There are many pages that the electrician needs to be familiar with on a set of plans or blueprints. Unfortunately, many electricians make the mistake of ignoring most pages of the plans that are not the actual electrical pages (E-pages). Always get familiar with other pages of the plans that might affect your electrical installation.

The typical set of prints for a new construction project will begin with many important items that the electrician absolutely must know in order to run an efficient job. The electrical pages are typically located near the back of the overall plan set within what’s commonly referred to as the MPE pages (Mechanical or HVAC, Plumbing, and Electrical).

In the first few pages of the plan set there will be an overall building summary including applicable codes, occupancy classification, construction type, occupant load, seismic design criteria, and fire separation requirements. These things are critical to understand and have a direct relation to the electrician.

The occupancy classification and construction type will dictate the wiring methods permitted. If the building is an assembly occupancy, then wiring methods and rules in NEC^® Article 518 will apply. If the building is type 1 or 2 construction, then nonmetallic sheathed cable will not be permitted unless installed in a raceway type that is acceptable for types 1 or 2 construction in accordance with the NEC^®.

The occupant load will be used to determine the number of required exits, and the number of exits will dictate whether emergency lighting and exit signs are required by the Building Code. If the Building Code requires emergency lighting and exit signs, then the National Electrical Code (NEC) will specify how they are to be circuited and installed.

The seismic design category relates to the building risk category and the severity of the design earthquake ground motion at the site. Certain seismic categories will require additional securing and supporting of luminaires installed in a suspended grid ceiling.

The fire separation requirements will have a direct impact on how the electrician installs boxes, enclosures, and addresses electrical penetrations through rated walls, ceilings, floors or other rated assemblies.

The General Structural Notes (GSN) pages have information for every trade even though the name “General Structural Notes” gives the impression that these pages are only related to those trades responsible for building the overall structure. It is usually in the GSN pages where many electrical trade-related requirements are found. Things like the types of electrical cables or raceways that must be used in order to maintain the integrity of the assigned construction type; whether the project is considered residential, commercial, or industrial; requirements to install in a neat and workman type manner; requirements to use no smaller than a specific wire conductor gauge; requirements to only use copper or aluminum conductors; requirements on when to contact the electrical engineer for guidance or an RFI (request for further information); requirements to only use luminaires or other fixtures that have been specified in the construction documents; rules on which trade is responsible for what.