Shop Drawing Approval Process | Panel GA Submittals Kenya

The shop drawing approval process ensures that a proposed electrical panel matches the approved electrical design before manufacturing begins. For LV panels, the process normally moves from technical submittal and GA drawing preparation through consultant review, comments, revisions and final approval.

For custom switchboards, manufacturing should not begin simply because a purchase order has been issued.

The manufacturer, contractor and consultant need to establish that the proposed panel arrangement matches the project's electrical requirements.

This is where panel GA drawing submittal becomes important.

A well-prepared submittal can reduce design clarification, manufacturing changes and programme delays.

Paneltech Systems Ltd provides LV panels and electrical engineering solutions for commercial, industrial and infrastructure applications.

What Is the Shop Drawing Approval Process?

The shop drawing approval process is the formal review of detailed manufacturer drawings before equipment is fabricated or installed. The consultant checks the proposed equipment against the approved design, specifications, schedules and project requirements.

The typical sequence is:

Design → Procurement → Technical Submittal → GA Drawings → Consultant Review → Comments → Revision → Approval → Manufacturing → Testing → Delivery

The exact process varies by project contract.

However, the fundamental objective remains the same:

Confirm the equipment before committing to manufacture.

For custom LV panels, this review is particularly important because dimensions, component arrangement, cable entry and internal construction may differ between manufacturers.

What Is a Panel GA Drawing?

A panel GA drawing, or General Arrangement drawing, shows the physical arrangement and major dimensions of the electrical panel. It allows the consultant and contractor to verify enclosure dimensions, doors, equipment locations, cable entries and installation requirements.

A typical GA drawing may show:

Panel overall width
Panel overall height
Panel depth
Number of sections
Doors
Mounting arrangements
Breaker locations
Metering
Control devices
Cable entry
Gland plates
Busbar compartments
Foundation details
Lifting provisions
Panel weight

The GA drawing should correspond with the electrical design.

For example, if the approved single-line diagram shows an ACB incomer and eight MCCB feeders, the GA drawing should provide a physically realistic arrangement for those components.

What Documents Are Included in a Panel Submittal?

A complete electrical panel submittal should contain more than the GA drawing. It should provide sufficient technical information for the consultant to verify ratings, components, construction, protection and compliance before approval.

A typical submittal package can include:

General Arrangement drawing
Single-line diagram
Schematic diagrams
Component schedule
Technical datasheets
Protection-device information
Metering details
Busbar details
Enclosure information
Cable-entry details
Terminal schedules
Compliance documentation
Type/design verification information where applicable
Proposed testing procedure
Deviations schedule

The required documents should follow the project specification.

Step 1: Review the Approved Electrical Design

The manufacturer should review the approved electrical drawings and schedules before preparing shop drawings. This prevents the GA drawing from being developed from incomplete or outdated information.

The review should include:

Single-line diagrams
Panel schedules
Load schedules
Cable schedules
Equipment schedules
Electrical specifications
Architectural drawings
Mechanical requirements
Room layouts
Project standards

The manufacturer should identify discrepancies before submitting drawings.

For example:

If the panel schedule specifies a 630 A incomer, but the single-line diagram shows 800 A, clarification should be obtained before the GA drawing is finalised.

Step 2: Prepare the Technical Submittal

The technical submittal provides the consultant with the manufacturer's proposed equipment and components for review. It should demonstrate that the proposed panel can meet the project's electrical and performance requirements.

The technical submittal can include:

Manufacturer information
Proposed breaker brands
Metering equipment
Contactors
Relays
VFDs
APFC controllers
SPDs
Enclosure materials
Busbar systems
Protection devices

Where the project specification identifies approved manufacturers, the submission should demonstrate compliance with those requirements.

Where alternatives are proposed, they should be clearly identified.

Step 3: Prepare the Panel GA Drawing

The GA drawing converts the electrical design into a physical panel arrangement. It should show enough information for the consultant and contractor to confirm that the proposed enclosure will fit the space and accommodate all required equipment.

The drawing should normally identify:

Overall Dimensions

Height
Width
Depth

Panel Sections

Incomer section
Busbar section
Outgoing feeder section
Control section
Metering section

Access

Front access
Rear access where required
Door swing
Removable covers

Cable Entry

Top
Bottom
Side

Installation

Floor-mounted
Wall-mounted
Plinth-mounted

These details can have significant consequences if discovered after manufacturing.

Step 4: Submit the Drawings Through the Correct Channel

The shop drawing approval process should follow the project's document-control procedure. Drawings should be submitted through the designated contractor, consultant or document-control system rather than relying on informal approvals.

A proper submission should identify:

Project name
Drawing title
Drawing number
Revision
Submission date
Manufacturer
Contractor
Consultant
Status

The drawing should also have a clear revision history.

This creates an auditable record of what was submitted and what was approved.

Step 5: Consultant Review

During consultant review, the panel drawing is checked against the approved design, specifications and project conditions. The consultant may approve the drawing, approve it with comments, request revisions or reject it.

Typical review areas include:

Electrical

Voltage
Current
Fault rating
Breaker selection
Protection
Metering
Busbar arrangement

Mechanical

Dimensions
Weight
Access
Cable entry
Mounting
Ventilation

Functional

Controls
Interlocks
Alarms
Automation
Communication

Compliance

Applicable standards
Project specification
Approved component requirements
Testing requirements

Common Shop Drawing Approval Statuses

Project teams may use different approval codes, but most systems distinguish between approved drawings, drawings requiring comments or revisions, and drawings that cannot proceed. The exact meaning of each status should be defined in the project's document-control procedure.

Common descriptions include:

Status	Meaning
Approved	Proceed according to approved drawing
Approved with Comments	Proceed subject to stated comments
Revise and Resubmit	Changes required before approval
Not Approved	Major issues must be resolved
For Information	Submitted for record/information
Superseded	Replaced by a newer revision

Manufacturers should never assume that a drawing marked “Revise and Resubmit” is permission to manufacture.

What Consultants Check on a Panel GA Drawing

Consultants should check both technical and physical aspects of the GA drawing before approving it. The drawing should be consistent with the single-line diagram, panel schedule and project installation requirements.

A practical review checklist includes:

Panel Identification

Panel tag
Panel description
Drawing number
Revision

Dimensions

Width
Height
Depth
Section dimensions

Equipment

ACBs
MCCBs
MCBs
Contactors
Relays
Meters
Controllers

Construction

Enclosure material
IP rating
Mounting
Access
Cable entry

Electrical

Busbar rating
Incomer rating
Feeder arrangement
Neutral
Earth bar

Installation

Room location
Access clearance
Cable routes
Plinth requirements

Why the Single-Line Diagram Must Match the GA Drawing

The single-line diagram describes the electrical function while the GA drawing describes the physical implementation. Both drawings must represent the same equipment and feeder arrangement.

Consider a simplified example:

The SLD shows:

800 A ACB → 400 A MCCB → 250 A MCCB → 160 A MCCB

The GA drawing should provide appropriate physical space and identify these devices correctly.

A mismatch can cause:

Procurement errors
Incorrect breaker selection
Manufacturing changes
Delayed approval
Installation problems

The SLD should therefore be treated as a key reference document during shop drawing preparation.

Panel GA Drawing and Cable Entry Coordination

Cable-entry arrangements should be confirmed before the panel is manufactured because changing entry locations after fabrication can require physical modification. The GA drawing should therefore show the intended cable-entry direction and gland-plate arrangement.

The team should confirm:

Incoming cable size
Number of cables
Cable entry direction
Gland type
Armouring
Bending radius
Termination space
Cable trench location

For large cables, inadequate termination space can become a serious installation problem.

Panel Dimensions and Electrical Room Coordination

Panel dimensions must be coordinated with the electrical room before approval. A panel that satisfies electrical requirements but cannot be transported, installed or maintained properly can still cause a project delay.

Check:

Door openings
Access routes
Stairways
Lifts
Ceiling height
Panel working clearance
Cable trench
Adjacent equipment
Generator or transformer connections

The contractor should confirm the proposed dimensions against actual site conditions.

Internal Panel Arrangement

The internal arrangement should provide practical access to breakers, terminals, wiring and other components while maintaining the required separation and electrical clearances.

The consultant should consider:

Busbar position
Breaker arrangement
Cable termination areas
Control components
Metering
Terminal blocks
Spare space
Maintenance access

A compact panel is not necessarily a better panel if maintenance becomes difficult.

Technical Submittal Review for Breakers

Breaker submittals should be reviewed for voltage, current, breaking capacity, trip characteristics and required protection functions. The selected breaker should match the project's fault and load calculations.

For an MCCB or ACB, the review may include:

Rated current
Rated voltage
Breaking capacity
Short-time withstand
Long-time protection
Short-time protection
Instantaneous protection
Earth-fault protection
Adjustable settings
Auxiliary contacts
Undervoltage release
Shunt trip
Communication

The requirements will depend on the project.

Shop Drawing Approval for APFC Panels

APFC panel drawings should show the capacitor stages, switching equipment, controller, protection and connections to the electrical system. The design should also account for the characteristics of nonlinear loads where applicable.

The consultant may check:

APFC rating
Capacitor stages
Controller
Contactors or switching devices
Capacitor protection
Harmonic conditions
Cooling
Metering
Incoming protection

Paneltech Systems provides APFC panel solutions for suitable applications.

Shop Drawing Approval for VFD Panels

VFD panel drawings should show the drive arrangement, incoming protection, motor connections, control wiring and required bypass or isolation equipment. The design should also provide appropriate ventilation and heat-management provisions.

The review should consider:

VFD rating
Motor rating
Input breaker
Input isolator
Output connections
Bypass arrangement
Control interface
Emergency stop
Communication
Ventilation

Paneltech Systems provides VFD drive solutions for applicable motor-control applications.

Shop Drawing Approval for MCC Panels

MCC shop drawings should coordinate every motor feeder with the motor schedule and control philosophy. The consultant should verify starter types, protection, VFDs, controls and physical arrangement before approval.

The MCC review should include:

Motor ratings
Starter type
VFDs
Overload protection
Short-circuit protection
Local/remote control
PLC interface
Indication
Emergency stops
Spare feeders

The panel should correspond with the approved motor-control philosophy.

Revision and Resubmission

When a consultant identifies issues, the manufacturer should revise the drawing and clearly identify the changes. The revised drawing should receive a new revision number so that obsolete versions are not accidentally used.

A good revision process includes:

Record consultant comments
Review each comment
Make required changes
Update drawing revision
Update revision description
Reissue drawing
Submit response to comments
Obtain approval

The manufacturer should retain previous revisions for document-control purposes.

Common Reasons Panel Drawings Are Rejected

Panel drawings are commonly returned because of inconsistencies, missing information, incorrect dimensions or failure to follow the project specification. Most of these problems can be prevented through an internal pre-submission review.

Common issues include:

1. Incorrect Panel Dimensions

The proposed enclosure does not fit the allocated space.

2. Missing Cable Entry

The drawing does not show how cables will enter the panel.

3. SLD and GA Mismatch

The physical arrangement does not match the approved electrical design.

4. Wrong Breaker Ratings

The selected protection does not correspond to the approved schedule.

5. Missing Metering

Required meters or CTs are omitted.

6. Incomplete Earthing

Earth-bar arrangements are unclear.

7. Unapproved Components

Proposed equipment does not meet the approved manufacturer requirements.

8. Missing Technical Data

Datasheets or compliance documentation are absent.

9. No Revision History

The drawing does not clearly show what has changed.

10. Poor Drawing Quality

Important dimensions, labels or component references cannot be read.

How to Avoid Shop Drawing Approval Delays

The best way to shorten the shop drawing approval process is to submit complete, coordinated drawings that have already undergone an internal technical review. Early clarification of dimensions, components and project requirements prevents avoidable resubmissions.

Before submission:

Check the latest SLD
Check the latest panel schedule
Confirm load ratings
Confirm breaker ratings
Confirm dimensions
Confirm cable entry
Check room layout
Confirm approved components
Review applicable standards
Check drawing references
Update revision numbers
Include all required datasheets

A manufacturer's internal review can catch many problems before the consultant sees them.

Who Is Responsible for Shop Drawing Approval?

Responsibility depends on the project contract, but the manufacturer normally prepares the technical drawings while the contractor coordinates the submission and the consultant reviews them against the design requirements. Approval does not remove each party's contractual responsibilities.

A typical responsibility structure is:

Party	Typical Responsibility
Consultant	Design criteria and technical review
Contractor	Coordination and formal submission
Manufacturer	Detailed shop drawings and technical data
Client	Review/approval where contractually required
Site Team	Installation coordination
Commissioning Team	Testing and operational verification

The actual contractual responsibilities should always take precedence.

Shop Drawing Approval Timeline

The time required for approval depends on the project's document-control procedure, drawing complexity and number of review cycles. Early submission is important because panel manufacturing should allow sufficient time for review, revision, testing and delivery.

A simplified workflow is:

Stage	Activity
1	Review approved design
2	Prepare technical submittal
3	Prepare GA drawings
4	Internal manufacturer review
5	Contractor submission
6	Consultant review
7	Comments issued
8	Manufacturer revision
9	Resubmission
10	Final approval
11	Manufacturing
12	Factory testing
13	Delivery
14	Installation
15	Site testing and commissioning

The earlier the technical submission starts, the more opportunity the project team has to resolve design issues before procurement becomes critical.

Shop Drawing Approval System Specifications

A complete panel submittal should provide both physical and electrical information so that the reviewer can assess the proposed assembly before manufacturing. The exact requirements should follow the project specification and applicable standards.

Parameter	Required Information
Panel Type	MDB / MCC / DB / Control Panel
Rated Voltage	[V]
Frequency	[Hz]
Rated Current	[A]
Short-Circuit Rating	[kA]
Incomer	ACB / MCCB / Other
Busbar	Copper / As specified
IP Rating	[IP Rating]
Internal Separation	[Required Form]
Dimensions	W × H × D
Cable Entry	Top / Bottom / Side
Metering	As specified
Protection	As approved
Control	As specified
Communication	As required
Applicable Standards	Project requirements
Testing	Routine verification / FAT
Documentation	Drawings, datasheets and test records

Final Shop Drawing Approval Checklist

Before approving a panel shop drawing, the project team should confirm that the electrical, mechanical, installation and documentation requirements have been addressed. A structured checklist makes the review faster and more consistent.

Electrical

Voltage confirmed
Frequency confirmed
Current rating confirmed
Fault level confirmed
Incomer confirmed
Outgoing breakers confirmed
Busbar rating confirmed
Protection requirements confirmed
Metering confirmed

Mechanical

Panel dimensions checked
Door access checked
Cable entry checked
Mounting arrangement checked
IP rating confirmed
Maintenance access checked
Panel weight considered

Documentation

GA drawing included
SLD included
Schematics included
Datasheets included
Component schedule included
Compliance documents included
Revision history updated
Comments addressed

Installation

Room layout checked
Cable trench checked
Access route checked
Clearance checked
Incoming/outgoing cable routes confirmed

Download the Panel Shop Drawing Submittal Checklist

A standard submittal checklist helps consultants, contractors and panel manufacturers verify that the required drawings and technical documents are complete before formal submission. This can reduce unnecessary review cycles and manufacturing delays.

The checklist can be used for:

MDB submissions
MCC submissions
Distribution boards
APFC panels
VFD panels
ATS/MTS panels
Control panels
Solar distribution panels

For additional technical resources, visit the Paneltech Systems Knowledge Centre.

Contact Paneltech Systems Ltd

Powering Kenya's Future with Reliable Electrical Solutions

Email: [email protected]
Phone: 0799 531765
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Website: Paneltech Systems Ltd

Our Specialized Services

Low Voltage (LV) Panels & APFC Panels
VFD Drive Solutions & ATS / MTS Systems
Solar Power & EV Charging Infrastructure
Electrical Supplies & Engineering Consultations

For shop drawing approval, panel GA drawing preparation, technical submittals or custom LV panel requirements, contact Paneltech Systems Ltd before manufacturing begins so the electrical and physical requirements can be properly coordinated.

Shop Drawing Approval Process: Panel GA Drawing Submittals in Kenya