Many people mistakenly assume that an electrical contractor and an electrician are the same thing but they are very different. An electrical contractor can be either a company that provide electrical services or a business person. In any event, these types of contractors are responsible for employing an electrician. They are also responsible for any work that needs to be constructed in relation to a particular design. The maintenance of any electrical systems is done by these contractors.

This industry in the Ireland is worth Millions of Euros. These contractors are usually granted licenses as well as insurances that permits them to operate a business safely. With this license, they must protect their customers from insurance liabilities. The requirements to being a licensed electrical contractor may be different depending on the state.

When referring to electrical contractors, there are three major categories in which they are placed. The contractors who control the transmission of power at a high -voltage as well as distribution lines are known as the "Outside" or "Line" contractors. The duties of these particular contractors are to construct and maintain the infrastructure needed to carry the electricity that comes from the power plant through a few high- voltage lines as well as substations before using it to supply power to homes, businesses and other buildings.

Another kind of contractor is the "Inside" contractors. These individuals are also prime contractors for commercial, residential and institutional buildings. They control all installation, maintenance and electrical as well as cabling designs that these buildings require. Outdoor lighting, substations or any structure that has electricity inside the boundary lines of a property are provided by the "Inside" contractors.

Lastly, there are the IBS or VDV contractors. These are the Integrated Building Systems or Voice/Data/Video contractors. Unlike the "Outside" contractors, these contractors handle low-voltage installations. Some of these installations include climate controls, telecommunications, security systems, fibre optics, and back- up power, energy-efficient lighting and also wireless networks. They all provide electrical services for different things.

Electrical contractors usually base their hiring on the experience as well as the level of training one has. Individuals that are normally hired are usually apprentice electricians, who are trained on the job. They also receive classroom instructions about how to repair, install, maintain and modify power and lighting systems. They are taught how to do this from a master electrician or a licensed journeyman. Although, to become an apprentice requires 3 to 5 years of training, individuals are paid during this period of training. Another is a non union electrician called an electrical trainee. These are individuals that are in training and have either graduated or are attending a state approved curriculum. Also, journeyman electrician, estimators and project supervisors are all hired by electrical contractors.

Electrical Contractors Safety & Standards Association (ECSSA) is one of only two Licensed Regulatory Bodies for electrical contractors in Ireland the other one is RECI electrical contractor members. In Ireland, all electrical contractors must follow the Safety & Standards. This code is to ensure that all electrical services provided to these systems are working safely.

Although, many people may consider these kinds of contractors as electricians, here you can see where they are very different in many ways. The duties and responsibilities of an electrical contractor when compared to an electrician are also different. However, they do work together to reach one common goal, which is to provide businesses, homes, buildings and facilities with their electrical services in a safe and secure manner.