When you hire an electrical engineering consulting firm, the scope of work is the document that spells out exactly what you’re getting. It defines the services, deliverables, timelines, and boundaries of the project so both sides know what to expect. If you’re a facility manager or safety director researching firms for the first time, understanding what goes into a scope of work removes a lot of the guesswork and helps you compare proposals with confidence.
Still, most people outside the industry have never actually seen one of these documents broken down in plain language. That’s what this post is for.
The Scope of Work Is Your Project Roadmap
Think of the scope of work as a contract within the contract. Your master services agreement covers the legal terms. The scope of work gets specific about the actual engineering tasks, what gets delivered, and when.
A well-written scope of work in electrical engineering consulting typically covers several core areas. Not every project includes all of them, but knowing the full menu helps you understand what to ask for and what might be missing from a proposal.
Site Assessment and Facility Walkthrough
Most engagements start with a physical assessment of your facility’s electrical systems. This is where the consulting engineer walks your site, reviews your existing infrastructure, and documents current conditions. They’re looking at things like panel schedules, distribution equipment, grounding systems, and the general age and condition of your electrical assets.
This step matters because everything that follows depends on accurate baseline data. If the scope of work you’re reviewing doesn’t include a site visit, that’s a red flag worth asking about.
For facilities in the greater Atlanta area, local conditions like humidity, temperature extremes, and the age of surrounding infrastructure can influence the assessment. A firm familiar with the region will already account for those factors.
Power System Studies and Analysis
This is the technical core of most electrical engineering consulting projects. Depending on what your facility needs, the scope of work might include one or more of the following studies:
Arc flash hazard analysis. This study calculates the incident energy at each point in your electrical system and determines safe approach boundaries. It’s a requirement under NFPA 70E and directly affects your PPE requirements and safety labeling.
Short circuit analysis. This identifies the maximum fault current at various points in your system. Equipment ratings need to meet or exceed these values, so this study often uncovers gear that’s undersized or outdated.
Coordination study. This ensures that protective devices (breakers, fuses, relays) trip in the correct sequence during a fault. Poor coordination means a fault in one area can knock out power across the entire facility instead of isolating the problem.
Load flow analysis. This evaluates how power moves through your system under normal and peak conditions, identifying voltage drops, overloaded circuits, and capacity limitations.
Not every project requires all four. The scope of work should clearly state which studies are included, the standards they’ll follow (typically IEEE and NFPA), and what data you need to provide upfront.
Deliverables and Documentation
This is where many facility managers find the most value. The scope of work should define exactly what documents you’ll receive at the end of the project. Common deliverables include:
- Updated one-line diagrams of your electrical distribution system
- Arc flash labels for panels and equipment
- A written report summarizing findings, risk areas, and recommended corrections
- PPE category tables and safe work boundary charts
- Short circuit and coordination study results with device settings
If a proposal is vague about deliverables, ask for specifics. “A final report” isn’t the same as “a 40-page engineering report with updated one-lines, arc flash labels, and a prioritized remediation plan.” The scope of work should leave no room for interpretation.
Compliance and Standards Referenced
A good scope of work names the specific codes and standards the project will follow. For electrical engineering consulting projects, you’ll commonly see references to NFPA 70E (Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace), the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70), OSHA 29 CFR 1910 Subpart S, and relevant IEEE standards like IEEE 1584 for arc flash calculations.
These aren’t just formalities. They tell you the consulting firm is aligning its work with current, enforceable requirements. If a scope of work doesn’t cite specific standards, it’s fair to wonder how the firm plans to validate its findings.
Project Timeline and Milestones
Every scope of work should include a timeline. This doesn’t have to be down to the hour, but you should see defined milestones: when the site visit happens, when you’ll receive a draft report, when final deliverables are due, and what review periods look like.
Clear timelines protect both parties. They give you a basis for follow-up if things stall, and they give the consulting firm a framework for managing their workload across multiple projects.
Exclusions and Assumptions
This section is easy to overlook, but it’s one of the most important parts of the document. Exclusions spell out what’s not included. The scope may cover the arc flash study, but not the remediation work. It may include labeling but not equipment upgrades.
Assumptions cover things the firm expects to be true going in. For example, they might assume your existing one-line diagrams are reasonably accurate, or that your team will provide access to all electrical rooms during the site visit.
Reading the exclusions carefully prevents misunderstandings down the road. If something you need isn’t listed in the deliverables or the study list, it’s almost certainly excluded.
What This Means for You
When you’re comparing proposals from electrical engineering consulting firms, the scope of work is where the real differences show up. Two firms might quote similar prices, but the detail in their scopes will tell you who’s being thorough and who’s cutting corners.
Look for specificity in deliverables, named standards, clear timelines, and honest exclusions. That combination signals a firm that’s done this enough times to know what actually matters.
About Shaw Consulting Services
Shaw Consulting Services LLC is an Atlanta-based electrical engineering and consulting firm that works with facility managers, safety directors, and building owners across the Southeast. From arc flash assessments and power system studies to NFPA 70E compliance and PPE planning, Shaw’s team brings a straightforward, transparent approach to every project. If you’re evaluating consulting firms and want a scope of work you can actually understand, Shaw is a good place to start. Contact Shaw Consulting today to request a proposal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a scope of work in electrical engineering consulting? It’s the document that defines exactly what services, studies, deliverables, and timelines are included in a consulting engagement. It functions as the project roadmap between you and the firm.
How long does a typical electrical engineering consulting project take? It depends on facility size and project complexity. A single arc flash study for a small facility might take a few weeks. A full power system study package for a large campus could take several months. The scope of work should include a specific timeline.
Do I need an arc flash study in my scope of work? If your facility has employees who work on or near energized electrical equipment, yes. NFPA 70E and OSHA both require employers to assess arc flash hazards. Most electrical engineering consulting scopes include this as a core deliverable.
What should I watch out for in a consulting proposal? Vague deliverables, missing standards references, and no exclusions section. A scope of work that doesn’t clearly state what’s included (and what’s not) can lead to unexpected costs and gaps in coverage.
How do I compare two different consulting proposals? Line up the scopes of work side by side. Compare the studies included, the deliverables listed, the standards cited, and the timelines proposed. Price alone won’t tell you which firm is offering more value.