Track Busway systems (i.e. small busway systems, 40 to 225 amps range) are faster, easier and lower cost to install than many industry professionals realize.  To illustrate this point, the following report lists the installation labor time, labor cost and the material cost of an actual installation of Starline Track Busway.   A conduit and wire layout to do the same job was developed by the contractor, costs were calculated and a comparison of the two systems are made. 

 Job Description:  Injection Molded products manufacturer for injection mold machines, heaters, lifts, equipment, etc.

  Product Description :    Starline Track Busway, 225 amps:  2 runs for a total of 140 ft., mounted on rods from roof trusses.  22 plug-in units, with 480V, 3 pole circuit breakers:  9 @20A, 3 @30A, 5 @40A, 2 @50A and 1 @70A.

Track Busway Installation Time :    The contractor reported that 2 men installed the track busway runs, the power feeds, and ran the

and objects in the way on the floor.   The installation time did not include the time needed to move objects in the way.    Installation time to “turn-n-lock” the 22 plug-in units into the busway was estimated at an additional 2 man hours, for a total installation time of 20 man hours.  

The Comparison :   The conduit & wire alternative layout, proposed by the contractor, would be to install two subpanels for the 22 circuits closer to the location of the 22 machines.  Then have 22 short conduit runs.  Equipment locations dictate that the conduit runs will be from 10 to 120 feet long, horizontally.   R.S. Means industry labor hour estimates are used to calculate the time needed to install the conduit & wire, and this contractor applies a 25% reduction  from the standard rates, based on previous experience.   

Assumptions :  

1.      R. S. Means 2001 labor estimates. 

2.      The contractor discounts the R.S. Means labor rates by 25%,  based on past job results.  

3.      A  Contractor labor rate charge of $75.00/hr.

4.