Resi to Commercial: tips?

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sparkydon

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Hey guys, haven't posted in a long time, life happens.

I've been working for a custom homebuilder GC for a few years now as his payroll electrician. I have worked alone for awhile now and handle all accounts, customers, design, and installations in our small 13 guy company. It has been a trying yet fruitful experience, and I have learned so much, and the school of hard knocks has been good to me up to this point.

I will be moving on from this company, as I am moving my family closer to my wife's family for extra support as she begins a career.

I have been offered a job through a family friend who runs a commercial outfit. I only have experience in photovoltaics and residential electrical systems, commercial is a whole new animal to me.

.I can't tell yet if this is a step in the right direction as I have found great pleasure and success in resi, but I guess expanding my trade knowledge can only take me to the next level in my trade..

Does anyone have any suggestions or tips on how to be better prepared for my first day at my new job?
 
all i can suggest is to read up on codes more related to commercial than residential. i wish i had more to say about it. i've always found on-the-job training to be more beneficial to me. I'm sure your new coworkers will show you the ropes and help get you acquainted w/ what they're doing most. Good luck!
 
sparkydon said:
Does anyone have any suggestions or tips on how to be better prepared for my first day at my new job?
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Pay close attention to the prints...not everything is on the electrical prints...some may be on the mech prints.....sometimes, you need to consult 3 or more prints to do one thing (ie, ...arch, mech, ceiling and elec to locate 1 fixture).
Watch the scale on the prints...1/8" : 1' scale isn't too bad...3/8" : 1' is a nightmare.... 1/4" : 1' is the "norm"....but I don't think norm hasn't been seen since "Cheers" had it's grand finale.

Watch where GFI's are REQUIRED....and where required IF installed.


Making the move from resi. to comm. will take some time for you to acclimate to the various differences in code, materials and techinques.
 
celtic said:
Pay close attention to the prints...not everything is on the electrical prints...some may be on the mech prints.....sometimes, you need to consult 3 or more prints to do one thing (ie, ...arch, mech, ceiling and elec to locate 1 fixture).
Watch the scale on the prints...1/8" : 1' scale isn't too bad...3/8" : 1' is a nightmare.... 1/4" : 1' is the "norm"....but I don't think norm hasn't been seen since "Cheers" had it's grand finale.

Watch where GFI's are REQUIRED....and where required IF installed.


Making the move from resi. to comm. will take some time for you to acclimate to the various differences in code, materials and techinques.
Click to expand...


Most commercial jobs depend more on prints than residential does, of course depending on the size of the work.
When dealing with the prints, as Celtic mentioned, get to know how to read not only the electric, but the other trades as well. Missing small items can be a lot worse than you may have experienced in the resi end of work.

Getting acclimated to the change will be another issue. Do not be in a hurry, but develop a sense of urgency. Not a sense of run, run, run...a sense of urgency, where the work has a schedule and trying to keep to it.
And, I am sure you may have developed this skill in your prior position, CMMUNICATION, did I mention COMMUNICATION?. Your skills in communication will go a long way towards you and your families success. P.S. saying you do not understand/have the answer is part of good communication skills.

Good luck with your move...it is nice to see that you are thinking of your wife in this move.:cool:
 
IMPO I find it no different other than primary materials. Many of which I often use in resi anyway. A few more codes, a few less codes, some different practices and such - but the job is still putting wire into holes in one way or the other.

I also believe that there are a few different niche markets in both resi and commercial. Showrooms and retail are not resturants, or offices. And Rentals and cookie cutter tracts are not the Taj Mahal or Hearst Castle. Treat every job like a new challenge.
 
celtic said:
Pay close attention to the prints...not everything is on the electrical prints...some may be on the mech prints.....sometimes, you need to consult 3 or more prints to do one thing (ie, ...arch, mech, ceiling and elec to locate 1 fixture).

3/8" : 1' is a nightmare....
Click to expand...

I find stuff buried in elevations on a few occassions with no other referance on both resi and com.... Like I'm supposed to find it there..... :mad: Read every sheet!

I have a specific Arch ruler that lives on my dash board with 2 of 3 sides with red spay paint on them - specificaly for 3/8 scaled prints. Did this after realizing I was spending half the day turning the thing over......
 
Read the job specifications, know what type of fittings, hardware and fasteners you can and cannot use.
Keep a daily log of activities including job meetings, crew size, attendance, delays caused by others, out of sequence work and scheduling problems.
You might find that the electricians activities drive the job schedule quite a bit.
Keep a watchful eye on changes, its very easy for the owner or GC to get deep into your pocket and profit. Find out exactly how to address changeorders.
Oh yeah, the most improtant thing........ you dont have to have an outlet every 12'. Get used to that.
 
If it's not in writing, no one said it.

I'm speaking about change orders. Make sure your PM is aware of any changes. GC supers are notorious for saying just do the work and we'll settle up later, trust me, I won't let you get hurt.

BS, they will let you get hurt.
 
As Pierre said, slow down but stay awake.

Buy a bender, read the manual.

Steal time on your own to study prints. Try to have it so that you lay out the areas yourself, and your supervisor keeps an eye an you, so that you get more familiar with how to look at the prints, and when mech. and arch. drawings are important.

Be patient, but kick yourself when you screw up.
 
IMO, it's just a difficult to go from commercial to residential. I have watched old pipe benders scratch their head in wonder at romex. With EMT, you can usually run as many conductors as needed to your device box, but using a cable, is a different ball game.
 
square up with your "family friend" and ask him to team you up --if possible(??) on jobs with another journeyman for the first few months. then keep your eyes and ears open --it'll come easy.
ps: get that journeyman's cell number for any future questions!
 
sparkydon said:
Does anyone have any suggestions or tips on how to be better prepared for my first day at my new job?
Click to expand...

Most of the residential guys I know don't wear boots so I would suggest getting a good pair of work boots and start breaking them in. It's much easier to learn a new job if you are comfortable.

You may not be such a fish out of water as you think. Commercial work is much broader than residential. Some commercial projects are actually wood structures and may even use Romex. Other project will mostly be done in MC cable and this is no harder than Romex it's just a little more time consuming.

If you end up on a large project there is not much you can do except be ready to learn. They should put you to work with a commercial journeyman until you learn the new skills.

Good luck. I think that you will really enjoy the change. :smile:
 
georgestolz said:
As Pierre said, slow down but stay awake.

Buy a bender, read the manual.

Steal time on your own to study prints. Try to have it so that you lay out the areas yourself, and your supervisor keeps an eye an you, so that you get more familiar with how to look at the prints, and when mech. and arch. drawings are important.

Be patient, but kick yourself when you screw up.
Click to expand...
Turn off the cable,snuggle up to Jack Benfield's bending manual,Take ups,multpliers made easy.
 
I've got a mixed background in resi and commercial. The last company I worked for did fueling stations and the month or so on the job I felt like a rube because I knew nothing about that aspect of the trade. after a while I picked up the specifics of hazardous location work and the controls involved and it did'nt take me long to realize that it wsasn't any harder or easier than anyhting else I've done, just different. As one journeyman in that company said "It's just electricity. It doesn't care where it goes, you just have to help it get there." In a resi environment that means load centers and romex. In commercial panelboards and MC or pipe. In terms of first days at work I think the biggest differences will be in lingo and material and the best ways to acclimate to that are keep your ears/eyes open and swallow your pride. Don't be afraid to ask if you don't what something is or how you shouls perform a specific task. Concerning conduit the only to learn how to bend it is practice. It would't be a bad idea to buy a bender and the benfied guide as recommended by others but also buy a bundle of 3/4 and mock up different scenarios in your garage/ basement/ where ever and just start bending. Good luck.
 
Wow...Thanks for all the great responses and good tidings!!

I know I will find a way to acclimate and learn quick...
I have bent EMT (1/2", 3/4" and once or twice 1") on numerous occasions (still horribly innefficient, but it looks OK) but I certainly will get a manual and study up on deductions and practice saddles and offests..

All of the advice on prints is golden. Weary I will be on small hidden items..

Got a brand new pair of Wolverines I'm breakin' in right now!

Im never to proud to ask questions, so no prob there...

Thanks again guys, each response merits credit.
 
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