Commercial electrician Richmond Hill ON

Here at Electricians Richmond Hill, our electrical contractors have extensive experience in both residential and commercial electrical jobs. We’ve been praised by past customers for our professionalism, reliability, attention to detail and experience. If you’re in search of a licensed commercial electrician, there are some key differences between the work done in an office/commercial setting compared to a low rise home.

Here are some key differences:

A) Education:

While electricians start with the same basic training, there is further instruction and training in the commercial sector. Everyone who wants to become an electrician in Ontario should: i) complete Gr. 12 high school, ii) take a one year certificate program in preparation for apprenticeship, iii) participate in an apprenticeship program lasting 9,000 hours (which equates to about 5 years on the job training).

Once this is completed, the apprentice can take further courses to zero in on the commercial sector, which is called Electricians Construction and Maintenance in Ontario. This is usually in addition to the Low Rise Residential Sector if the apprentice wishes to provide residential services as well.

B) Training:

If the apprentice wishes to explore the Construction and Maintenance sector of electrical contracting (in other words, the sector dealing with commercial, institutional and industrial work), they need to complete additional courses and training (up to an additional 4,000 hours in some cases).

C) Equipment and supplies:
Commercial electricians deal with higher voltage and power providing a larger building and more complex electrical system, with voltage running through the cables typically up to 480V. With this higher power demand, the cables themselves are housed in a thicker sheath.

D) Project Size and Complexity:
Commercial electricians can provide service to office buildings, institutions, businesses and large high rise dwellings. Due to the sheer size of the property, they have to have the proper knowledge and experience in this type of setting. It is simple enough for the commercial electrical contractor to take on residential jobs, but the contractor that did not have the additional ICI training (institutional, commercial, industrial) would not be sufficiently qualified to work in the commercial setting.

E) Standards and Regulations:

All electricians must abide by compliance rules and perform their work according to updated Bylaws and code. The specifics of the standards and regulations differ somewhat between residential and commercial work, and therefore the qualified electrician who has been called upon to do commercial electrical work must be well versed in the particular standards and regulations of the building they’re to work on.

There you have it, those are some key differences between the role of a residential and commercial electrician. You will have to do your due diligence and ask additional questions such as:

Are you ECRA/ESA licensed and insured?
Have you done commercial projects recently? How many in the past year?
Do you have references?

Those are some standard questions you can ask, along with other questions you come up with, especially pertaining to the job required. We at Electricians Richmond Hill are proud to provide commercial electrical services in all types of settings, including offices, clinics, institutions, schools, buildings and high rise residential complexes.