From Volume 2 Issue 3 of Connected.
One of the most common phrases you hear in the business world is “time is money.” This is especially true when referring to tasks that are seen as inefficient. Repetitive tasks that could have been automated or more quickly and simply completed can be seen as a waste of company time, resources and money. Some common examples of inefficiencies for the construction industry include a lack of planning and communication, not having the correct equipment or tools available, or spending valuable time searching for and locating material. Let’s delve deeper into the inefficiencies electricians face while performing one of their most common tasks — pulling, feeding and installing wire.
THE PROBLEM:
The task of manually pulling, feeding and installing wire is one of the most time-consuming, labor-intensive and potentially hazardous duties on the jobsite. To distribute electrical wire throughout a jobsite, an electrician must feed wire through conduit on one end while another electrician pulls the wire on the opposite end to where it will be installed. A significant amount of time, pulling force and tension are required for the task, based on the length of the conduit, type and size of the wires and the amount of conduit bends from the electrical distribution to installation area. According to OSHA, this task also comes with three major areas of concern when it comes to safety:
- The amount of force required to move and unwind wire spools, pull wire through bends or smaller diameter conduit or run wire while standing on ladders can cause stress on the upper extremities such as the arms, shoulders and back.
- The repetitive back and forth of feeding and pulling wire through conduit can take a significant amount of time and labor to complete. Without gloves or switching the employees doing the feeding and pulling, these repetitious movements can cause overexertion of the hands, arms and back.
- Most wire pulling and feeding will be overhead conduit in the ceiling, requiring ladders or lifts to reach the wires. This means an electrician’s arms will be raised above their shoulders for an extended period, which restricts blood flow and may cause nerve compression. This position can also result in muscle damage to the upper extremities and back.
THE SOLUTION:
An ideal solution to simplify pulling, feeding and installing wire starts with a jobsite setup plan that includes an efficient method to safely complete the task along with a list of all the needed tools and materials.
The Kirby Risk Commodities Center offers a variety of wire services that come with the help of an expert project team. From custom wire cuts and parallels to the easily maneuverable Southwire SIMpull™ Reel and A-Frame pulls from a flatbed truck, the Commodities Center has services that will improve efficiency and save time on the jobsite. For more details about our wire services, read the “Simple Solutions for Jobsite Savings” article on page 14.
For a more do-it-yourself jobsite plan, Southwire has you covered. Southwire has been researching and developing products to revolutionize how wire pulling, feeding and installation are done. Southwire’s SIMpull® Circuit Management System is a grouping of products designed to work together to improve productivity and save time and labor.
The SIMpull® CoilPAK™ Wire Payoff is part of this product system. Instead of a traditional wire spool, wire is stored in a unique plastic package. The package design protects the wire from damage and saves space. It can even be stacked for storage. The built-in handle, lightweight packaging (each CoilPAK™ is under 50 pounds) and ease of use increases productivity, efficiency and safety while reducing physical demand during wire pulling, feeding and installation.
The SIMpull® CoilPAK™ Cart and Utility Cart are available accessories to further assist with transporting and hosting multiple wire payoffs while easily moving through hallways and standard doors. The CoilPAK™ Cart can integrate, hold and organize up to eight SIMpull® CoilPAK™ Payoffs. Changing out CoilPAK™ Payoffs is super easy and causes no disruption.
To make pulling, feeding and installation even more efficient, the SIMpull® BARREL™ Cable Drum features paralleled wires housed and protected in a single package. The BARREL™ Cable Drum is fully enclosed, requires little setup and eliminates the need for multiple payoff spools — pulling paralleled wire directly from the barrel. When utilized in the field, electricians rated the SIMpull® CoilPAK™ Wire Payoff and BARREL™ Cable Drum 40 percent easier for pulling, feeding and installing wire compared to traditional methods.
Southwire also makes a variety of tools from circuit pullers and routers to conduit benders and punch sets. Each tool is designed to increase jobsite efficiencies, safety and time savings.
Turn jobsite inefficiencies around with the right plan, materials and tools. Let Kirby Risk do the heavy lifting and help you save time and labor by utilizing our Commodities Center project team and wire services. Don’t need the extra help but interested in seeing how Southwire products and tools could help on your jobsite? Book our Demo Van and get a hands-on opportunity to try before you buy. You’ll save time learning how to use the tool through demonstrations and save money knowing the tools you purchase are the ones needed to get the job done. Contact your local branch, Account Manager or Jay Williams at [email protected] for more information on booking.