How to generate circuits and an electrical panel from your floor plan

What information should be prepared on the floor plan?

The quality of the proposal directly depends on the information available on the plan. Each area should have a name, a room type and its floor area: under BS 7671, a ring or radial final circuit is limited by the floor area it serves, not by the number of socket-outlets.

Equipment placed inside a room is included. An interior item without a room is named, flagged and then ignored so the software never invents an assignment. Exterior-category items are grouped into a logical outdoor area.

• Name and qualify every room.
• Enter its floor area so each ring can be sized.
• Place outlets, lighting and appliances in the correct area.
• Review the list of equipment left outside rooms.

Sizing socket circuits by floor area

BS 7671 sets no minimum number of socket-outlets per room. What matters is the floor area each circuit serves, as set out in the IET On-Site Guide: up to 100 m² for a 32 A ring final in 2.5 mm², 75 m² for a 32 A radial in 4 mm² and 50 m² for a 20 A radial in 2.5 mm². You choose the arrangement; the ring final is the default.

Planelico adds up the area of the rooms on each circuit and never exceeds the limit. A room with no area entered is flagged and keeps the plan from being marked compliant until you fill it in, rather than being sized on a guess.

How are outlet and lighting circuits grouped?

The recommended strategy groups adjacent areas while sensibly combining small rooms. It balances readability, cost and maintenance without systematically filling every circuit to its maximum.

Circuits never mix floors. Large areas can be split when the equipment count requires it, while nearby rooms stay grouped whenever that creates a more natural panel layout.

• Grouping by proximity and use.
• Separate floors and, when requested, garage or exterior areas.
• Reasonable headroom before maximum circuit capacity.
• An explanation of every room and item served by each circuit.

Which appliances get their own circuit?

Appliances whose rating exceeds any socket-outlet circuit always get their own: a 45 A cooker control unit and an electric shower (45 A, 10 mm²), or an EV charger. An immersion heater is put on its own 16 A circuit by default, which you can change. Washing machines, dishwashers and tumble dryers stay on the ring, through a socket or a fused spur, as is usual in the UK.

This separation is validated before saving. Any inconsistent proposal remains clearly identified as a draft that needs correction.

RCDs and modular panel organisation

Every circuit is protected by a 30 mA RCD. BS 7671 restricts type AC devices to loads with no DC component, so Planelico uses type A throughout, with type B or F where the equipment requires it (an EV charger without built-in DC detection, for example).

Circuits are spread across at least two RCDs, so that a single trip does not leave the whole home without power, and the consumer unit layout shows the MCBs and the spare ways left for later additions.

• At least two 30 mA RCDs in the proposal.
• Type A by default, never type AC.
• Lighting on 6 A MCBs, up to 13 points per circuit.
• A visual view of the MCBs and remaining spare ways.

What does the PDF export contain?

The document opens with a summary — standard, consumer unit and key figures — then shows the consumer unit layout and a circuit schedule grouped by RCD, with each circuit’s protection, cable size, load and served equipment.

Points to check are numbered and state exactly which circuit, room or item they apply to, along with the action needed. The panel can be exported on its own or added to the full PDF containing the floor plan and symbols.

With the Pro plan, you can also export consumer unit labels to print at the exact size of your enclosure.

What generation does not replace

Generation is a pre-sizing aid. It does not automatically know cable lengths, voltage drops, installation methods, actual nameplate loads or bathroom safety zones.

Final installation compliance and execution must be checked by a qualified professional according to the building and the rules that apply to the project.

Quick method with Planelico

1. 1

   Import the PDF floor plan

   Add the different levels of the home to Planelico.

2. 2

   Create and qualify rooms

   Name every area, select its room type and enter its area when known.

3. 3

   Place the equipment

   Position outlets, lighting and dedicated appliances inside the correct rooms.

4. 4

   Open panel generation

   Check the standard is BS 7671, then choose ring or radial socket circuits and the grouping strategy.

5. 5

   Review the checks

   Fill in missing floor areas and correct any other reported inconsistencies.

6. 6

   Save and export

   Keep the draft with the project, then export it alone or with the full floor plan.

Frequently asked questions