NSCA recently released updated Labor Installation Standard guidelines to help members improve and maintain project profitability. Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based NSCA is, of course, the leading not-for-profit association representing the commercial integration industry. Labor units are the biggest factor affecting project profitability. As such, these updates provide valuable data to help integrators benchmark their labor productivity and accurately calculate their labor units.
The 2022 updates are the result of a thorough, months-long peer review. Indeed, a team of technology installation experts from around the country undertook this task. They detail the amount of time it takes to complete project-related tasks, factoring in handling material, examining drawings/layouts and installing equipment. The guidelines include labor units required to install specific systems, which are divided into categories such as:
- access control
- cabling
- digital signage
- fire alarm systems
- healthcare communications
- security/life safety systems
Guidelines Include Install Data, Adjust Labor Units
The 2022 guidelines include installation data on new technology platforms and systems that have lately grown prevalent. Moreover, they adjust labor units for existing technology systems based on current installation methods and efficiencies.
For example, the Labor Installation Standard guidelines now include information about IoT endpoints; emerging technology like PoE LED lighting; and sensor technology.
For each technology system, labor units are provided across a variety of installation environments. Therefore, adjustments based on difficulty (high ceiling heights, extensive programming requirements, etc.), installer experience and/or site conditions are possible.
“This tool comes at a very important time to help members understand job costs so they can better plan and become more profitable,” Tom LeBlanc, NSCA’s executive director, says. It’s a premier resource that integrators will want to keep in their toolkits, he says, adding, “Project labor estimates are vital to ensure profitability.”
The Labor Installation Standard guidelines are free for NSCA members to download. Nonmembers can purchase the report, or they can become NSCA members. In so doing, they receive the report as part of their membership. Membership, of course, also offers access to discounted education and training opportunities, updates on regional and national government-affairs issues, free monthly industry webinars, business tools and resources, and other exclusive industry research.
For more information about the Labor Installation Standard guidelines, or to join NSCA, visit NSCA.org.
To read more content about NSCA, check out Commercial Integrator’s website archives.
