Considerations When Hiring Commercial Electrical Contractors
Are you looking for a commercial electrical contractor? It could be you intend to install power or wire your commercial building. Below are some questions to help you vet a commercial electrical contractor.
What Is Your Speciality?
In Australia, an electrical contractor's licence allows you to hire electricians to work under their supervision. Therefore, there are two ways to assess the contractor's speciality. First, you could ask them for a portfolio to determine the type of electrical work they have previously conducted. Alternatively, you could evaluate their workforce's competence, training and licencing. This way, you can tell whether the contractor can perform the required electrical work.
Evaluate the electrical contractor's certification. For instance, some contractors have awards and recognitions from local councils, government agencies and electrical contractors' associations. Do not forget to examine the electrical contractor's reputation. For example, interview some clients to establish the contractor's work ethic, quality of work and quality of client relationships.
What Safety Measures Do You Observe At The Site?
Safety is a vital concern when conducting electrical work. As such, your contractor must enforce safety measures to prevent accidents at the site. For instance, they should switch off the main power to avoid electrocution. The contractor must also provide their workforce with the required safety gear. For example, safety harnesses protect electricians when working at heights. Besides, safety boots and gloves lower the impact of electrocution. As a rule, the contractor must conduct site assessments to determine the prevailing site risks. For example, when installing underground power lines, the contractor should check construction blueprints to determine the location of other underground utility lines.
Can You Send A Bid?
The best practice is to find at least three contractors who fit your eligibility criteria and ask them to bid for the project. As a rule, you should ask the professionals to break down their bids and justify their costs. They must also indicate any additional costs that you could incur. For example, the contractor could charge more if you want them to work on weekends or past working hours. Compare the bids against the contractor's work quality. For instance, you could presume that a contractor is expensive only to realise they opt to install high-quality electrical devices. Ask the contractor for a guarantee.
Assess and negotiate the contractor's conditions. For example, insist on insurance coverage and ask for work plans. Also, ensure the contractor has reasonable payment plans.