Missed Note

Status
Not open for further replies.
A

Alwayslearningelec

Senior Member
Location
NJ
Occupation
Estimator
So need some advice here.
THink this is the biggest mistake I've ever made.
Existing commecial building.
Floors we are working on are unoccupied.
Work takes place in a small bathroom that being renovated. There's 50 bathrooms. About 7 on each floor.
THere was a note for 5 of the bathrooms to reconnect new hand dryer to existing curcuit made available after demo.
The problem is the other 45 call for a new 15A circuit in 3/4" conduit back to existing panel. I missed this note.
The panel is about 120' away and it would have to run above existing gypsum board ceilings. THis would have to happen in 45 different areas.
Major hassle. Not even sure EMT could be used because gyp board ceilings.
Curious why they are telling me to use existing circuit for 5 of the bathrooms and not the rest. All the other bathrooms have existing hand dryers being demolished so I could re-use the circuit. But the note says to pull the circuit all the back to the panel and run new. Again, not sure why some are reusing existing and most have to run new.
I really have no defense but I'm hoping the GC( who is very nice) will see he may has to remove or cut holes in the celings for us and pretty sure he didnt figure that and try and push for me to reuse the circuits for the existing hand dryer.
Problem is the engineer who is going to say he bought the new conduit and ask for a credit if we are allowed to reuse the circuit.
Or maybe we reuse the corcuit without telling anyone and see of it goes over?? But then if it doesn't that could be a much bigger issue.
This could be a big issue for me.

BTW can one argue that saying 3/4" conduit could mean FMC and not necessarily EMT.
I'm thinking if I get stuck( which I hope to god I don't) with having to run new circuits I'll say I figured FMC and of they demand EMT hit them with change order.

My have to look for new job...lol :(
 
Trying to save costs I'd say full boat it and fmc is not easy to pull in. If there's an attic use it if there's a crawl use it. Remember back charge on drywall patch is like what a $100 maybe $200. Keep that in mind and go fast a knock it out. If you handle this proactively with your boss maybe this won't be to bad.
 
So you have no EMT with spare room to get where your going.
Pull additional circuit and hook up.
Check you panel schedule. If it's. Not listed you can use that.
If it was listed and you foreman missed it, um. As you do your branch circuit runs each circuit should be checked off against the scheldule. There should be a scheldule for each floor.

I would look for share room in a pipe. Most likely you have a home run to the bathroom area.

15 amp circuit for a hand dryer?
I would check that against the spec for the dryer.
Good luck.
 
Tulsa Electrician said:
So you have no EMT with spare room to get where your going.
Pull additional circuit and hook up.
Check you panel schedule. If it's. Not listed you can use that.
If it was listed and you foreman missed it, um. As you do your branch circuit runs each circuit should be checked off against the scheldule. There should be a scheldule for each floor.

I would look for share room in a pipe. Most likely you have a home run to the bathroom area.

15 amp circuit for a hand dryer?
I would check that against the spec for the dryer.
Good luck.
Click to expand...
Thanks. No the work hasn't been done yet. I came across the note when reviewing the drawings. I'm also the PM for the job.
Think Im going to talk with the GC first before going to my super/foreman.
 
Also, my plan may backfire if they stick me with running a separate circuit for each dryer and I say we figured "FMC" where it says "conduit" hoping they would say ok give us the upcharge for FMC to EMT they may say that fine run FMC and that would NOT be easy to oull the wire through.
 
Alwayslearningelec said:
So need some advice here.
THink this is the biggest mistake I've ever made.
Existing commecial building.
Floors we are working on are unoccupied.
Work takes place in a small bathroom that being renovated. There's 50 bathrooms. About 7 on each floor.
THere was a note for 5 of the bathrooms to reconnect new hand dryer to existing curcuit made available after demo.
The problem is the other 45 call for a new 15A circuit in 3/4" conduit back to existing panel. I missed this note.
The panel is about 120' away and it would have to run above existing gypsum board ceilings. THis would have to happen in 45 different areas.
Major hassle. Not even sure EMT could be used because gyp board ceilings.
Curious why they are telling me to use existing circuit for 5 of the bathrooms and not the rest. All the other bathrooms have existing hand dryers being demolished so I could re-use the circuit. But the note says to pull the circuit all the back to the panel and run new. Again, not sure why some are reusing existing and most have to run new.
I really have no defense but I'm hoping the GC( who is very nice) will see he may has to remove or cut holes in the celings for us and pretty sure he didnt figure that and try and push for me to reuse the circuits for the existing hand dryer.
Problem is the engineer who is going to say he bought the new conduit and ask for a credit if we are allowed to reuse the circuit.
Or maybe we reuse the corcuit without telling anyone and see of it goes over?? But then if it doesn't that could be a much bigger issue.
This could be a big issue for me.

BTW can one argue that saying 3/4" conduit could mean FMC and not necessarily EMT.
I'm thinking if I get stuck( which I hope to god I don't) with having to run new circuits I'll say I figured FMC and of they demand EMT hit them with change order.

My have to look for new job...lol :(
Click to expand...

You can save your face or you can save your ass, but you can’t do both.
I’ve made my share of mistakes and I’ve learned it goes the smoothest when I own them before someone has a chance to see though attempted misdirection.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Shaneyj said:
You can save your face or you can save your ass, but you can’t do both.
I’ve made my share of mistakes and I’ve learned it goes the smoothest when I own them before someone has a chance to see though attempted misdirection.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
This also even though will be humbling can help you develop trust and respect with both your boss and your client. Sometimes it won't but it'll show you who you are. If this flies and misdirection works will you feel better about yourself as a person?
 
Well I’m not tying to mislead anyone . I’m going to see if we can possibly reuse the existing circuits . If there’s any negative impact I will certainly make it known to the company
 
Alwayslearningelec said:
Well I’m not tying to mislead anyone . I’m going to see if we can possibly reuse the existing circuits . If there’s any negative impact I will certainly make it known to the company
Click to expand...

I didn’t mean to imply that was your intention. Just that as @letgomywago pointed out, you have an opportunity to show some mettle.
I should add that coming up with viable solutions is just as important so credit where it’s due.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Every drawing we get from an engineer say X" C or X" Conduit so if the spec calls for EMT then that's the conduit they're referring to. FMC is also a conduit so if permitted by the spec you can use it. Also discuss this with the foreman. He might have a solution that you're not seeing that won't cost much money and no one will have to know about it.
 
When ever I go to the GC with an issue I always like to have a couple of options. Sounds like an honest mistake and your going to own it.
I bet it will work out.
A good foreman will do what he can to help you out.
Let's say they 15 amp is too small.
You can change to a 20 and recoup a little of what you missed. If you have three hand dryer's per bath maybe use MWBC and save some wire cost.
240'*45=10,800'
Use 1/2" in lieu of 3/4 for MWBC
120'*45= 5400' pipe cost diff.
Install labor use an apprentice only or a real fast j man.
Include this into the task related to bathroom and reduce task hours.
Pick up time on rack run labor.
Include these in that task.
120' of 1/2 plus part is minimal when incorporated into a rack run task with 20 other pipes. Check spec for minimum 3/4" HR etc.

Review all pipe runs that direction.
depending on amount of circuits include the HR into one or more of those. Run 4th circuit in with a HR of 3.

Your foreman should have a pipe run schedule with riser diagrams.
Each pipe has circuit layout.

I would see this has a challenge if I was on site. It would cost you a 🍩 and cup of ☕.

Based on scope of bathroom this in minor compared to the scope of project if you doing full build out.

Last, get approval for any deviations.
 
best bet is to own up to your mistake and see what you can do to limit the damage.

it is hard to know why someone would want to change some of the conduits and not the others.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top