The Difference Between Commercial Electricians and Industrial

This is a question we’ve heard a lot over the years.

Just being an electrician doesn’t mean you can handle anything to do with electrical work. Residential electricians will deal with different problems to commercial electricians, and commercial electricians will deal with different types of problems to industrial electricians.

But while most people can easily imagine the differences between residential and commercial electrical work (we specialise in both by the way), understanding the difference between commercial and industrial is a bit harder.

That’s why we’ve put together this post, just to highlight the differences (and tell you how awesome we are of course). Read on my friend!

Industrial Electricians

Industrial electricians usually work for large factories, mining companies, steel producers, car manufacturers – basically businesses with large scale machinery.

They might do things like set up new electrical (and often high voltage) systems, and to maintain, troubleshoot, test and repair complex electrical equipment. They’re usually experts in handling pneumatic and hydraulic equipment. These days, they’re often dealing with robotics too.

Because the needs of different factories can vary a massive amount, Industrial electricians are either trained for a very specific role, or just need to be highly skilled, extremely flexible and have an ability to adapt quickly.

They need to be able to successfully and safely troubleshoot a range of manufacturing and other industrial problems.

Commercial Electricians

Commercial electricians usually work across a range of different locations like offices, warehouses, shops, schools, medical centres, nursing homes, car dealerships, and shopping centres.

Their job can fluctuate depending on what the industry, and whether they’re brought in as a one off or for ongoing maintenance.

Some businesses are large enough to have an in-house electrical team, but more often that not they’ll bring in electrical contractors from their local area.

When we get brought in, we tend to work closely with building supervisors, managers or owners.

The tasks we usually undertake can change by industry, but here are some examples of the key tasks that we do (outside of the usual electrical work).

Offices

• Electrical Fitouts
• Data and Communications
• New or Upgraded Wiring
• Exit and Emergency Lighting
• Lighting Upgrades
• Testing and Tagging
• Switchboard Testing
• Smoke Alarm Testing
• CCTV/Security Installations

Warehouses

• Exit and Emergency Lighting
• Testing and Tagging
• High Bay Lighting
• Switchboard Testing
• CCTV/Security Installations
• Power Upgrades / New Circuits

Retail shops

• Electrical Fitouts
• People Counting Systems
• Data and Communications
• New or Upgraded Wiring
• Exit and Emergency Lighting
• Lighting Upgrades
• CCTV/Security Installations

Schools

• Exit and Emergency Lighting
• Lighting Upgrades
• Smoke Alarm Testing
• Safety Switch Testing

Medical centres

• Electrical Fitouts
• Data and Communications
• New or Upgraded Wiring
• Exit and Emergency Lighting
• Lighting Upgrades
• Smoke Alarm Testing
• Safety Switch Testing
• CCTV/Security Installations

Nursing homes

• Data and Communications
• Exit and Emergency Lighting
• Lighting Upgrades & Sensor Lighting
• Smoke Alarm Testing
• Safety Switch Testing
• CCTV/Security Installations
• Power Upgrades / New Circuits

Car dealerships

• Electrical Fitouts
• Data and Communications
• New or Upgraded Wiring
• Exit and Emergency Lighting
• Lighting Upgrades
• TV and Audio Installations
• CCTV/Security Installations

Shopping centres

• Exit and Emergency Lighting
• Data and Communications
• People Counting Systems
• New or Upgraded Wiring
• Lighting Upgrades
• Smoke Alarm Testing
• CCTV/Security Installations
• Base Building Tenancy Works

Conclusion

With such a broad range of places we could end up, as quality commercial electricians we need to be flexible and capable. Of course, having a boat load of experience helps to – and having been around for over 50 years, Faraday Group is one of the most experienced commercial electricians in Sydney.