the problem could also be related to a break in the continuity of the shield.
Troubleshooting an industrial Ethernet network quickly and effectively can mean the difference between an hour of unplanned downtime versus days. Photo courtesy Fluke Networks.
An industrial Ethernet environment is rarely limited to just one application, and it’s important to select a tester that can calculate a range of lengths and support multiple connector types to identify opens, shorts, miswirings, and shield integrity on both 4-pair and 2-pair connected systems.
Step 2: Qualify cable performance
Once length and continuity issues are ruled out, qualification testing is the next step in isolating the problem. While the industrial Ethernet cable plant should have undergone certification testing after installation to ensure it complies with industry standards and meets all required specs, changes to the cabling plant or application can later impact performance.
Qualification testing delves into additional transmission parameters such as insertion loss, return loss, near end crosstalk (NEXT) and delay skew to determine whether the existing cable plant can support the signalling of specific industrial Ethernet applications.
For example, let’s say you have a cable link that was originally deployed to support Profinet, transmitting at 100 Megabits per second (Mb/s), and an upgrade to machinery and signalling equipment means the same link now needs to support EtherCAT G at a rate of 1 Gigabit per second (Gb/s).While the cable may pass length and wiremap testing, a qualification test can show that the cable is only capable of supporting 100 Mb/s.
Qualification testing that clearly indicates the cable plant’s ability to support an application’s transmission rate can save time before and after upgrades. Photo courtesy Fluke Networks.
Qualification testing done prior to upgrades will confirm whether the existing cabling plant will support a new technology, thereby saving time and headache.
Step 3: Check the active equipment
If you’re still experiencing transmission problems after cabling issues have been ruled out, it may be time to take a closer look at the active equipment. Most network switches use link layer discovery protocols that allow them to discover connected devices and advertise their capabilities, including port ID, system name and description, VLAN, and transmission speeds.
Testers with the ability to receive link layer discovery protocol information are ideal for network mapping, and identifying whether the problem is due to misconfigured active equipment or the cable is simply connected to the wrong port, or the link is assigned to the wrong VLAN.
Identifying whether the problem resides at the switch can significantly reduce troubleshooting time, especially in the industrial environment where small DIN rail-mounted industrial Ethernet switches mounted within control cabinets are often difficult to access.
Haste prevents waste
Following these three simple steps for troubleshooting your industrial cable plant helps you identify problem spots and get everything up and running as quickly as possible, thereby avoiding prolonged unplanned downtime and loss of revenue.
Mark Mullins is one of the founding members of Fluke Networks, starting in 1993. He has been involved in all of the key areas of the business, including cable testing, network troubleshooting and analysis, and currently oversees the company’s global communications efforts. As a member of the Ethernet Alliance Marketing Committee, he is responsible for promoting the Gen 2 PoE Certification program. He holds a B.S. in Computer Science and an MBA from the University of Washington.
CALENDAR
LAVAL SEIZES END-OF-LIFE OPPORTUNITY FOR MAJOR CONVERSION
The City of Laval, Que., has approved the implementation of a project to convert 37,000 streetlighting fixtures to LED luminaries with smart controls.
“This project comes at a good time: a significant portion of the lighting network has reached the end of its life cycle and must be replaced,” said Marc Demers, Mayor of Laval. “This stateof-the-art technology with intelligent control system has proven its worth, and Laval is following in the footsteps of other forward-thinking Canadian cities that have adopted it [...]”
Dimonoff and Pierre Brossard Ltée (a subsidiary of Black & McDonald) have been tasked with executing the project, which will be carried out over a period of three years for a total investment of $34.5 million.
The conversion project is expected to result in annual savings in excess
of $2.75 million, mainly through reduced energy and maintenance costs. The anticipated electricity savings amount to 15 million kWh.
The retrofit project is estimated to reduce GHG emissions by some 10,607 tCO2; plus, with a life span of 25 years, the new streetlighting is expected to significantly reduce maintenance truck rolls, reducing GHG emissions even further.
The city has expressed interest in using the intelligent streetlighting infrastructure in the future to link other systems and sensors that will “continue to improve the efficiency and quality of service it provides to its citizens”.
“The Dimonoff/SCMS intelligent urban asset management platform would also allow the City of Laval to integrate several additional mobility and security devices and systems into a single state-of-the-art interface and a highly scalable data management system,” explained Bernard Têtu, Dimonoff CEO.
The conversion of all streetlights— as well as the deployment of intelligent controls—is expected to take 12 to 18 months. A second phase, consisting of decorative and architectural fixtures, will follow thereafter.
The project will include 88 gateways, with a mix of cellular and urban computer networks, and one (1) intelligent central control system (Smart City Management System [SCMS], SAAS version.
The smart streetlighting also interfaces with several third-party systems for existing asset management: enterprise asset management from Oracle E-Business Suite; traffic management (Intelight Maxview 2.0); and geographic information system (ArcGIS Esri).
BCEA Golf Tournament
BC Electrical Association
July 7, Kelowna, B.C. Visit bcea.bc.ca
LEDucation
Designers Lighting Forum of New York
August 17-18, New York, N.Y. Visit leducation.org
EFC Federation Golf Tournament
Electro-Federation Canada
August 18, Milton, Ont. Visit electrofed.com
IES Annual Conference
Illuminating Engineering Society
August 9-13, Online Visit ies.org
IEEE PCIC
Sept. 13-16, San Antonio, Texas
Visit 2021conference.ieeepcic.com
* In-person and online
EFC Annual Conference
Electro-Federation Canada
September 22-23, Online Visit www.electrofed.com
The Utility Expo (formerly ICUEE) September 28-30, Louisville, Ky. Visit theutilityexpo.com
AD North American Meeting
October 25-27, Dallas, Texas Visit adhq.com
LightFair
October 25-29, New York, N.Y. Visit www.lightfair.com
Electricity Transformation Canada
Canadian Renewable Energy Association
November 17-19, Toronto Visit electricitytransformation.ca
EBPowerCon 2022
January 17-February 25, ONLINE Visit EBPowerCon.ca
N.B. These events and dates were accurate at the time of publishing, but details can change at a moment’s notice due to Covid.
Ledvance LLC, the maker of Sylvania general lighting in Canada and the U.S. (sylvania.com), has appointed Charlie Harte as the company’s vice-president of Marketing & Customer Experience. This is in addition to Harte’s role as Canada President & CEO. Harte’s experience in the building materials industry stretches 30+ years.
After 40 years of combined service and leadership of Ideal Supply (idealsupply.com), Tim MacDonald, president, is retiring as of June 30. Tim started his career with Ideal in 1981, working in several different capacities until he succeeded his father as president in 1995 (then CEO in 2000). In February 2019, Tim was invested as a Member of the Order of Canada
Her Excellency the Right Honourable
Julie Payette, 29th Governor General of Canada, (2017- 2021) (at left) presented the Member insignia of the Order of Canada to Timothy E. MacDonald, C.M. (at right) during a ceremony at the Citadelle of Québec, on February 12, 2019. SOURCE: MCpl
and eCommerce teams will continue to report to Chris, as will the Branch Operations managers, Distribution Centre managers, and Logistics manager. Wayne Long (photo, left) has been appointed sales manager, Electrical, while Jim Bender (photo, bottom left) now serves as sales manager, Industrial. Wayne spent 11 years with Ideal, then served with Benshaw Canada for 20 years in senior sales management roles, before rejoining Ideal in 2017. Jim joined the Ideal team in 1994 and, since 2000, has managed the Automation Group. Celebrating its 95th year of operation this year, Ideal Supply is an independent electrical distributor based in Listowel, Ont., and is listed among Canada’s Best Managed Companies. It is a Deschenes Group company (groupedeschenes. com), and a member of North American buying group AD (adhq.com).
The National Electrical Trade Council welcomed Chris Swick as national coordinator, a position created to manage NETCO’s Online Apprentices Support Initiate for Success (OASIS). For the past decade, Chris has been the training director at Local 105. A graduate of the Atlantic Broadcasting school, Denise Miller has joined NETCO as communications & marketing coordinator (netco.org).
products and solutions
Schneider MPPT 100 600 solar charge controller
Schneider Electric Solar’s Conext MPPT 100A
600vdc charge controller allows homeowners to optimize battery charging from solar and maximize “energy resiliency” (solar. schneider-electric.com)
The MPPT 100 allows for 7kW solar power arrays, but is scalable for larger installations. With 2 PV strings per charge controller, the MPPT 100 600 promises 50% less wiring than LV charge controllers.
FLIR VS290-32 thermal and visible videoscope
Succeeding Tim is Howie Pruden, who has been named vice-president and general manager (no photo). Since 2010, Howie has held the position of vice-president, Purchasing & Logistics, and has been a senior management team member. Meantime, Chris Moon (photo, left) has been named general operations manager. He most recently served as director of IT. The IT
Ouellet Canada Inc. (l’Islet, Que.) has appointed Chase Thompson as sales manager for Ontario. Ouellet develops, manufactures and markets electric heating products (ouellet.com).
Westburne reports Neal Pinto has accepted the position of national business development manager, Services & Solutions (westburne.ca). Based in Winnipeg, Neal joined Westburne in 2016, bringing 20 years of experience from the information technology industry to the distributor’s Advanced Connected Solutions team.
FLIR’s VS290-32 videoscope combines thermal imaging and a visible camera, which are specifically designed for inspections of hard-to-reach underground utility vaults. The tool is Cat IV 600V rated, as well as rated IP67 (camera tip) and IP54 (base unit) to protect against dust and water. The device features Multi-Spectral Dynamic Imaging (MSX) for image clarity, and offers the option of hot/ cold colour alarms (isotherms) across a range from -10 C to 400 C (flir.ca).
PV systems clamp meter from Megger
Megger’s DCM1500S clamp meter can measure up to 2000 vdc and 1500 vac during installation, maintenance, monitoring and testing of solar PV systems, as well as standard AC or DC electrical equipment. The tool comes with 4-mm leads, as well as new PVHV1 (4-mm) and PVHV2 with MC4PV plugs HV lead sets. The unit features a tactile barrier below the jaw to ensure a safe working distance (ca.megger.com).
Eaton “Home as a Grid” residential solutions
Eaton’s Home as a Grid offerings enable builders and installers in the residential sector to safely integrate more renewables, storage and electric vehicle infrastructure. Customers seeking to build/expand their Home as a Grid capability can manage loads with energy management circuit breakers, Wi-Fi smart devices, solar-ready and smart load centres, cloud architecture and data services (eaton.com/smartenergy).
Wago wireless AP for Ethernet access
Wago’s 758-919 access point enables Ethernet access to remote or non-stationary equipment. This NEMA 4X-rated device is throughpanel mounted via a 2-in. knockout. Hardwire interface is achieved with an RJ45 Ethernet cable and 24 vdc power or, alternatively, a single-cable PoE connection. The device offers configurations for WLAN, Bluetooth or Bluetooth LE (Low Energy) up to 650 feet (wago.com).
ABB ReliaGear low-voltage motor control centre
Engineered for use in demanding applications, ABB’s ReliaGear low-voltage MCC is is UL/cUL 845 listed and available globally in all ANSI markets where NEMA standards are
prevalent and/or required. With an integrated surge protection device, the MCC’s retractable stab mechanism allows for closed-door racking (abb.com/ca). The reinforced door latches are 21x stronger than
sense both moisture and temperature; downspout hangers, power connection kits and end-seals. The cable’s outer jacket is both waterproof and UV-resistant, while a tinned copper braid provides a continuous ground path (easyheat.com).
Leviton LED illuminated switches for all bulbs
Leviton offers a new line of LED illuminated switches that work with all bulb types (LED, CFL, incandescent), and do not require a neutral for installation. The Decora switches are available in single-pole, 3-way and 4-way options, and suit Decora and Decora Plus screwless wallplates. The Toggle model is available in single-pole and 3-way options, and uses standard wallplates (leviton.com).
Milwaukee M12 Fuel compact bandsaw
With a Powerstate brushless motor, the 6-lb Milwaukee’s M12 Fuel bandsaw sports a cut capacity of 2.5 x 2.5 in.
The saw is compatible with a pipe reamer attachment, which allows you to cut, then ream 1/2-in., 3/4-in. and 1-in. conduit with just the one tool. The tool ships with Milwaukee’s Extreme metal compact bandsaw blades (milwaukeetool.ca).
Fotric 340 Series thermal imagers
The Fotric 340 is a hand-held thermal imager series newly launched in North America, and features MagicThermal detail enhancement imaging technology. The 340 series sports Lynred second-generation polysilicon detectors, Qualcomm’s quad-core master chip and Xilinx programmable logic components. Fotric says it has set “wallet-friendly prices” (fotric.com).
Aiphone touchless sensor for door stations
Compatible with the IX Series door stations, Aiphone’s touchless sensor encourages users to “Wave Hello” to activate a call, thereby reducing exposure to contaminants in hightouch areas. The sensor’s detection zone helps avoid unwanted activations from external sources, such as wind or debris (aiphone.com).
Estimating 101
DAN BERESFORD AND JOHN F. WIESEL
Oh no! Material costs jumped since I won the bid!
Getting prices at the last minute from suppliers, customers asking for longer price holds, and increasing material costs are having a major impact on an already-frustrated electrical construction industry.
In the previous edition of Electrical Business, legal columnist Dan Leduc wrote that “copper wire and cable” showed a 26.7% price increase from March 2020 to March 2021, and a 4.1% increase from just February 2021 to March 2021 (“Legal Desk” EB May 2021, page 29).
I n that same edition, Anthony Capkun noted that at least one electrical distributor warned customers they cannot offer any price protection, and that pricing will be finalized on the day the product is shipped to the customer (page 3).
As estimators, we need to protect our companies from escalating prices when we submit a bid. We also need to protect against increased costs due to schedule changes that move the job outside of our price guarantee from our suppliers, or because of seasonality, or having to add shift work or overtime to meet the completion date.
In times of volatile material costs, one of the things we need to consider is adding an “Escalation” clause to our bid submission, which would allow for increases in costs outside of our company’s control. It helps us manage and possibly eliminate large and unexpected material price increases and/or schedule changes that would cut into our profit and, possibly, make us take a loss on the job.
To ensure the clause is written properly and protects your company, it is important to have it written by a lawyer who understands and works in construction law.
CODE conundrum
RAY YOUSEF
Ray is a code engineer with Ontario’s Electrical Safety Authority
TACKLE THE CODE CONUNDRUM IF YOU DARE!
Welcome to the newest round of questions that test your knowledge of the CE Code-Part I. Answers will appear in the September 2021 edition of Electrical Business Magazine, and online at EBMag.com under Features.
QUESTION 1
The ampacity of the supply conductors from a small wind turbine system shall not be less than of the maximum rated current of the generator.
a) 125%
b) 135%
c) 250%
d) 300%
QUESTION 2
In buildings for residential occupancy, two or more heating fixtures used for space heating are permitted to be connected to a branch circuit, provided the branch circuit overcurrent devices are rated not more than
a) 15 A
b) 20 A
c) 30 A
d) 40 A
QUESTION 3
The minimum headroom in working space around an elevator controller and disconnecting means shall be:
a) 1.6 m
b) 2.0 m
c) 2.2 m
d) 2.5 m
ANSWERS
Electrical Business, May 2021 ed.
Question 1
A Class 2 power supply unit may be installed in a wet location: b) Only when marked as such. Rule 16-204.
Question 2
Grounding conductors for electrical services are: e) A and C. Rule 10-116 (1).
Question 3
John F. Wiesel is the president of Suderman Estimating Systems Inc., and has been estimating and teaching estimating since the early 1980s. Dan Beresford served as an electrician in the Canadian Navy, then worked in various roles in the electrical sector before joining Suderman. Visit www.sudermanestimating.com.
The point of attachment of overhead supply service conductors shall be: e) All of the above. Rule 6-112 (2).
How did YOU do?
3 • Seasoned journeyman
1 • Apprentice
2 • Need refresher training
0 • Just here for fun!
DAVID PILON
Good-bye and good riddance to Table 39
CE Code-Part I (2021 ed.) sees the deletion of Table 39, which provided information on the permitted size for 3-wire 120/240V and 120/208V service conductors for single dwellings, and feeder conductors or cables supplying single dwelling units of row housing, apartments, etc., and terminating on equipment having a conductor termination temperature of not less than 75 C.
T his was not the CE Code’s first attempt at getting rid of this exemption, as it created more problems than it solved. First, a little history...
Prior to the CE Code 2012, Table 39 existed only as markings in Tables 2 and 4. When those tables where redone in the 2012 CE Code to clarify true ampacities, harmonize with the U.S. National Electrical Code (NEC), and introduce the temperature ratings under Rule 4-006, these markings were removed.
In Canada, there was a bit of a backlash to the removal of these markings, as it implied an increase in residential conductor sizes (which meant an increase in cost) with no data showing any issue with services “burning up”. So, in 2015, the CE Code brought in Table 39 to recreate the reduction in cable sizes for residential dwelling units.
Unfortunately, Table 39 fundamentally violated other Rules in the code; specifically, in Sections 4, 8 and 14. R ule 4-004 instructs us how to determine acceptable conductor
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ampacity based on several installation criteria. For example, is the conductor in conduit, or directly buried; is it in a normal location or a high ambient location?
O nce we have determined the installation type and location, we look at the load. Rule 8-106 covers demand factors and maximum circuit loading. Within residential calculations, it tells us the load is not to be considered continuous. Rule 8-104 states the calculated load shall not exceed the ampacity of the circuit, while the ampacity of the circuit is determined by the lesser of the conductor or the overcurrent device.
Therefore, we are already allowed to permit a greater calculated load on the service conductors over other types of services.
Now we jump over to Rule 4-006, which states that conductors terminating on a breaker rated not more than 100A (unless marked) shall be considered under the 60 C column— which Table 39 does not even consider. And the base Rule 14-104 states the rating or setting of an overcurrent device shall not exceed the ampacity of the conductors it protects.
So, right from the get-go, we have a Table that violates at least three prominent rules... keystones in the code.
But we’ve been doing it this way for years, so why the sudden concern?
T he interest in Table 39 and its shortcomings is not sudden, and has been discussed amongst Technical Committee members numerous times:
Why are we still leaning on old Table allowances?
This Table serves no real purpose, and we still come across installations that are undersized because the contractor did not perform a service calculation. And consider the customer who paid for a 200A service, but the sticker states it is a 189A service and the breaker reads 200A—and isn’t tripping. Should we realistically expect the customer to understand what’s going on?
T hen there is the confusion Table 39 would cause in the field when a contractor installs a service on a number of residences, then gets hired to install a service on a small commercial building. Without understanding the difference between the two applications, he will likely install a service in the commercial building that’s just like the one he installed in the homes. It won’t pass inspection, and he’ll have to replace the conductors.
E lectric vehicle adoption—inc luding associated charging infrastructure—is on the rise in our neighbourhoods, as is the number of appliances, televisions, and other technology in our homes, so we need to get the service right.
By deleting Table 39, there will be a conductor increase for residential service conductors. There is no concern for direct burial services, provided the you use the D Tables, where you will find a decrease in conductor sizes. The CE Code continues to provide options, and the deletion of Table 39 will only result in an increase in safety and equipment functionality.
David Pilon is manager, Electrical Inspections, at Technical Safety Authority, Saskatchewan (TSASK). He also serves as vice-chair of the Canadian Certified Electrical Inspector (CCEI) committee of the International Association of Electrical Inspectors (IAEI), Canadian Section. He can be reached at david.pilon@tsask.ca.
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