COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

BUILDING DIVISION
4550 Walnut Lake Road
West Bloomfield, MI 48325 ELECTRICAL PLAN
(248) 451-4842 Phone
(248) 451-4871 Facsimile REVIEW REQUIREMENTS
(248) 451-4858 Inspection Line
www.wbtownship.org
GUIDE

ELECTRICAL PLAN REVIEW REQUIREMENTS FOR

COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS
BASE ON THE MICHIGAN ELECTRICAL CODE WITH PART 8 STATE
AMENDMENTS, INCORPORATING THE NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE
2012 EDITION
GENERAL INFORMATION:
This guide outlines the requirements for obtaining a building permit to construct a tenant
improvement in the township. Commercial “shell building” are often built without specific
information as to the eventual tenants of the leased spaces. Also, occupancy or use of
tenant spaces may change during the life of a commercial building. The items listed
below are required with any plan submittal.

PLANS REVIEW:

Please allow time for the plan review process, which varies depending on Department’s
workload. Plans are reviewed in the order they are received based on the application
date. Plans that contain all the necessary information and details will expedite the review
process.

• A preliminary plan review letter with a preliminary plan review-processing

checklist will be issued within three (3) working days of submittal.
• Full plan reviews of large commercial projects will be completed within fifteen
(15) working days of submittal.
• Full plan reviews of small commercial projects will be completed within seven
(7) working days of submittal.
• Plan review of revised or resubmitted plans for both commercial and
residential projects will be completed within fifteen (15) working days of
submittal.
• In order to be in compliance with the state of Michigan’s Construction Code
requirements, plan reviews shall be completed within fifteen (15) working days
of submittal.

The permit applicant will be notified by mail or telephone if the information provided does
not meet the Building Code requirements or if any additional information is necessary.

Four (4) sets of construction documents are required by the governmental agency for
approval. These drawings shall carry the embossed or printed seal (original seals and
signatures) of an architect or professional engineer licensed in Michigan.

Community Development Form DS-000: CD Electrical Plan Review Requirements Commerical Buildings
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CODE:
• Michigan Electrical Code Base on National Electrical Code 2012 Edition
With part 8 State Rules
• Michigan Rehabilitation Code 2012 Edition
• Michigan Barrier-Free Design Law of Public Act 1 of 1966 as amended and ICC /
ANSI A117.1 2003 Edition
•
How to purchase a book:

• The Codes and Standards order form is available on the Bureau's web site at
www.michigan.gov/bcc or (517-241-9313). Make a check payable to the State of
Michigan and mail your request to the Bureau of Construction Codes, P.O. Box 30255,
Lansing, Michigan 48909
• Books may also be purchased directly from ICC International, 4051 West Flossmoor
Road, County Club Hills, Illinois 60478 or (800) 786-4452 or www.iccsafe.org

Four (4) sets of Michigan Uniform Energy Code, Part 10a (ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA
Standard 90.1-1999) – clarify whether compliance with applicable sections have been
met.• New Buildings– Section 4.1.1
• Additions – Section 4.1.2.1
• Alterations – Section 4.1.2.2
• Alterations – heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning – Section 4.1.2.2.2
• Alterations – Power and Lighting Alteration - Section 4.1.2.2.4 and 4.1.2.2.5

Four (4) sets of Specification – if applicable

PLAN REQUIRMENTS:
Building plans drawn to standard architectural scale, clear, legible and non-altered; (4)-
four sets required detailing the following items:

Building Code Analysis: (see attachment)

• Code Year / Type (Building, Plumbing, Mechanical, Electrical, Fire)
• Occupancy Classification
• Type of Construction
• Fire Sprinklers / Type/ NFPA
• Fire Alarm / Type/ NFPA
• Area
• Occupant loads for all areas (actual and calculated)
• Required plumbing fixtures
• Non-separated or separated uses with required calculations

• Floor plans showing location of service, equipment, sub-panels, transformers,

receptacles, switches, power outlets, fire alarm, telephone, intercom, security
systems, and special emergency systems.

• Ceiling plan indicating location of fixtures, exit lights, emergency lights, smoke
detectors, fire alarms, and roof mounted HVAC equipment.

Community Development Form DS-000: CD Electrical Plan Review Requirements Commerical Buildings
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 • Riser diagram indicating sizes of service, ground, over current protection (OCP),
feeders, raceways, and short-circuit currents and interrupting ratings (GFI).

• Include electrical information for special systems, swimming pools, hazardous

locations, stand-by-power, sprinklers, signs, flow switches and alarms, or for
electrical equipment not shown elsewhere.

• Submit evolution information if equipment is not a listing agency nationally

recognized.

• All electrical installations subject to field inspections and to be in compliance with:

o Latest adopted National Electrical Code (NEC)

o Michigan Part 8 Rules
o Michigan Barrier-Free Design Law of Public Act 1 of 1966 as amended
and ICC / ANSI A117.1 2006 Edition

• Four (4) sets of Fire Alarm plans shall be submitted to Township’s Development
Services Department for Fire Marshal review and approval. Please note that this
review process may take approximately 2-6 weeks, so plan accordingly. For
more information, please call Fire Marshal, Pat Riney at 248-409-1515.

CODE REQUIREMENTS:

ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT, APPLIANCES, MATERIALS AND INSTALLATION

o Construction documents submitted (Part 8 Rules)
o Equipment, approval, listing and installation instructions (BNBC 2701.3,
2701.4)(110-2; 110-3)
o Spaces about electrical equipment (110-26)

WIRING METHODS AND MATERIALS (Part 8 Rules)

o Required
o Shown
o Lighting layout
o Circuiting
o Switching
o Conductor & raceway sites
o Load calculation
o Wattage schedules
o Panel schedules
o Service location and riser diagram
o Proposed method of construction that is drawn with symbols of a standard form

SERVICE (Article 230)

o Number of services (230,2)
o Conductor size/rating (overhead) (230.23)
o Conductor size/rating (underground) (230.31)
o Insulation of service conductors (230.22; 230.30;230.41)
o Interrupting rating (110.9; 110.10)
o Work space (110.26; 110.32; 110.34)
Community Development Form DS-000: CD Electrical Plan Review Requirements Commerical Buildings
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 o Disconnecting means [230.70(a) (b) (c)]
o Number of disconnects (230.71)
o Grouping of disconnects (230.72)
o Ground fault protection (230.95)
o Protection of conductors rated 800 amperes or less [240.4(B)]
o Protection of conductors rated over 800 amperes [240.4(C)]

OVERCURRENT PROTECTION (230.VII)

o Where required (230.90)
o Location (230.91)

GROUNDING (Article 250)

o Grounded conductor to service equipment [250.24 (C)]
o Electrode system (250 Part III)
o Conductors (250.66; 250 Part VI)

SEPARATELY DERIVED AC SYSTEM (250.30)

o Grounding [250.20(d); 250.28; 250.30]
o Transformer over current protection (600 volt, nominal or less) (450.3)
o Primary/secondary [450.3(a)(b)(c); Table 450.3(b)]
o Ventilation (450.9; 450.45)

MEANS OF EGRESS
o Exit signs and light (MBC)
o Means of egress lighting (MBC)

EMERGENCY SYSTEMS (Article 700)

o Power source (700 Part III)
o Independent wiring [700.9(b)]
o Storage battery [700.12(a)]
o Generator [700.12(b)]
o Separate service [700.12(d)]
o Unit equipment [700.12(F)]
o Signs (700.8, 701.9)
o Loads on emergency branch circuits (700.15)

STANDBY SYSTEM (Article 701)

o Capacity and rating (701.6)
o Power source (701 III)
o Storage battery [701.11(A)]
o Generator set [701.11(B)]
o Separate service [701.11(D)]
o Connected ahead of service disconnect [701.11(E)]
o Unit equipment [701.11(G)]

MISCELLANEOUS REQUIREMENTS
o Wiring in ducts, plenums and other air handing spaces [300.22(c)]
o Mechanical equipment service receptacle [210.63; 210.8(b) (2)]
o Luminaire supports [410.30]
o Identification of disconnecting means (including branch circuits) (110.22)
o Conduit seals (refrigeration) (300.7)
Community Development Form DS-000: CD Electrical Plan Review Requirements Commerical Buildings
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DISONNECTING MEANS
o Motors (430 IX)
o Appliances (422 III)
o Elevators (620-VI)

WET LOCATIONS
o Electric metallic tubing [358.10)(C)]
o Conductors (310.8; Table 310.13)
o Lighting fixtures [410-10(A)]

SIGNS
o Branch circuits (600.5)
o Disconnects (600.6)
o Grounding (600.7)
o Branch circuit loads – sign & outline lighting [220.5 (F)]

SHOW WINDOWS
o Show window and track lighting [220.12(G)]
o Show window receptacles (210.62)
o Show window branch [220.14 (G)]

OTHER
o ________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

Items noted above are minimum requirements. Unusual or complex projects often
require additional information.

PLAN REVIEW FEES/OVERTIME PLAN REVIEW:

a) Where review of construction documents is performed by outside consultants,
the review fee shall be charged at 1.5 times the actual cost. Payment shall be
in advance of the review based on estimated cost.
b) Where review of construction documents is performed by township
employees, the review fee shall be charged at $75 per hour (i.e., revised
drawings, deferred documents, etc.).
c) Plan review shall be charged at 15% of the building plan review fee or $150
minimum.

We hope this guide is helpful and we encourage you to provide us with any suggestion
you may have as we continue to work toward improving our development process. If you
have any questions regarding codes or Township ordinances buildings, please feel free
to contact me at 248-451-4894.

Mike Coraci
Electrical Inspector/Plans Examiner

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