Why Your Next Integration Partner Should Be a Licensed Electrical Contractor

Streamline Your Construction Projects by Combining Electrical and Integration Expertise

Managing contractors on a construction project might seem akin to conducting an orchestra—except that sometimes the players seem to be reading from a different sheet of music. As buildings become more sophisticated, with complex lighting systems and integrated technologies, the coordination between electrical contractors and integration specialists can become a major pain point. But what if you could simplify this process? By partnering with a licensed electrical contractor who specializes in integration, like Riordan Brothers Integration, you can eliminate the traditional headaches of coordinating multiple trades while ensuring your project's technical systems work seamlessly together.

Streamlined Project Management

Anyone who's managed a construction project knows that each additional contractor or trade means more coordination, more meetings, and more potential for delays. When your electrical contractor and systems integrator are the same company, you're essentially removing an entire layer of project complexity.

Think about a typical commercial lighting installation. Your electrical contractor runs the power, while a separate integrator handles the control system. Each change or adjustment requires two companies to coordinate, two schedules to align, and two different teams to communicate with. But with an integrated electrical and systems team, those back-and-forth conversations happen internally, saving you time and reducing the risk of miscommunication.

This streamlined approach simplifies a project and often leads to significant cost savings. You're dealing with one mobilization, one overhead cost structure, and one team that can tackle multiple aspects of the project simultaneously. For example, while running electrical circuits, the same team can plan and install the necessary infrastructure for AV systems, saving both time and labor costs.

Technical Expertise Across Systems

When electrical contractors and integrators work separately, they often speak different languages. The electrical team thinks in terms of circuits, loads, and code requirements, while integrators focus on protocols, networks, and user interfaces. Having a team that understands both worlds brings practical advantages to your project.

Lighting control systems are a great example. An electrician-integrator knows exactly how to plan electrical circuits to support sophisticated dimming systems, understands the power requirements for different fixture types, and can ensure your emergency lighting seamlessly integrates with the control system. This comprehensive knowledge prevents common issues like incompatible dimming technologies or inadequate power provisions for control equipment.

The same principle applies to audiovisual systems. Rather than having an electrician install power outlets where they guess the AV equipment might go (in residential projects, this happens very often) and then having an integrator explain why those locations don't work, you get a team that plans the entire system holistically from the start. They understand both the power requirements and the integration needs, ensuring everything from boardroom displays to distributed audio systems has the right infrastructure from day one.

Code Compliance and Safety

Code compliance isn't just about checking boxes—it's about ensuring your building's systems work safely and reliably. When your electrical contractor also handles integration, they bring a deep understanding of both electrical codes and low-voltage requirements. This comprehensive knowledge is particularly valuable as the line between electrical and integrated systems continues to blur.

This familiarity with both worlds means they understand how different systems need to interact, especially in emergency situations. They know exactly how your lighting control system needs to interface with life safety systems, how emergency power needs to be provisioned for critical AV equipment, and how to ensure all systems meet both electrical and building codes.

There's also a practical safety benefit during construction. Instead of having multiple teams working around each other—often in the same spaces and sometimes in the same ceiling grid—you have one coordinated team that can sequence work logically and safely. This reduces the risk of accidents and ensures all systems are installed according to code requirements from the start.

Need integration help with your next project? Contact Riordan Brothers Integration to learn more about how our combined electrical and integration expertise can add value to your construction or renovation plans.