Why Most Switchgear Upgrade Quotes Miss the Mark—And How to Get It Right

 

Not all switchgear quotes are created equal. In fact, most quotes you’ll get from general contractors or service firms leave out critical elements—engineering design, testing, certification, and long-term reliability. That can lead to major cost overruns, delayed installs, and worst of all, non-compliant equipment that puts people and infrastructure at risk. Electrical Switchgear Manufacturers

Here’s the issue: most electrical contractors and testing companies attempting switchgear upgrades rely on NEC (National Electrical Code) guidelines. While NEC governs general installation practices, it does not apply to switchgear retrofit engineering. Retrofitting and modifying medium voltage switchgear must adhere to IEEE standards and be verified through a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL)—standards that manufacturers like Spike Electric are trained and certified to follow. Contractors, even experienced ones, are not trained or authorized to certify that a retrofit meets these high-level design and testing standards.

One of the biggest red flags is when a quote simply includes the price of a new breaker and labor—without evaluating the compatibility of that breaker with the existing gear. Compartment compatibility, mechanical racking interfaces, arc flash reanalysis, and UL/NRTL requirements are often not even mentioned. Without these, you may be buying an incomplete or invalid solution. 15kv Switchgear

Even more dangerously, some quotes will include language like “arc-resistant upgrade” without any mention of IEEE C37.20.7 arc flash testing or validation. That’s a major compliance issue—arc-resistant gear must undergo full type testing at an NRTL lab to retain or claim that designation. Making those claims without supporting data is not only misleading—it’s unsafe and non-compliant.

Because many firms quote without considering compatibility, engineering, testing, or certification. Spike Electric provides complete, standards-based quotes so you’re not left paying for mistakes down the line.

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