Load calculations on tests

[Bob1_732050808]

I’m studying for the ICC E2 Commercial Electrical Inspector exam and I’ve heard there are several load-calculation questions on the test.

For those of you who inspect in the field (not plan review), how often do you actually perform full load calculations yourselves?

In my area, almost all commercial services are engineered and come in with stamped load calcs already done. On the residential side, we have the standard dwelling-unit/service-sizing methods from Article 220 to check that the service size makes sense, but I rarely have to design a service from a blank sheet of paper.

I’m just trying to get a feel for how much load-calculation work other inspectors actually do in practice, and whether you see that as more of an E2 (field) skill or an E3 (plan review) skill.

 

[augie47]

As you noted, the larger commercial jobs normally have engineered drawings that have the calculations,
As an electrician and an inspector I would occasionally do a calculation on a residence but after you see so many you have decent feel if 200 amps is enough (often based on heat load)
I probably did more calculations on small commercial which didn't require drawings and those were often crap shoots as surprise items were added.
Overall I'd say I did a calculation on about 1 out of 25 jobs.