Blueprints Deciphered: How to Read Residential Plans (For Electricians)
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Most of us in the industry know that in order for us to build something, we must have blueprints to understand exactly WHAT is needed. If it weren’t for those drawings, the framer, concrete contractors, the plumbers, even us electrical contractors wouldn’t know what or how to build it. But knowing HOW to interpret what is on those blueprints is an art in itself. In today’s episode of Electrician U, Dustin explains how to read and understand what is on a residential set of drawings.
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For most residential drawings, they will usually always be an “A” set of drawings. This stands for an Architectural set. Commercial drawings usually have the full complement (Architectural, Structural, Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, etc.). This is because in a residence, the architect is the one who draws it, and the architectural components are the most prominent features. Sets of drawings for different buildings will be different in the way they look. So, what is on one set of drawings won’t be the same for the next building.
The first sheet of a residential set of drawings shows an overall of the lot itself- the house, trees, pool (if one is being installed), etc. It will also have an address and/or a map, which can be very useful when coordinating getting manpower and deliveries to the site. It may also have important details regarding trees- to have us stay away from them when installing underground so as not to disturb the root ball or have the wiring destroyed years down the road as the tree grows.
The architectural details portion of the drawings will take up the most sheets. If it is an existing residence, there may be a Demo plan. This is very helpful in understanding which components of the building are being removed and which ones are staying/being added to or changed. There will be Elevation drawings- both interior and exterior. These show what the building will look like if you are facing a particular wall. The exterior will show the different siding types- whether its stone or siding. Interior elevations will show the wall covering materials/bookcases/cabinets- super useful to the electrician as it will show you WHERE/HEIGHTS to rough in for things like sconces or receptacles above the counter.
If there are electrical detail sheets, that is a huge plus! Not every set of residential drawing has these- usually only the larger residences. Smaller houses or track type homes may require the electrician to do the full layout and figure out what goes where. If the electrical sheets are present, look at the legend- usually the first sheet in the electrical series. It will delineate the different types of fixtures/switches/receptacles. The lighting fixtures will usually be linked together with an arc line showing which fixtures are to be linked together under the same switch leg. It will also show you the different fixtures. So you know whether it is a can light or a chandelier (and what type of box to install) and rough it in appropriately. The power set will tell you whether it’s a single receptacle or a quad and will also usually tell you if it’s above counter or below (you will still need to refer to the architectural elevations to figure out HOW HIGH to rough the box in.
Homeruns are usually left up to the installing electrician to figure out which string will be receiving the homerun cable itself. Mark these on the drawings (usually the closest to the panel to cut down on length). It is also helpful to mark off as you get homeruns/boxes/interconnecting wiring installed so you know what’s still left to do. Just make sure you make the markings in a way that you and everyone working with you understands so mistakes are lessened.
We hope this has been helpful in understanding how to read a set of residential drawings. 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.
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Best way to learn Prints as an apprentice when not being specifically taught. After you finish an area, find time to look at the prints to see the 2D version of what you just built in the 3D world. And how they came up with what you built. This could be before work the next day. During lunch. After work.
I have to thank you. I'm currently in school to get my residential wiring certificate. Your videos show me things I'm not learning. I appreciate the videos very much
School doesn't not teach Sh@t. Too bad they make use waste so much time and money on it.
A good review of cabinet plans with dimensions will save a ton of headaches and re-work.
If possible get an appliance schedule so you know what sort of voltage and amperage for built in appliances.
Checking exterior elevations will be handy to determine material type of exterior finishes so you can prepare properly for rough-in with masons, siding, or stucco installers.
Plans are just that, plans. A good field foreman will be in contact with GC's/owners rep and subs to find out what will actually be installed. If owners are involved there will be changes. Don't expect to get that memo without initiating the conversation.
Please do a lengthy one on commercial and industrial
Another good piece of information is to always check framing plans to see if there are any missing windows or optional doors missing or if they’re framed wrong. Countless times I’ve had to move wires because a window or door got missed. If you notice it’s missing just roughly template it out and put your wires far away from it so they can add it and you won’t need to make a return trip.
Great video . Very clear and to the point 👍
Awesome video! Thanks
Hey Dustin could you do a video on objectionable current on the neutral bar or some more in depth videos on transformers ?
Great info. Thanks Justin.
If your closet has an island and a chandelier, you might be a rich person 😂
reminds me of one of my friends, she had a fancy one bedroom apartment, but the closet was big enough that she converted it into her daughters room.
I’ve seen it and I believe me or not they’re house was on the lower side of “rich people” houses
You should make one for cabinet drawings, how to lay out kitchens properly, cabinet drawings was a large tackle for me when I got thrown them on a 7500 sqft house and had no clue what I was looking at
how’d you end up doing it with no clue 😅
@@luisestrada5680 made about 45 calls to my boss per room
not that familiar with the residential prints as i work the industrial side of things( with their own set of symbols). but with many years of experience in the industry, i can say that understanding the prints is by far the key to learning the trade.
Can you do a video over control circuits
Nice video and very good information. Love your content.
Is there a place where I can download a set of real residencial plans to print for studying purposes? Thanks.
I am always curious at the entire print when I get plans… my inherent nosiness has helped me grow my business in general but is a key part of me doing my work in a way that cooperates well with other trades
I’m a Licensed Industrial Journeyman in WI. I want to pivot and gain residential experience. The goal is to use this experience when I earn my masters, I will have the residential experience to take on those jobs. Video on pivoting? I don’t see a future in starting an industrial contracting business because of the union and other big companies around…
I do alot of renovations, so my prints are usually shit because half the time the homeowner comes and changes everything
Wired in a custom home that had the worse architect do all the drawings. He had laundry chute 3' out of position causing at least 8 home runs moved twice. Never had the pull downs steps in drawing so had to move more home runs. Never shown elevation so one of the four outdoor receptacles was only 8" above patio outdoor hose bib had to be turned so hose could be attached. Could not open kitchen drawer unless you opened the dishwasher because he neglected to add a 3" filler strip between dishwasher and 90 degree cabinet turn. So much easier when you have accurate prints and no major changes at end of job.
I love you Dustin
Hey Electrician u what's better to use copper or aluminum to run to your shed or garage I wanna run 6 gauge wire to a shed that's 275 feet I know coppers more expensive, also most ill run in this shed is an air compressor but voltage drop I keep trying go to calculator but hard to figure out drop or I need bigger? Thanks love your videos
I WISH I SEE THE FLOOR PLAN SOMEWHERE(UPLOADED) SO I COULD MODEL AND DO A 3D DESIGN OF IT.
Kind of surprised there were no subpanels. To go from the main panel out to a subpanel and then eight or nine rooms particularly for how multiple hot water heaters
hey so i’m on a lab with 3 floors and each panel location we’re installing/ running racks of 3/4 / 1” to each lab/break areas. i noticed on the plans as the first panel has 400 amp main but it also supply’s the rest (9-12)100 amp main disconnects. i’m not sure how it’s able to supply effectively unless it’s paralleled? but i’m just curious about my job
Prints never help if the home owner changes there mind and locations on everything.
Extra $$$
@@Ephesians-ts8ze for the boss lol
i read prints daily that have MEP on them for houses way smaller that 8ksqft. nearly every house in Fl. has MEP regardless of size. we do habitat houses that are 1k sqft with full prints.
Hell yeah what i need can you do commercial??
What program is used to make these types of plans?
Revit generally. Could also be autocad, rhino, or bluebeam as an accessory to those main CAD software.
How do you decide which type of lights, outlets and switches to buy and install?
With a set of prints, there should also be a set of specs or specifications. It might be a few lines on one of the sheets, or it may be a several hundred page book. Various firms often have their "basic" specs and can tweak it for each customer.
The specs lay out things like receptacle heights, switch heights, orientation, style, manufacturer, etc. What type of wire or conduit to use, etc. The prints tell you what to do, and the specs tell you how to do it.
Without specs, it's up to the contractor.
I know this was 9 months ago uploaded video, but instruction video like this, would be way more easier understood if those explained symbols was up on screen and instructor voice was over it without any other visual distraction.
Thanks.
When do you find the time on site to read the plans in detail? It would take hours to go over the whole electrical section let alone the mechanical etc
You take 5% of the time you have to spend otherwise for return trips and re-wirings ;) Seriously though, ground work really is worth the time you spend and you just need to mentally see that as the main work.
@@patrikwihlke4170 Thank you. 5 percent makes sense 👌
Blueprint Nerd - Present!
Blue prints, were not the problem. One lines, controls circuits and logic circuits were the ones that gave me trouble, and as net zero, and home automation get more prevalent, there are more and more of them showing up.
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4:20 Please please for the love of God (and future owners) don't label the electric panel with things like "Megan's room". It's an absolute pain in the ass if the house changes hands (which it inevitably will), or even if Megan decides to change rooms in a few years (which is also inevitable). "North Kids Bedroom", or even things like "Bedroom 1,2,3" (going in a reasonable clockwise order) works so much better.
Crappy journeyman yelling at the apprentices to get away from the plans. If an apprentice is interested in plans a good teacher will bring the plans into the daily/weekly (or however periodic) planning sessions so the apprentices can learn how what they are doing relates to The Plan™ for that job.
Plans are very expensive, really an apprentice has no business near them. Alot of what is on the prints is frequently changed on the fly anyway.
You must not be in the trade because the majority of J-men don't teach. If anything they will show you how to mount a box and pull wire. Stuff that an apprentice needs to do his job. Beyond that you're expected to educate yourself. No J-man is gonna teach you about ohms law or electrical theory.
The time a J-man spends teaching you is time lost doing his own work while his is frequently more important, such as labeling and pulling circuits while anyone off the turnip truck can wire a recep.
@@beeps7there is always time for teaching.
But there is a time for everything.
First things first.
Learn how to work well and eficiently, then learn other more specific things..