Confirm the NEC edition and local amendments the authority enforces, then trace services, feeders, panels, equipment, and working space through the one-line, schedules, plans, and other trades’ drawings. AI can flag document conflicts; the electrical engineer confirms calculations and compliance.
What does NFPA 70 cover?
NFPA 70 is the National Electrical Code. NFPA describes the NEC as the benchmark for safe electrical design, installation, and inspection to protect people and property from electrical hazards, and notes that it is enforced in all 50 states.
NFPA’s official NFPA 70 page identifies the 2026 edition as current when checked on October 1, 2026. Confirm the edition, local amendments, and project scope that actually govern the work. The publisher’s newest edition does not establish local adoption.
States and cities adopt specific NEC editions, often with amendments, and many lag the newest edition. NFPA also notes an ongoing reorganization of the code, so article references can differ between editions. Record the edition the authority enforces before checking any reference on the drawings.
Gather the electrical set and the trades it serves
Collect the electrical one-line and riser, panel schedules, power and lighting plans, equipment schedules, electrical room plans, grounding and bonding details, and the electrical specifications. Add the mechanical, plumbing, fire protection, and architectural documents that show equipment the electrical system serves.
Check that the one-line and panel schedules share a revision. Equipment changes by other trades after the electrical design was drawn are a common source of conflict.
Trace the electrical system across disciplines
| Review question | Sources to compare | Decision to record |
|---|---|---|
| Code edition | General notes, specifications, permit information | Resolve conflicting edition references before checking article citations. |
| One-line and schedules | One-line, riser, panel schedules | Match panel names, feeders, and breakers across documents. |
| Equipment served | Mechanical and plumbing schedules, electrical connections | Identify equipment whose electrical data differs between trades. |
| Working space and rooms | Electrical room plans, equipment dimensions, door swings | Ask the engineer to confirm clearances where layouts changed. |
| Special systems | Fire alarm, fire pump, emergency power, and EV documents | Trace circuits to fire protection and life safety equipment to their sources. |
| Grounding and bonding | Details, one-line notes, specifications | Check that the details referenced on the plans exist and agree. |
Use the electrical drawing checklist as the working log. Fire pump power follows the NFPA 20 guide, and emergency sources follow the NFPA 110 and NFPA 111 guides.
Example: a larger rooftop unit is not reflected in the panel schedule
Hypothetical example. The mechanical equipment schedule is revised to a larger rooftop unit with different electrical data, while the electrical panel schedule and one-line still show the original unit’s feeder and breaker.
The current mechanical schedule lists different electrical data for this rooftop unit than the panel schedule and one-line. Please confirm the selected unit and coordinate the feeder, breaker, and disconnect.
The electrical engineer confirms the selected equipment, recalculates where needed, and updates the panel schedule and one-line. The conflict flags a coordination question; the engineer performs any sizing.
Review electrical drawings with Groundbook
Upload the current project PDFs and relevant specifications to Groundbook. Identify the governing issues and add the applicable NFPA 70 reference from a copy you are licensed to use, where the license permits uploading it. State the edition, amendments, review area, and known exclusions in your instructions.
Compare the electrical one-line, panel schedules, plans, and equipment connections with the mechanical, plumbing, fire protection, and architectural documents. Flag conflicting equipment data, missing circuits, and changed rooms. Use the supplied NFPA 70 edition where applicable and cite both sources.
Groundbook links each potential finding to the sheets and schedules involved. Verify the equipment tag, revision, and enforced edition before sending a question to the engineer.
Document review does not perform load, voltage drop, short-circuit, or arc-flash calculations, size conductors, or approve an installation. Those remain with the electrical engineer, the inspector, and the authority having jurisdiction.