When to run this review
The last stage before a project leaves the office is the one most likely to be rushed. A structured review turns that final scan into a checklist that can be repeated on every job, so nothing important is left to memory.
Run it once the drawings are complete and the calculations are final, but before the set is issued for construction or tender. The aim is not to redesign the project, only to confirm that the inputs are sound and that every document agrees with the others.
A review is also a good moment to check the small things that carry a lot of weight: a wrong tag, a missing note or a schedule that no longer matches its drawing. These are the comments a reviewer would otherwise raise, and catching them first saves a round of correspondence.
Inputs and assumptions
- Confirm the supply details: voltage, phases, earthing system and available fault level.
- Check that connected loads and demand assumptions match the client's brief.
- Verify site conditions such as ambient temperature, altitude and wet or corrosive areas.
- Note any special locations that need additional protection.
- Confirm the standard that applies to the project and the edition in force.
- Check that anything agreed verbally has been recorded as a design assumption in writing.
Calculations
- Voltage drop is within the limits set for each circuit, not only for the longest run.
- Protective device ratings coordinate with cable current-carrying capacity.
- Fault-loop and disconnection requirements are satisfied at the far end of every circuit.
- Breaking capacity of every device exceeds the prospective fault current at its point.
- Selectivity works between upstream and downstream devices for the expected fault levels.
- Grouping and derating factors have been applied where cables share a route.
- Motor, lift and other heavy loads are checked for starting conditions, not only steady state.
Drawings and schedules
- Every circuit on the single-line diagram appears on the relevant panel schedule.
- Cable sizes, types and lengths match between the drawings and the cable schedule.
- Symbols and tags are consistent across all drawings and match the legend.
- Cross-references between plans, risers and schematics are correct.
- Floor plans, routes and containment match the site survey rather than an earlier sketch.
- Detail drawings referenced from a plan actually exist in the set.
Panels and equipment
- Spare ways and spare capacity are provided where the brief requires them.
- Panel dimensions and cable entry positions suit the available space and access.
- Device data in the schedule matches the offered or specified equipment.
- Labels and circuit descriptions on the panel schedule will still make sense to the person standing in front of the board.
Quick check table
The table groups the main points by what to confirm and where to look.
| Check | Confirm | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Supply data | Voltage, fault level, earthing | Brief and utility information |
| Voltage drop | Within limit at the far end | Calculation notes |
| Protection | Device rating versus cable capacity | Schedules and device data |
| Cross-reference | Circuits appear on every document | Plans and schematics |
| Site conditions | Environment and special areas | Survey notes |
Documentation and issue
- The document set is complete: drawings, schedules, specification and estimate.
- Revision numbers and dates are updated and consistent on every sheet.
- The issue status is clear, so the reader knows whether the set is for tender, review or construction.
- The material list matches the drawings it accompanies.
- Titles, project name and client details are correct on every sheet.
- The set is exported in the formats the recipient needs, such as PDF or DXF.
Reviewing on a live model
A checklist is far quicker to apply when the drawings, schedules and calculations all come from one source. GorkyCAD is a browser-based CAD system in which the single-line diagram, plans, panels and cable schedule are produced from one electrical model, with checks against IEC 60364 built around that model.
Because everything is linked, a corrected cable size or device rating flows through to the schedules and the material list, which removes a whole class of review comments. You can open the editor free of charge, without installing anything or entering a card.
See how the model keeps documents in sync →
FAQ
How long should a design review take?
For a typical project the checklist itself takes under an hour. It is not a full redesign; it is a structured confirmation that nothing obvious has been missed before the set is issued.
Who should carry out the review?
Ideally someone other than the original designer. A fresh pair of eyes catches mismatches between drawings and schedules that the author has learned to read past.
What if the review finds a design error?
Record it, correct the model, and re-run the affected checks. A review that finds a real problem before issue has done its job.