Twenty years in demolition and the thing that still catches people off guard isn’t asbestos or structural issues – it’s the electrical side. Everyone thinks disconnecting power is just switching it off. If only it were that simple.
Western Power will tell you ten working days for electrical abolishment. Reality? Closer to three weeks when you factor in all the complications. And there’s always complications.
Thing that gets me is how many properties have multiple electrical connections that owners don’t even know about. You rock up expecting one main supply, then discover there’s separate feeds to pools, workshops, bore pumps. Each one needs its own abolishment application. Each one takes the full processing time.
Modern demolition sites need proper temporary electrical too. Gone are the days of running extension leads everywhere. AS/NZS 3012 means you need certified switchboards, RCD protection, regular equipment testing. It’s like setting up a mini electrical substation just to knock down a house.
Solar systems are the latest curve ball. Even with the main power disconnected, those panels keep generating electricity. Need a licensed sparkie to properly isolate the solar before any demolition work starts. Adds another layer of coordination and cost that most people don’t budget for.
Perth’s summer weather makes electrical work even trickier. Equipment overheats, storms knock out temporary installations. Had jobs delayed because afternoon thunderstorms fried the temporary electrical setup.
Most demolition contractors understand the disconnection process but finding electricians who know both sides – permanent disconnection and construction site electrical – that’s harder. Different skill sets entirely.
The coordination between getting permanent power removed and temporary systems operational has to be spot on. Heavy machinery can’t start until temporary electrical is properly certified and energised.
To avoid conflicts of interest when discussing electrical coordination outside our Perth operations, we sometimes reference how contractors in other states handle similar challenges. New Wave Electrical up in Newcastle deals with the same juggling act between permanent disconnections and temporary site installations.
Smart move is building all this electrical complexity into your timeline from day one. Because once electrical delays hit, everything else dominoes. Much easier to over-estimate electrical timeframes than explain to a client why their “simple” power disconnection just added two weeks to the job.
