EC&M - June 2024

THE TOP 40

We rank this year’s industry leaders in electrical design. Read more on pg. 16 IN THIS

How to Get Along with an Electrical Inspector pg. 8

Installing EV Infrastructure in the Home pg. 12 Is AI the Future of BIM? pg. 48

NEC Requirements for Solar pg. 57 Understanding Snap Switches and the Code pg. 62

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Dominant electrical design practices run up revenue again for this year’s Top 40 Electrical Design Firms, but temper their outlook amid uncertainty.

For electrical design firms, another challenge is keeping up with all of the new AI tools and their capabilities. The selection grows every day — not only from BIM vendors, but also from IT companies. Here’s how — and what it will take to achieve that and other business benefits.

Cover Photo: Courtesy of Salas O’Brien

ECMWEB.COM

With its exclusive online content, ecmweb.com is a valuable source of industry insight for electrical professionals. Here’s a sample of what you can find on our site right now:

THE 5 HIGHEST-PAYING STATES FOR ELECTRICIANS: 2023

Gallery See which states topped the charts in terms of compensation. ecmweb.com/55038733

EC&M ON AIR — UNDERSTANDING 2024 LABOR PRODUCTIVITY TRENDS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

Podcast Ellen Parson and Tyler

Paré dissect findings from FMI’s 2023 Labor Productivity Study. ecmweb.com/55042823

AVOIDING UNCOMMON MISTAKES ON JOB SITES

Safety Mark Lamendola discusses how to keep workers safe by avoiding unlikely scenarios. ecmweb.com/55020229

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Inside the Ever-Evolving World of Electrical Design

By Ellen Parson, Editor-in-Chief

Every June, we present the results of our annual Top 40 Electrical Design Firms survey, which, for the most part, asks the same set of questions each year in an effort to establish historical trends in certain areas, including business climate, backlog, revenue performance, hot and cold markets, recruiting/hiring trends, and technology. Based on total revenue related to electrical design work performed in 2023, the 2024 Top 40 Electrical Design Firms special report is featured in this issue starting on page 16.

One of the most impactful technological developments of 2023 that affected not only society as a whole but also the electrical design industry in particular was the emergence and normalization of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools bursting onto the scene in the form of chatbots. One of those (ChatGPT) gained 1 million users within five days of launching in November 2022, and many others also went viral quickly after their debuts. How does this relate to the electrical engineering profession specifically and to the electrical industry in general? There are many predictions from experts that attempt to scratch the surface regarding how AI will transform our world going forward. “I believe AI is going to change the world more than anything in the history of humanity. More than electricity,” said AI expert Kai-Fu Lee, Chairman & CEO of Sinovation Ventures, in an interview with 60 Minutes and CBS News in 2019.

Whether that turns out to be true or not, the idea is intriguing. How do Top 40 firms plan to harness the power of AI in the short and long term? Although we’ve asked questions about respondents using augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality VR) tools in electrical applications for years, this is the first time we’ve asked specifically about AI. Whereas AR and VR enhance real-world objects on a virtual platform to create immersive environments, AI enables computer applications to mimic human-like intelligence and resolve problems, make predictions, and provide solutions. We asked respondents this year: How long will it take for AI to become a viable component of electrical design work? According to this year’s results, 43% of Top 40 firms say they’re already using it.

Just for fun, I decided to ask ChatGPT the same question with the exact same wording — it will be interesting to watch and see how accurate the following prose proves to be when we look back a few years from now in future Top 40 analysis reports. After typing the question into the prompt, the machine spit out the following synopsis in less than 5 seconds: AI is already making strides in electrical design, but its full integration into the field will depend on several factors. These include the development of AI algorithms tailored specifically for electrical design tasks, advancements in computational power to handle complex simulations and optimizations, and the acceptance and adoption of AI tools by engineers and companies.

Given the current rate of progress, it’s reasonable to expect AI to become a viable component of electrical design work within the next 5 to 10 years. However, this timeline could vary depending on the pace of technological innovation and the specific subfields within electrical design. As AI technologies continue to mature and demonstrate their capabilities in tasks such as circuit design, optimization, and fault detection, engineers will increasingly rely on these tools to streamline their workflows, improve efficiency, and uncover new design possibilities. Additionally, the integration of AI into design software platforms will likely accelerate its adoption within the industry. Ultimately, while AI will undoubtedly transform the practice of electrical design, human expertise and creativity will remain essential in guiding the design process, interpreting results, and ensuring that designs meet the required standards and specifications.

Turn to the Top 40 cover story for more commentary and analysis on this year’s survey results, including specific ways in which these leading electrical design firms are using AI. Predictably, their top answer was “optimizing processing and improving efficiencies;” however, the second most popular response (marketing and promotions) did surprise me a bit. Digging into this concept a little deeper, don’t miss Freelance Writer Tim Kridel’s feature article on page 48, which contemplates the future of building information modeling (BIM). Although combining AI with BIM can obviously make design engineers more productive, this piece takes an in-depth look at what it will actually take to get there as well as evaluates the other business benefits and pitfalls that could come along with the AI evolution.

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How to Get Along with an Electrical Inspector

Best practices for enhancing the working relationship between electrical contractors and inspectors

By Joseph Wages, Jr., IAEI

Istarted my career sweeping floors in the basement of a university building hoping to be seen as worthy to become an electrical apprentice. In those days, there were no mandatory apprenticeship training programs. To become an apprentice — and then be placed into an electrical apprenticeship program — was an expense to the contractor that may or may not produce a licensed employee. A strong work ethic, reliability, and a willingness to learn were necessary to even be considered for this type of position. During this time as an apprentice — and eventually a licensed electrician — I heard several stories about those evil, despicable electrical inspectors. I never dreamed I would become one later in my career. This article presents some ways you as an electrical professional can enhance your working relationship with the electrical inspector.

BRIBES, KICKBACKS, AND MAFIA PAYOFFS

Who remembers the movie back in the ’80s called “Back to School”? Rodney Dangerfield played a successful older businessman who decided to enroll in college with his son. During one scene in the movie, his character, Thorton Melon, decides to inform the business professor he was wrong about how to get things built. Dr. Barbay (the professor) responded, “Maybe bribes, kickbacks, and mafia payoffs are how you do business, but they are not part of the legitimate business world!”

Some people believe that to appease the electrical inspector, you need to take them to lunch, send them presents

Learning how to foster a healthy and, most importantly, professional working relationship with your local electrical inspector is essential.

during the holiday season, take them on expensive hunting or fishing excursions, etc. Do not go down this path. Bribes and kickbacks have no place in the legitimate electrical installation and inspection world.

Some of these offerings may be innocent with no favors expected. Even at

that, the public seeing this type of relationship can get the gossip mill running. Plus, other electrical professionals begin jumping to conclusions that there may be something inappropriate going on between a certain electrical contractor and the local or state inspector. Putting a bottle of the inspector’s favorite alcoholic

beverage or an envelope full of money in the inspection vehicle when the inspector is conducting the inspection is a good way to be arrested and/or cause the inspector to lose their job. You may be laughing, but this has happened — and the inspector immediately called the police and his supervisors to the scene. A few dollars in bribes can cost a person their integrity and jeopardize working as an inspector in other jurisdictions.

Many states and municipalities have strict guidelines on these types of activities that could result in disciplinary actions, including termination. Contrary to what you learned as an apprentice or during your time as an electrician, bribes or kickbacks cannot exist in the electrical installation/inspection relationship.

KNOW WHAT TO DO, AND DO

WHAT YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO DO

A surefire way to build and maintain a good working relationship with an

Inspector Intel articles are provided by the Independent Alliance of the Electrical Industry (IAEI), www.iaei.org, a membershipdriven, non-profit association headquartered in Richardson, Texas, that promotes electrical safety throughout the industry by providing education, certification of inspectors, advocacy, partnerships, and expert leadership in electrical codes and standards.

electrical inspector is simple. Know how to do your job, and understand/follow the local and state Code requirements as

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they pertain to your electrical work. In the end, this is what the inspector expects — a Code-compliant installation that follows state and local electrical requirements done in a workmanlike manner.

As an installer, this means listening to those who are willing to share the secrets of the electrical trade with you, going to your apprenticeship classes and learning all there is to know about the electrical industry, and testing for and receiving your electrical license upon completion of your apprenticeship training.

Many believe that once they graduate from the apprenticeship program and get their license, they never need to open that Code book again. If that is what you believe, I have news for you: Learning never stops in this trade or any other profession. Continuing education in this trade is a requirement to produce Code-compliant electrical installations. The technological advances taking place today require all electrical professionals

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INSPECTOR INTEL

to stay engaged in the learning process. How many folks attending an apprenticeship training program in the 1960s received electrical training on renewable energy systems? Today, these seasoned professionals are being looked upon to install or inspect these systems in a Code-compliant manner. To achieve this level of expertise, the electrical professional must attend electrical continuing education events. A training event can help fill in the gaps that might exist with your electrical training needs.

Other ways to ensure a good relationship with an inspector is to have quick access to the edition of the NEC — or other standards being enforced in the area where you’re performing work — and know those requirements. If you have a disagreement or misunderstanding with an inspector, open the standards

being enforced, and seek clarification. Have the plans for the electrical project available to discuss the installation.

As an inspector, I appreciated the installers who wanted to meet with me before the start of the project and discuss any local ordinances or other requirements that might be in place that would affect their work. Examples might be local ordinances concerning burial depths that exceed what the NEC specifies for the installation — or an ordinance that does not allow a branch circuit less than 20A to be installed in a dwelling unit. It is always less frustrating and expensive to find out about these ordinances before beginning the electrical project. Electrical professionals must always remember that the NEC is a minimal standard. Being barely above illegal is one way to think of it.

Get your permits before beginning the project and have the electrical work ready for inspection when the electrical inspector arrives. Many municipalities have a lot of construction taking place. Your project is not the only one in the municipality they must inspect. Not being ready causes extra trips to the job site for the inspector. In some cases, this can result in re-inspection fees being assessed to the electrical contractor.

Above all else, make sure you have inspected the work before the inspector inspects the work. You are the first set of eyes on the project. Check your work! Make sure you have torqued the terminations that require torquing. Look for any missing receptacles or switch covers. Is the panel schedule in place? Are all the locknuts tightened on your connectors? Did you put all the screws in the panel cover when you placed it on the cabinet? Have you checked the polarity on all the receptacles in the structure to make sure they are wired correctly? Did you test your GFCI devices to make sure they function as intended? All of these above-mentioned items (and numerous others) help ensure the integrity and safety of the electrical installation.

NOW YOU KNOW

Most electrical professionals strive to do the best work possible. They take pride in their chosen career and are deeply concerned about electrical safety. Electrical inspectors share that same passion for safe electrical installations. They are like an umpire at a baseball game, calling balls and strikes batter after batter. They know the strike zone and are consistently using it to determine a ball from a strike.

At the end of the day, everyone wants to go home knowing they had a small part in keeping families electrically safe. As the installer, your job is to know the electrical installation requirements and to abide by them. This will ensure a good relationship with the electrical inspector. Doing so will keep you from striking out on your next electrical inspection.

Joseph Wages, Jr. is the Director of Education with IAEI. He can be reached at jwages@iaei.org.

Continuing education/training courses can help all electrical professionals from apprentices to veterans install and inspect electrical systems in a Code-compliant way.

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EV Installations on the Home Front — Part 4 of 4 Preparing for the future of home energy

By Dan Carnovale, Eaton

The energy transition continues to advance, and with it comes rising demand for electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure in single-family homes.

Throughout this article series, we’ve explored a multitude of important considerations for electrical professionals when it comes to installing EV infrastructure. First, we looked at the need to ensure energy capacity meets charging needs. Next, we examined safety as a paramount concern. Most recently, we looked at different charging configurations and the role they play in optimizing customers’ experiences with their EV purchases.

In this final installment, we’ll look at a topic that should be on every electrical professional’s mind: installing EV infrastructure amid the transformation of home energy systems.

INNOVATION ON THE HORIZON

Residential energy systems are undergoing major changes as EVs proliferate. The energy transition has given homeowners new opportunities to reduce their carbon footprints through electrification — from adding more electric appliances to achieving whole-home electrification.

Many homeowners are also embracing alternative approaches to powering the home — from the integration of more renewable energy (e.g., solar) and battery energy storage to full-scale residential and community microgrids. Managing this new electrical ecosystem requires special knowledge and consideration.

Each innovation presents an opportunity for contractors to design electrical systems that help homeowners become smarter and more efficient, sustainable users of energy. Therefore, when approaching EV charging installation

projects, contractors should think about installation not simply as a solitary addition to a home but also as part of the broader transformation of home energy systems that will provide benefits for years to come.

EMERGING TRENDS

To understand the role of EV charging in the transformation of home energy systems, contractors need to become familiar with the innovations supporting this transformation and their impact on electrical loads in the home.

One such innovation is the growth of smart home energy management solutions, which encompass smart appliances and thermostats as well as components like smart wiring devices, circuit breakers, and load centers. These solutions, when integrated with smart home ecosystems and managed

via integrated mobile apps, give homeowners greater control over their home energy usage and enable them to make smarter energy decisions. Many homeowners will want to include and manage home EV charging within this ecosystem, making it important for contractors to understand the technologies (both hardware and software) and standards that may impact it.

Another innovation is the integration of renewable energy and residential microgrids. More homeowners than ever are seeking to generate their own power through the deployment of solar and battery energy storage to offset energy costs and increase resiliency. Some are even implementing dedicated microgrids, which can help power the home when grid power is unavailable — an attractive solution in outage-prone regions.

In addition to their benefits during outages, microgrids can reduce energy costs by helping to effectively manage loads, which is especially critical for

larger loads like EVs. It can also help homeowners take advantage of utility incentives for initiatives such as peak shaving and demand response.

Microgrids can reduce energy costs by helping to effectively manage loads, which is especially critical for larger loads like EVs.

One more innovation on the horizon is the opportunity to use the stored energy in EVs as a source of power rather than a load, providing energy back to different elements of the home.

Some examples include:

• Vehicle-to-home (V2H): Leverages the vehicle’s battery to power essential needs in the home, especially when the grid is down.

• Vehicle-to-grid (V2G): Puts EVs to work by returning energy stored in batteries to the grid, especially during peak load times when the utility can use extra capacity.

• Vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V): Enables flexibility to recharge anywhere by plugging into another EV.

• Vehicle-to-everything (V2X): Uses stored power in vehicles to provide energy during an emergency or wherever the grid is remote or doesn’t exist.

Contractors should take steps to learn more about these approaches as more homeowners may seek to implement them in the years to come. They should consider enabling technologies, such as smart circuit breakers, that can help prepare homes for the transition to help future-proof investments.

CHANGING LANDSCAPE FOR ELECTRIC UTILITIES

The landscape for electric utilities is evolving amid the transformation of home energy systems. EVs represent a significant power draw for the grid, and many electric utilities are taking creative approaches to manage this power draw in a way that ensures adequate power availability for charging and other needs. This can include the addition of programs like frequency regulation and demand response as well as new rate structures that might benefit both the electric utility and their customers.

Contractors should become familiar with the local electric utility’s special programs and rates as well as incentives available at the state and federal level that can help homeowners uncover opportunities to save costs and more effectively use energy when charging their EV. With more installations will

come more knowledge, so contractors should make a checklist of rates and incentives to educate customers proactively and help maximize their investment and cost savings.

FUTURE-PROOFING INVESTMENTS

While the adoption of technologies such as smart home energy management and renewables may be nascent, many homeowners will want to implement them shortly. This is why contractors must help future-proof customer investments, ask questions about their energy goals, and install solutions that will make it easier for them to integrate new solutions as their needs evolve. For example, installing a smart circuit breaker in the load center can enable the future ability to integrate smart home energy management technologies. The advancing energy transition is causing important and welcome changes

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to both transportation and residential energy. Electrical professionals have an essential opportunity to become trusted advisors as they help customers assess EV deployments and consider future steps in their electrification journey. By understanding innovations on the horizon and the role EVs play as part of the broader ecosystem, electrical contractors can help prepare homeowners to become active participants in a more sustainable future.

Dan Carnovale is the director of the Eaton Experience Centers in Pittsburgh and Houston. He is a registered Professional Engineer in the states of Pennsylvania, California, and Alaska, a Certified Energy Manager (CEM), and a Senior Member of IEEE. He can be reached at danieljcarnovale@eaton. com. To learn more about the Eaton Experience Centers, visit Eaton.com/ Experience.

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Dominant electrical design practices run up revenue again for this year’s Top 40 Electrical Design Firms, but temper their outlook amid uncertainty.

Ayear of friction — a recovering and fairly robust economy running up against inflation and interest rate worries — made 2023 a conundrum of sorts. Was something beginning or ending? That was the question in the construction sector, where projects

that were in the pipeline ramped up, but growing concerns about the cost of money, labor availability, and recession loomed. A year of transition, possibly. To what, though, is the question.

Engineering and design firms, whose work often foretells upturns or downturns in construction, might provide some of the answers. And one vital

component of that industry — electrical design — is offering some mixed, though largely upbeat, signals.

Fresh insights come from companies that make up EC&M’s 2024 Top 40, an annual ranking of design engineering firms based on revenues derived from providing electrical design services in North America. In another broad

Photo courtesy of Henderson Engineers

The Jayhawk Welcome Center in Lawrence, Kan. serves as a new front door to the University of Kansas, giving prospective students a world-class introduction to the largest educational institution in the state of Kansas. Henderson Engineers provided electrical and a variety of other design services for the $29.4-million building, which spans 30,000 square feet across two floors as an addition to the existing Adams Alumni Center.

The McLaren Health Greater Lansing Replacement Hospital, in Lansing, Mich. utilized the Central Utilities Plant (CUP), which was created using the most efficient, longest life, cost-efficient design possible. The CUP is arranged and located to provide efficient, unobtrusive service to the hospital mission. It’s positioned to allow easy maintenance and the ability to provide upgrades and change-outs without interrupting hospital operations.

Top 40 Electrical Design Firms

Notes:

List based on proprietary survey. To get on the list to receive the survey for next year, please contact Editor-in-Chief Ellen Parson at eparson@endeavorb2b.com or call (816) 560-6448.

NL - Not listed. This company did not appear in last year’s electrical design services revenue listing.

NA - Not available.

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The 2023 Business Climate (N=37)

Revenue Expectations in 2023 (N=36)

Fig. 1. The number of firms characterizing the current business climate as “strong” skyrocketed last year, increasing from 57% in 2022 to 91% in 2023. This year, that number tempered a bit to nearly 80%.

realized versus expected performance (see 2024 Rankings Table on page 18).

While more than three-quarters of firms rated the 2023 business climate as “strong” (Fig. 1), that was a clear falloff from last year, when 91% of firms said 2022 was strong. Defectors from the “strong” camp went to the “fair”

Fig. 2. Last year, optimistic forecasts bounced back — with 66% of respondents expecting to exceed expectations compared to 43% in 2022. This year, that number fell somewhere in the middle at 58%. survey of business conditions and sentiment, this year’s group hit a solid new, non-inflation adjusted high in collective prior-year (2023) revenues — $4.447 billion. That’s 13% higher than the $3.918 billion last year’s Top 40 secured in 2022, which was a 22% gain over the revenue reported for 2021. Still, this year’s group weighed in with comparatively muted assessments of the year as well as their

Fig. 3. The numbers here remained steady for the last few years when it comes to change in backlog. The number of firms reporting an increase in 2023 was 81% compared to 83% in 2022 and 86% in 2021.

group, which comprised 22%. None rated it “weak.” Also telling, the share saying they met or exceeded revenue expectations for the prior year declined from 66% to 58% (Fig. 2). Coming off a sparkling 2022 that saw Top 40 combined revenues vault to $3.918 billion, it may be no surprise that more firms had cooler takes on the previous past.

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Photo courtesy of IMEG

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The Swissport Lounge is located within Billy Bishop Airport’s domestic lounge in Toronto. At 3,620 square feet, the refurbished space has at least 110 seats throughout the lounge and restaurant. The existing perimeter of the lounge space had already been built when Billy Bishop had two extensions added in 2017. However, Stantec renovated the space to handle the new programming. This includes interior glass partitions separating the domestic lounge from the Swissport Lounge, new flooring, new interior partitions, exposed ceilings, as well as updated plumbing, HVAC, and electrical to accommodate kitchen, bar, and food service areas.

By What Percentage Did Your Backlog Change?

More than a 10% decrease

6% to 9% decrease

5% or less decrease Stayed the same

5% or less increase

6% to 9% increase

10% to 14% increase

More than a 15% increase

Fig. 4. Two-thirds of firms reported an increase in backlog of 6% or more in 2023.

Sentiment overall, though, is hardly gloomy. Most firms (81%) said their backlog increased in 2023 (Fig. 3 on page 20), evidence that their pace of banking projects that have some chance of weathering any short-term

downturn isn’t slowing. Two-thirds of firms said it increased upward of 6% (Fig. 4).

Fig. 5. The number of firms forecasting an increase in backlog for the current year decreased slightly — from 82% in last year’s survey to nearly 74% this year.

Looking ahead to the expected final tally for 2024, more than 70% say they expect their backlog to grow (Fig. 5), and 26% see it unchanged. That is a fair dropoff from the 82% of last year’s Top 40 who predicted a backlog increase in 2023. Most see a 5% to 9% increase (Fig. 6 on page 24), but nearly 20% say it could rise 10% to 14%.

Photo courtesy of Stantec

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By What Percentage Do You Expect Your Backlog to Change?

(N=31)

More than a 15% increase

Fig. 6. Nearly half of respondents expect an increase in backlog of 5% to 9% in 2024.

On revenue, the outlook is mostly sunny. A plurality of firms (one in three) expect a revenue boost of 10% or more this year (Fig. 7).

Firms elaborating on their survey responses were largely satisfied with how 2023 turned out. More importantly, they’re confident about their prospects coming off a year that delivered either solid growth or evidence that long-term demand for their services is solidly intact.

UNDERLYING STRENGTH

HED (No. 32), Royal Oak, Mich. saw its revenue decline more than 30%,

but Michael Cooper, managing principal/president, doesn’t see that as cause for alarm. Coming off a strong 2022 when revenue rose some 90% as pandemic-stalled business restarted, the company had to readjust to a normalizing business environment and work through an internal restructuring prioritizing cultivation of market sector design expertise.

“Last year presented some economic uncertainty and more severe labor shortages, but we remain optimistic about growing our electrical engineering practice,” Cooper says. “(The reorganization)

positions us for future growth, higher operational efficiency, and a stronger value proposition.”

Citing growing prospects for a taming of inflation and falling interest rates, supply chains untangling, and recession talk fading as the economy seems to strengthen, Cooper sees a solid 2024 unfolding for the company. Specific market sectors do bear watching as they’re sensitive to macroeconomic forces and investment decisions, he says, but “we see significant opportunities and are extremely optimistic.”

Overall economic conditions and continued recession talk are the top current threats to company growth for Kunal Shah, president/CEO of PBS Engineers, Inc. (No. 34), Glendora, Calif. Total company revenue grew 40% in 2023 while electrical grew 10%, and 2024 is shaping up as a flattish year for revenues due to stubborn inflation, supply chain, and interest rate pressures on the client base.

The bigger story for PBS on the electrical side is that it made substantial progress in cementing ties with customers by expanding the scope of its design services. By cultivating and marketing growing expertise in the progressive design-build model, Shah says, the company found a way to work more closely and collaboratively with clients

Overall Design Services Revenue Forecast for 2024

More than 10% decrease

Fig. 7. One in three Top 40 firms expect an

improvement. However, 34% expect either a decline or for conditions to remain flat.

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The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) completed a project to refurbish the Yellow Line tunnel between the L’Enfant and Pentagon stations. In this photo, modern equipment for critical electrical and communication infrastructure is being installed. Burns Engineering developed the Relocation of Railway System Design Plan and Systems Integration Plan, which included equipment placement for temporary and permanent installation, detailed specifications for phasing, and detailed performance criteria to ensure each subsystem functioned as a fully operating system.

in markets such as utilities, aviation, and transportation — where complex project delivery processes can benefit from enhanced cooperation, sharing and early involvement from all parties. The key has been identifying project “pain points,” such as costly change-orders, which can be mitigated through better communication and deeper involvement by the design team.

“We’ve worked in this capacity before, but not at the volume we are now,” Shah says. “We’re focused more on the entire life cycle of a project — from pre-construction, construction design, and through to closeout. Partnerships that bring in expertise from both the design and construction perspective bring value, and last year we really started to see the fruits of those relationships.”

Close, long-standing ties with customers in the highly active utility sector (its primary market) worked to the benefit of Mesa Associates, Inc. (No. 6), Madison, Ala. in 2023. The firm saw electrical design revenue advance a modest 5%, much of it coming from 10 primary clients who generate about 80% of revenues, says General Manager Reggie Headrick. Demand was on the lighter side as interest rates kept a lid on some projects, but all signs point to sustained growth as utilities look to invest more in infrastructure upgrades that will demand specialized competence and expertise on the design services side.

“The renewables space got more of Mesa’s attention beginning in the middle of last year,” Headrick says. “Utilities are focused on decarbonization, and that will probably keep their spending at a

historically high level. We’ll reap more of the benefits this year.”

MARKET TRENDS STEADY

That anticipated revolution in the power generation and T&D world kept the sector near the top of the list of hot 2023 market sectors for the Top 40 (Table 1 on page 28). It ranked third, with 30% naming it one of their three most active market sectors, behind health care (46%) and education/institution (32%). Rounding out the top five were government (24%) and data centers, government and water/wastewater (22% each). The top hot market sectors in the 2023 survey were health care, power/T&D, education, renewables, manufacturing, and data centers.

Sectors ranked particularly sluggish this year were private office,

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RMF Engineering, Inc. provided electrical engineering design services for Sharing Hope SC’s new 50,850-square-foot headquarters facility in West Ashley, S.C. Modern luminaires and power systems adorn this sleek new building, welcoming visitors and employees to Sharing Hope.

Hottest Market Segments

Health Care

Power (Utilities/T&D)

Government

Manufacturing (tie) 5. Data Centers (tie) 5. Water/Wastewater (tie)

Table 1. Again this year, “health care” retained its No. 1 spot as the hottest market, but “education” surpassed “power,” moving into the second spot.

Coolest Market Segments

Table 2. As for the coolest markets, private office had the greatest number of responses, followed by hospitality, residential, retail, housing, and manufacturing.

hospitality, retail, residential, housing, and manufacturing (Table 2). Neither private office, residential, or housing were in last year’s top five. Last year’s ranking was retail, hospitality, manufacturing, food & beverage, aviation, and sports/recreation.

Both rankings amply reflect where money is going due to demographic shifts and societal responses to emerging challenges and changing norms. And more than a few sectors are ones that have a pronounced electrical component, such as data centers, power, renewables, residential, and office.

Core States Group (No. 40), Duluth, Ga. saw two sectors emerge with more force. Health care raised its profile because project demand is growing as the population ages, and more residential projects — notably multi-family/ mixed use — that address housing shortages, came the company’s way.

“The company’s acquisition of an architectural practice brought in more housing, and our work in health care, which has pretty consistent demand,

Photo courtesy of RMF Engineering

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H

O’Brien is providing the electrical, IT, and security design for the renovation and expansion of this world-class performing arts center in downtown Calgary, Canada. The project team is designing for LEED-silver certification. The first phase involves the development of two new purpose-built venues and amenities across Stephen Street to the north while the second phase involves revitalizing the existing five venues, lobbies, and offices to create an accessible civic Arts Centre, which is consolidated with Stephen Street and upgraded with new support structure and technology.

would probably be good to bolt on in a similar way because it doesn’t swing with the economy as much,” says John Ferguson, senior director of engineering.

Looking ahead, Chris Sacco, director of electrical engineering, sees opportunity in food & beverage, which is resurfacing as a market with new site concepts, and within the office space, where ground-up and renovation projects are incorporating smart management concepts that demand heavy electrical know-how.

The office market has fallen off the radar of Henderson Engineers (No. 11), Lenexa, Kan. It, along with hospitality and residential, were slow in 2023. Since those turned down, the company has slowly migrated to sectors with more promise, steadily building up staff expertise to handle expected demand, says Jason Wollum, chief growth officer. Data

centers, aviation, and sports/recreation fit that bill and topped the list of active markets. They’ll likely get more competition for a spot on future hot lists from a host of sectors, he says, from ones due for a comeback like retail, grocery, and office to those that align with trends in science and technology, such as laboratories, mission critical, and connected infrastructure.

“In building our staff for growing areas of the market, important areas of expertise will be in controls, integrated automation, and medium-voltage system design,” Wollum says, adding that building a company presence in areas that are “hotbeds” for innovation is on the radar.

New York-based Jaros, Baum & Bolles (No. 30) saw strong demand in aviation, health care, and residential, while education/institution, hospitality, and retail gained little traction. Oncereliable office projects remain mired in

a slump, but those less reliant on private funding have filled some of the gap, says John Koch, a firm partner. An exception is high-end residential, where the company has seized opportunity from a boom in lavish, well-funded projects in Florida especially. Besides that ultra specialty, other rising markets have helped the firm diversify.

“Over the past 10 to 12 years, we’ve diversified, and growth in sectors like institutional, infrastructure, energy storage, and grid utility have picked up,” Koch says. “The electrification push keeps going, too, and that’s presenting some opportunities in projects we haven’t seen in the past.”

RATING AN INFRASTRUCTURE BOOST

Design firms are likely to see a fair number of novel market opportunities

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Photo courtesy of Salas O’Brien

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Impact Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Will Have on Business (N=34)

Projected Revenue Increase Directly from Federal Infrastructure Projects (N=31)

Fig. 8. Approximately 70% of Top 40 firms expect infrastructure legislation to have a “minor” or “moderate” positive impact on their business. This is similar to the past two surveys in which 71% in 2023 and 70% in 2022 answered as such.

emerge in coming years. A key contributor might be growth in infrastructure spending, some of which might call for a substantial electrical element. But few Top 40 firms see any big dollars flowing their way soon, specifically from federal infrastructure investment.

All but about 10% of firms saw, at best, only moderate positive impact from the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Fig. 8) now starting

Fig. 9. Like last year (56%), a little over half of survey respondents (55%) anticipated no more than a 5% revenue increase in new project revenue tied to federal infrastructure funds.

to roll out. Fewer this year than last, in fact, expect to realize a significant current year positive impact. And fewer see anything close to a double-digit boost to their top line in 2024. Half see just a 0% to 5% impact, up from 35% of last year’s Top 40 (Fig. 9). More than half last year predicted a 6% to 19% boost, but that fell to 19% this year. As for sectors likely to get a boost from the Act this year, electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, renewables (solar and wind), and electric grid updates led the way again (Table 3).

In its primary electrical design role of providing a broad array of services

to small utilities, chiefly in the Midwest, Toth and Associates, Inc. (No. 27), Springfield, Mo., is poised to benefit from more electrical infrastructure spending, public or private. President Adam Toth, P.E. says he’s waiting to see if infrastructure upgrade grants sought on behalf of some clients will materialize.

“Smaller utilities that haven’t done much in the last 60 years now have to update to newer equipment,” he says. “A lot of it needs to be replaced.”

Ultimately, Toth sees the impact of infrastructure spending on the firm to be more indirect. Designing systems for utilities to furnish power to lithium miners that will be needed for EV expansion, for instance, might be one route. A below-the-radar benefit might be conducting studies to gauge the feasibility of utilizing rural utility power lines for fiber cable needed to develop more rural broadband — one target of the federal infrastructure plan.

Though he doesn’t see much direct infrastructure spending impact now, HED’s Cooper views the federal government’s growing role in the economy, more broadly, as a potential new vein of growth. Its decision to dive deeper into select sectors to spur growth elevates government as a market target. Its present strong private market orientation likely forecloses a windfall from most current infrastructure spending, Cooper says, but the prospect of expanded long-term federal investments in housing, health care, research, and mission critical offers “long-term opportunity with significant upside.”

Table 3. Top 40 firms identified several sectors they felt would produce the biggest increase in new project activity in 2024 from federal infrastructure dollars. Taking the top spot again this year, electric vehicle charging infrastructure was followed by renewables, and electric grid updates.

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Is Your Firm Having Difficulty Filling Open Job Positions?

Fig. 10. Not surprisingly, the number of survey respondents experiencing staffing issues remained high at 86% but slightly less than previous years (92% in 2022 and 94% in 2023).

Should infrastructure spending get on a sustained roll, electrical designers are almost certain to benefit. That, along with the trend to widespread electrification of the economy, expansion of electrical grid modernization, and sustained economic growth lifting all boats will give them a commanding role in how things get built.

STAFFING WORRIES REDUX

To do that, they’ll need top-flight design talent in sufficient numbers to take on the work they need to thrive. But finding and keeping that asset has been and remains a challenge, as survey results through the years attest. Though down from 94% last year, 86% of firms said they’re having a hard time filling open positions (Fig. 10). That figure has consistently been in the 80% to 90% range, dipping to around 70% only during the pandemic. What’s the most challenging position to fill these days? Project engineer, the essential role that continues to top the list by a good margin (Fig. 11).

Tough or not, firms continue to staff up. Most (86%) said they added employees (Fig. 12), though that was down from 92% last year. For 2024, all but a few say their head count will grow (Fig. 13).

Staffing is, by far, the biggest worry for companies looking to excel and grow

Most Difficult Positions to Fill

Supervising Engineer

Project Engineer

Design

Project

Fig. 11. For the fourth year in a row, “project engineer” topped the list as “most difficult job title to fill” for Top 40 firms followed by “supervising engineer.”

Employee

Trends in 2023 (N=36)

Projected Employee Trends in 2024 (N=36)

Fig. 12. The number of Top 40 adding head count in 2023 (86%) decreased slightly from the previous year (92%). Laid Off 3%

in a demanding market bursting with potential. From a list of plausible barriers to growth, difficulty finding and keeping “quality” staff was again the single factor most chose to the exclusion of others (Table 4 on page 36). Only economic conditions and the prospect of recession came close.

Toth and Associates’ growth and near-exclusive focus on the small utility market necessitates but complicates the hunt for design talent. Preferred experienced talent is in shorter supply, but the firm’s location in a more rural setting makes attracting a greener pool harder. Additionally, the company is

Fig. 13. After a never-before-seen 100% of firms indicated they planned to add head count last year, that number dropped slightly with this year’s survey to 92%.

firm on in-office presence, ruling out recruits who may desire more remote arrangements.

“Finding experienced people here is hard, and they don’t teach in college a lot of what we do here, but if you’re growing like we are you have to find talent,” Toth says. “We can train young engineers, but they can be difficult to hire.”

There’s some concern at Mesa Associates about the future availability and quality of design talent. The company continues to hire, Headrick says, but worries that bidding wars for experience carries the risk of increasing the cost of design services.

(N=35)

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the climate in mind, Mason and Hanger incorporated numerous sustainable design features for the multi-building U.S. Depart ment of State compound in Rabat, Morocco. These include lights that automatically dim to take advantage of daylight, reduced water use plumbing fixtures, rain gardens, and indigenous/adapted plant species for reduced irrigation demand. This shot shows one of the conference rooms, featuring lighting, telecom, and AV systems.

The talent crunch, he says, “is getting more pronounced, with not near as many going into the field.” The company outsources some of its recruiting in a bid to find experienced engineers who can fit into the minority-owned firm’s culture, which can be a competitive advantage. Entry-level talent is sought, but there’s always the challenge of training given the “steep learning curve” that exists, he says.

Like many others, Core States Group confronts that problem with heavy reliance on an intern pipeline. Promising students are regularly brought in and immersed in the types of projects and subject matter they’d encounter. The approach has largely worked, says John Ferguson, senior director of engineering, because a fair number bridges some of the experience gap and land on the company’s payroll.

“Coming out of college, the theory is there but not so much the practical knowledge,” he says, adding that an approach that accelerates its uptake among raw talent can be more appealing than seeking more costly senior talent in the current labor market.

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Core States Energy, a division of Core States Group, has successfully completed 100-plus design-build projects for Electrify America, a leading EV charging network operator, at various retail locations across California. These projects have included partnerships with leading brands, such as Target, Bank of America, Macerich, and Westfield. Most of the sites are equipped with four to six state-of-theart DC fast charging (DCFC) stations with speeds of up to 350kW. For this 2023 project in Kettleman City, Calif., the company designed and constructed ten 350kW EV charging stations and designed/oversaw installation of the solar system located on the canopy.

Areas in Which Employees Need the Most Training

Table 5. Again this year, Top 40 firms report the need for training in various areas, but especially related to power system analysis, electrical design software, and the NEC.

critical areas of knowledge — design firms must be ever more focused on training. Imparting knowledge to younger recruits and keeping all staffers up to date on fast-moving change in electrical design demands dedication to education.

Rankings of areas where firms say they need the most training support may partly reflect emerging market priorities for firms. Growth in transmission and distribution projects, for instance, necessitates power systems analysis training,

again listed by more firms than any other as a training area where the most support is needed (Table 5).

Also commonly mentioned were electrical design software, important as technology applications advance,

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How Long Will It Take for Augmented Reality to Become a Viable Component of Design Work?

Already using it

One year

Two years

Three years

Four years

Five years or more

When it comes to augmented reality (AR) adoption, Top 40 firms seem to be consistent. Last year, 49% of Top 40 firms said they were already using AR compared to 42% this year.

How Long Will It Take for Virtual Reality to Become a Viable Component of Design

Work?

Already using it

One year

Two years

Three years

Four years

Five years or more

Fig. 15. Virtual reality adoption stayed about the same as the past two year’s of survey results — rising slightly from 50% in 2023 to 52% this year among firms saying that they’re already using the technology.

and building management/automation systems, reflective of more smart building projects.

The latter is a top priority at HED because the firm is growing that facet of its electrical design practice. Many new hires often come with fairly robust technology skills that bring staff up a notch in that area, Cooper says, but building management systems design demand a “specialized and scare set of skills needed to respond,” that only robust training can address. Training is a focus, generally, he adds, because a shortage of experienced

talent has led HED to hire more recent graduates and invest more in their professional development.

Being an employee-owned company that offers more than a paycheck gives Henderson Engineers an advantage in hiring more scarce talent, Wollum says. In hiring mode and concerned about the electrical talent pipeline, the company has forged ties to feeder universities with the aim of “making sure the curriculum they have is preparing students to work in the industry.” It’s also working closely with STEM-related programs to help

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The Engineering Enterprise provided electrical engineering design services for the Monterey Regional Airport’s new 10,000-squarefoot Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting Facility in Monterey, Calif. Engineers collaborated with the Monterey Airport, the Monterey Fire Department, and MARJANG Architecture to design this critical facility that includes four apparatus bays, apparatus bay support areas, living quarters with dorm rooms, kitchen/dining/day room, watch room, exercise room and offices. They also worked closely with contractor partners Mills Construction and Collins Electric on this design-build project.

mint younger talent that might find its way to the field and, possibly, Henderson, motivated to make their mark in a growing and consequential profession.

“Across multiple market sectors, many new projects we work on today are just cool,” Wollum observes. “People who get into the field can live their design dream working on projects they have a passion for.”

AI JOINS TECH MIX

Against a backdrop of staffing concerns, the practice of electrical design continues to change, utilizing more technology that could ease those worries by making designers more efficient and productive. Among them are augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) aids, and new on the scene is artificial intelligence (AI).

AR and VR are making slow, steady inroads into electrical design. More than 40% of Top 40 firms are using AR (Fig. 14 on page 40) and around half are using VR (Fig. 15 on page 40) in that capacity. Among possible broad applications for each, collaboration with clients and other project delivery partners are cited by most (Fig. 16 and Fig. 17 on page 44).

Ways Firms Plan to Incorporate AR into Their Business

with

Collaboration with other trades/ electrical contractor/general contractor

Fig. 16. As has been the case for the past many years, Top 40 firms already using this technology frequently indicated they plan to use AR for “collaboration with their own clients.”

Those now using AR in electrical work say its applications include supplementing 3-D modeling, helping design equipment layout, aiding conduit routing, and assisting virtual construction/product troubleshooting. VR applications span equipment room walk-throughs, design option evaluations, deeper understanding of

complex systems and site investigations to document as-built conditions.

Echoing other firms, JB&B’s Koch characterizes AR/VR as still being in their “infancy” as design tools. They show promise, he says, and are being leveraged where possible to make the firm’s essential product — construction documents — more useful, especially in

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larger projects. But the technology “has to ramp up over time, and the ability to scale it is key.” Likewise, PBS’s Shah says AR/VR and other technologies for electrical design will evolve, with “every iteration focused on how to better harness the tools,” and be like “going from AutoCAD to Revit.”

With AI, design firms say they have a potentially powerful and versatile tool that can aid all elements of their business. While a majority say using it in an electrical design capacity is a ways off, more than 40% say they’re doing so now (Fig. 18 on page 46), primarily to aid process optimization/efficiency improvement; marketing and promotion tasks; and human resources/recruitment functions (Fig. 19 on page 46).

Citing statistics showing more than 40% of AEC firms are using artificial intelligence (AI) in some fashion, Mesa’s Headrick says the firm has gotten on board, forming a team to explore its possible applications. So far, there’s been progress on using it for project management, enabling “lessons learned to be better shared and used by project managers to for process and procedure control.” AI may also be leveraged to help utility clients make better sense of

Key Areas Firms Plan to Incorporate VR into Their Business

Fig. 17. Mirroring last year’s responses, Top 40 firms that are already using this technology overwhelmingly indicated they plan to use VR for “collaboration with their own clients.”

their data and use it “to predict the end of asset useful life and important predictors of failure.”

At Core States, AI could become an important element of the technology tool bag the company uses to put a microscope on projects and processes.

“We have a formal design, efficiency, and analytics team whose job it is to analyze design and delivery models,

and some in that group are interested in AI,” says Sacco. “The team is interested in determining ahead of time where we can improve and how to deliver our product quicker and more completely. AI could help improve the efficiency of that effort.”

In some respects, AI’s sudden emergence in 2023 helps clarify the road ahead for the electrical design field. Relying as

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it does on inputs of correct, proven and reliable data, designs that can be readily improved and refined in that regard will become the gold standard. Billed as possibly transformative for the broad economy, AI could be revolutionary for an industry poised for a critical role in a new, emerging construction economy and a more electrified world.

“The AEC industry is due for major change in delivery methods, from conception through construction, commissioning, and maintenance,” says Wollum. “There is an opportunity for us to leverage change, embrace technology in the form of AI and other generative and automated design concepts. It’s a very exciting time of change in the industry.”

Tom Zind is a freelance writer based in Lee’s Summit, Mo. He can be reached at tomzind@att.net.

How Long Will it Take for AI to Become a Viable Component of Design Work?

Already using it

One year

Two years

Three years

Four years

Five years or more

Fig. 18. Whereas AR and VR enhance real-world objects on a virtual platform to create immersive environments, artificial intelligence (AI) enables computer applications to mimic human-like intelligence and resolve problems, make predictions, and provide solutions. When asked when they expected AI to become a viable component of electrical design work — the first year we have asked this question — 43% of respondents indicated they were already using it.

How Is Your Firm Using Artificial Intelligence?

Generate, analyze, and optimize electrical designs/BIM (e.g., conduit groupings, raceway sizing, routing, etc.)

Human resources/employee recruitment

Marketing/promotions

Diagnostics and troubleshooting

Optimize processes/improve efficiency

Gather intelligence data on electrical equipment (e.g., fault detection/diagnosis)

Improve profitability/cost estimating

Labor management

Predictive maintenance

Energy management

Autonomous systems/robots/drones

Finance/accounting

Creating multiple outcome scenarios/solutions for clients on the same project

Other

Fig. 19. How do Top 40 firms plan to harness the power of AI going forward? The first time asking this question, the greatest number of Top 40 survey respondents noted plans to use AI to optimize processes/improve efficiency and for marketing/promotions.

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Is AI the Future of BIM?

Combining artificial intelligence with building information modeling could make designers, engineers, and other pros more productive. Here’s how — and what it will take to achieve that and other business benefits.

By Tim Kridel, Freelance Writer

Building information modeling (BIM) may be another way firms can maximize the efficiency of their staff.” That was one takeaway from EC&M’s 2007 Top 50 Electrical Contractors Survey. Seventeen years later, adding artificial intelligence (AI) to BIM is shaping up to be another breakthrough way firms can maximize the efficiency of their staff.

“In the next 10 years, AI will transform the industry more than anything has in the past 100 years,” says James Barrett, vice president and chief innovation officer at New York City-based Turner Construction. “I think that applies to revolutionizing BIM, as well.”

EC&M’s 2024 Top 40 Electrical Design Firms Survey also indicates that this revolution is underway. When asked how they’re using AI, some respondents, such as Salt Lake Citybased Spectrum Engineers, indicated they are using it to generate, analyze, and optimize electrical designs/BIM (e.g., conduit groupings, raceway sizing, routing, etc.).

“The industry has been using genetic algorithms in geometric design of building façades and general architectural designs for the past few years,” says Steve Germano, software development team lead at Rock Island, Ill.-based IMEG. “There are platforms like Testfit — targeted at building owners and

architects — that are using AI and machine learning (ML) to iterate through permutations of leasable tenant space designs on lots for multifamily dwellings, commercial office spaces, etc. Conoa is another great platform that uses various ML/AI to help select products for buildings while analyzing total carbon footprint, taking into account product sourcing, proximity, manufacturing materials, and other factors.”

AI also could make it easier to use BIM tools by enabling “natural language” or “large language” interfaces. These let people type everyday terms to tell the AI tool to do something, such as: “Show all of the options for running conduit on this floor.” Another example is having the AI scour product databases to identify all of the luminaires that would work in a particular space based on requirements, such as features, size, cost, energy consumption, or price.

“There are a lot of resources that designers use on a daily basis that are in disparate locations on our intranet: a designer interface, code books, client requirements, project requirements, materials specifications, things like that,” says Adam Roth, BIM/VDC director at Lenexa, Kan.-based Henderson Engineers. “The benefit of having AI would be that you would just be able to ask questions and cut down on the transition between platforms.”

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As more electrical design firms strive to combine AI with BIM, big changes could lie ahead in terms of productivity and versatility.

In a July 2023 EC&M article, New York City-based CannonDesign explained how it’s using Midjourney AI to combine images created with Revit and from other sources.

“[Suppose you] need a hospital lobby that’s warm, bright colors, double height with connecting stair, and you’re searching for that kind of thing on Pinterest or Google, and you’re not finding that image,” said Coffield King, senior lighting designer. “That’s where you can use the text and just tell it exactly what you want. It does that really well.”

So well, in fact, that some people consider AI on par with the mouse when it comes to user interface breakthroughs.

“Large language models are quickly becoming the easiest user interface humanity has had to computing power,” says IMEG’s Germano. “The last big change in computer interfaces was the mouse. Using natural language, the average person can leverage far more computing power than they could in the past.”

WORK SMARTER, NOT HARDER

IMEG is so bullish on these benefits that it developed its own AI-powered chatbot named Meg, which currently answers more than 1,000 questions a day. In a recent podcast series, Germano explained how Meg makes it quicker and easier for employees to get information from a wide variety of internal databases that have been carefully curated and verified. That’s key because with any type of AI, quality output requires quality input.

“In the future, our engineers will be able to ask Meg, ‘Give me the total solar load on the west wing of the building,’” Germano says. “Upon receiving the answer, the engineer then will be able to instruct the AI assistant to increase the size of the air handlers to accommodate the stated solar load.”

AI also can improve productivity by freeing employees to focus on BIM tasks that can’t be automated.

“I envision AI being used to cut down on highly repetitive tasks and to help identify solutions that meet a prescribed/ defined list of evaluation criteria,” says Matt Goss, senior vice president and MEP + Energy practice leader at Latham, N.Y.-based CDM Smith. “AI will most certainly increase design efficiency and allow engineers and designers to focus on more complicated tasks and solutions.”

Some people envision AI evolving into a personal assistant.

“I believe what’s going to happen is the tool almost being an AI assistant that will sit alongside the user and guide them through codes or things that are not readily available during the design process,” says Austin Stone, director of design efficiency and analytics at West Chester, Pa.-based Core States Group. “There’s a ton of them. It’s time consuming. It’s challenging in the sense of, ‘Where do I get this information?’”

In the future, AI assistants would ask and answer those types of questions based on parameters, such as a project’s location and what the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) requires in addition to the NEC. This could be done automatically in the background and in real time, alerting designers when something could or should be changed — similar to how Microsoft Word can check for grammar and spelling using specific dictionaries and style guides.

“Instead of stopping and doing research, it’s going to be right there,” Stone says.

AI assistants also could use ML to understand its user’s personal work style. Those insights could enable the assistant to make suggestions without being asked.

“Having an AI to riff with is, in my opinion, what we will have readily

available across the industry within the next few years,” says IMEG’s Germano. “Each person can have their own AI assistant with whom they can spitball ideas in real time and offload trivial tasks, so they can focus their time on more important and critical decisions.”

AI assistants eventually could be the primary way that people access BIM tools.

“I think, ultimately, our personalized AI are going to be the place we go to first,” says Turner’s Barrett. “All the solutions will be behind that in the sense that you’re not going to open up Revit or Navisworks. It’s not going to be about the solution. It’s going to be about what you are trying to get done: ‘Build me a design. Give me a cost. Give me a schedule.’ I think that’s the world where AI is bringing us. It’s not here yet — but it’s coming fast.”

ALL TOGETHER NOW

But a lot of groundwork remains before the AI-BIM mash up can live up to its potential. Some of this will be internal work done by electrical design firms.

“Henderson is working on organizing and structuring our data, and mapping the different systems together: ERP, accounting, project database, BIM database, design database,” Roth says. “Mapping that all together is really where AI can transcend all those platforms and be able to give you analytics and insights that you would not otherwise have. We’re [also] focusing on structuring our data and getting it organized. AI is very, very powerful, but only in regard to structured data sets. If you have a bunch of unstructured data, then AI will not help you sort through that.”

On the vendor side, the groundwork can be grouped into two types. Electrical equipment manufacturers will need to put their product catalogs and other information into formats that

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AI-powered BIM tools can use. They’ll also need to create application programming interfaces (APIs) so the tools can connect to those databases.

“I think you’re going to see a lot more vendors developing tools that can be easily bolted onto an application that already exists,” says Core State’s Stone. “You’re already seeing that through Revit API.”

Integration takes time and money, which helps explain why some vendors may want to charge for that access.

“I don’t think you’ll ever get out of the ‘paywall versus free API’ [conundrum],” Stone says. “That’s going to be tough unless there’s some kind of lobbying or some kind of campaign from construction and AI [firms].”

The second type of vendor-side work involves the AI and BIM software providers.

“The majority of the AI out there is not compatible with BIM directly,” Roth says. “The nature of the BIM file and proprietary file formats, usually with the compatible software, is prohibited from running AI or any generative algorithms directly on the data set. So the majority of the time, we’re trying to extract certain parts of the data to run generative algorithms or evolutionary solvers on that data. That’s where you can really have some impactful decisions.

“I think the reason that the file format proprietary is that’s just the nature of the industry for the past few decades. The

industry is trending toward more open data formats and interoperability, but we’re just not there yet.”

As AI proves its worth, BIM vendors will begin building it into their tools.

“BIM authoring tools like Revit have not integrated too much AI directly into their packages yet, but there are many trade-specific apps that integrate into these platforms that leverage ML/AI for modeling processes,” says IMEG’s Germano. “There also is a duct design tool, and another general MEP modeling tool that not only helps to draw the geometry but also considers total cost of installation based on the current design. This allows the design engineers to see the impact (both in sustainability and cost) at the time of design (the most economical time to make changes).”

Some BIM vendors are developing their own AI tools. One recent example is Autodesk’s Project Bernini, which the company says includes an “experimental generative AI model that quickly generates superior 3D shapes from a variety of inputs, including a single 2D image, multiple images showing different views of an object, point clouds, voxels, and text.”

BUILT TO LAST?

For electrical design firms, another challenge is keeping up with all of the new AI tools and their capabilities. The selection grows every day — not only from BIM vendors, but also from

IT companies such as Microsoft, AI specialists such as OpenAI, and startups such as Augmenta, whose initial product is designed specifically for the electrical industry.

“We get bombarded with new solutions,” says Kris Wahl, Turner Construction innovation manager. “It’s hard to cut through the noise now because everybody its touting AI capabilities on their websites. Every solution is now claiming to be AI powered. That’s a challenge.”

Another challenge is trying to determine which vendors will still be in business a year or two for now and which tools will continue to be upgraded like any other piece of software.

“[Some] will release their first tool set, and then that’s it,” Roth says. “There’s no progression from a company standpoint. We want to commit to a company that we can have a good partnership with and we know where they’re going and that they will progress their tool set along with the industry.

“It’s very important that we have somebody that’s in it for the long haul — that’s just not hoping to do the bare minimum and only doing to it get acquired by a larger company. We’ve seen that business model over and over again.”

Tim Kridel is an independent analyst and freelance writer with experience in covering technology, telecommunications, and more. He can be reached at tim@timkridel.com.

Despite the potential and excitement around AI tools that could be integrated with BIM, one of the greatest challenges for electrical design firms is keeping up with all of the new tools and their capabilities — and weighing how those might integrate with their current processes.

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NEW FACILITIES SHOW LAUNCH

The facilities expo team is excited to announce that the Facilities Expo is coming to Reno, Nevada on August 21-22, 2024! It was decided to expand the facilities expo to Reno, NV due to the increasing demand in the growing market and the positive feedback received from existing exhibitors. The decision was made to tap into the potential of the Reno area and provide a platform for businesses to showcase their products and services in this thriving region.

DATE:

AUGUST 21-22, 2024

VENUE: GRAND SIERRA RESORT AND CASINO

The Facilities Expo provides valuable FREE learning and networking opportunities in a unique format serving the Northern Nevada and Tahoe region. The Reno Facilities Expo attracts a diverse audience of facilities managers, maintenance managers, and energy managers from a wide variety of industries including education, entertainment, fi nancial services, government, healthcare, hospitality, logistics, manufacturing, technology, utilities, and others.

Here’s what you can expect at the Reno Facilities Expo:

• Exhibits: Explore a wide range of exhibits featuring the latest products, technologies, and services in facility management. Discover solutions to enhance productivity, sustainability, safety, and efficiency in your organization.

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Don’t miss out on this exceptional opportunity to stay ahead of the curve in facility management. Join the facilities team at the Facilities Expo in Reno, Nevada on August 21-22, 2024.

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CODE BASICS

NEC Requirements for Solar — Part 1

Do you understand the general requirements and bonding requirements for solar installations?

By Mike Holt, NEC Consultant

Article 690 covers solar installations, except large-scale ones (those are covered in Article 691) [Sec. 690.1], as shown in Fig. 1.

There are three important definitions:

• “Photovoltaic (PV) system” is the combination of components, circuits, and equipment — up to and including the PV system disconnect — that converts solar energy into electrical energy [Art. 100].

• “Inverter generating capacity” is equal to the sum of parallel-connected inverter maximum continuous output power at 40°C in watts, kilowatts, voltamperes, or kilovolt-amperes [Art. 100].

• “PV module” is a unit of environmentally protected solar cells and components designed to produce DC power.

In Art. 100, you’ll find other important Art. 690 terms, including AC module, DC combiner, DC-to-DC converter, electronic power converter, functionally grounded inverter, groundfault detector-interrupter, and inverter output circuit.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

Components of the PV system, including electronic power converters, inverters, PV modules, AC modules, AC module systems, DC combiners, DC-to-DC converters, PV rapid shutdown equipment, PV hazard control equipment, PV hazard control systems, DC circuit controllers, and charge controllers, must be listed — or they can be evaluated for the application and have a field label applied [Sec. 690.4(B)].

Multiple PV systems are permitted on or in a building [Sec. 690.4(D)]. But you cannot install PV system equipment and the PV system disconnecting means in a bathroom [Sec. 690.4(E)].

Electronic power converters (inverters and DC-to-DC converters) don’t need to be readily accessible, so they can be mounted on places such as roofs [Sec. 690. 4(F)].

PV equipment floating on or attached to structures floating on bodies of water must be identified as being suitable for the purpose and have wiring methods that allow for expected movement of the equipment [Sec. 690.4(G)]. PV equipment on bodies of water are subject to increased levels of humidity, corrosion, and mechanical and structural stresses. While the Code doesn’t directly address these factors, account for them if you want a reliable installation.

The requirements of Art. 690 do not apply to the PV source circuit conductors of an AC module [Sec.

690.6(A)]. The AC output circuit conductors for an AC module are considered to be the inverter AC output circuit [Sec. 690.6(B)].

GROUNDING AND BONDING

This topic leads to much confusion, but some clarity is achieved by looking at the definitions in Art. 100. Grounding means you make a connection to the earth, and bonding means you make a connection to a low-impedance metallic path.

An earth connection (ground) is for the supply (e.g., a separately derived source such as a transformer). The main purpose of grounding is to provide an alternate path for large transients such as lightning.

A low-impedance connection (bond) is for the load (e.g., utilization

Fig. 1. Article 690 covers NEC requirements for solar installations (except largescale ones).

CODE BASICS

EV Infrastructure

This twice-a-month e-newsletter tracks the development, design, installation, and safe operation of electric vehicle supply equipment and systems.

Topics covered include:

• Applying NEC requirements

• Industry news and trends

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equipment frames and enclosures). The main purpose of bonding is to remove dangerous voltage from metallic objects so undesired current cannot flow between them.

The earth is relatively high impedance when compared to the same length of copper wire, so it’s not effective as a bonding means. This is why you never drive a ground rod next to a motor instead of connect a bonding jumper to it. Bonding creates a metallic path, even if that path is part of what is called the “equipment grounding conductor” (EGC). While the EGC ultimately connects to ground, it is in reality an EGC because it is connecting equipment to a low-impedance metallic path rather than connecting equipment to the earth.

Keep this short explanation in mind when applying any bonding or grounding requirements of the NEC.

PV system DC circuits must use one or more of the following system configurations [Sec. 690.41(A)]:

(1) 2-wire circuits with one functionally grounded conductor.

(2) Bipolar circuits according to Sec. 690.7(C) with a functional ground reference (center tap).

(3) Circuits not isolated from the grounded inverter output circuit (functionally grounded inverter).

(4) Ungrounded circuits.

(5) Solidly grounded circuits as permitted in Sec. 690.41(B).

(6) Circuits protected by equipment listed and identified for the use.

Today’s inverters are typically of the “not isolated from the grounded inverter output circuit” type [Sec. 690.41(A)(3)]. These PV systems are known as “functionally grounded inverters.” A functionally grounded PV system is often connected to ground through an electronic means that is internal to an inverter or charge controller that provides ground-fault protection.

PV system DC circuits that exceed 30V or 8A must be provided with ground-fault detector-interrupter (GFDI) protection [Sec. 690.41(B)]. If GFDI is not included in the DC-to-DC converter, the installation manual must provide a warning statement that indicates GFDI is not included.

The GFDI must provide three functions. The first is ground-fault detection. The GFDI device or system must be detect ground fault(s) in the PV system DC circuits, and be listed for providing GFDI protection. For DC-to-DC converters not listed as providing GFDI protection, where required, you must install listed GFDI protection equipment identified for the combination of the DC-to-DC converter and the GFDI device to protect the circuit.

Fig. 2. Sec. 690.43(A) through (D) lays out the requirements for EGCs in PV installations.

The second is by controlling the faulted circuits in one of two ways:

(1) The current-carrying conductors of the faulted circuit must be automatically disconnected.

(2) The device providing GFDI protection fed by the faulted circuit must automatically cease to supply power to output circuits and interrupt the faulted PV system DC circuits from the ground reference in a functionally grounded system.

The third method is the GFDI equipment provides indication of ground faults at a readily accessible location.

Metal parts of PV module frames, PV equipment, and enclosures containing PV system AC and DC conductors must be connected to the circuit EGC per Sec. 690.43(A) through (D), as shown in Fig. 2 on page 58.

(A) Photovoltaic Module Mounting Systems and Devices. Devices used to secure and bond PV module frames to metal support structures and adjacent PV modules must be listed for bonding PV modules.

Note: UL 2703 is the Standard for Mounting Systems, Mounting Devices, Clamping/Retention Devices, and Ground Lugs for Use with Flat-Plate Photovoltaic Modules.

(B) Bonding Equipment to Metal Support Structure. Metal support structures listed, labeled, and identified for bonding and grounding metal parts of PV systems can be used to bond PV equipment to the metal support structure.

(C) Equipment Grounding Conductor Location. You can run equipment grounding conductors separately from the PV circuit conductor within the PV array. Where PV system circuit conductors leave the vicinity of the PV array, equipment grounding conductors must comply with Sec. 250.134.

(D) Bonding Over 250V. The bonding bushing and bonding jumper requirements contained in Sec. 250.97 for circuits over 250V to ground do not apply to metal raceways or metal cables containing PV system DC circuit conductors.

EGCs for PV system circuits must be sized per Sec. 250.122 based on the rating of the circuit overcurrent protective device [Sec. 690.45].

Where no overcurrent protective device is required [Sec. 690.9(A)(1)],

Fig. 3. Be aware that an auxiliary electrode may cause PV system equipment failures by providing a path for lightning to travel through electronic equipment.

the equipment grounding conductor for the PV system DC circuit must be sized per Table 250.122 based on an assumed overcurrent protective device for the circuit sized per Sec. 690.9(B). EGCs for PV system DC and AC circuits are not required to be increased in size to address voltage-drop considerations.

A building or structure supporting a PV system must have a grounding electrode system installed [Sec. 690.47(A)]. PV systems are grounded when the PV inverter output AC circuit equipment grounding conductor terminates to the distribution EGC terminal [Sec. 690.47(A)(1).

Most PV systems are functionally grounded rather than solidly grounded. A functionally grounded system is one that has an electrical ground reference (for operational purposes) that is not solidly grounded. It is often connected to ground through an electronic means that is internal to an inverter or charge controller that provides ground-fault protection.

Per Sec. 250.54, auxiliary grounding electrodes can be connected to the PV module frame(s) or support structure [Sec. 690.47(B)].

If an auxiliary electrode is installed, it is not required to be bonded to the building grounding electrode system,

to have the grounding conductor sized to Sec. 250.66, or comply with the 25Ω single ground rod requirement of Sec. 250.53(A)(2) Ex [Sec. 250.54].

Caution: An auxiliary electrode may cause PV system equipment failures by providing a path for lightning to travel through electronic equipment (Fig. 3).

SOURCE CONNECTIONS

Where a PV system operates in parallel with the electric utility as permitted by Art. 705, a permanent plaque, label, or directory must be installed at the service disconnect location per Sec. 705.10 [Sec. 690.56].

PV systems connected in parallel with the electric utility must have the interconnection made per Art. 705 [Sec. 690.59].

COMING UP NEXT

We’ve just covered the general requirements, grounding and bonding, and connection to other sources. These are Parts I, V, and VI, respectively, of Art. 690. In Part 2 of this series, we’ll cover the circuit requirements (Part II).

These materials are provided by Mike Holt Enterprises in Leesburg, Fla. To view Code training materials offered by this company, visit www.mikeholt.com/code.

Test Your Code IQ

How much do you know about the National Electrical Code?

By Mike Holt, NEC Consultant

All questions and answers are based on the 2023 NEC.

Q1: Portable distribution and termination boxes installed outdoors at carnivals, circuses, or fairs shall be weatherproof and mounted so the bottom of the enclosure is not less than above the ground.

a) 6 in. c) 10 in.

b) 8 in. d) 12 in.

Q2: Conductors of dissimilar metals shall not be intermixed in a terminal or splicing connector where physical contact occurs between dissimilar conductors unless the device is for the purpose and conditions of use.

a) identified c) approved

b) listed d) designed

Q3: Expansion fittings for PVC conduit shall be provided to compensate

for thermal expansion and contraction where the length change, in accordance with Table 352.44(A), is expected to be or greater in a straight run between securely mounted items such as boxes, cabinets, elbows, or other conduit terminations.

a) 1⁄16 in. c) 1/4 in.

b) 1⁄8 in. d) 1/2 in.

Q4: Short-circuit and ground-fault protection for a branch circuit to which a motor or motor-operated appliance is connected shall be capable of carrying the current of the motor.

a) ampacity c) thermal protection

b) time delay d) starting

Q5: The requirements of Article pertaining to PV source circuits shall

not apply to AC modules or AC module systems. The PV source circuit, conductors, and inverters shall be considered as internal components of an AC module or AC module system.

a) 660 c) 680

b) 670 d) 690

Q6: The conductors described in Sec. 310.4 shall be permitted for use in any of the covered in Chapter 3 and as specified in their respective tables or as permitted elsewhere in the Code.

a) wiring methods

b) cables

c) conduits

d) tubing

See the answers to these Code questions online at ecmweb.com/55042165.

CODE VIOLATIONS

Illustrated Catastrophes

By Russ LeBlanc, NEC Consultant

All references are based on the 2023 edition of the NEC.

A PROHIBITED PENDULUM

I spotted this “pendulum of doom” hanging above my head while working in the corridor of a storage facility. I positioned myself on a step ladder to take this photo and get a better view.

Electrical metallic tubing (EMT) is not permitted to be used for support of boxes or luminaires. If the set screw of the connector becomes loose, the box and luminaires could come crashing to the floor and potentially cause injury to anyone below. That EMT connector is the only thing holding that box up.

Section 358.12(2) prohibits using EMT for the support of luminaires or other equipment except conduit bodies that are no larger than the trade size of the tubing. This storage facility had several other installations that were done the same way as the one in this photo. All of them are Code violations and need to be done over in a manner that

would be safe and Code compliant. Sections 314.23(A) through (H) provide many options for supporting boxes in Code-compliant ways, but none of them

includes using EMT or EMT connectors as the supporting means for boxes. Perhaps some threaded rod could be added here for supporting the box.

SNAP, CRACKLE, POP GOES THE CONNECTOR

I’m guessing this installation was probably once Code compliant, but with that EMT connector snapped off, some serious problems have arisen. Is that EMT raceway or the light pole properly bonded now? Or are these items at risk of becoming energized and presenting a shock hazard with no way to clear a ground fault?

The conductors have definitely been damaged by the jagged edges of that broken connector, which greatly increases the shock risk. Section 300.10 requires metal raceways and metal enclosures for conductors to be metallically joined together to provide effective electrical continuity. Section 250.4(A)(3) requires these metal parts to be connected together and to the supply source in a manner that creates an effective ground-fault current path. Section 110.12(B) prohibits damaged or broken parts that adversely affect the safe operation or mechanical strength of the equipment. Section 358.12(1) prohibits using EMT where it is subject to severe physical damage. When we put all these rules together, we can see there are many concerns with the present state of this installation, and repairs need to be made here before someone gets shocked.

PRACTICALLY SPEAKING

Let’s Switch Things Up

By Russ LeBlanc, NEC Consultant

Snap switches like the ones shown in the photo can be used to control all kinds of loads or outlets, including motors, appliances, lighting outlets, and even receptacle outlets for cordand plug-connected loads. Snap switches and other switches covered by Art. 404 must be used in accordance with their ratings as specified in Sec. 404.14. Where installed to control cord- and plug-connected equipment, Sec. 404.14(F) has some requirements I would like to dissect.

First, we need to understand what a general-purpose branch circuit is. This is defined in Art. 100 as a branch circuit supplying two or more receptacles or outlets for lighting and appliances. In contrast, an individual branch circuit is defined as a branch circuit supplying one utilization equipment. So, if one of the 15A switches in the photo is controlling a 15A duplex receptacle, it is considered to be a general-purpose branch circuit. Section 404.14(F) specifies that the rating of a switch controlling a duplex receptacle is not based on the rating of the load or the receptacle, but rather the “maximum permitted ampere rating or setting of the overcurrent device protecting the receptacles as provided in Sec. 210.21(B).”

For a 20A duplex receptacle, this seems to make sense since two 10A loads could be plugged into a 20A duplex receptacle, and the maximum permitted rating of the overcurrent device is 20A. A 20A switch would be needed in that

to only 15A. In that case, it would make sense to require a 15A switch. However, we could make a strong argument that the literal wording in Sec. 404.14(F) still seems to require a 20A switch to

Snap switches and other switches covered by Art. 404 must be used in accordance with their ratings as specified in Sec. 404.14.

case, but for a 15A duplex receptacle, it may not make sense. Where installed on a 15A circuit, the load would be limited

control a 15A duplex receptacle — even when installed on a 15A circuit. I say this because Sec. 210.21(B)(3) and

Table 210.21(B)(3) permit 15A receptacles to be installed on either 15A or 20A general-purpose branch circuits. It makes no sense to require a 20A switch for a circuit that is limited to only 15A maximum. But that sure seems to be what Sec. 404.14(F) requires.

PI 917, which was submitted by Ryan Jackson, takes aim at clarifying this language for 2026. The present exception for Sec. 404.14(F) is much easier to understand because the rating of the switch is based on the rating of the receptacle where the switch is controlling only one receptacle. A 15A receptacle can be controlled by a 15A switch in that case.

ADVERTISER INDEX

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Email: efishman@endeavorb2b.com

Northeast U.S. & Eastern Canada

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Phone: (401) 246-1903

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Midwest, Southeast,and Southwest

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CODE VIOLATIONS

By Russ LeBlanc, NEC Consultant

How well do you know the Code? Think you can spot violations the original installer either ignored or couldn’t identify? Here’s your chance to moonlight as an electrical inspector and second-guess someone else’s work from the safety of your living room or office. Can you identify the specific Code violation(s) in this photo? Note: Submitted comments must include specific references from the 2023 NEC.

Hint: Dangerous drip loop location

‘TELL THEM WHAT THEY’VE WON...’

Using the 2023 NEC, correctly identify the Code violation(s) in this month’s photo — in 200 words or less — and you could win an Arlington Industries 18-in. Slider Bar and plastic box for mounting between studs with non-standard spacing. E-mail your response, including your name and mailing address, to russ@russleblanc.net, and Russ will select three winners (excluding manufacturers and prior winners) at random from the correct submissions. Note that submissions without an address will not be eligible to win.

Our only winner this month was Randy Maurer with Associated Building Inspections, LLC in Stevens, Pa. He was able to correctly cite some violations in this photo.

For conductors 6 AWG and smaller, Sec. 314.16 provides box volume calculations for determining the correct size box. Table 314.16(B)(1) specifies the volume allowances required for each conductor. I’m not sure the original installer read or understood these volume requirements. If he or she did, then perhaps a bigger box would have been installed to allow enough space for all of these conductors. There is no way all of those wires and splices will fit into that box.

Section 314.25 requires each box to have a cover, faceplate, lampholder, or luminaire canopy to be installed for completed installations. Perhaps an extension ring and a cover could be installed here to provide a Code-compliant installation.

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