NEC Proposal - Documentation

[Robert Maddox]

Any thoughts regarding adding an item in Article 110 that establishes criteria requiring and defining documentation of electrical work? (i.e.- requiring plans, risers, schedules, etc. and degree of detail required).

It appears to me, this would help eliminate "design" that is created in the field "on the fly". It would give AHJ a tool regarding the minimum level of documentation require in order that the AHJ could better see / deterimine the intent and extend of work to be performend.

Any thoughs welcomed.

 

[petersonra]

Don't we have enough badly thoughtout "helpful" things like this already?

 

[Bob NH]

It is customary in the construction industry that designs for regulated technical trades such as electrical and plumbing rely heavily on identifying a result that is required, and leave a lot of the details to those in the field who are installing the equipment, and to field engineers who are able to resolve any issues or conflicts. Many of the details are controlled by codes such as the electrical and plumbing codes, construction specifications, and definition of interfaces with specified product units.

The level of detail is usually only that necessary to permit the construction to be completed by or under the direction of someone skilled in the applicable trade or profession.

Critical performance items such as structural locations, structural details, and other details essential to performance are included in the drawings or specifications.

This is in contrast to the practice in manufacturing where every detail is provided on drawings.

I have done engineering in both conditions and I think the processes work quite well as they are usually applied.

Much more detailed engineering in the one-of-a-kind business of most construction would dramatically increase the engineering required to prepare constuction drawings, and would also increase the number of errors.

Requiring more detailed engineering would increase the cost without increasing the value of the product.