Preconstruction estimating for commercial electrical subcontractors
A commercial electrical bid is won or lost in the takeoff: service and distribution, branch circuits, devices and fixtures, and a clear line on what belongs to other trades.
What to take off
- Service entrance, grounding and bonding, by ampacity, voltage and phase.
- Panelboards, switchboards, transformers, disconnects and feeders.
- Branch circuits, conduit or cable, and conductors.
- Devices: receptacles, switches, dimmers and sensors.
- Lighting fixtures by schedule, exit and emergency lighting.
- Equipment connections for HVAC and other owner equipment.
What to exclude, and say so
Spell out the scope that belongs to other trades: utility-side work, trenching, fire alarm devices and wiring, data and low-voltage cabling, security, solar, EV chargers, building automation wiring, and firestopping. Clear exclusions make your number easier for a GC to level.
How Struvia helps
Upload a PDF plan set and Struvia reads each sheet and measures electrical scope against that list, grouped under CSI Division 26, with exclusions named by trade. Pricing is usage-based: credits at $0.20 each, no seats and no subscription required.
Questions
- What goes into a commercial electrical estimate?
- Service and grounding, distribution gear and feeders, branch circuits, devices, lighting fixtures, exit and emergency lighting, and equipment connections, plus labor, permits and general conditions.
- What should an electrical sub exclude?
- Utility-side work, trenching, fire alarm devices and wiring, low-voltage cabling, security, solar, EV chargers, building automation wiring and firestopping, unless the bid documents put them in your scope.
- Can Struvia do an electrical takeoff?
- Yes. Struvia has an electrical trade template under CSI Division 26 and measures service, distribution, devices and fixtures from a PDF plan set.
- How much does Struvia cost?
- Credits are $0.20 each, with no seats and no subscription required. See the pricing page for per-sheet rates.