In the fast-paced world of electrical engineering, efficiency and precision are paramount. Engineers and designers often face tight deadlines and complex regulatory requirements. A crucial part of ensuring the smooth execution of electrical projects, from design to installation, is the creation of accurate conduit and tray schedules. This essential task has been made significantly more straightforward within SaaS Electrical, a powerful web-based application tailored for engineering and operations with inherent operating procedures.

SaaS Electrical is simplifying how electrical design and project lifecycle management are approached. By providing a ‘Control Point’ approach and intuitive user interface, engineers and designers can focus on what truly matters: delivering reliable and efficient electrical systems. One of the standout features is its Conduit and Tray Schedule, a key deliverable baked directly into the platform’s design process.

What is a Conduit and Tray Schedule?

In simple terms, a Conduit and Tray Schedule is a comprehensive document that details wiring routes through conduit and in-tray systems. It includes information such as:

Route segments: The pathways electrical wiring follows between the electrical load and termination enclosures.

Wire and cable specifications: Details on the type, size, and materials of construction being used, ensuring when assigned to conduit and tray, they are compatible and feed the cross-sectional areas to calculate fill rates.

Conduit and tray sizes: Based on local, state, and national codes, the correct dimensions and types of conduit and trays can be specified mathematically to ensure safety and sizing.

Integration with ELECTROWorx: Enables AutoCAD PLANT 3D to model conduit and tray routes that yield material lists and overall route lengths for cable estimating.

This schedule is crucial for ensuring the wiring infrastructure is safe, efficient, and compliant with all regulatory standards. However, manually creating and managing these schedules can be cumbersome, error-prone, and time-consuming.

How SaaS Electrical Simplifies the Process?

SaaS Electrical Data Worksheets are accessed using your web browser so multiple people can simultaneously work on the same data set. Numerous inputs are required, and often, the information comes from multiple roles. The system is preconfigured to accept these inputs and yields conduit and tray schedules for every scope.

1. Provides Conduit and Tray Pathway Tagging System

SaaS Electrical requires a Route Segment ID Tag identification system. Engineers and designers enter the segment ID Tags, separated by commas, to define the paths for conduit and tray routes. These tags represent the unique identifiers for each route segment between termination enclosures. The ability to quickly input route segments and track them through a simple naming and identification system makes the process much more efficient than traditional methods.

2. Standarizes Reporting & Revisioning

Once the route segments are entered into the system, SaaS Electrical automatically generates a Conduit and Tray Schedule report. Reports and their revisions consolidate all the essential details of the conduit and tray system, from the route segments to the correct sizing, making the scheduling process faster and more reliable when change is managed.

This automation eliminates the need for manual calculations and cross-referencing, significantly reducing human error and the potential for costly mistakes. Moreover, it saves valuable time in the design and approval stages, enabling engineers to focus on other critical aspects of the project.

3. Sizes Conduit and Tray from Fill Assignments

Electrical codes—whether local, state, or national—play a vital role in the design of any electrical system. These codes dictate the minimum requirements for conduit and tray dimensions to ensure safety, reliability, and regulation compliance. SaaS Electrical has provisions for calculations, so, for example, appropriate conduit sizes can be set based on the route fill percentages.

The system considers factors like the number and type of wires or cables in a given segment, as well as the applicable code values, to ensure that each segment of conduit or tray is adequately sized. This level of detail ensures that the design will pass inspections and meet the standards required for safety and performance.

4. Seamless Integration with the Design Lifecycle

SaaS Electrical’s Conduit and Tray Schedule isn’t just an isolated deliverable; it is part of an integrated electrical project lifecycle. When route segments are defined, and wiring specifications are entered, the conduit and tray sizing is automatically updated. SaaS Electrical built-in revision and change controls ensure that engineers, designers, and other stakeholders can keep track of all project elements in real-time, making modifications and adjustments as needed without creating redundant paperwork, communications, or tracking errors.

Why do Conduit and Tray Schedules Matter?

Creating a Conduit and Tray Schedule is often a collaborative effort. It directly impacts an electrical project’s safety, cost-effectiveness, and efficiency. Here are some of the key reasons why SaaS Electrical and this deliverable in particular is so crucial:

• Compliance: By ensuring that the conduit and tray sizes meet regulatory codes, engineers can avoid costly fines and delays caused by non-compliance.
• Safety: Properly sized and routed conduit and trays help prevent electrical hazards such as overheating, short circuits, and fire risks.
• Cost Efficiency: Accurate scheduling allows for precise material orders, minimizing waste and reducing costs.
• Streamlined Communication: The Conduit and Tray Schedule is a central reference point for all teams involved, from engineering to procurement to installation, ensuring everyone is on the same page.

Conclusion

SaaS Electrical is transforming how electrical engineers and designers manage their projects, making the creation of Conduit and Tray Schedules faster, more accurate, and more compliant with industry standards. By adopting a streamlined, automated process, engineers can save time, reduce errors, and focus on delivering high-quality electrical systems that meet all safety and regulatory requirements.

For any engineering or design team working on electrical projects, the Conduit and Tray Schedule in SaaS Electrical is not just a feature; it’s one of many built-in revision-controlled reports.

Open Standard Eng’g Procedure; Conduit, Tray, and Cable Schedules to learn more…..