An electrical plan is the floor plan with the wiring decisions drawn on it: every plug, light, switch, the distribution board, the stove and geyser points, data outlets and any solar or backup supply. Settling these on paper before the walls are chased is cheaper than cutting them in afterwards. Send one request and draughtspersons and electrical designers who prepare these layouts quote you directly. It costs nothing to ask and you need not accept any quote.
What an electrical layout shows
The layout sits over the architectural plan and uses standard symbols with a legend. It normally marks:
- Double and single plugs, with heights where they matter, such as above kitchen counters.
- Light points, switches and two-way switching along passages and stairs.
- The distribution board (DB) and the circuits it feeds, so lights, plugs, stove and geyser are not overloaded.
- Dedicated points for the stove, oven, geyser, dishwasher, washing machine and air conditioners.
- Data and TV outlets, gate and intercom wiring, and outdoor lights on the stoep, braai area and driveway.
Planning for solar, backup power and an EV charger
Many South African households now add an inverter, batteries or solar panels to ride through load-shedding. It is far easier to reserve a wall for the inverter, a separate backup circuit for the fridge, lights and router, and a cable route to the roof while the plan is still on paper. The same goes for an EV charger point near the garage or driveway, with spare capacity in the DB. A designer can note which circuits stay on backup and which, such as the geyser or stove, do not. Final sizing is done by a registered electrician or engineer, who will also tell you what your supply can carry.
Electrician, certificate of compliance and the plans
An electrical plan is a design drawing, not an installation. The installation must be done or supervised by a registered electrician, who tests it and issues a certificate of compliance (CoC), which is usually needed at transfer and when you claim on insurance. Ask your municipality or electrician whether the supply authority needs any drawings for a bigger connection. If you are building new, the electrical layout normally goes together with your building plans, and you can send both in one request.
Planning room by room
Walk through each room with the draughtsperson and think about furniture first, because plugs behind a bed or a built-in cupboard are wasted. Kitchens and bathrooms need the most care: plenty of counter-height plugs, the correct zones around the shower and basin, and separate circuits for heavy appliances. Add outlets for the future too, such as a study in a spare bedroom or a workbench in the garage, and note which walls will carry shelves or a television bracket. A good layout starts from your floor plans, so have those ready.
What to include in your request
- A floor plan, or the size and rooms of the building
- Heavy appliances: stove, geyser, air conditioners
- Whether you want solar, an inverter or backup power
- Any EV charger, gate or data requirements
- Whether a registered electrician is already chosen
Electrical Plans for different clients
- Families building a new house: a plug, light and switch layout for a new house, with the DB, stove and geyser points placed
- Owners adding or changing rooms: a new kitchen or bathroom layout with extra circuits, so old wiring is not overloaded
- Developers and builders: a repeatable electrical layout for each unit type, so the electrician quotes consistently
- Estate agents, sellers and landlords: a layout to show buyers the planned points for an off-plan or newly renovated unit
- Shops, offices and restaurants: a layout for tills, equipment, lighting and data in a shop, salon or office
- Farms, smallholdings and rural homesteads: a layout for a farmhouse or shed with solar, borehole pump and backup supply in mind
- Churches, schools and crèches: a lighting and plug layout for a hall, crèche or classroom block with spare capacity
- Rental and granny flat investors: a layout that gives each rental room its own circuit, plugs and, where wanted, a sub-meter
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an electrical plan for a small house?
Who is allowed to wire my house?
Can the electrical plan be added to my existing drawings?
Should I plan for solar now even if I install it later?
Electrical Plans by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg