Is Your Engineer A Trusted Advisor Or Another Expense?

Engineers are hired as trusted advisors to our clients. Whether that’s design-build and our client is the contractor or the owner. We are hired to provide great advice and think forward. Meaning by our decisions, or the information we have and the consequential decisions we make, what comes next.?

For example, I’m working on this project and the prospectus came out with (2) 4,000 A, 480 V services. Which is all well and good. We can design to that, no problem.?

Then when we received the equipment list, it doubled the service entrance. Again, no problem, we can adjust. However, here are the impacts to the project.?

• We no longer have sufficient electrical room sizing, it needs to double
• We are going to be required to put in a medium voltage service entrance now, meaning we will need the following equipment:(2) medium voltage switch cabinets with fusing, each having two feeders(4) outdoor 3,750 kVA transformers (4) 4,000 A circuit breakers at the transformer if possible to reduce arc-flash values inside the building.?

See, it is our responsibility to not only see that something is a problem but to present a solution. It’s also our responsibility to point out other items that might cause problems down the road. Such as room sizing, room locations, or whether we even have the space allocated.

In this case, no one is really happy that they have to double the service entrance, but it beats the alternative of not having enough power to perform the work required inside the building.?

When you are involved early on in the process, work with your partners in selecting the right equipment and getting the right information, we can all move faster together and course correct along the way.?

All it takes is proper coordination, aligned intent, and the willingness to step up even if it is a difficult conversation to have. You must do right by your client and giving them the required information to make an informed decision is what it takes.?