Electrical Design Training: 5-Day Professional Engineering Course

Course Overview

This comprehensive Electrical Design Training provides essential knowledge and practical skills for designing safe, efficient, and code-compliant electrical systems. This intensive 5-day program covers design fundamentals, load calculations, equipment specification, protection coordination, lighting design, electrical drawing preparation, and industry software tools for industrial, commercial, and residential electrical design projects.

Who Should Attend This Electrical Design Course?

• Electrical Design Engineers in consulting firms

• Project Engineers managing electrical design projects

• Mechanical Engineers requiring electrical design knowledge

• Drafting Technicians preparing electrical drawings

• Building Services Engineers designing MEP systems

• Plant Engineers involved in facility design

• Recent Engineering Graduates entering design field

• Contractors preparing design-build proposals

• Facility Planners and project managers

• Electrical Inspectors reviewing design submissions

Course Objectives

Participants will master:

• Electrical system design principles and methodologies

• Load estimation and demand factor calculations

• Equipment sizing and specification techniques

• Protection and coordination studies

• Lighting design and illumination calculations

• Earthing and bonding system design

• Code compliance: NEC, IEC, BS standards

• CAD software and electrical design tools

Day 1: Electrical Design Fundamentals and Load Calculations

Morning Session: Design Process and Requirements

Topics Covered:

• Electrical design workflow from concept to construction

• Project scope definition and design criteria

• Design basis documentation and assumptions

• Client requirements and functional specifications

• Design codes and standards overview: NEC, IEC 60364, BS 7671

• Authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) requirements

• Single-line diagram development fundamentals

• Design review and approval processes

Key Concepts:
Understanding the complete electrical design lifecycle and deliverables.

Afternoon Session: Load Analysis and Calculations

Topics Covered:

• Connected load vs. demand load calculations

• NEC Article 220: Branch circuit, feeder, and service calculations

• Demand factors for lighting, receptacles, and appliances

• Motor load calculations and demand factors

• Continuous and non-continuous load classifications

• Diversity factors for different building types

• Load schedules and load summaries preparation

• Future expansion considerations and spare capacity

Practical Workshop:
Step-by-step load calculation exercises for residential, commercial, and industrial facilities.

Day 2: Power Distribution System Design

Morning Session: Distribution System Architecture

Topics Covered:

• Electrical distribution system configurations

• Voltage level selection: 120/208V, 277/480V, 600V systems

• Transformer sizing and specification

• Main distribution boards (MDB) and sub-distribution boards (SDB)

• Single-line diagram symbols and conventions

• Radial vs. ring distribution design

• Busway and cable distribution systems

• Emergency and standby power systems integration

Design Considerations:
System reliability, redundancy requirements, maintenance accessibility, and future flexibility.

Afternoon Session: Equipment Selection and Specification

Topics Covered:

• Switchgear selection criteria: LV and MV applications

• Main circuit breakers and service entrance equipment

• Panel board and distribution board sizing

• Busbar and bus duct specifications

• Motor control centers (MCC) layout and design

• Transformer specifications: dry-type vs. liquid-filled

• Harmonic considerations and filtering requirements

• Equipment standards: UL, IEC, IEEE, NEMA

Specification Workshop:
Developing technical specifications and equipment schedules for design projects.

Day 3: Cable Design, Protection, and Grounding Systems

Morning Session: Cable Sizing and Selection

Topics Covered:

• Cable sizing methodology per NEC and IEC standards

• Conductor ampacity and current-carrying capacity

• Voltage drop calculations: steady-state and starting

• Cable derating factors: temperature, grouping, installation method

• Short circuit withstand calculations

• Cable type selection: THHN, XHHW, USE, XLPE, NYY

• Armored vs. non-armored cable applications

• Fire-rated and low-smoke cable requirements

Design Calculations:
Comprehensive cable sizing exercises using calculation sheets and design software.

Afternoon Session: Protection and Coordination Design

Topics Covered:

• Overcurrent protection device selection

• Circuit breaker vs. fuse applications

• MCB, MCCB, and ACB selection criteria

• Motor branch circuit protection

• Ground fault protection requirements

• Arc flash hazard considerations in design

• Protection coordination studies fundamentals

• Time-current curve (TCC) analysis and selectivity

Coordination Workshop:
Basic protection coordination exercises and TCC plotting techniques.

Grounding System Design

Topics Covered:

• Grounding and bonding system design

• System grounding: solidly grounded, impedance grounded, ungrounded

• Equipment grounding conductor sizing per NEC Article 250

• Grounding electrode system design

• Separately derived systems and transformer grounding

• Equipotential bonding requirements

• Lightning protection system grounding

• Isolated ground systems for sensitive equipment

Day 4: Lighting Design and Special Systems

Morning Session: Lighting System Design

Topics Covered:

• Illumination fundamentals: lumens, lux, foot-candles

• Lighting design standards: IES, EN 12464, local codes

• Lumen method calculations for interior spaces

• Point-by-point calculation methods

• Lamp and luminaire selection: LED, fluorescent, HID

• Lighting control systems: occupancy sensors, daylighting

• Emergency and exit lighting requirements

• Outdoor lighting design considerations

Design Software Introduction:
AGi32, DIALux, or Relux lighting design software demonstration.

Afternoon Session: Special Electrical Systems

Topics Covered:

• Fire alarm system electrical design considerations

• Emergency generator sizing and connection

• Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) system design

• Elevator and escalator electrical requirements

• HVAC equipment electrical coordination

• Data center and critical power design

• Electric vehicle charging infrastructure

• Renewable energy system integration: solar PV, battery storage

Design Coordination:
Interface requirements between electrical and other building systems.

Day 5: Electrical Drawings, Documentation, and Software Tools

Morning Session: Electrical Drawing Preparation

Topics Covered:

• Electrical drawing types: site plans, floor plans, riser diagrams

• Single-line diagram (SLD) preparation standards

• Three-line diagram and schematic development

• Panel schedules and load schedules formatting

• Legend, symbols, and abbreviations standards

• Drawing layout and title blocks

• Coordination with architectural and mechanical drawings

• Drawing numbering and revision control

CAD Standards:

• Layer naming conventions and organization

• Standard symbols libraries and blocks

• Drawing scales and dimensioning practices

• Plot styles and printing requirements

Afternoon Session: Design Software and Tools

Software Applications Covered:

AutoCAD Electrical:

• Project setup and drawing templates

• Schematic design and wire numbering

• PLC I/O drawing generation

• Panel layout and component placement

• Automatic report generation

Revit MEP:

• Building Information Modeling (BIM) for electrical systems

• 3D electrical routing and coordination

• Equipment families and specifications

• Clash detection with other disciplines

• Quantity takeoffs and material schedules

Electrical Calculation Software:

• ETAP, SKM PowerTools, or EASYPOWER overview

• Load flow and voltage drop analysis

• Short circuit and protection coordination studies

• Cable ampacity calculations

• Arc flash analysis basics

Lighting Design Software:

• DIALux or AGi32 demonstration

• 3D model import and room setup

• Luminaire placement and calculations

• Rendering and presentation output

Design Documentation and Specifications

Topics Covered:

• Technical specification writing for electrical systems

• Design calculations and reports preparation

• Equipment submittal review procedures

• Bill of quantities (BOQ) development

• Cost estimation fundamentals

• Design basis reports and narratives

• As-built documentation requirements

• Operation and maintenance manual content

Advanced Design Topics

Industrial Electrical Design:

• Motor control and power distribution for industrial plants

• Hazardous area electrical design: Class I, II, III divisions

• Explosion-proof and intrinsically safe equipment selection

• Variable frequency drive (VFD) integration

• Process control and instrumentation interfaces

Commercial Building Design:

• Office building electrical systems

• Retail and shopping center requirements

• Healthcare facility electrical design (essential systems)

• Educational institution standards

• Data center Tier classifications and design

Code Compliance and Standards:

• NEC (NFPA 70) key articles for design

  • Article 210: Branch circuits

  • Article 215: Feeders

  • Article 230: Services

  • Article 250: Grounding and bonding

  • Article 700-702: Emergency and standby systems

• IEC standards for international projects

  • IEC 60364: Electrical installations of buildings

  • IEC 61936: Power installations exceeding 1 kV AC

• Local code requirements and amendments

• Building code integration: IBC, NBC

• Energy codes: ASHRAE 90.1, IECC

• Accessibility requirements: ADA, local standards

Design Review and Quality Control

Topics Covered:

• Design review checklist development

• Peer review processes and procedures

• Interdisciplinary coordination requirements

• Design error prevention strategies

• Value engineering opportunities

• Constructability reviews

• Quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) procedures

• Lessons learned documentation

Final Session: Comprehensive Design Project

Capstone Project:
Complete electrical design exercise for a small facility including:

• Load calculations and demand assessment

• Single-line diagram development

• Equipment sizing and selection

• Cable schedule preparation

• Lighting layout design

• Panel schedule creation

• Protection device selection

• Grounding system design

• Drawing preparation using CAD

• Technical specification outline

Assessment Activities:

• Group project presentation: electrical design case study

• Individual technical problem-solving exercises

• Written examination covering design principles and codes

• Practical CAD drawing exercise

• Design calculation verification tests

• Interactive Q&A with experienced design engineers

• Professional certification examination

• Course evaluation and networking session

Course Benefits and Learning Outcomes

Upon completion, participants will be able to:

• Develop complete electrical system designs from requirements to drawings

• Perform accurate load calculations per applicable codes

• Size and specify electrical equipment appropriately

• Design safe and code-compliant distribution systems

• Prepare professional electrical drawings and documentation

• Use industry-standard electrical design software effectively

• Coordinate electrical design with other disciplines

• Apply NEC, IEC, and local code requirements

• Conduct lighting calculations and design layouts

• Prepare technical specifications and cost estimates

• Review and approve design submittals

• Identify and resolve design conflicts

Training Methodology

This electrical design course features:

• Comprehensive lectures with real-world design examples

• Hands-on calculation exercises and problem-solving

• Software demonstrations and guided practice sessions

• Actual project case studies from consulting firms

• Step-by-step design procedure walkthroughs

• Interactive drawing preparation workshops

• Group design projects with peer review

• Industry best practices from experienced designers

Course Materials Provided

Participants receive:

• Comprehensive electrical design handbook

• Design calculation templates and spreadsheets

• CAD symbol libraries and drawing templates

• Code reference guides: NEC, IEC excerpts

• Design checklists and quality control forms

• Sample specifications and technical documents

• Software trial licenses (where available)

• Certificate of Professional Development in Electrical Design

Software Requirements

Participants should have basic familiarity with:

• AutoCAD or similar CAD software

• Microsoft Excel for calculations

• PDF viewing and markup tools

Prerequisites

Recommended background:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent

• Understanding of electrical circuits and power systems

• Basic knowledge of electrical codes and standards

• Familiarity with CAD software beneficial

Post-Course Support

• Access to design templates and calculation tools

• Online forum for technical questions

• Recommended reference materials and resources

• Advanced training pathway information

• Professional networking opportunities

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