As a trainee estimator, I was not told how labor and materials can be affected by work location. I was bidding on mostly new commercial work worth less than $500,000. When I moved on to a new employer who specialized in remodeling historical buildings, however, my education on difficult environments began.

Historical buildings

I have written about labor factoring before. However, applying a factor for a less-than-optimal environment is more difficult than applying from a chart for installing a light fixture at an elevation of 30 feet. 

Working in existing buildings is already a reason to increase the labor factor. Working in historical buildings is even more difficult. In these buildings, everything is smaller. The equipment rooms are smaller, the floor heights are lower and accessible spaces, if there are any, are harder to navigate. 

Consider the ceilings in public spaces of historical buildings. They are most often ornate plaster, hung from the structure with usually about one foot of clearance between the structure and the ceiling. 

If the design calls for new fixtures in the ceiling, how do you run wiring to them? One of the more creative electricians I worked with brought his remote-control truck to the job and used it to drag flex from fixture to fixture. Even with the remote-control truck, the installation takes a lot more time than pulling flex through studs.

Since the electrical rooms in historical buildings are often difficult to access, more creative thinking is required. We worked with manufacturers to get the smallest shipping sizes available and with experienced riggers to assist our installers. One of the cool parts of working in these buildings was removing the existing marble-slab switchgear. There was always a discussion on who got to take it home. Often, it went to the owner.

Tunnels, a gassy environment

Another difficult environment I often prepare estimates for is subway stations and tunnels. An instruction to consider the tunnels a gassy environment is what gave me the idea to write this article. That instruction by itself made the work more difficult. The following are the requirements from the request for proposal.

The underground classification of the project is gassy as classified by Cal/OSHA. All tools and equipment that go underground shall be permissible in a gassy environment, cellphones included. Subcontractor personnel are required to supply, carry and be trained in the use of compliant self-rescuers (Ocenco M 20.3 and Ocenco EBA 6.5) per project tunnel safety requirements.

Access = time

Of course, this all adds to the time required to complete work in the tunnels. Perhaps the largest time loss is simply getting electricians and material in and out. Access is frequently from the closest station, which could be nearly a mile away. 

The construction phase also makes a difference. Once the train tracks are complete, moving in the tunnel can be easier. 

Another factor that lowers labor efficiency is the requirement to park remotely, which is often not free. 

Accessing the tunnels requires moving down through a station. There may be up to four levels, with the tunnels at the bottom. Early in the project, the escalators and elevators are not operational. So, let’s add it up. The worst case is workers must park remotely, get shuttled to the project, walk down four levels and then walk almost a mile before getting to the work location.

Another environmental hazard I often see is a requirement to work in enclosed spaces, such as waterproofing the interior of a maintenance hole (manhole). Although there are some nontoxic chemicals available, electricians need to be aware of the dangers of working in a maintenance hole. The most restrictive situations require ventilation equipment and another electrician standing outside. 

Electricians can be involved in the design and installation of safety systems for other professionals. For example, the Air Force’s C-17 Globemaster III required the wing’s interiors to be sealed. This very hazardous environment required installation of a safety system to detect if a worker inside the wing fell or became unconscious.

Asbestos

Finally, I want to mention working in the presence of asbestos. Working in an asbestos­-contaminated area may require training, environmental suits and strict procedures to not disturb the material.

These are just a few of the environmental situations that negatively affect labor productivity. Consider them carefully. It is crucial that estimators factor in the cost of working in poor environments, putting the electricians’ safety first.

stock.adobe.com / Golib Tolibov