What to Do on a Jobsite Without a Plan

Not all of us are fortunate enough to have a job with an actual valid work plan. Or sometimes, we fail to make a good plan ourselves! In the latest episode of Electrician U, Dustin talks about what to do on a jobsite when you don’t have a plan and not sure where to really start.

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The one thing that you should consider is the NEC. It honestly has the information you need to be able to not only wire your project correctly, but WHERE to place things and HOW MANY. Something else to consider, as far as the NEC goes, is that the Code deals in minimums and maximums. You can always do MORE than the Code requires, but not less. Another good way to look at the building is “what would I do if I lived here”? That is at least a place to start!
So, for the house that Dustin is wiring in the video, the place to start would be where the power comes in, or the service. How big is it and where is it located? From there, know that you will have to have a panel to distribute the power throughout the jobsite. Again, how big is it and where is it located? As a side note, on some jobs, these two pieces will already be in place (in the case of remodels) and may not require anything more than adding circuitry to the existing panel.
The next logical place to figure out would be the receptacle layout. Article 210 of the NEC governs receptacles in dwelling units. In essence, 6 feet from a doorway and then receptacles need to be placed every 12 feet (or within 12 feet from the previous one) along the walls. There are a few exceptions that other sections will need to be referenced such as in kitchens, bathrooms, hallways, exterior locations, and a few other locations. If plans are non-existent or sketchy, you can always look around the job and make some assumptions or educated guesses. You should be able to tell where the kitchen is and be able to locate where power will be needed for the garbage disposal and dishwasher. You can tell where the bathrooms will be located so you can place your GFCI and switches. These items are easy to locate once you know what you are looking for. Water lines and drain lines are dead giveaways as to what will be placed where!
Lighting is a bit of a different animal than standard power and will require input from the owner or GC on the project. But even then, there are things that can be assumed. Can lights should be placed in the CENTER of the hallways. Generally, fixtures are placed in the CENTER of bedrooms with switches located adjacent to the doorway opposite of the doors actual swing. Remember, if there are multiple ways into the same room, you may have to consider installing 3-way or 4-way switching depending on the quantity of entrances into the room.
Another place to look for info is from the other subcontractors. Ask the AV (audio visual) contractor where the TV’s will be placed and what height should you place the power device. Also, another good question to ask, especially in todays era, is “where would the AV rack (if there is one) be placed” so you can provide the necessary items for that.
So, using the NEC as a reference and then logically walking thru the job and placing things where you would think is optimum, is a great place to start if you don’t have an actual plan. Ask questions of the other subs and collaborate. Without an actual plan, if you approach it that way, you can at least get started with your work and will usually allow you to rough in the bulk of the project.
We hope this has been helpful in understanding how to approach a project without an actual work plan in place. Is there a topic you would like to see discussed? Leave a comment in the section below and let us know. Please continue to follow Dustin and Electrician U as we are constantly adding new content to help our followers become the best electricians they can be!