At the end of every construction or renovation project involving electrical systems, one of the best ways to ensure that these systems will continue to function properly in the future is to train facility personnel in their operation. Surprisingly, however, electrical systems training is seldom included in project specifications. Usually, an electrical system walkdown occurs at project’s end, but little real training occurs.
Omni Instrumentation & Electrical Services, Inc. recommends including detailed electrical systems training in the specifications on every project.
Electrical systems training on the distribution side should consist of, at minimum, electrical service and substation review, electrical metering, motor control centers, transformers and distribution panels. Users should be instructed in which systems feed which equipment, and an electrical distribution drawing should be posted prominently in the electrical as a quick reference when needed.
Other important electrical training should include variable frequency drives, basic VFD programming, and functional parameters; generator and automatic transfer switch installation, functionality, LCD readouts, and monitoring; UPS system installation, functionality, and monitoring; lighting controls installation and functionality; miscellaneous systems including metering, monitored alarms, solar panels, security, CCTV, etc.
Electrical system user training provided by the electrical contractor and, at times, vendors can usually be conducted over the course of one or two days. This process can be of tremendous value to the facility, for both owners and electrical contractors by preventing in that it prevents costly downtime, callbacks, and user errors.
About Omni
Omni Instrumentation & Electrical Services, Inc., located in New Jersey and Maryland, is a premier instrumentation and electrical contractor, providing superior total care solutions since 1986. Services include instrument installation, tubing installation, instrument calibration, control loop testing, startup and commissioning, power and lighting, process control wiring, BMS wiring, telecommunications and data wiring, fire alarm wiring, security wiring, process network wiring, and control panel fabrication. Omni Instrumentation & Electrical Services, Inc., is certified in Foundation Fieldbus, Profibus, DeviceNet and ASI-Bus installation.