Electrical design

Electrical design services in Edmonton: layouts, load calculations, permit drawings and energy audits for homes, businesses and industrial sites.

Why design comes first

Most electrical problems on a project start before any wire is pulled. A panel that fills up on day one, a kitchen that trips breakers at dinner time, a permit that gets bounced for missing information: all of these trace back to planning that was skipped or rushed.

Alberta Electrical offers design services on their own or as part of a design-build project. Our licensed electricians and designers plan the system around how you will actually use the space, check it against the Canadian Electrical Code as adopted in Alberta, and produce drawings that installers and inspectors can work from.

Our design services

• Electrical design and layout: where receptacles, lights, switches, panels and equipment go, and how circuits are grouped.
• Load calculations: working out how much power a building needs and whether the existing service can supply it.
• Permit drawings: plans, single-line diagrams and panel schedules prepared for the permit authority.
• Energy audits: finding where electricity is going and which upgrades will make the biggest difference.

Each of these can stand alone. A homeowner might only need a load calculation before buying an EV. A tenant might need a layout and permit drawings for a fit-out. A plant might want an energy audit before planning a plant retrofit.

What good drawings include

Depending on the project, a drawing set can include floor plans with device locations, a single-line diagram showing how power is distributed, panel schedules listing every circuit, and notes on equipment, wiring methods and code items.

Some projects need drawings stamped by a professional engineer registered with APEGA. Whether yours does depends on the size and type of work and the permit authority's requirements. We tell you early and coordinate with an engineer when needed.

Design-build or design only

Many clients have us design and install, which keeps responsibility with one team and makes changes faster. Others want drawings to put out for tender or to hand to their own contractor. Either is fine. Our drawings are clear enough for any qualified electrician to build from.

We are equally comfortable working inside a larger team. On projects led by an architect or engineer, we can provide contractor input on constructability, sequencing and cost early in design, which helps avoid surprises when the work is tendered.

You can review drawings, mark-ups and reports through our online job management system, which keeps everyone working from the latest version.

What affects design cost

Design cost depends on the size and complexity of the project, how much existing information is available, whether site measurements are needed, the number of revisions, and whether engineering stamps are required. For design-build jobs, design is often folded into the overall project price. We explain the breakdown when we quote.

Every project is backed by our 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Design work also pays off after construction. Accurate drawings and panel schedules make future renovations, troubleshooting and inspections faster, and they help a new owner or tenant understand what they are taking on. We keep a copy in our online job management system so it is easy to find years later.

Questions we hear