EICR testing

[solgen]

Just quoted for a job and was the highest of 4 quotes by far apparently.

Two of us to do the work of testing 70 circuits from a number of db's in a school.

How long do you think it should take to do the work and how much per circuit.

I can't possibly see this being done in a single weekend or am I wrong?

Opinions welcomed

Thanks

 

[Geoffsd]

They do not really want an EICR.

They just want the cheapest name on a piece of paper so they have someone to blame when something goes wrong.

 

[Badged01]

Difficult to tell without understanding the school but my initial guess would be along the lines of ......

1/2 hr per circuit (an average as I guess some will be more and some less)
1 hr per DB (general opening up and checking, ID of circuits, labelling etc .......)
1 hr per DB for general stuff you don't expect
1 hr per DB for writing up EICR/paperwork

For 70 circuits and say 10 DB's you'd be looking at around 70hrs --- add your charging rate and thats a rough costing to do the work. (Two of you on the job would be pushed to crack it in a 'long' week-end?)

The price you submit for the EICR will then be what remedial work you are expecting to get out of the EICR to cover any shortfall you submit to ensure you win the job -- loss leader or 'sprat to catch the mackeral'.

Personally my cost is what the job costs as I'm not interested in negotiating for my services by being the lowest tender. But then my win rate for EICR's on schools is p*ss poor so I might be wildly out!! -- or there are some cheap EICR's being completed!

 

[MisterE]

Make sure that all areas are open or someone is available to unlock / open all areas (Classrooms, ICT suites, Offices etc.)
Or better still make sure your contract allows for you to charge for the waiting time or return trip to finish the job when (not if!) you can't access every circuit on your first attempt.

 

[solgen]

Thanks guys, I suspected I would receive these kind of replies but thought I'd run this by you anyway.

Cheers

 

[Badged01]

You could always ask for some positive feedback to find out exactly why the other quotes were cheaper? e.g. what limits were they putting on their EICR or were they just totally cheaper on price?

 

[MDJ]

The trouble is you allowed for 2 people, these fly by night companies who pay peanuts to young guys allow for one person on site and they only charge 20 quid an hour on council works. I have had the same trouble as you for years, I just cannot get a sniff in for these works usually.

 

[londonlec]

Out of interest how much did you quote? I saw a job online paying sparks £4 a circuit for testing recently ffs

 

[Badged01]

Out of interest how much did you quote? I saw a job online paying sparks £4 a circuit for testing recently ffs

But the worrying thing is there are "electricians" out there doing it for that!

 

[jaypp]

But the worrying thing is there are "electricians" out there doing it for that!

but they can't be 'doing it' for that money!!

edit; ahh that's what's worrying!

 

[Badged01]

We live in a muddled world where cut throat pricing is the norm and once you start on the slippery slope downwards .....

 

[MDJ]

It is a race to the bottom at the moment, don't try to finish first.

 

[GMES]

Your price is your price it is no good trying to go in cheap to get the remedial work it can be a false economy, remember a proper job costs money so they should be prepared to pay it. Also you have to make sure you are quoting like for like, it is no good you quoting for an 100% eicr and the other firm doing say a 30% one the customer needs to be made aware of these things.

 

[R G]

Has anybody seen these Jobs thats going round on web sites they want 2391 sparks for testing at £4 per circuit , and they expect 40 circuits per day , there are jobs going all over the place , and they keep advertising , so I can imagine guys are coming and going , ,,,

Just seen the earlier post , still its lunacy really if people work for that,,,

 

[Badged01]

.... don't try to finish first.

That's what the wife normally says but I think she means it in a diffferent context!