Draw a Situation Plan: Step-by-Step Guide According to AREI/RGIE

The situation plan (also called position plan or plan de situation) shows where exactly each electrical component is located in your building. Together with the single-line diagram, it is one of the two mandatory documents for every electrical installation in Belgium — without it, the inspection by the approved control body will not pass.

In brief: While the single-line diagram shows the logical wiring (which switch controls which light, via which circuit), the situation plan shows the physical position of each component on the floor plan.

In this guide, you will learn how to create a standards-compliant situation plan step by step.

Step 1: Prepare the Floor Plan

Dimensions and Scale

The floor plan forms the basis of your situation plan. You can take it from a construction plan or draw it yourself.

Important:

Use a uniform scale (common: 1:50 or 1:100).
Draw all walls, doors, and windows.
Mark the opening direction of doors (quarter circle) — this affects switch placement.

Label the Rooms

Give each room its designation and ideally its area:

Abbreviation	Room	Typical Area
LR	Living Room	25–40 m²
KI	Kitchen	10–20 m²
BR	Bedroom	12–18 m²
BA	Bathroom	5–10 m²
HA	Hallway	5–15 m²
GA	Garage	15–30 m²
BS	Basement	variable
EX	Exterior	variable

Step 2: Use AREI/RGIE Symbols

The AREI prescribes in Table 2.23 exactly which symbols must be used. These are based on the IEC 60617 standard. Here are the 10 most important symbols for the situation plan:

No.	Symbol	Description	Usage
1	⏚ Semicircle	Single socket outlet	Mark wall position
2	⏚⏚ Double semicircle	Double socket outlet	Mark wall position
3	○ with cross	Ceiling light	Centre of room/position
4	─○ with line	Wall light	On the wall
5	Switch symbol	Single-pole switch	Next to door (opening side)
6	Switch symbol with 2 arrows	Series switch	Controls 2 luminaires
7	Switch symbol with line	Two-way switch	Two locations, one light
8	Rectangle with lightning	Distribution board	Usually hallway/utility room
9	⏚ with PE	Earth connection	Earthing point
10	Circle with R	Smoke detector	Escape routes (hallway, staircase), regionally varies

Tip: Use only the AREI/RGIE symbols. Self-invented symbols will be rejected during inspection.

Step 3: Draw the Components

Now place the symbols on the floor plan. The following rules help with correct positioning:

Socket Outlets

Draw on the wall at the actual position.
Kitchen: worktop at least 4 sockets, of which 2 above the counter. Dedicated sockets for oven, dishwasher, refrigerator.
Living spaces: At least 1 socket per started 4 m² (practical recommendation by installer associations — the AREI does not prescribe a minimum number of sockets per area).
Bathroom: Low-voltage sockets only from Zone 2 (bathtubs only, with 30mA RCD) or outside the zones. For showers, Zone 2 does not exist (Art. 7.1.3.2 Nr. 3b, Art. 7.1.5.2d).
Outdoor: If an outdoor socket is installed, it must be weatherproof (IP44) and protected by a dedicated 30mA RCD.

Switches

Next to the door on the opening side, approximately 105 cm height (practical recommendation — the AREI does not prescribe a specific switch height, but requires 'easily accessible').
Two-way switches for rooms with multiple entrances or at the top/bottom of stairs.
Connect switches and associated luminaires with a dashed line.

Lighting Points

Ceiling lights in the centre of the room or at the planned position.
Wall lights at the wall position.
Every room needs at least one lighting point.

Smoke Detectors

Mandatory under Belgian fire safety legislation (varies by region):

In Flanders: Mandatory in escape routes (hallways, staircases); recommended but not required in bedrooms.
In Wallonia and Brussels, separate regulations apply.
Hallways and staircases — at least one smoke detector per floor.
In the kitchen optional (heat detector preferred to avoid false alarms).

Special Consumers

EV charger (electric vehicle): garage or exterior wall, dedicated circuit.
Water heater/Boiler: Dedicated circuit, mark the position.
Heat pump/Air conditioning: Mark outdoor unit + indoor unit.

Step 4: Assign Circuit Numbers

Each component on the situation plan receives the same circuit number as in the single-line diagram. This is essential for identification during inspection.

How it works:

Number your circuits in the single-line diagram (1, 2, 3, ...).
Write the number next to each component on the situation plan.
Use consistent notation: e.g., "C1" for circuit 1 or simply "1".

Example:

Circuit 1: Ground floor lighting → All ground floor luminaires get "1".
Circuit 2: Living room sockets → All living room sockets get "2".
Circuit 3: Kitchen sockets → All kitchen sockets get "3".
Circuit 4: Dedicated oven → One socket with "4".

Important: The numbers must match exactly between the single-line diagram and the situation plan. Inconsistencies are one of the most common reasons for remarks during inspection.
Documentation requirement: Art. 9.1.2 Nr. 1 (single-line diagram) and Art. 9.1.2 Nr. 2 (situation plan).

Step 5: Legend and Labelling

Complete your plan with:

Legend with all symbols used and their meaning.
Title block (cartouche) with: owner's name, address, date, plan creator, scale.
North arrow (optional, but helpful).
Floor indication for multi-storey buildings (one plan per floor).

Common Mistakes

Mistake	Consequence	Solution
Missing smoke detectors	Inspection failed	Min. 1 per floor in escape routes (varies by region)
Outdoor socket not compliant	Remark, if present but non-compliant	If installed: IP44, dedicated 30mA RCD. A missing outdoor socket is not a fail reason
Missing labels / circuit numbers	Remark	Number every component
Wrong symbols	Remark	Use only AREI Table 2.23
Switch on wrong side of door	Impractical (not an AREI violation)	Check opening direction
Bathroom socket in Zone 0 or 1	Inspection failed	Sockets only from Zone 2 (bathtub) or outside the zones (shower) (Art. 7.1.5.2c/d)
No legend	Remark	Include symbol table

Checklist Before Submission

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