Electrical Design Process - Part One


The electrical Design is a continuing process; it is hard to define when it begins and when it ends. The electrical Design is commonly broken into discrete stages, allowing the electrical Designer to present an integrated design package and the client to commit to proceeding to the next stage. 



Sequence of Electrical Design Process

  • STEP 1: Client Request for electrical design Services, in this step the client must provide the proposed scope and his budget estimate of the project. 

  • STEP 2: Planning Meeting between the Client and the consultant for Clarifying project scope, budget and determination of contract delivery method.(for contract delivery methods, please review Course PM-1: Tender Documents Preparation).

  • STEP 3: determination of Site Visit Trip Date to verify the proposed scope, actual project constraints so the design can be done correctly. 

  • STEP 4: Client Approval of Program Submission as per the following steps:
  1. Consultant to Establish draft Program Submission dates. 
  2. Consultant to Submit Draft Program for Client preview. 
  3. Consultant to incorporate comments and submit Final Program to Client. 
  4. Client Program Approval. 

  • STEP 5: Start first phase of Design as per the following steps:
  1. developing a conceptual design based on Client requirements and actual project constraints 
  2. Conceptual design Submission 
  3. Client Review and Comments 
  4. Client Approval. 

  • STEP 6: start second phase of design as per the following steps:
  1. Gathering input data for starting Preliminary design stage 
  2. Preliminary design Submission 
  3. Client Review and Comments 
  4. Client Approval. 

  • STEP 7: Start third phase of Design as per the following steps:
  1. Gathering input data for starting developed design stage 
  2. Developed design Submission 
  3. Client Review and Comments 
  4. Client Approval. 

  • STEP 8: Start fourth and final phase of Design as per the following steps:
  1. Gathering input data for starting detailed design stage 
  2. Detailed design Submission 
  3. Client Review and Comments 
  4. Client Approval. 

  • STEP 9: Designer to finalize the Documents and Estimate for beginning of tendering phase. 




Stages of electrical design

The electrical design includes four stages as follows:

  1. Conceptual design stage,
  2. Preliminary design stage,
  3. Developed design stage,
  4. Detailed design stage.



First: Conceptual design stage





  • Conceptual designs are outline solutions for a required design. 
  • This phase places the greatest demand on the designer in terms of creative thinking, when the designers choose a solution, they must also think about is there a way to achieve the same purpose with a different easier solution. 




Typical Issues to Be Considered in Conceptual Design stage


Some of the issues to be considered during the Conceptual Design Stage are:

  1. Feasibility of Alternative Sites. 
  2. Regulatory Restrictions (e.g., parking, zoning, building codes, or disabled access). 
  3. Natural Conditions (e.g., topography, climate, considerations, and orientation). 
  4. Input from Consultants (e.g., landscape architect, geotechnical engineer, civil engineer, etc.). 
  5. Input from Groups with Jurisdictional Interest (e.g., environmental impact statements). 
  6. Input from Public Agencies (e.g., zoning, planning, building department, fire department). 
  7. Environmental Hazards. 
  8. Input from Groups with Community Interest (e.g., community organizations, historic preservation organizations). 
  9. Access to Utilities. 



Electrical design activities in Conceptual Design stage

During Conceptual Design, the Electrical Design Team must complete the following typical activities:

  1. Review of client requirements including reliability, redundancy, and efficiency. 
  2. Establish design criteria and develop functional services brief. 
  3. Investigate interface requirements with existing buildings and equipment. 
  4. Establish hazardous area classification if applicable. 
  5. Review preliminary fire safety report. 
  6. Review applicable authority codes and standards. 
  7. Establish contacts with utility companies. 
  8. Calculate Total load estimates (W/m2). 
  9. Assign Main supply methodology. 
  10. Assign Standby power requirements. 
  11. Assign Main plant space requirements. 
  12. Assign Emergency lighting concept. 
  13. Assign Earthing methodology. 
  14. Review concepts for significant and unusual health and safety risks relevant to the design. 



Electrical design outputs in Conceptual Design stage

The following deliverables are to be included in a summary report at the completion of the Conceptual Design Stage:

  • Drawings: Sketch drawings (may comprise ‘marked-up’ architectural drawings) including preliminary plant room requirements and services routes. 

  • Specifications: no specifications can be produced in this stage. 

  • Reports: 
  1. Concept services brief – to establish available system concepts and a broad report investigating available options and recommendations, and definition of system requirements and key assumptions. 
  2. Design standards to be used. 



Notes for Conceptual Design stage
  1. Concept and preliminary design phases are often combined on smaller projects. 
  2. Tendering at this stage unlikely to result in ‘like for like’ bids. 
  3. No co-ordination completed at this stage. 



Second: Preliminary Design Stage


The preliminary design stage bridges the gap between the conceptual design and the developed design phase.


In this task, the overall system configuration is defined, and layouts of the project will provide early project configuration.





Typical Issues to Be Considered in Preliminary Design stage


Some of the issues to be considered during the Preliminary Design Stage are:

  1. Client approval of concept services design and budgetary implications. 
  2. Updated fire engineering report. 
  3. Power authority requirements/constraints. 
  4. Client approved architectural, structural, and other services concept designs. 
  5. Design time schedule. 
  6. Preliminary service loadings. 
  7. Long-term Flexibility Plan for Growth and Adaptive Reuse. 
  8. Cost and Schedule Implications of Design Choices. 
  9. Refinement of Design Ideas (based on natural conditions in order to optimize building performance). 

Electrical design activities in Preliminary Design stage


During Preliminary Design, the Electrical Design Team must complete the following typical activities:

  1. Assess supply utility requirements with local authorities. 
  2. Initial sizing of major plant (transformers, generators, and main switchboards. 
  3. Load estimates based on major plant requirements plus W/m2 for general areas. 
  4. Identification of major service routes. 
  5. Location and capacity of main load centers. 
  6. General area lighting layouts. 
  7. General area power distribution methodology (use of perimeter trunking, etc.). 
  8. Develop services route requirements, both horizontal and vertical and space co-ordination with other trades. 
  9. Define interface requirements with other services. 
  10. Identification of specific earthing and surge protection requirements. 
  11. Identify any special health and safety risks that may present in construction or design and consider alternative, lower risk, options. 
  12. Review preliminary design for significant and unusual health and safety risks the design may present during construction and maintenance. 



Electrical design outputs in Preliminary Design stage


The following deliverables are to be included in a summary report at the completion of the Preliminary Design Stage:

  • Drawings: 
  1. Single line diagram showing major plant and major distribution (breakers/cables unsized). 
  2. Layout drawings indicating plant room locations, risers and primary service routes. 
  3. Typical area lighting (reflected ceiling plan) and power layouts or schedules. 

  • Specifications: 
  1. Outline specifications. 
  2. Preliminary equipment schedules for major plant. 
  3. Generic lighting/appliance types. 

  • Reports: 
  1. Design features (options) report (with agreed option to take to developed design). 
  2. Preliminary electrical equipment heat loads. 
  3. Energy efficiency analysis. 
  4. Lightning protecting assessment.
  5. Preliminary building services interface matrix. 
  6. Highlight ‘significant and unusual’ buildability and health and safety issues. 


Notes for Preliminary Design stage

  1. Cost estimates at this stage generally cannot be on a full elemental basis, as final distribution is not well defined. 
  2. Systems could be priced by vendors at this stage but unlikely to get like for like comparison. 



In the next Article, I will continue explaining other electrical design stages. So, keep following.



2 comments:

  1. Wow, what an eye-opening read! I never considered this angle before, and your unique perspective has given me a newfound appreciation for the subject.
    Electronics Store UK

    ReplyDelete