Electrical professionals fall into three categories: inside electrician, outside electrician, or integrated building systems electrician. The three categories of electricians are differentiated by the kind of work they perform. Many residential or commercial construction projects require the expertise of all three types of electrical contractors. Let’s take a look at the differences between these job descriptions.
Inside Electrical Contractors: Inside electrical contractors work on a home, building interiors, or just around the outside perimeter. These electricians install wiring, components for lighting fixtures, and electrical outlets. Some electricians assist residential homeowners, building owners, and contractors with the design and blueprints of electric cabling for new construction projects. Inside electricians also perform maintenance for existing fittings and repair or replace damaged electrical wires or fixtures.
An inside electrician’s job description might be to install electrical outlets, ceiling fans, or air conditioning units. Home or business owners might hire them to install exterior lighting or a pump system for a new swimming pool.
Outside Electrical Contractors: Outside electricians – also known as linemen – work with high-voltage power lines that allocate electricity, distributing it from the grid to buildings and homes. The electric grid is the system of cables, substations, and electrical transformers that carry power from an electricity-generating plant to the community.
Linemen install, replace or repair high-voltage power lines and transformers, often after a transformer explosion or lightning strike. Some linemen work in power plants, regulating electrical production, keeping electric generating equipment operational, and repairing faulty equipment. As America’s power grid was designed and installed many decades ago, line contractors are often tasked with upgrading power lines and transformers with more advanced technology.
Integrated Building Systems Contractors: Integrated building systems electricians primarily work with home and office technologies that improve functionality, such as wireless networks, fiber optics, UPS power backups, entertainment systems, telecommunication capability, security systems, and climate control systems. Modern home automation controls everything from temperature to streaming entertainment services. IBS contractors must integrate complex systems that incorporate many types of technology into one functional system. An IBS contractor might install an intelligent home system, for instance, one that includes a home security system and wi-fi capabilities. The skills of IBS electrical contractors must constantly evolve as new technology is introduced. As renewable, green energy becomes more common, the role of these electricians will likely increase.
Electrical Contractors: Job Classifications
Electricians perform at different levels based on experience, which includes apprentice, journeyman, and master electrician. Learn more about these levels here.
Apprentice Electrician: Novice electricians must complete on-the-job training or apprenticeships that typically take three to five years to complete. Apprenticeships are essential for the education of electricians because they focus on a specialty area that corresponds to their employer’s service suite. Most apprenticeships are paid positions and consist of about 2,000 hours of hands-on and classroom training per year.
Journeyman Electrician: The term “journeyman” refers to electricians who have finished their on-the-job training or apprenticeship. After years of close supervision, a journeyman can perform electrician duties independently. Most journeymen have amassed various skills, including installing, maintaining, and repairing electrical features of residential homes and offices. Journeyman may work with heating and cooling systems, wiring, smart home systems, and lighting fixtures. Often, electrical contractors work as journeymen for many years prior to moving up to the level of a master electrician.
Master Electrician: Master electricians are at the apex of their profession in both experience and education. They perform the same tasks as journeymen, but many choose to own their own businesses or work independently, offering direct electrical services to clients. Master electricians may also design electrical systems and work with other general and building contractors to plan new construction projects.
If you are looking to hire any type of Sarasota electrical contractor, call the experts at Promise Electric. We employ master electricians and are trusted in the community for both residential and commercial projects.
