Introduction To Basics Of

Electrical Works (Pricing &

Erection)

Prepared By: Eng. Sameh H. Aly

 Introduction
This course is prepared for Electrical Technical Office
Engineers who are involved in tenders study in order to
implement their technical information to enable them
study the tender in the best way.
Also fresh graduates electrical construction engineers
should learn the main parameters and factors of major
electrical equipment and precautions to be taken during
installation procedures.

During this course the instructor will introduce various items

that engineer should find in tender price list.
Each item should be identified with its characteristic and it’s
special attributes and factors should be considered during
item pricing.

Prepared By: Eng. Sameh H. Aly

 Contents
1. Panels
a- HT Switch Gears
b- LV Switch Gears
c- Service Panels
d- Control or DCS panels

2. Transformers
3. Bus Duct
4. Diesel Generator
5. Cable Trays & Ladders
6. Conduits
7. Cable Laying
8. Cable Termination
9. Earthing & Lightening Systems
10. Lighting
11. Fire Alarm
12. Instrumentation

Prepared By: Eng. Sameh H. Aly

 1. Panels
a- MV / HT Switch Gears:
Voltage Category from 3.3KV up
to 66KV
- Usually comes in big Dimensions
- Contains separate circuit breakers.
- Consists separate cubicles.
- Contains Bus duct.
- May have a separate bus bar. (A&B)
- May required steel base frame
- Panel test required (Hi pot, Primary & Secondary
injection, Relay Setting, contact resistance test).

Prepared By: Eng. Sameh H. Aly

 1. Panels
b-LV Switch Gears:
- Power Control Centers (PCC) or Motor Control Centers (MCC).
- Usually PCCs are bigger than MCC.
- Its dimension is medium.
- It contains separate cubical
- It may contain bus duct.
- May required steel base frame
- Panel test required (Primary & Secondary
injection, Relay Setting).

Prepared By: Eng. Sameh H. Aly

 1. Panels
c-Service Panels:
-PFIC, UPS, Battery charger, lighting panels, heat
tracing panels, fire & gas alarm panels, inverters.
- Its dimension small.
- May be wall or floor mounted.
- Usually comes in one piece.
-In case there is a battery charger, check if it will
be installed inside panel or separate.

Prepared By: Eng. Sameh H. Aly

 1. Panels
d-Control or DCS panels:
- Control panels are usually field panels.
- Its dimension may be small or medium.
- DCS panels within control room
moderate panel, thickness is small but
width is big, I/O interface
panel or DCS panel or ESD.

Prepared By: Eng. Sameh H. Aly

 1. Panels
Factors considered during panels installation or pricing
- Panel dimensions.
- Panel weight.
- Steel frame.
- Number of cubical and panel in case of SWGR.
- Elevation of installation for DCS and control
panels risk factor should be increased.
- Safety factor must be considered.
- Required equipment for transferring panel
from store to installation location and for
installation panel inside the installation location.
- Test included or not and required type
or testing (Very important)

Prepared By: Eng. Sameh H. Aly

 2. Transformers
-KVA (dimension & weight).
-In case of high KVA check for transformer
assembly (one piece or multi piece – radiator
– conservator – terminal box – silica gel)
-Transformer test included or not in some
cases only required oil filling and filtration.
-Required equipment for transportation
and installation in most of cases with crane and trill.
-In few cases check for elevation and
location specially for steel industries.
-Steel support for setting and rails included or not.

Prepared By: Eng. Sameh H. Aly

 3. Bus Duct
-Voltage category (LV, HV), dimension & weight.
-Assembly type, just installation and
alignment or need fixable joint installation
and porcelain covering to it.
-Steel support type and if included or not.
-Length of bus duct in case of long
distance, price should be increased due
to increase of joint usage probability and alignment.

Prepared By: Eng. Sameh H. Aly

 4. Diesel Generator
- MW ------> Dimension and weight.
- Fuel Tank included in installation or not (and supply of it).
- Control Panel & terminal box installation.
- Piping from generator to fuel tank.
- Chimney installation and length.
- Steel frame, transportation and installation equipment.

Prepared By: Eng. Sameh H. Aly

 5. Cable Trays & Ladders
a) Cable tray type
1- Ladder type: Ladders are hollowed and have
more spaces and are lighter, and so ventilation
is better and can hold more cables because they
can allow more heat dissipation.
2- Perforated type: is heavy, price of installation
is higher.

b) Size of tray:
Standard sizes of trays are,
Size Type
50 mm Perforated
100 mm Perforated
150 mm Perforated, Ladder
200 mm Perforated, Ladder
300 mm Perforated, Ladder
400 mm Perforated, Ladder
500 mm Perforated, Ladder
600 mm Perforated, Ladder
900 mm Perforated, Ladder
1200 mm Perforated, Ladder

Prepared By: Eng. Sameh H. Aly

 5. Cable Trays & Ladders
c) Steel support included or not.

d) Accessories fabrication included or not

(Elbows, Tee, Reducers, Cross, ect…) or use
standard accessories.

e) For elbow, is it horizontal or vertical?

Reducers are named by the bigger size
(e.g. 600 reducers are from 600 to 300).

f) Price of installation depend on material

of tray (GI = PVC < Al < Stainless Steel).

g) Pricing depend on the dimension, perforated

trays installation price is higher than ladder type
for the same size.

Prepared By: Eng. Sameh H. Aly

 5. Cable Trays & Ladders
h) Thickness of tray (1mm, 1.5 mm, and 2 mm) = increase in price.

i) If the accessories fabrication and installation

is included, the above same considerations should
be applied for small trays sizes (50 mm and 100 mm).

j) Tray cover is included of not, separate unit price

is considered with the same concept as in the
above mentioned points.

k) Fixing detail, i.e. on steel or on concrete or

hollow wall or ceiling or trench (tunnel).

Prepared By: Eng. Sameh H. Aly

 6. Conduits
a) Conduit type or material, steel conduits
(RGS –heavy. weight, EMT- Medium weight,
EMC – Light weight), PVC (Black – under ground,
White – above ground, Grey – Step up or
general use), Stainless Steel.

b) Size of conduit & thickness normally

diameter by inches (1/4”, ½” , ¾”, 1”,…,2”…,
3”…,4”) or by millimeter (6,12,20,25….,50….,75….
,100) and thickness is (1mm, 2mm, 3mm,…).

c) Steel support included or not.

d) Conduit Clamping included or not.

e) Type of installation, closed or open system.

i) Closed system use more elbows and Tee and pull boxes, standard or
need to be fabricated.
ii) Open system is lower in price than closed system.
Prepared By: Eng. Sameh H. Aly
 6. Conduits
f) For EMT & EMC & RGS, work in Oil & Gas Normally
use standard accessories.

g) PVC conduits may use flexible conduits for

elbows or for panel entry. The price of flexible
conduits is less than non-flexible conduits.

h) Fixing conduits on steel or concrete or hollow

wall or ceiling affect the price, and depend on
usage of scaffolding factor and site.

i) Normally accessories installation is included

in unit price.

Prepared By: Eng. Sameh H. Aly

 7. Cable Laying
a) Cable Size:
i) Electrical,
Cross Section No of cores
1 mm 1
1.5 2
2 3
2.5 3.5
4 4
6 5
8 6
10 7
16 8
25 10
35 12
50 16
70 20
95 22
120 32
150
185
200
240
300
400
500
640
1000

Prepared By: Eng. Sameh H. Aly

 7. Cable Laying
Examples:
3C 10mm2
3.5C 35 mm2 = (3C 35 + 1C 16)
N = ½ ph. and E = ½ N
LV --------> 4C (3ph + N) -----> 380 V
5C (3ph + N + E) -----> 380 V

LV --------> 3C (1ph + N + E) -----> 220 V

2C (1ph + N) -----> 220 V

MV, HV ----------> 3C only 3ph no neutral
3C 185 mm2

3x 1C 185 mm2

In LV the Current is higher than in HV, so the

induction field will be higher and the above
arrangement will be more considerable.

Prepared By: Eng. Sameh H. Aly

 7. Cable Laying
ii) Instrumentation special cores,
Pair (P) - Twisted Pair
1 P 1.5 mm2 == 2C
2 P 1.5 mm2 == 4C
3 P 1.5 mm2 == 6C

Triple (Tr.)
1 Tr. 1.5 mm2 == 3C
2 Tr. 1.5 mm2 == 6C
3 Tr. 1.5 mm2 == 9C

Prepared By: Eng. Sameh H. Aly

 7. Cable Laying
b) Sheathing:
Non-Armored
Armored (Tape Armor and Stranded Armor)
Lead Armored cables are heavier and have higher
installation price.

c) Location:
Above Ground installation price > Under Ground
installation price, because of scaffolding and
safety.

Prepared By: Eng. Sameh H. Aly

 7. Cable Laying
d) Voltage Category:
HV > MV > LV prices vary by big factor due to
cable weight & flexibility.
For HV & MV cables the insulation is more than in
LV cables in thickness and material.
LV -> PVC / PVC or PVC / XLPE
MV -> XLPE / XLPE

e) Conductor Material:
- Copper
- Aluminum
For the same cross section copper cables
installation price > Aluminum Price due to
difference in weight.
3C 35 copper > 3C 35 Al

Prepared By: Eng. Sameh H. Aly

 7. Cable Laying
f) Fixation on trays or walls:

-Tie wraps supply and installation should be

considered.
- Clamps for cables supply and installation should
be considered.
- Cable Tag supply and installation and quantity
should be considered.
Example: for tie wraps – vertical every 30cm and
horizontally every 1mt
Also for tie wraps in case of supply type should be
considered.
PVC (Black or White – sometimes ultra-violet) or
Stainless Steel tie

Prepared By: Eng. Sameh H. Aly

 8. Cable Termination
a) Cable size is the same as in the cable laying.

b) Sheathing as in cable laying

The selection of cable gland depends on the
sheathing of the cable:
- For non-armored cables single compression
cable gland is used
- For armored cables double compression or
flame proof (explosion proof) cable gland is
used.
Flame proof > double compression > single
compression.

Prepared By: Eng. Sameh H. Aly

 8. Cable Termination
c) Voltage category:
HV >> MV >> LV
For HV or MV need specialist for termination &
need Hi-Potential Test (especially for HV) which
is expensive
d) Conductor material, for the same cross
section copper price == Al price (usually no big
difference)

Prepared By: Eng. Sameh H. Aly

 8. Cable Termination Metric P NPT
G
c) Voltage category:
M20 1 ¾”
HV >> MV >> LV 6
For HV or MV need specialist for termination & M25 2 1”
need Hi-Potential Test (especially for HV) which 1
M32 2 1 ¼”
is expensive 9
d) Conductor material, for the same cross M40 3 1 ½”
section copper price == Al price (usually no big 6
M50 4 2”
difference) 2
Tinned copper terminal lug M63 4 2 ½”
8
•Bi-Metal terminal lug
•Aluminum terminal lug
•PVC covered 1mm2 (red)  1.5 mm2
(red)  2 mm2 (blue) 4 mm2 (yellow) 6
mm2 (yellow)
May be Ring type or Pin type.
•Tinned copper: 10 mm2  … 1000 mm2

Prepared By: Eng. Sameh H. Aly

 8. Cable Termination
e) Material required for cable termination
i) cable glands supply must be checked
Types 1- single compression -> PVC or Metal
2- Double compression -> usually Metal
3- Flame Proof -> Metal only
Sizes
ii) Terminal lugs supply must be checked
•PVC covered terminal lug
• Bi Metal

Prepared By: Eng. Sameh H. Aly

 9. Earthing System
a) Earthing equipment:
i) Earthing Rods (Pits):
- Coated copper rods.
- Plate earthing pit.
- Pipe earthing or lightning pit.

1- Coated copper rods are usually

1.5 m but in some cases it is required
to be 3m by joining two 1.5m rods by a
coupler.

2- Plate earthing pit is by using GI or

copper plate.

3- Pipe earthing pit

Prepared By: Eng. Sameh H. Aly

 9. Earthing System
Factors affecting the Earthing Pits pricing:

- Type of earthing pit (coated copper < pipe

earthing < Plate earthing)
- Length of earthing rod.
- Project location for type of land (sand or rocks or
mud…)
- Excavation should be considered in case of pipe or
plate types.
- Supply & erection of coal & salt for earthing pits
should be considered.
- Accessories for erection & supply like clamps,
cable holders…
- Earthing inspection pit should be considered for
supply & erection.
- Test for rod and minimum resistance required.

Prepared By: Eng. Sameh H. Aly

 9. Earthing System

ii) Equipotential Earthing Bar (PTM – EEB):

Normally made of copper bar installed

properly with isolator.
Must consider steel support price.
Consider any required drilling or setting for
manufacturing.
.

Prepared By: Eng. Sameh H. Aly

 9. Earthing System
iii) Lightning Air Terminal:
Used for lightning protection above buildings
and covered area according to its height from
the ground level.
iv) Test Link
Can be considered in shape and installation as
Equipotential Earthing Bar.

Prepared By: Eng. Sameh H. Aly

 9. Earthing System
iv) Earthing Cables or Strips

Cable sizes 2.5, 4, 6, 10, 16, 35, 50, 70, 95, 120, 240.
Maybe bare copper and is usually underground or
insulated with yellow/green PVC usually above
ground
For cable laying excavation should be considered or
excluded from the price.
Clamping and routing for cables must be considered
also for clamps, tie-wraps, through conduits.
The termination of cables and terminal lugs supply
should be considered in unit price or excluded to be
additional work.

Prepared By: Eng. Sameh H. Aly

 9. Earthing System
iv) Earthing Cables or Strips

Routing can be using earthing strips with the following

sizes:
75 x 10 mm ----------> main grid
50 x 10 mm ----------> main grid
50 x 6 mm -------------> secondary earthing
25 x 6 mm -------------> secondary earthing
25 x 2 mm -------------> secondary earthing
Also excavation must be considered.
In some cases earthing strips are required to be insulated
by Isolating heat shrink and should be considered in
pricing.

Prepared By: Eng. Sameh H. Aly

 9. Earthing System
iv) Earthing Cables or Strips

Fabrication (bending & drilling or cutting) must be considered.

Jointing by welding or by bolts must be considered and also the supply of
fixing items.
Routing by GI wires:
Used mainly in secondary routing by using GI or Al or copper solid
wires, this need to be considered. Also need to consider the
termination of these wires by the size (2,4,6,10 mm2).
For lightning wires it is usually Al, with big sizes ( sometime 70 mm2). Also
take in consideration fixing detail & clamping to the roof and walls.

Prepared By: Eng. Sameh H. Aly

 10. Lighting System
a) Lighting Fixtures
i) Fluorescent type:
Normally working watt is 18, 36, 48 64W.
Fixture may be single or double lamp
Normal or emergency type with battery.
Mirror type with multi lamps

Prepared By: Eng. Sameh H. Aly

 10. Lighting System
a) Lighting Fixtures
ii) High Pressure Sodium (HPS):
Watt 100, 150, 200, 250, 400, 1000W
Projector or flat type.
Suspended type.
Column mounted type may be HPS or Mercury
on street lighting.
Lamps may be Meta-High Light lamps, this
fixture is used for lighting but a little bit
expensive.

Prepared By: Eng. Sameh H. Aly

 10. Lighting System
Factors affecting pricing of lighting

Type of fixture (fluorescent or HPS or Mercury).

Fixture Watt (price increase by the increase in
Watt).
Installation detail is the most important factor.
Lamp type in HPS fixture.
Hazardous area classification (weather proof or
flame proof or explosion proof).

Prepared By: Eng. Sameh H. Aly

 10. Lighting System
Factors affecting pricing of lighting

Check for cable laying & termination also for piping

and routing junction boxes included in installation
price or not.
Check for any material supply included in
installation detail as fixation items or clamps.
Steel support or lighting poles included or not.
Each fixture has junction box included or not and
also regarding main junction box or panel

Prepared By: Eng. Sameh H. Aly

 10. Instrumentation System
Type of instrument:
- Transmitter
- Indicator.
- Switch.
Transmitter PT,FT,LT,TT
must have cables to DCS system
Switch PS, LS, Limit S
must have cables to DCS system
Indicator PI, FI, LI, TI No Cables

Prepared By: Eng. Sameh H. Aly

 10. Instrumentation System
Factors to be considered in instrumentation:
1) Instrument type.
2) Hookup
3) Check-in hook-up for
- Tube length
- Jointing (by welding or mechanical –
welding is more expensive since it need care and
high technician that can weld Argon Welding)
- Steel support
- Stanchion
- Fastening Material.
- Quantity of accessories (valves, coupling,
Manifolds, cavities pot…)

Prepared By: Eng. Sameh H. Aly

 10. Instrumentation System
Factors to be considered in instrumentation:
4)Secondary routing included or not, cable
termination included or not.
5) Loop check included or not
- Analogue Indicator (AI) PT, FT,LT,TT
Analogue Output (AO) Control Valves
Digital Input (DI) PS,LS,….
Digital output (DO) Solenoid valves or limit switch
Price should be a little bit higher due to high rate
of personnel and time of job
6) Calibration of instruments should be checked
7) Tube size should be checked 1.5mm (for low
pressure) , 2 mm (for high pressure) and special
tubes like capillary
8) Mechanical install valves, but air tube & cables
are installed by E&I.

Prepared By: Eng. Sameh H. Aly