Electrical work Canada

[Romans99]

For those of you who are interested in coming to Canada i have started this thread to give you an idea of what the work is like over here.

As ever, if you have any questions regarding the differences in methods/terminology etc then please feel free to ask


First three pics are some pipework, 70% of what you do over here is installing EMT and pulling wire through it.

Next are some typical panel shots

Then, me installing rod for cable tray in a 600,000 sq foot building. Thats a lot of rod,
its -30 degrees inside and the ceiling is sheer ice.

Then, an outdoor car park plug, I mounted and wired over 50 of these in temperatures of around -25c

many more to come......

 

[Amp David]

Thought they called a plug a receptical in Canada. lol

 

[Guest123]

Think I'll make this one a 'sticky'.

 

[lj.l]

so you dont use trunking? I would love to go to Canada but I can't uproot the wife and kids.its bound to be better than all the undercutting here

 

[Romans99]

All code and text books will say receptical. People generally say plug here.

No trunking, its all EMT (pipe)
Cable tray/basket is used for long runs of data cable
The one I'm doing at the moment is 1200 feet long.

Yes it is very hard on the wives when guys come here.

 

[Paul.M]

Some nice work there.

May I ask what measures does Canada have for keeping out the cowboys (unqualified people doing unsafe work for cash in hand) ?

 

[Amp David]

You never watched Holmes on Homes?

 

[chrisjh]

My aim is to move to Canada when I'm qualified. Great info please keep it coming. Thanks

 

[Engineer54]

So Romans, ....What do you think about EMT conduit??

Funny really, ..for countries that use conduit to such a great extent, that a they can't get it to look like a professional job!!! That second picture you posted, wouldn't be acceptable on any projects i've been involved with. How long do those powder coated external outlet boxes last for, Normally the US version would have been in Stainless Steel??

 

[Romans99]

All Electricians have to be licenced and registered, and all carry a card stating their level of qualifications.
Any residential (domestic) work must be declared and inspected.
If its a DIY'er who gets it wrong then its locked off and has to be redone until it meets code. Obviously this is expensive and inconvenient so its always best to get it done right first time.
If its someone posing as a competent electrician then its more serious and hefty fines and jail time is the outcome.
But, honestly, their code isnt that hard to meet.

Your use of the word "cowboy" made me laugh since these hardhats are very common on site here

Westernhardhat.com

Thats right, tradesmen actually wear cowboy hats here!

I like EMT because it was new to me and it was very interesting learning how to run it.
The pipe in the second picture was done by a first year apprentice and a third year apprentice under my supervision and i dont think its bad at all.
Unfortunately, additions and modifications are more common than id like and you do end up having to weave a pipe run through some difficult spots
Ive had some nightmare wire pulls due to shoddy pipework as most of it is done by first and second years.

I enjoy doing the bigger stuff, the mechanical rooms, feeders, main service etc..

The outdoor box is stainless with a weatherproof cover plate for the double receptical.
They look very ugly but will do the job. I cant see them having any problems with them.

 

[Romans99]

 

[Engineer54]

Thanks for your explanations Romans, and yes i know only too well, what ongoing modifications, and additions can do to completed conduit installations. Personally, i don't like the EMT you and the Yanks use. Those couplings screws never seem to be able to keep two lengths of conduit as a solid joint, they always, ....wobble!! (for want of a better word..lol!!)

Ah, so the weather proof external boxes are powder coated stainless steel, never seen that on the Yank versions, there finish is always a shiney stainless steel casing.

So Romans, can you tell us, what sort and form of testing is performed in Canada on completed electrical installations?? I'm
curious as i know what your Yankee cousins would be undertaking during testing and commissioning procedures.

Thanks again Romans....

 

[Phil]

All Electricians have to be licenced and registered, and all carry a card stating their level of qualifications.
Any residential (domestic) work must be declared and inspected.
If its a DIY'er who gets it wrong then its locked off and has to be redone until it meets code. Obviously this is expensive and inconvenient so its always best to get it done right first time.

now that`s what`s called sense. any job that`s not right gets locked off. how many home owners would have more than a little second thought about doing it if they thought it was going to get shut off

 

[HMD]

So Romans, ....What do you think about EMT conduit??

Funny really, ..for countries that use conduit to such a great extent, that a they can't get it to look like a professional job!!! That second picture you posted, wouldn't be acceptable on any projects i've been involved with. How long do those powder coated external outlet boxes last for, Normally the US version would have been in Stainless Steel??

If only the missus was so perfect!

 

[wireman357]

How do you propose clamping the 2 larger pipes to that unistrut above the panel in the first picture.Do you have special clamps which fit over the radius of a bend? The pipes have to be clamped, don't they.I believe the NEC requires support within 3 feet of a box. The same thing with the conduits leaving boxes in later pictures. You must have a minimum distance leaving a box, isn't there?