Confirm first that the project means switchgear and not a switchboard, then trace each lineup from the one-line into the specification: drawout power circuit breakers, the protective relays and the relaying diagrams, the arc mitigation methods marked on the one-line, and whether arc-resistant construction is selected. Then check that the room plan and sections give space to rack and withdraw breakers and any arc exhaust path the specification requires.
Assemble the review package
Gather the electrical one-line with relay and metering functions, the switchgear elevation and schedule, the electrical room plan and sections with ceiling heights and clearances, the grounding plan, the structural pad and seismic details, the controls or SCADA drawings, and the issued Section 26 23 00 with Section 26 05 73 if it is invoked. Review one lineup from its main breaker to its largest feeder before assuming another lineup matches.
WBDG publishes UFGS 26 23 00: Low-Voltage Switchgear as a public guide-specification reference (accessed October 18, 2026). Use your project’s issued specification and amendments for the actual comparison; the guide specification does not automatically govern your project. The checklist below is an original suggested review workflow, not a reproduction of the UFGS requirements.
Eight checks to run against the issued set
Use one record per location or system. The CSV contains the same eight prompts plus fields for source revisions, observed evidence, the review owner, the decision, and closure references.
| Check | Sources to compare | Question to resolve |
|---|---|---|
| Switchgear or switchboard | Section notes + one-line + equipment schedule | Does the equipment the one-line calls for match the section in the project manual, and is the same item not specified under both Section 26 23 00 and Section 26 24 13? |
| Ratings and withstand | Ratings article + one-line | Are the main bus, short-circuit, and bus withstand ratings stated, and is the available fault current the section refers to shown on the drawings? |
| Drawout power breakers | Protective Device and Drawout Breakers articles + one-line | Are breakers shown as drawout power circuit breakers, with electrically or manually operated mechanisms and any DC control power the section’s note says must be added? |
| Protective relays | Protective Device and Switchgear Drawings articles + one-line | Are the relay functions and their current transformers shown on the one-line, and are relaying and SCADA diagrams required where the drawings show remote control? |
| Arc mitigation | Arc Mitigation article + one-line | Since the article applies where indicated on the one-line, are zone selective interlocking, maintenance switches, or arc flash detection actually marked at the breakers that need them? |
| Arc-resistant construction | Construction and Arc Resistance Enclosure articles + room sections | If arc-resistant switchgear is selected, do the room sections show the ceiling clearance or the plenum and arc duct route the retained option requires? |
| Racking and working space | Remote Racking and Switchgear Drawings articles + room plan | Is there space in front of the lineup to rack and withdraw breakers, with clearances shown, and is remote racking specified only where the facility wants it? |
| Metering, seismic, and pad | Metering, Seismic, and Foundation for Equipment and Assemblies articles + details | Are meters shown on the one-line, and are the pad and anchorage detailed where the seismic article is retained? |
Worked example: an arc-resistant lineup with nowhere to vent
Illustrative example: the issued Section 26 23 00 selects arc-resistant switchgear with an arc plenum and external arc duct. The electrical room section shows a low ceiling with a cable tray and sprinkler main directly above the lineup, and no arc duct or exhaust location appears on any electrical, mechanical, or architectural sheet.
Ask the electrical engineer to confirm the arc-resistant option and the exhaust arrangement, then coordinate the duct route and discharge location with the architect and mechanical engineer. Recheck the cable tray and sprinkler routing over the lineup and the working space in front of it before closing the item.
Avoid a false conflict
Switchgear and switchboards look alike on a one-line. Drawout breakers, barriers, relays, and arc-resistant construction are what make switchgear larger and costlier, so a room sized for a switchboard is a common finding.
When requirements disagree, follow the project’s document-control and clarification process. Do not assume that drawings always override specifications, or the reverse. Identify the exact sources and request an authorized decision.
Close the issue across the affected documents
Record the location or tag, drawing and specification references, issue dates, observed difference, and the decision needed. Assign an owner and keep the item open until the response identifies the governing requirement. Check the revised drawings and specification references together; a response email alone may leave the issued package inconsistent.
For the overall process, use the guide to drawing and specification conflicts. Mark an inapplicable checklist row with a reason, and distinguish a verified correction from a question that still needs design information.
Where Groundbook fits
Groundbook’s drawing and specification review helps investigate potential disagreements in the documents you supply. Include the relevant specification sections and drawing references, then verify the cited evidence with the responsible reviewers before acting on a finding.