Small Commercial Electrical Design Course

Lesson 1 • Commercial Power Distribution Overview

Explains how utility power enters a building and is distributed to end loads. Connects utility service types to downstream panel and feeder design decisions.

Lesson 2 • Core Electrical Theory Review

Covers voltage, current, resistance, and power relationships essential for commercial design. Establishes the quantitative foundation used in every subsequent load and circuit calculation.

Lesson 3 • Regulatory Framework for Electrical Design

Surveys the hierarchy of electrical codes, standards, and authority-having-jurisdiction requirements. Clarifies how compliance obligations shape every design decision covered in the course.

Lesson 1 • Lighting and Receptacle Load Calculations

Applies code-prescribed unit load values to floor area for general lighting and receptacle circuits. Produces the largest single load category in most small commercial buildings.

Lesson 2 • Optional Standby and Emergency Load Planning

Identifies loads requiring emergency or standby power and estimates their capacity requirements. Prepares students to integrate backup power systems into the overall service design.

Lesson 3 • Service Entrance and Main Disconnect Sizing

Translates total calculated demand into service conductor ampacity and main overcurrent device ratings. Produces the service sizing documentation required for permit submission.

Lesson 4 • Load Calculation Methodology

Introduces connected load, demand factors, and diversity factors used in commercial calculations. Establishes the systematic approach applied to lighting, receptacle, and equipment loads.

Lesson 1 • Feeder Design and Conductor Sizing

Applies feeder load calculations, ampacity correction factors, and voltage drop analysis to size feeders. Produces feeder schedules that connect panelboards to the main service.

Lesson 2 • Branch Circuit Fundamentals

Defines branch circuit types, maximum load limits, and conductor sizing rules for commercial applications. Provides the design rules applied to every outlet and fixture circuit in the building.

Lesson 3 • Lighting Circuit Layout and Design

Covers grouping fixtures into circuits, switching arrangements, and circuit homerun routing. Connects lighting layout decisions to panelboard scheduling and load balancing.

Lesson 4 • Panelboard Scheduling and Load Balancing

Teaches circuit assignment to panelboard positions and phase balancing to minimise neutral current. Produces the panelboard schedule drawing required on all commercial permit sets.

Lesson 1 • Arc Flash Hazard Considerations

Explains incident energy concepts, working distance, and labelling requirements for commercial equipment. Integrates arc flash awareness into equipment selection and specification decisions.

Lesson 2 • Overcurrent Device Coordination

Introduces selective coordination principles and time-current curve analysis for breakers and fuses. Ensures upstream devices do not trip during downstream faults, maintaining maximum uptime.

Lesson 3 • Transformer Selection and Sizing

Covers kVA sizing, impedance, winding configurations, and temperature ratings for dry-type transformers. Ensures transformers are correctly sized for downstream loads and fault-current contribution.

Lesson 4 • Switchboard and Switchgear Selection

Covers ratings, bus configurations, and short-circuit withstand requirements for main distribution equipment. Connects service sizing calculations to specific equipment specifications.

Lesson 1 • Service and System Bonding

Addresses main bonding jumper sizing, supply-side bonding, and separately derived system grounding. Ensures the neutral-to-ground bond is made at the correct single point in the system.

Lesson 2 • Grounding System Fundamentals

Distinguishes grounding from bonding and explains their separate safety functions. Establishes the conceptual framework for all grounding and bonding design decisions.

Lesson 3 • Equipment Grounding and Fault-Current Paths

Sizes equipment grounding conductors and verifies low-impedance fault-current return paths. Confirms that overcurrent devices will operate quickly during ground faults.

Lesson 4 • Grounding Electrode System Design

Covers electrode types, installation requirements, and interconnection rules for commercial buildings. Produces a compliant grounding electrode system that meets code minimum requirements.

Lesson 1 • Interior Lighting Layout

Applies spacing criteria and uniformity ratios to produce interior lighting plans for common commercial spaces. Produces the reflected ceiling plan drawing included in permit document sets.

Lesson 2 • Commercial Fixture Selection

Addresses LED technology, fixture efficacy, colour rendering, and photometric data interpretation. Connects fixture performance specifications to energy and illuminance calculation outcomes.

Lesson 3 • Lighting Controls and Occupancy Sensing

Covers occupancy sensors, daylight harvesting, time scheduling, and dimming control strategies. Integrates controls into the lighting design to meet energy code mandatory requirements.

Lesson 4 • Energy Code Compliance for Lighting

Applies lighting power density limits and mandatory control requirements from commercial energy codes. Produces the lighting compliance documentation submitted with permit applications.

Lesson 1 • Specifications and Submittal Requirements

Introduces specification writing for electrical materials, installation workmanship, and testing requirements. Ensures the written specifications align with and supplement the drawing set.

Lesson 2 • Schedules, Details, and Notes

Covers panelboard schedules, equipment schedules, installation details, and general notes sheets. Completes the document set with the reference information contractors need for installation.

Lesson 3 • Riser Diagrams and Single-Line Drawings

Teaches construction of electrical riser diagrams showing service, feeders, and panel hierarchy. Provides the system-level overview drawing required on all commercial permit sets.

Lesson 4 • Power and Lighting Plan Production

Addresses floor plan annotation with circuits, homerun arrows, device locations, and fixture schedules. Produces the primary drawing sheets reviewed by plan checkers and used by electricians.

Lesson 1 • Design Review and Defence

Presents the completed design to peers and instructors for technical critique and code compliance review. Develops the communication skills needed to respond to plan checker and client feedback.

Lesson 2 • Project Scope and Design Criteria

Defines the building programme, occupancy type, utility service, and design constraints for the capstone project. Establishes the project brief that drives all subsequent design decisions.

Lesson 3 • Load Calculation and Service Design

Applies load calculation methodology to the project building and sizes the service entrance. Produces the demand calculation worksheet that supports all downstream sizing decisions.

Lesson 4 • Complete Drawing Set Assembly

Assembles all drawing sheets, schedules, details, and notes into a coordinated permit-ready document set. Applies drawing standards and cross-referencing to produce a professional deliverable.