Selecting an electrical contractor for a live industrial site? Keep it simple: define outcomes and compliance upfront, verify competence and accreditations, demand clear design and documentation, insist on CDM/PUWER-safe delivery, and buy on total cost of ownership—not day-rate alone. With the right partner, you’ll get safer installs, smoother commissioning and fewer production surprises.
1) Start with scope, risk and compliance
Write down what “good” looks like: capacity, resilience, expandability and shutdown windows. Note hygiene zones, ATEX or high-care areas, and any retailer or audit requirements. Capture statutory needs (BS 7671 design, inspection & testing; PUWER; emergency lighting; earthing & bonding). This anchors budgets and stops scope creep.
2) Check competence and accreditations
Look for a track record in industrial environments and affiliations such as ECA/NICEIC, IOSH and SafeContractor. Ask for named engineers and their authorisations (e.g., AP/CP for HV/LV), plus recent factory references. Competence on paper is useful; competence on a night changeover is critical.
3) Demand proper design and documentation
Good contractors don’t “wire and hope”. Expect:
- Load studies and selectivity/coordination calculations.
- Discrimination studies for protective devices.
- Cable sizing, containment drawings and as-built updates.
- Earthing, bonding and power quality plans (including harmonics and PF correction).
- ITPs (Inspection & Test Plans) and test schedules aligned to BS 7671.
4) Insist on safety and CDM-ready governance
Industrial electrical work is construction by another name. Require CDM duty holders, RAMS for isolations/LOTO, hot work, work at height, and live-site segregation. Verify permit systems, calibrations for test equipment, and evidence of toolbox talks. Safe work is faster work—fewer stand-downs, fewer reworks.
Authoritative resource (non-competitive): HSE electrical safety guidance — https://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/index.htm
5) Plan around production, not the other way round
Choose a team that can phase works around shifts, weekends and hygiene regimes. Expect temporary supplies, bypasses and staged cutovers to keep output running. Agree a rollback plan before each switchover.
6) Controls integration and data visibility
Electrical works rarely stand alone. Your contractor should coordinate with PLC/SCADA integrators, BMS teams and machine OEMs, standardising I/O allocation, network segregation and naming conventions. Build in sub-metering and dashboards so energy and downtime deltas are visible from day one.
7) Buy on whole-life cost, not just day rate
Factor in spares, warranties, access for maintenance, and the cost of downtime. Ask for a preventive maintenance plan, quick-fault SOPs and response SLAs. A slightly higher bid that de-risks commissioning usually pays back within weeks.
8) What good looks like on handover
- Clean, labelled boards and containment, with panel schedules.
- Verified test results (EIC/EICR), updated single-line diagrams.
- O&M manuals, settings sheets and passwords stored securely.
- Training for operators/maintenance; snag list closed and signed off.
How FESS Group delivers
FESS Group provides industrial electrical contracting and installation across UK factories—design, containment, distribution boards, lighting, small power, control wiring and integration—delivered under robust CDM governance. We phase works around production, validate to BS 7671, and stay through stabilisation so targets are met.
Explore the service: https://fessgroup.co.uk/services/industrial-electrical-installation/
Contractor selection checklist
- Clear scope, outcomes and production windows agreed
- Competence proven (ECA/NICEIC or equivalent; industrial references)
- BS 7671 design calcs, drawings and ITPs provided
- CDM duty holders, RAMS and permit systems in place
- Controls/SCADA coordination and naming standards agreed
- Temporary supplies and phased cutover plan documented
- Whole-life costing, spares and maintenance plan included
- Handover pack (EIC/EICR, as-builts, O&M, training) confirmed
FAQs
1) What accreditations matter most for industrial work?
ECA/NICEIC for electrical competence, plus safety credentials like SafeContractor and IOSH. Ask for project-specific references in factories similar to yours.
2) How do we minimise downtime during installation?
Plan phased cutovers, temporary power and night/weekend works. Lock rollback criteria before each switchover and rehearsed isolations/LOTO.
3) What should be in the test and handover pack?
EIC or EICR certificates, verified settings, calibrated test records, updated single-line diagrams, panel schedules, O&M manuals and training sign-offs.
4) Can one contractor handle electrical and controls?
Yes—many industrial projects benefit from a single partner for electrical, control panels and PLC/SCADA integration, reducing interfaces and commissioning time.
5) How do we compare quotes fairly?
Normalise scope (drawings, testing, out-of-hours work), verify lead times and manpower, and include whole-life items (spares, warranties, training). Cheapest day rate is rarely the lowest total cost.
Ready to appoint with confidence and keep production on track? Book a consultation or request a site assessment today: https://fessgroup.co.uk/services/industrial-electrical-installation/
