5 Electrical Coordination Issues to Catch Early On

There are two kinds of people in the BIM world: those who catch electrical coordination issues early, and those who are wondering why a $20 conduit run is costing $20k in rework…. We prefer to be the first kind. So here are five electrical coordination problems we always look for early because they tend to turn into flaming dumpster fires if you don’t:

1. The “Nice Electrical Room, But Where’s the Exit?” Problem

You ever see a beautifully modeled electrical room that’s completely cut off from the rest of the building? No conduit paths, no sleeves, no way out…just a lonely, oversized box full of gear and broken dreams. If your electrical room is a BIM version of the Hotel California, it’s time to re-route before someone tries to Houdini their way through 12 inches of concrete.

2. Ceiling Heights That Make HVAC Cry

We get it- high ceilings are great. But if your ductwork, piping, and cable trays are all fighting for the same 18 inches of overhead clearance, someone’s getting KO’d. By spotting this early, we can start pushing things underground or at least planning smarter zones.

3. The “We’ll Fit the Gear Later” Fantasy

Small electric rooms might look good on paper, but let’s talk about after the gear submittals roll in. You start modeling it with actual clearances, and suddenly your equipment won’t fit. Here’s the rule: if you need to sidestep like a ninja to reach the disconnect, it’s too small. We bring this up early so no one has to squeeze through a code-required clearance zone.

4. Precast Concrete ≠ Freestyle Modeling

If precast is in the picture, that’s not just a detail, it’s a whole conversation. Early, with everyone. We’re talking limitations, embeds, sleeves, and the cold, unyielding truth that your “we’ll just core it later” plan isn’t gonna fly. (Unless your budget includes a jackhammer.)

5. Field Conditions: The BIM vs. Reality Smackdown

3D modeling is fun until real-world phasing shows up and says, “Cool idea, but too bad we can’t actually build it.” Tight timelines, door heights, crane access; these things matter. And we should talk about these things before the build.

Bottom Line:

Don’t wait for electrical coordination issues to become construction problems. The earlier you spot them, the cheaper, faster, and less painful the fix. Ask the awkward questions, challenge the layout, and double-check the clearance. Be that person in the meeting because that person is the reason the install goes smooth and nobody’s playing “find the missing sleeve” on site. Coordination wins happen early. Go get yours.