Blueprints Deciphered: How to Read Commercial Plans (For Electricians)

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If it weren’t for drawings, most of us in the construction industry wouldn’t have as much of a grasp on exactly what we were to build. The bulk of the building trades would be running amok haphazardly building things across the jobsite with no rhyme or reason! In today’s episode of Electrician U, Dustin walks us through how to read a set of Commercial Blueprints.

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The biggest difference between a Residential set of drawings and a Commercial set of drawings is the engineering. Residential plans are drawn primarily from an architectural standpoint as there is much less going on. A commercial set of drawings is much larger and more complex and requires engineering (on top of the architectural) to design ALL the systems to work together to perform what the end customer needs. The architectural set of drawings for commercial looks much the same as in a residential set, just a larger scope. You will have overall views, elevations, and details but will also have things like roof plans and reflected ceiling plans. The RCP’s will show LAYOUT of light fixtures, but not the circuitry, and are a good resource to check vs. the electrical set to make sure everything is cohesive. There will also generally be structural drawings (which show the buildings structure) and maybe even a civil set (which covers the major utilities underground and the site itself).
The Mechanical and Plumbing sets show the buildings systems for these two trades. Always check the mechanical and plumbing schedules vs. what is shown on the electrical sheets to make sure you are roughing in the appropriate conduit and wire as well as from the proper voltage panels. The drawings don’t always line up and it’s good to identify issues early on. Also worth note for these two sets are the larger ducts/pipes. It will show general locations for these so you can see where NOT to install something electrical that conflicts with the location.
The electrical set is much larger and has more detail for a commercial set of drawings. The front electrical sheet usually contains notes and symbols. This will help us navigate what is shown on the rest of the sheets. There will be a lighting page showing all the different fixtures as well as the switches, dimmers, and sensors that control them. It may be helpful to mark up the sheet with colors to help you identify circuitry/fixture/switch types easier. The power sheet will show the locations of all the power type devices along with the panels they are being fed from. Many power drawings will also show you how many wires and what size to run for each circuit. Again, these are drawn by an engineer and are usually very thorough. You may even see a kitchen drawing that will show the electrical rough in for the kitchen equipment if there is one on your project.
Also within the electrical set of drawings there will be a one-line diagram. This diagrammatically shows the panels, transformers (if there are any), and large switchgear. This drawing will show us what panels are being fed from what along with conduit and wire sizes. A grounding plan is usually available as well to guide us through what size grounding conductors to put where. Most commercial buildings have more than one panel in them, and a panel schedule sheet will also be available to us. This will give us general information about our panel(s) along with an itemized list of what breakers are being used for all the equipment.
We hope this has been an insightful look into how to read a set of commercial Blueprints. Is there a topic you would like to see discussed here on Electrician U? Leave us a comment in the comments section and let us know. Please continue to follow Dustin Stelzer and Electrician U as we are constantly updating our content to assist our followers in becoming the best electricians that they can be.

#electrician #electrical #electricity #blueprints #deciphered #how # to #read #commercial #plans

[illumiNelz]

3rd year apprentice for an electric company. Most don't really take the time to let you even LOOK at the prints, this video does so much help for someone like myself. Thank you!

[brandonkeefe]

Noob here. Your videos have helped me so much when it comes to knowing how and why and when it comes to tools what to use when and where. I work with a buddy of mine who has been an electrician for 4 years and I’m a noob but he said he is surprised I know as much as I do because he has had some guys who are just ignorant when it comes to the process but I credit you for a lot of the things I’ve learned

[ElectricRob]

Great overview of a set of commercial plans! - as a commercial electrical engineer who has been on the other side of these prints for decades, I appreciate seeing this overview from your position as the installing electrician. Kudo's for reviewing ALL of the prints, including Architectural, Mechanical and Plumbing - a great point to make for new electricians (and on larger projects you will even have Civil and Landscaping and even Structural plans to review). Buildings are a lot of interconnected/intertwined systems from many trades, so it's great that you emphasize getting that overall feel for the whole building. I would also add that these types of projects are many times designed to what is called a "basis of design" - a term meaning that much of the equipment is just selected as a "placeholder" for the final equipment, which could be from a number of different manufacturers, so the plans end up being a bit generic. And you nicely showed how you take this "diagrammatic" set of plans and carefully add your installation details such as the j-boxes, actual routing, etc. to allow you to build it, and present an accurate set of as-built or "record" drawings for the building owner. Finally, I do appreciate your comment about engineers making mistakes - I'm the first to admit that I have never produced a "perfect" set of prints, and have always felt that building buildings takes close teamwork between designers and installers. Well done sir!

[hydrochris]

Industrial plans next? That would be great to see the differences

[tonydyer]

Great job explaining commercial blueprints, D. I admire your passion and dedication to electrical education.

[Enlightn]

Great summary for such a short video, plan reading could be an entire series. You do a great job putting a lot into a small package.

•When "speaking with engineers" get it in writing or I guarantee you any verbal directive that ends up not working out will be conveniently "forgotten." at the end of the job your stuck holding the bag.

•Consult with shop drawings from equipment manufacturers if they call for circuitry or other extras beyond original scope of work you're due a change order. The contract was signed on the engineered plans not company X's shop drawings.

•Once you have more than 10 guys under your supervision it's unlikley you'll have any tools in you hands other than a tape measure pencil and phone. Keeping the crew going with materials, info, and guidance is full time job.

[chrisf]

Thank you 2 years in commercial and still working on blue print familiarty. some foreman try to help out and want us to use blue prints but the two foreman ive worked with the most hate it when guys look at the blueprints they want it done how they say which I get. and also with rfi's and updated plans they keep on their ipads and you never see those. But trying to get more familiar and be able to read and interpret plans thanks for the help!

[supercadet]

Love that Junction box layout. Always thought something like that would make sense.

[curtw]

I was the design engineer of record on a manufacturing plant before I retired. Electrical plans had 250 sheets. Good presentation.

[frstgear]

great video, I love the overhead view. What I think might be more beneficial is if you took the dwg files showed them on a computer versus an overhead shot.

[jacques-michaeloosthuizen]

Thank you for the video. I am a graduate electrical engineer and have designed a few of these comercial plans in the 13 months I have been doing this. I have made some mistakes but always try to correct them asap and it does help when the contractors just ask the question if they are not sure about something on the plans. Some times the mistakes just come from the drafters not understanding the engineers markups and they just slip through the cracks unnoticed. It was ingeresting to see the difference in the style the plans are presented in the US vs here in Australia as the symbols used are very different from what I am use to.

[krytera]

We just looked over some Commercial plans today in my electrical course too so now I get to watch this too

[whzcsbq]

Keep it up bro I've learned so much from you! Getting my License down here in South Tampa Florida!

[Info.isfree.openmind]

The reflected ceiling plan also show with shades of black/white or dots if the ceiling is hard lid or drop tile or concrete. This is important for rough-in of back boxes and mounting of devices, the RCP will help giving and idea to know what type of hardware is needed for mounting devices, lighting, fans, etc.

[billymendoza]

My brother my prayers have been answered thank you

[brianmcdermott]

Great info. well explained, Thank you Dustin. 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[paulhalverson]

Image looks considerably improved- new camera? Set looks great too. As usual, great teaching video. Thanks so much!

[ericfransen]

Heads up for anyone installing/bidding AV infrastructure for a Performing Arts Theater, Concert Space, or an AV intense Multipurpose gym etc, the conduit required always takes those who haven't done one by surprise. There is a boat load of it and AV signal separation issues as well. Look for pathways especially in building shells or existing buildings. In these venues there is often an AV technical transformer and Isolated Grounding system.
For coordination, we just went through a Navisworks exercise to coordinate with all trade in 3d for pathways etc. Seems to be going well.

[rylegaming]

As a 3rd year Electrical Engineering Student, I always wanted to learn how I can do what electrician do like practical not just by solving theory. I love solving thats why I enter i electrical engineering course but I thought it is more good if I have a knowledge about what electrician do so that we have a good understanding about what will to do.

[michaelhinchey]

How do you handle prints with junction boxes when someone else is running a certain area? Seems like everyone just wants to throw a junction box where ever they want.