AIE - European Association of Electrical Contractors

       

AIE is one of the 5 international founding partners of the Forum for European Electrical Domestic Safety (FEEDS). AIE also participates to Leonardo ENERGY's Home of the Future campaign.

The Electrical Contractor - A Creative and Innovative Adviser

With the increasing complexity of technical installations the private consumer and house owner, as well as the professional specifier or purchasing official are becoming more and more dependent on the knowledge and creativity of the electrical contractor.

Nowadays, the electrician is no longer just a skilled technician. He is an expert adviser who is able to explain to the client the possibilities and advantages of new technology. It is not only the technical aspect but also the environmental impact of the installation.

Automation techniques, including optical fiber technology, micro-processors, and programmable logic controllers, are normal skills of modern electrical contractors.

Electrical contractors of Europe create the technological infrastructure for the future society

Electrical contractors design, install and maintain intelligent systems for all kinds of industrial, commercial and domestic purposes alongside the well-known power and lighting applications. They know how to deal with telecommunications, highway and street lighting, energy management systems, access, fire and security control equipment, lightning protection systems, advertising and identification signs and emergency power generating systems.

As technology advances, electrical contractors carry out an ever-increasing proportion of the value of construction work. Mechanical and electrical installations can account for as much as 60% of the initial cost of a project but this percentage can be much greater when life cycle costs are taken into account.

Development of the European Association of Electrical Contractors in the 21st century

Formed by a few visionary countries to provide an opportunity to reflect together on common problems in 1954, the European Association of Electrical Contractors – AIE – comprises 21 national associations representing 175,000 contractors, a workforce of 900,000 and a turnover of Euro 60 billion.

But the scope of AIE is wider than Europe. NECA USA, ECA South Africa, NECA Australia and FAPECA (Federation of Asian and Pacific Electrical Contractors Associations) are all corresponding members of AIE, and with whom AIE maintains an excellent and strong relationship. Moreover these European and International Electrical Associations have formed the International Forum of Electrical Contractors (IFEC).

The AIE cooperates closely with the European Technical Contractors Committee for the Construction (CEETB) to defend the technical contractors' interest.

International technical standardization is of importance for the electrical contractor and therefore the AIE is a cooperating partner of CENELEC (European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization).

The advisory expertise of the electrical contractor is a vital part of delivering efficiency and quality

As a result of his involvement from the design and installation to commissioning, testing and maintenance, the electrical contractor has a significant contribution to make in achieving best value for clients especially in providing cost-effective design solutions that best meet clients’ needs