How do “Industrial Electricians” compare to “C & M” and “D & R” electricians?

Industrial electricians work in the industrial sector of the electrical trade whereas the Construction and Maintenance “C & M” and the Domestic and Rural “D & R” electricians work in the construction sector of the electrical trade.

So, what do industrial electricians actually do to practice their trade?

That question can best be answered with the scope of practice for an industrial electrician:

· plans installations from blueprints, sketches and specifications and installs all electrical and electronic devices

· systematically diagnoses faults in electrical and electronic systems and equipment and repairs or replaces electrical and electronic components as required

· measures, cuts, threads, bends, assembles and installs conduits and other electrical conductor raceways

· splices and terminates electrical conductors

· tests electrical and electronic equipment for proper function

What is the worksite for an industrial electrician?

· Industrial electricians are typically employed in single site industrial, manufacturing and power plant facilities.

That means that an industrial electrician is essentially works for one employer as the “911” emergency service to keep the electrical plant running smoothly. Industrial electricians provide on-going electrical maintenance services related to installing, maintaining, testing, troubleshooting and repairing industrial electrical equipment. Industrial electricians also work on associated electrical and electronic controls, as well as hydraulic and pneumatic equipment.

So, specifically, what’s the exact difference in the work description or scope of practice for C & M, D & R and Industrial electricians?

As we have seen above, the scope of practice for an Industrial electrician is almost identical to the D & R and the C & M electrician that we looked at in our previous blog. The emphasis for the C & M and the D & R is that they are classed in the “construction sector” working in construction, erection, repair, remodelling or alteration of electrical projects. While the emphasis for the Industrial Electricians is that they are classed in the “industrial sector” working in providing on-going electrical maintenance services, typically, in single site industrial, manufacturing or power plant facilities.

In Ontario, the Industrial Electrician trade code is 442A and classified as voluntary trade as denoted by the number 4 in the trade code. The voluntary trade designation means a trade in which certification and Ontario College of Trades membership are not legally required to practice the trade.

Having said that, the Industrial Electrician is available to be a part of the Interprovincial Red Seal Program—the national standard for the trade across Canada —under the title Industrial Electrician.

In Ontario, Industrial Electricians, along with C & M and D & R electricians are also eligible for a Masters Electrician License, a topic which we will leave for now, but coming up.

Marvin Rosenberg is an authority and creator of electrical exam preparation. He is a Red Seal Endorsed Master Electrician who has worked for more than 30 years in the electrical trade in the residential, industrial, commercial and institutional sectors.

The experience of working as an Electrical Service Inspector as well as a Master Electrician Examiner led Marvin to start teaching journeypersons and apprentices exam preparation. He is the electrical course developer and advisor in the Centre for Continuous Learning and teaches in the Electrical Apprenticeship and Skilled Trades program at George Brown College in Toronto.

Marvin continues to enjoy teaching Pre-exam courses for Construction and Maintenance Electrician, Domestic and Rural Electrician, as well as Master Electrician.