What Is a Situation Plan?
A situation plan shows where all electrical components are physically installed in your building. Learn what it must include and how it differs from a single-line diagram.
A floor plan of your electrical installation
A situation plan (Dutch: situatieschema, French: plan de situation) is a scaled floor plan of your building showing the physical location of all electrical components — sockets, switches, lights, distribution boards, and cable routes.
Unlike a single-line diagram, the situation plan doesn't show the logical circuit hierarchy, but rather exactly where everything is located.
What does the AREI say?
According to AREI Art. 9.1 (Art. 269 in the old AREI, since 2020 Art. 9.1), every electrical installation in Belgium must have two mandatory drawing documents:
| Document | AREI Article | Shows |
|---|---|---|
| Single-line diagram | Art. 9.1.2 Nr. 1 | Logical structure — protection devices, circuits, hierarchy |
| Situation plan | Art. 9.1.2 Nr. 2 | Physical location — where everything is installed in the building, incl. location of the meter board and earthing system |
Both documents must be presented at every electrical inspection (keuring). If either of them is missing, the inspection will not pass.
What must be on the situation plan?
Checklist
- Scaled floor plan of each storey
- Position of all sockets (single, double, earthed)
- Position of all switches (on/off, two-way, dimmer)
- Lighting points (ceiling, wall, outdoor)
- Distribution board and meter location
- Fixed appliances (hob, boiler, EV charger)
- Cable routes and installation zones
- Circuit reference numbers (numbering must be identical between situation plan and single-line diagram)
- AREI-compliant symbols (per IEC 60617)
Situation plan vs. single-line diagram
| Property | Situation plan | Single-line diagram |
|---|---|---|
| Representation | Physical floor plan | Logical circuit diagram |
| Shows position? | Yes — exact location | No |
| Shows hierarchy? | No | Yes — from grid to consumer |
| Protection devices | Position only | Ratings, type, coordination |
| Cable info | Routes visible | Type and cross-section listed |
| Scaled | Yes (1:50 or 1:100) | No |
Both documents complement each other and are equally mandatory.