Instructor Manual: Herman, Electrical Wiring Industrial, 19e, 2027, 9798214133362; Chapter 1: Plans and Sitework
Instructor Manual
Herman, Electrical Wiring Industrial, 19e, 2027, 9798214133362;
Chapter 1: Plans and Sitework
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Purpose and Perspective of the Chapter......................................................................2
Chapter Objectives........................................................................................................2
What's New in This Chapter........................................................................................2
Chapter Outline.............................................................................................................2
© 2027 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly 1
accessible website, in whole or in part.
, Instructor Manual: Herman, Electrical Wiring Industrial, 19e, 2027, 9798214133362; Chapter 1: Plans and Sitework
PURPOSE AND PERSPECTIVE OF THE CHAPTER
The purpose of this chapter is to understand the information that is provided on construction plans.
Construction plans have many symbols, legends, and scaling that the electrician must understand, and
explanation is provided. Discussion of the requirements of the sitework is covered such as grounding and
bonding and testing of the resistance of ground. With the initial site work, the electrician will install
underground wiring methods and the requirements are covered. Lastly, site drawings and the NEC will
use Metric, English, and Trade Sizes for measurements and this chapter covers the usage and conversion
of all three types of measurements.
CHAPTER OBJECTIVES
After studying this chapter, the student should be able to
01.01 read site plans to determine the location of the specific items.
01.02 identify underground wiring methods.
01.03 perform International System of Units (SI) to English and English to SI conversions.
01.04 calculate metric measurements.
01.05 make measurements using a set of plans and a scale.
01.06 discuss different methods for determining ground resistance.
01.07 discuss the proper grounding of lighting standards and services.
WHAT'S NEW IN THIS CHAPTER
The following elements are improvements in this chapter from the previous edition:
NEC content is updated to the 2026 Code
Improved explanation of the NEC requirements of grounding and bonding
Updates on voice and data service entrance for premises
[return to top]
CHAPTER OUTLINE
The following outline organizes activities (including any existing discussion questions in PowerPoints or
other supplements) and assessments by chapter (and therefore by topic), so that you can see how all the
content relates to the topics covered in the text.
I. Construction Plans Topic
a. Contractor and Electrician need to inspect site plans
b. Need to determine building locations
c. Need to locate underground raceways, enclosures
d. Need to locate staging areas such as trailers for material, tools, break areas
II. Building Location
a. Reference to existing points such as centerline of a street
© 2027 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly 2
accessible website, in whole or in part.
, Instructor Manual: Herman, Electrical Wiring Industrial, 19e, 2027, 9798214133362; Chapter 1: Plans and Sitework
b. Property lines and centerlines can locate the building and other site improvements
c. Surveyors typically “stake out” the construction site and not the electrician
III. Explanation of Plan Symbols (
a. Discuss common symbols
b. Compare and lookup symbols on the blueprints
c. Activity: look at the symbols on the blueprints
IV. Contour Lines
a. Indicates existing and new grade levels
b. Trenches need to have enough depth for cover requirements based upon grade level as
determined by contour lines
c. Ditch work is determined by the contract
V. Benchmark (BM) (
a. Reference point for all elevations
b. Established by the surveyors
c. Related to a city datum or mean sea level value for the site
d. Activity: Locate the BM on the blueprints
VI. Elevations
a. Need to pay attention to the elevations of the building
b. Plans provide need information on the building construction
c. Elevation measurements can be plus or minus from the BM
VII. Invert Elevation
a. Level of lower edge of inside conduit entering a manhole
b. Conduit is usually lower in installation
VIII. Site Plan Scales
a. Scale used to take measurements on building plans
b. Architectural scale uses fractions ¼” = 1’
c. Engineering scale uses factors of 10; 1” = 10’
d. Activity: determine the different scales used on the blueprints
IX. Traditional Scale
a. Discuss the various scales
X. Reading the Scale
a. An example of a 1” = 10’ scale
b. An example of a 1” = 50’ scale
c. Activity: read some measurements on the blueprints
XI. Roller scale as typically used by estimators
XII. Sitework
a. Need to review plans and specifications
b. Be aware of all requirements
c. Installations should be properly planned and times should not conflict with other trades
XIII. Testing the site for grounding requirements
a. Proper grounding is essential for transient currents, electrical noise, lightning strikes to
limit voltage spikes
b. Effectiveness depends on resistivity of the Earth
c. Resistivity varies even within small areas due to soil types, moisture levels, electrolyte
content, and temperature
XIV. Testing
a. Ground resistance testers
© 2027 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly 3
accessible website, in whole or in part.
, Instructor Manual: Herman, Electrical Wiring Industrial, 19e, 2027, 9798214133362; Chapter 1: Plans and Sitework
b. Three main types
I. Wenner four point
II. Three-point fall-of-potential
III. Clamp-on ground rod tester
XV. Wenner four point method
a. Uses four probes
b. Uses a voltage and current measurement
c. Activity: Research on the internet, cost and manufactures
XVI. Three-point fall-of-potential test
a. Uses three probes
b. Uses a voltage and current measurement
c. Activity: Research on the internet, cost and manufactures
XVII. The Clamp-on ground resistance test
a. Uses a clamp on style meter
b. Utilizes a voltage and current measurement
c. Activity: Research on the internet, cost and manufactures
XVIII. Grounding and bonding considerations
a. Establishes a common reference and connection to ground
b. Reference for electrical systems and equipment
c. Connects to earth to maintain at earth potential, zero volts, to eliminate shock hazards and
prevent overvoltages which can damage insulation
d. High frequency circuits grounded with large surface conductors due to skin effect
XIX. Safety
a. Grounding and bonding conductors provide low-impedance connection to ground
b. Also provided low-impedance fault current paths back to the source
XX. Bonding
a. Connects metal parts together
b. Provides low-impedance fault current paths
c. Allows high fault currents to facilitate operation of overcurrent protective devices
d. Slide 26 displays the relevant grounding and bonding conductors
XXI. Interpreting Site Plans
a. Textbook convention for plan Z1
b. Section of elevation to be changed, indicated with hash mark
c. New elevations shown with dark heavy lines
d. Activity: refer to blueprints
XXII. Voice and Data Service )
a. Discuss the drawing on the slide
XXIII. Direct burial wiring
a. Note the cover requirement of measurement is to the top of the wiring method
b. Activity: Refer to NEC Table 300.7 for various cover requirements
XXIV. Underground Raceways (use slides 30 and 31)
a. Refer to NEC 300.7 and 300.8 for requirements
b. Refer to Article 344 and 352 for common raceways used for direct burial
XXV. Manholes, discuss the picture in the slide
XXVI. Lighting Standards, discuss the picture
a. Note the anchor bolts
b. Note the conduits for the supply to the lighting standard
© 2027 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly 4
accessible website, in whole or in part.
Instructor Manual
Herman, Electrical Wiring Industrial, 19e, 2027, 9798214133362;
Chapter 1: Plans and Sitework
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Purpose and Perspective of the Chapter......................................................................2
Chapter Objectives........................................................................................................2
What's New in This Chapter........................................................................................2
Chapter Outline.............................................................................................................2
© 2027 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly 1
accessible website, in whole or in part.
, Instructor Manual: Herman, Electrical Wiring Industrial, 19e, 2027, 9798214133362; Chapter 1: Plans and Sitework
PURPOSE AND PERSPECTIVE OF THE CHAPTER
The purpose of this chapter is to understand the information that is provided on construction plans.
Construction plans have many symbols, legends, and scaling that the electrician must understand, and
explanation is provided. Discussion of the requirements of the sitework is covered such as grounding and
bonding and testing of the resistance of ground. With the initial site work, the electrician will install
underground wiring methods and the requirements are covered. Lastly, site drawings and the NEC will
use Metric, English, and Trade Sizes for measurements and this chapter covers the usage and conversion
of all three types of measurements.
CHAPTER OBJECTIVES
After studying this chapter, the student should be able to
01.01 read site plans to determine the location of the specific items.
01.02 identify underground wiring methods.
01.03 perform International System of Units (SI) to English and English to SI conversions.
01.04 calculate metric measurements.
01.05 make measurements using a set of plans and a scale.
01.06 discuss different methods for determining ground resistance.
01.07 discuss the proper grounding of lighting standards and services.
WHAT'S NEW IN THIS CHAPTER
The following elements are improvements in this chapter from the previous edition:
NEC content is updated to the 2026 Code
Improved explanation of the NEC requirements of grounding and bonding
Updates on voice and data service entrance for premises
[return to top]
CHAPTER OUTLINE
The following outline organizes activities (including any existing discussion questions in PowerPoints or
other supplements) and assessments by chapter (and therefore by topic), so that you can see how all the
content relates to the topics covered in the text.
I. Construction Plans Topic
a. Contractor and Electrician need to inspect site plans
b. Need to determine building locations
c. Need to locate underground raceways, enclosures
d. Need to locate staging areas such as trailers for material, tools, break areas
II. Building Location
a. Reference to existing points such as centerline of a street
© 2027 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly 2
accessible website, in whole or in part.
, Instructor Manual: Herman, Electrical Wiring Industrial, 19e, 2027, 9798214133362; Chapter 1: Plans and Sitework
b. Property lines and centerlines can locate the building and other site improvements
c. Surveyors typically “stake out” the construction site and not the electrician
III. Explanation of Plan Symbols (
a. Discuss common symbols
b. Compare and lookup symbols on the blueprints
c. Activity: look at the symbols on the blueprints
IV. Contour Lines
a. Indicates existing and new grade levels
b. Trenches need to have enough depth for cover requirements based upon grade level as
determined by contour lines
c. Ditch work is determined by the contract
V. Benchmark (BM) (
a. Reference point for all elevations
b. Established by the surveyors
c. Related to a city datum or mean sea level value for the site
d. Activity: Locate the BM on the blueprints
VI. Elevations
a. Need to pay attention to the elevations of the building
b. Plans provide need information on the building construction
c. Elevation measurements can be plus or minus from the BM
VII. Invert Elevation
a. Level of lower edge of inside conduit entering a manhole
b. Conduit is usually lower in installation
VIII. Site Plan Scales
a. Scale used to take measurements on building plans
b. Architectural scale uses fractions ¼” = 1’
c. Engineering scale uses factors of 10; 1” = 10’
d. Activity: determine the different scales used on the blueprints
IX. Traditional Scale
a. Discuss the various scales
X. Reading the Scale
a. An example of a 1” = 10’ scale
b. An example of a 1” = 50’ scale
c. Activity: read some measurements on the blueprints
XI. Roller scale as typically used by estimators
XII. Sitework
a. Need to review plans and specifications
b. Be aware of all requirements
c. Installations should be properly planned and times should not conflict with other trades
XIII. Testing the site for grounding requirements
a. Proper grounding is essential for transient currents, electrical noise, lightning strikes to
limit voltage spikes
b. Effectiveness depends on resistivity of the Earth
c. Resistivity varies even within small areas due to soil types, moisture levels, electrolyte
content, and temperature
XIV. Testing
a. Ground resistance testers
© 2027 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly 3
accessible website, in whole or in part.
, Instructor Manual: Herman, Electrical Wiring Industrial, 19e, 2027, 9798214133362; Chapter 1: Plans and Sitework
b. Three main types
I. Wenner four point
II. Three-point fall-of-potential
III. Clamp-on ground rod tester
XV. Wenner four point method
a. Uses four probes
b. Uses a voltage and current measurement
c. Activity: Research on the internet, cost and manufactures
XVI. Three-point fall-of-potential test
a. Uses three probes
b. Uses a voltage and current measurement
c. Activity: Research on the internet, cost and manufactures
XVII. The Clamp-on ground resistance test
a. Uses a clamp on style meter
b. Utilizes a voltage and current measurement
c. Activity: Research on the internet, cost and manufactures
XVIII. Grounding and bonding considerations
a. Establishes a common reference and connection to ground
b. Reference for electrical systems and equipment
c. Connects to earth to maintain at earth potential, zero volts, to eliminate shock hazards and
prevent overvoltages which can damage insulation
d. High frequency circuits grounded with large surface conductors due to skin effect
XIX. Safety
a. Grounding and bonding conductors provide low-impedance connection to ground
b. Also provided low-impedance fault current paths back to the source
XX. Bonding
a. Connects metal parts together
b. Provides low-impedance fault current paths
c. Allows high fault currents to facilitate operation of overcurrent protective devices
d. Slide 26 displays the relevant grounding and bonding conductors
XXI. Interpreting Site Plans
a. Textbook convention for plan Z1
b. Section of elevation to be changed, indicated with hash mark
c. New elevations shown with dark heavy lines
d. Activity: refer to blueprints
XXII. Voice and Data Service )
a. Discuss the drawing on the slide
XXIII. Direct burial wiring
a. Note the cover requirement of measurement is to the top of the wiring method
b. Activity: Refer to NEC Table 300.7 for various cover requirements
XXIV. Underground Raceways (use slides 30 and 31)
a. Refer to NEC 300.7 and 300.8 for requirements
b. Refer to Article 344 and 352 for common raceways used for direct burial
XXV. Manholes, discuss the picture in the slide
XXVI. Lighting Standards, discuss the picture
a. Note the anchor bolts
b. Note the conduits for the supply to the lighting standard
© 2027 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly 4
accessible website, in whole or in part.
