Where we fit on a construction project
We work for builders on new commercial buildings, warehouses and industrial units, multi-residential projects and major refurbishments. On most jobs we come in early to set up temporary power and stay through to practical completion. Our scope typically follows the build.
- Temporary builders power, site boards and site lighting
- Consumer mains, underground conduits and pits coordinated with civil works
- Cast-in conduits and boxes in slabs, walls and precast panels
- Main switchboards, distribution boards and sub-mains
- Rough-in to walls and ceilings ahead of linings
- Lighting, power, emergency lighting and equipment connections
- Coordination with mechanical, hydraulic, fire and comms contractors
- Verification testing, certificates and as-built documentation
Temporary site power
Temporary power on a construction site is covered by AS/NZS 3012, which sets out requirements for construction wiring, switchboards, RCD protection and ongoing inspection. We set up site supply to suit the site layout and the stage of works, and adjust it as the building goes up and the power needs move.
Portable tools and leads on construction sites also need regular inspection and testing. The Queensland Electrical Safety Regulation and AS/NZS 3760 both deal with this, and on construction sites the interval is much shorter than in an office. We can look after the test and tag program on site so it isn’t one more thing for the site manager to chase.
Sequencing and coordination
Most electrical problems on a build are really coordination problems. A conduit missed in a slab pour, a switchboard location that clashes with a hydraulic riser, or cable trays that end up in the same space as ductwork. We read the drawings with those clashes in mind and raise RFIs early rather than working it out on the day.
Cast-in work needs to be done before the pour, and we attend when the concreter and formworker need us. Rough-in happens after framing and before sheeting, and ceiling services are coordinated with mechanical and fire contractors before the grid goes up. Fit-off comes after finishes, with testing and commissioning at the end. We keep the site manager updated on where we are against the program, and we flag any delays from other trades before they become our delay.
We also take care of the network side where it applies. That includes applications for new or altered supply, coordination with Energex in South East Queensland or Essential Energy in the Northern Rivers, and liaison with metering providers for connection and meter installation.
Safety systems and quality records
We work within the builder’s site safety system. Before mobilising we supply a SWMS covering the high risk construction work in our scope, such as work at height, work near energised electrical installations and work in trenches. We complete site inductions, attend toolbox talks and follow the site rules for permits, isolations and exclusion zones.
Where the project uses ITPs, we complete ours at the agreed hold points, including cast-in inspections before a pour, rough-in inspections before linings and final testing. We take progress photos at each stage, which become useful later when someone needs to know where a conduit runs inside a wall.
Testing, certification and handover
All work is installed to AS/NZS 3000 Wiring Rules and tested before energising. Verification testing covers insulation resistance, earth continuity, polarity, correct circuit connections, earth fault loop impedance where required and RCD operation. Main and distribution boards are labelled with clear, typed circuit schedules.
At practical completion we provide:
- Certificates of test and compliance
- Circuit, sub-main and RCD test results
- As-built drawings showing final cable routes, board locations and circuit layouts
- Emergency lighting commissioning records and logbook
- Equipment data sheets, manuals and warranty information for the O&M manual
We compile these as we go, not in the final week, so the handover pack is ready when the certifier and the client need it.
What builders can expect from us
Monty Electrical is owner-led. Stefan prices the work, runs the job on site and stays the single point of contact through to handover. That means straight answers on programming, variations priced promptly and in writing, and no handing the job over to someone who wasn’t at the pre-start meeting.
We quote from drawings and specifications with inclusions, exclusions and assumptions listed clearly. If you are putting together a tender, we can turn around a price on the electrical package and highlight anything in the design that is likely to cause problems on site. See our builders and construction page for more on how we work with head contractors, or read what to look for in a commercial electrical contractor.