LOAD STUDIES · INFRARED THERMOGRAPHY · ELECTRICAL INSPECTIONS
A buyer's guide: what a good load study includes, which questions to ask and which warning signs to watch for.
A useful load study includes measured data from the building, a written report that states the peak demand and the margin left, and a clear statement of who performed each part of the work. A page of calculations with no measurements behind it is a paper exercise.
Field data collection means visiting the building, recording electrical demand and documenting the equipment. A load calculation estimates demand from code methods and equipment ratings, while a field study records what the building actually draws. Both are legitimate, and many projects need both. The mistake is thinking one provider is doing the other. At PCS, we collect the field data and assist engineers with load calculations.
| What to check | What a good answer sounds like | A warning sign |
|---|---|---|
| Who does what | Clear explanation of what is measured and what is calculated | Vague about who does which part of the work |
| Recording length | Explains why the period fits your building, with 30 days as the usual minimum for code use | One-day or one-hour readings sold as a study |
| Instruments | Names the logger type and shows how it is installed | Cannot say what equipment will be used |
| Licensing | Gives an Arizona ROC license number you can verify | No license number offered |
| Sample report | Shows a redacted report with measured data and findings | A report that is only a calculation sheet |
| Safety | Follows NFPA 70E practices for work near live equipment | Asks you to open energized panels yourself |
| After the report | Can explain findings and quote the fix | Hands over data and stops |
Long enough to include the busiest part of your operation. NEC 220.87 allows existing-building load to be based on recorded maximum demand over at least 30 days, multiplied by 125 percent. A study that records for a day or two cannot support that method.
The number of panels and feeders recorded, the length of the recording, the size of the building and whether a load calculation is also needed. Ask for the scope in writing, including what instruments will be used and what the report will contain.
Use it to decide what to upgrade, or not to. A good report ends with a plain recommendation. If you need to see how we approach it, read our Electrical Load Studies page, or our pages on upgrade planning and permit and AHJ submittals.
Arizona ROC #153656 (CR-11) | Over 40 years in business
OUR PROCESS
Every job follows three steps: a site walkthrough, testing and documentation, then findings and next steps.
We start with a free phone consultation, and you can send a photo of your panel or equipment. If on-site work is needed, we visit, look at the panels and service, and agree on what needs to be tested or repaired before any work starts. On-site work is quoted before it begins.
Load loggers and a thermal camera record what the equipment is doing, and the results are documented for each panel or component we check.
We go over what we found and your options in plain language. If corrective work is needed, we are licensed to do it.
Share the details of your project, and our team will help you identify the most practical next step.
