Current Issue - July 2010
Featured Story
The 2010 Profile of the Electrical Contractor
Every other year, ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR conducts a survey of its readers to provide a checkup on the industry. By carefully listening to those who make the industry tick and then examining their responses, we can provide an accurate diagnosis of what is happening in the electrical construction market and how electrical contractors (ECs) are faring. More
SECURITY + LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS magazine serves the unique and specific informational needs of 60,000 electrical/low voltage contractors documented to work in all areas of integrated systems.
On The Job
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The Risk of ‘Good Enough’
A disaster on the scale of the BP oil spill is unlikely to happen to the average electrical contractor and, therefore, provides little reason to perform catastrophe analysis. Even the experts know that the existing models are imperfect. After all, how can we predict the unpredictable? Read Now
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Threats and Predictions
For most contracts, a contractor’s application for final payment must be accompanied by final waivers of lien and verified statements that all amounts due are accounted for. Where there are outstanding claims, the request for final payment becomes problematic. Read Now
Codes and Standards
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Cutting Edge of Technology?
Electrical construction has always been a dangerous profession, so finding ways to make the work less hazardous is certainly the goal of the NEC; UL; OSHA; NFPA 70E, the Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace; NEMA; NECA; and others within the electrical industry. Read Now
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How Are They Used?
This article, second in a series, addresses design letters and code letters and how they are used in motor-circuit design and installation. It highlights the different characteristics of letters and why it is sometimes desirable to choose one over the other. Read Now
Features
A Broadband Initiative
Despite the unsteady state of the nation’s economy, the telecommunications industry continues to expand with broadband services as the primary driver. Read Now
Mastering the Smart Grid
The smart grid concept is transforming- how the United States will produce, deliver and manage electric power to factories, schools, offices and homes. Read Now
Integrated Systems
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Lamp Enforcement
New York City’s dense urban landscape is populated with more than a million buildings that annually consume $15 billion in energy and generate 75 percent of the city’s carbon emissions. Lighting is a major energy user, responsible for nearly 18 percent of energy consumption and resulting carbon emissions. Read Now -
Perhaps the Facts Might Help
Power quality has made the big time, getting mentioned at the federal level under the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. A mention may seem small in a hundred-page document, but it’s a start, especially with all that’s said about the smart grid. Read Now
Industry News
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Western States Can Handle Surge of Renewable Power
With all the current hype -surrounding the development of renewable power, one looming question remains. The proverbial elephant in the room is whether existing infrastructure is adequate to transmit all of this newly generated electricity from solar, wind, biomass and other green sources. Read Now
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Study to Enlighten Industry on Building Reuse
While much research in recent years has explored the merits of constructing new green buildings, there’s relatively little data available on the economic and environmental benefits of building reuse. That soon will change thanks to a partnership between the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Green Building Service and Cascadia Green Building Council. Read Now
Featured Products
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Cool Tools: Copper VDV Tools
Enthusiasm about high bandwidth capabilities of fiber optic cable, and speeds with which fiber transmits data and video, often overshadows the fact that most end-user residential connections still are made with copper cable. Read Now
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Cables, Conduit and Cable Tray
This month, the featured products section presents some new cables, conduit and cable tray from AFC Cable Systems Inc., Alcan Cable, Allied, Berk-Tek, Coleman Cable Inc., Cooper B-Line, General Machine Products Co., Snake Tray and Southwire Read Now
Web Exclusives
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July Quiz With Correct Answers and Explanations
I’m often asked technical questions about copper and fiber optic cabling. The majority are about problems troubleshooting cabling systems or networks. Some have simple answers but not all. Here are some questions we’ve been asked. Read Now
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June Quiz With Correct Answers and Explanations
Let’s see how well you understand simple connection testing or wiremapping UTP cables, and how much you know about troubleshooting problems. Read Now
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May Quiz With Correct Answers and Explanations
Let’s look at some of the guidelines included in TIA 568 or ISO/IEC 11801 standards. Read Now
Now Available: Archive Version of Integrated Project Delivery Webinar
On June 10, ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR held a webinar for integrated project delivery (IPD). Did you miss it? Never fear. Now, you can view an archived version of the webinar. IPD is a growing collaborative approach that integrates people, systems, business structures and practices. The webinar is a comprehensive discussion of the basics and benefits of IPD and the electrical contractor's role.
ECmagLIVE
New From GE Lighting (Ultramax & Evolve)!
Catch the latest in video product demos from leading electrical suppliers, industry issue webinars/discussion panels, news broadcasts from the editor and publisher, trade show coverage and much more. Now immediately available on ECmagLIVE.
Top Rated Articles
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