Electrical Estimating
Gold Seal: 5 Credits * BC Housing: 16 CPD Points
Description
Purpose:
To understand and identify the clients’ needs and requirements; produce an estimate that is viable to the client and the company offering to perform the work; and, create a presentable quote letter that clearly states your offer.
Course Objective:
This course provides a comprehensive understanding of the requirements needed to estimate an electrical project. A step-by-step process is presented so that the student will know what information to look for and where to find it at all stages of the estimating process. The program includes understanding the necessary documentation, establishing priorities, creating an installation/take-off strategy for the materials, quote review and submission.
By understanding the bidding requirements, the student will be able to compile the necessary information in a way that eliminates costly errors, costs your company a potential contract, or leaves portions of the work unaccounted for. The student estimator will be able to begin creating estimates that are knowledgeable and properly competitive.
This program removes the guesswork from estimating. Guesswork, at best, blunts your company’s competitive edge or, at worst, loses money.
Learning Outcomes:
By completing this course, students will be able to:
· Create an accurate electrical estimate
· Utilize and integrate all the necessary information
· Understand how get information that is incomplete or isn’t clear
· Create a quote letter that clearly defines the scope of work
Course Content:
· Define what the expectation for estimating/providing a quote is for.
· Identify what is being asked for and pricing only that.
· Define the importance, requirements, and purpose of the provided documentation, contracts, specifications, schedules, prints and guarantees.
· Integrating code requirements.
· Identify and recognize key information required to complete the quote – time lines, communication requirements, deadlines, components requiring cost.
· Establish priorities: is the price coming solely from you? Are other people/companies providing a price or information?
· Create a plan to proceed: Installation methodology and strategy
· The take-off – consistent order of operations and assemblies
· Labour
· Principles of review
· Reviewing and integrating wholesaler and subcontractor quotes
· Miscellaneous costs
· Organizing final quote value
· Quote letter
· Closing requirements
· Obtaining feedback on quote results
There will be real-world examples and open discussion on the various topics. Bring your questions and openness to learn. This is the next step in evolving your career and opening the potential for greater possibilities
Delivery Methods: Virtual with Zoom
Course Fee Includes: Access to the course, course materials, and a digital certificate upon completion.
This course is delivered in partnership with local and provincial construction associations across Canada. You may be participating with a group of industry peers from multiple regions.
Sharing a single registration between two or more individuals is not permitted. Please register each person that will be in attendance.
Instructor: Dan Campbell, Instructor, Mentor, Founder
I've been an electrician for over 32 years. I'm a Gold Seal certified Project Manager and an Electrical Estimator. In 2005, I helped to rewrite the BC Electrical apprenticeship curriculum, and more recently I created the Foreperson Foundational Skills course you see here and started teaching it in 2021.
Midway through my career, I also blew up a 5th wheel trailer.
It was one of the most embarrassing things I've ever done on the job and I almost quit then and there.
I managed to stick it out, hanging around to help repair all the damage and eventually going on to pursue a long and successful career. Now, I drive by past projects with pride at what I've helped build.
Since then, I've done everything I can to improve my skills, and to help mentor up-and-coming Red Seals so they can avoid these kinds of career-ending mistakes.
It's why I created the foreperson course and why I work with business owners to build out organized, effective, and profitable operations.
Technical Requirements
· Installation experience in the construction field you will be estimating
· 2024 C.E.C. book and ability to apply the code rules to the take-off
· PDF viewer that has the ability to provide measurements and document markups
· Access to zoom: computer, camera and microphone, email/internet access
· Homework may be required
· Preferred location – not at the company office or jobsite so as to avoid distractions.
· Not required - A 2nd computer monitor is nice to have
· Not required – Access to estimating software, E.g. Trimble Accubid
Knowledge/Skill Level
Course completion requirement:
· Perform 2 take-offs: 2-unit warehouse and a house
· Create 1 quote letter for the house
To better prepare students, there are time-limits on certain learning tasks to accurately simulate typical bidding environments and requirements.
Who Should Attend
This course is a starting point. Anyone looking to step in to the estimator role whether for your employer or if you are looking to start your own company. This 2-day intensive course guides the future estimator through the requirements of estimating. There are many elements that change from project to project and the tempo for completing quotes is always high and intense, yet rewarding. If you enjoy understanding, anticipating and pricing out the complex environment of electrical work and are up for a challenge, this course is an excellent, in-depth first step to guide you.