NEC PLAN REVIEW EXAMINATION WITH
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS, PLUS EXPLAINED
RATIONALES/EXPERT VERIFIED FOR
GUARANTEED 100% PASS 2026/LATEST
UPDATE/INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. A commercial electrical plan indicates a 120/208-volt, 3-phase, 4-
wire service supplying a panelboard. The plan reviewer observes
that the calculated unbalanced line-to-neutral load is 82 amperes on
Phase A, 61 amperes on Phase B, and 55 amperes on Phase C. The
designer proposes a 100-ampere neutral conductor because the
phase conductors are each 100 amperes. What is the most
appropriate plan-review consideration?
A. The neutral must always equal the largest phase conductor ampacity.
B. The neutral can automatically be reduced to 50% of the phase
conductor ampacity.
C. The neutral must be sized based on the calculated maximum
unbalanced load, subject to the applicable NEC requirements and
limitations.
D. The neutral is not required because the system is 3-phase.
Answer: C.
Rationale: The grounded conductor of a 3-phase, 4-wire system is
generally permitted to be sized based on the maximum unbalanced
load in accordance with NEC 220.61, but the calculation must account
for the types of loads involved and the applicable restrictions. A plan
reviewer should verify the actual calculated neutral load rather than
accepting a conductor size solely from the phase-conductor ampacity.
1
,2. A plan for a new office building shows a 400-ampere, 120/208-volt
service. The connected lighting load is 36,000 VA, receptacle load is
18,000 VA, HVAC load is 75,000 VA, and miscellaneous equipment
is 30,000 VA. The designer simply adds all connected loads and
divides by 208 volts without applying demand factors or identifying
continuous loads. What should the plan reviewer do first?
A. Approve the calculation because all connected loads must always be
included at 100%.
B. Require the designer to perform the service-load calculation using the
applicable NEC Article 220 methods and identify continuous loads.
C. Divide the total VA by 120 volts because the system contains 120-
volt circuits.
D. Use only the HVAC load because HVAC equipment determines the
service size.
Answer: B.
Rationale: NEC Article 220 provides methods for calculating feeder
and service loads, including demand factors and rules for continuous
loads. A plan reviewer should verify that the designer has selected an
appropriate calculation method, classified the loads correctly, and
applied the required demand factors rather than simply summing
connected loads and dividing by a voltage.
3. An electrical plan identifies several branch circuits as 20-ampere,
120-volt circuits using 12 AWG copper conductors. Each circuit
supplies office receptacles. The plan schedules 15 receptacles on one
circuit. Which plan-review issue is most important?
A. Fifteen receptacles automatically require a 30-ampere circuit.
B. The NEC establishes a universal maximum of eight receptacles per
20-ampere circuit.
C. The reviewer should evaluate the calculated load and applicable
2
,receptacle requirements rather than relying on a universal receptacle-
count limit.
D. Every receptacle circuit must use 10 AWG copper.
Answer: C.
Rationale: The NEC does not establish a blanket rule limiting a
general-purpose 20-ampere branch circuit to eight receptacles. The
plan reviewer should examine the calculated load, occupancy,
required receptacle provisions, continuous loads, and any special
requirements applicable to the installation.
4. A plan calls for a 20-ampere branch circuit supplying a
continuous lighting load of 16 amperes. The designer specifies a 20-
ampere circuit breaker and 12 AWG copper conductors. Which
evaluation is most appropriate?
A. The design is automatically compliant because 16 amperes is less
than 20 amperes.
B. The continuous load must generally be included at 125% for
conductor and overcurrent-device sizing, subject to applicable NEC
rules.
C. Continuous loads are ignored when sizing branch circuits.
D. The breaker must always be 25 amperes.
Answer: B.
Rationale: NEC 210.20(A) and 215.2/215.3 establish requirements
related to continuous loads. A continuous load is generally calculated
at not less than 125% when sizing conductors and overcurrent
protection. A 16-ampere continuous load would therefore generally
require consideration of 20 amperes before other applicable loads are
included.
3
, 5. A plan shows a 30-ampere, 240-volt branch circuit supplying a
fixed electric heater rated at 5,760 VA. The heater is identified as a
continuous load. What should the reviewer calculate before
approving the circuit?
A. 5,760 VA ÷ 120 V
B. 5,760 VA ÷ 240 V with the applicable continuous-load adjustment
C. 5,760 VA ÷ 30 V
D. 5,760 VA ÷ 480 V
Answer: B.
Rationale: At 240 volts, the heater's unadjusted current is 24 amperes.
If the load is continuous, the applicable 125% factor must generally be
applied, resulting in 30 amperes. The reviewer should also verify
conductor ampacity, overcurrent protection, disconnecting means,
equipment ratings, and any specific requirements applicable to electric
heating equipment.
6. A plan shows a 225-ampere feeder using conductors with an
ampacity of 225 amperes. The feeder supplies a load consisting of
180 amperes noncontinuous and 40 amperes continuous. Which
conclusion is most appropriate?
A. The feeder is acceptable because 180 + 40 = 220 amperes.
B. The feeder is acceptable because the continuous load is ignored.
C. The feeder requires evaluation at 180 + (40 × 125%) = 230 amperes
before other applicable considerations.
D. The feeder must automatically be 400 amperes.
Answer: C.
Rationale: Continuous loads are generally included at 125% for feeder
conductor and overcurrent protection calculations. Here, 180 A + 50 A
4
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS, PLUS EXPLAINED
RATIONALES/EXPERT VERIFIED FOR
GUARANTEED 100% PASS 2026/LATEST
UPDATE/INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. A commercial electrical plan indicates a 120/208-volt, 3-phase, 4-
wire service supplying a panelboard. The plan reviewer observes
that the calculated unbalanced line-to-neutral load is 82 amperes on
Phase A, 61 amperes on Phase B, and 55 amperes on Phase C. The
designer proposes a 100-ampere neutral conductor because the
phase conductors are each 100 amperes. What is the most
appropriate plan-review consideration?
A. The neutral must always equal the largest phase conductor ampacity.
B. The neutral can automatically be reduced to 50% of the phase
conductor ampacity.
C. The neutral must be sized based on the calculated maximum
unbalanced load, subject to the applicable NEC requirements and
limitations.
D. The neutral is not required because the system is 3-phase.
Answer: C.
Rationale: The grounded conductor of a 3-phase, 4-wire system is
generally permitted to be sized based on the maximum unbalanced
load in accordance with NEC 220.61, but the calculation must account
for the types of loads involved and the applicable restrictions. A plan
reviewer should verify the actual calculated neutral load rather than
accepting a conductor size solely from the phase-conductor ampacity.
1
,2. A plan for a new office building shows a 400-ampere, 120/208-volt
service. The connected lighting load is 36,000 VA, receptacle load is
18,000 VA, HVAC load is 75,000 VA, and miscellaneous equipment
is 30,000 VA. The designer simply adds all connected loads and
divides by 208 volts without applying demand factors or identifying
continuous loads. What should the plan reviewer do first?
A. Approve the calculation because all connected loads must always be
included at 100%.
B. Require the designer to perform the service-load calculation using the
applicable NEC Article 220 methods and identify continuous loads.
C. Divide the total VA by 120 volts because the system contains 120-
volt circuits.
D. Use only the HVAC load because HVAC equipment determines the
service size.
Answer: B.
Rationale: NEC Article 220 provides methods for calculating feeder
and service loads, including demand factors and rules for continuous
loads. A plan reviewer should verify that the designer has selected an
appropriate calculation method, classified the loads correctly, and
applied the required demand factors rather than simply summing
connected loads and dividing by a voltage.
3. An electrical plan identifies several branch circuits as 20-ampere,
120-volt circuits using 12 AWG copper conductors. Each circuit
supplies office receptacles. The plan schedules 15 receptacles on one
circuit. Which plan-review issue is most important?
A. Fifteen receptacles automatically require a 30-ampere circuit.
B. The NEC establishes a universal maximum of eight receptacles per
20-ampere circuit.
C. The reviewer should evaluate the calculated load and applicable
2
,receptacle requirements rather than relying on a universal receptacle-
count limit.
D. Every receptacle circuit must use 10 AWG copper.
Answer: C.
Rationale: The NEC does not establish a blanket rule limiting a
general-purpose 20-ampere branch circuit to eight receptacles. The
plan reviewer should examine the calculated load, occupancy,
required receptacle provisions, continuous loads, and any special
requirements applicable to the installation.
4. A plan calls for a 20-ampere branch circuit supplying a
continuous lighting load of 16 amperes. The designer specifies a 20-
ampere circuit breaker and 12 AWG copper conductors. Which
evaluation is most appropriate?
A. The design is automatically compliant because 16 amperes is less
than 20 amperes.
B. The continuous load must generally be included at 125% for
conductor and overcurrent-device sizing, subject to applicable NEC
rules.
C. Continuous loads are ignored when sizing branch circuits.
D. The breaker must always be 25 amperes.
Answer: B.
Rationale: NEC 210.20(A) and 215.2/215.3 establish requirements
related to continuous loads. A continuous load is generally calculated
at not less than 125% when sizing conductors and overcurrent
protection. A 16-ampere continuous load would therefore generally
require consideration of 20 amperes before other applicable loads are
included.
3
, 5. A plan shows a 30-ampere, 240-volt branch circuit supplying a
fixed electric heater rated at 5,760 VA. The heater is identified as a
continuous load. What should the reviewer calculate before
approving the circuit?
A. 5,760 VA ÷ 120 V
B. 5,760 VA ÷ 240 V with the applicable continuous-load adjustment
C. 5,760 VA ÷ 30 V
D. 5,760 VA ÷ 480 V
Answer: B.
Rationale: At 240 volts, the heater's unadjusted current is 24 amperes.
If the load is continuous, the applicable 125% factor must generally be
applied, resulting in 30 amperes. The reviewer should also verify
conductor ampacity, overcurrent protection, disconnecting means,
equipment ratings, and any specific requirements applicable to electric
heating equipment.
6. A plan shows a 225-ampere feeder using conductors with an
ampacity of 225 amperes. The feeder supplies a load consisting of
180 amperes noncontinuous and 40 amperes continuous. Which
conclusion is most appropriate?
A. The feeder is acceptable because 180 + 40 = 220 amperes.
B. The feeder is acceptable because the continuous load is ignored.
C. The feeder requires evaluation at 180 + (40 × 125%) = 230 amperes
before other applicable considerations.
D. The feeder must automatically be 400 amperes.
Answer: C.
Rationale: Continuous loads are generally included at 125% for feeder
conductor and overcurrent protection calculations. Here, 180 A + 50 A
4
