11.3 Consultant Coordination: Power, Data & Communication Plans

What Is a Power, Data, and Communication Plan?

The Power, Data, and Communication Plan (often called the power plan or electrical coordination plan) is the interior designer's drawing that shows where every electrical device, data outlet, communication port, and low-voltage connection goes — and how each ties into the furniture, millwork, and building systems. It is distinct from the electrical engineer's power plan, which shows branch circuits, panel connections, and conduit runs. The interior designer's plan is about device location and coordination, not circuit design.

Device and Outlet Locations

The power plan locates every receptacle, switch, data jack, and low-voltage device relative to the floor plan, furniture, and millwork. Key considerations:

• Receptacle spacing — NEC 210.52 requires a receptacle on any wall space 24 inches or wider; countertop receptacles no more than 24 inches apart (no point on the counter more than 24 inches from an outlet).
• Countertop height — Countertop receptacles cannot be more than 20 inches above the counter surface.
• GFCI — Required within 6 feet of a sink, in garages, outdoors, and in other wet or damp locations per NEC 210.8.

Mounting Heights

The NEC does not mandate a specific mounting height for general-use receptacles. Accessibility is governed by ADA/A117.1 Section 308 Reach Ranges:

Industry standard for general receptacles: 15–18 inches AFF to the centerline. Switches and controls: 48 inches max to the operable part. Exceptions: dedicated-use receptacles (refrigerator, range), floor receptacles, and appliance-mounted controls are exempt from reach-range requirements.

Outlet Types and Installation Methods

AV Integration

Audiovisual coordination is a major part of the power plan. The designer must locate:

• Display power — Receptacle behind wall-mounted monitor
• Data — Cat 6 or Cat 6A jack at display location
• Conduit — Empty chase from floor to display for future cabling
• Ceiling projector — Power and data at projector mount
• Speakers — Power at amplifier location
• Control panel — Power and data at lectern or wall

Security Integration

Security systems require power and data coordination:

• Access control readers — Card readers at doors; power and data
• Cameras — PoE (Power over Ethernet) or separate power; data to head-end
• Intrusion detection — Door contacts, motion sensors; low-voltage wiring
• Door hardware — Electrified locks, strikes, mag locks; coordinate with door schedule

Low-Voltage Coordination

Low-voltage systems include data, telephone, AV, security, and building automation. The designer coordinates:

• Data jacks — Cat 6 or Cat 6A at workstations, conference tables, walls
• Telephone — Often combined with data via VoIP
• AV outlets — At conference tables, walls, ceilings
• Smart building sensors — Occupancy, temperature, CO2; coordinate with mechanical

FF&E Coordination

Furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E) often need power. The designer coordinates:

• Powered workstations — Modular furniture with integrated raceways; power whip from floor box or wall
• Conference tables — Pop-up power and data modules in the tabletop
• Soft seating — Floor outlets for lounge chairs with device charging
• Kitchenettes — Countertop appliances; dedicated circuits

Millwork Coordination

Millwork requires specific power and lighting:

• Under-cabinet lighting — Switched, often LED tape; coordinate with millwork shop drawings
• In-cabinet lighting — For glass-front display cabinets; switched
• Inside outlets — For charging devices inside drawers or cabinets
• Appliance garages — Dedicated outlet for coffee maker, microwave
• Toe-kick lighting — Low-level LED for wayfinding; coordinate with power plan

Energy Code

The power plan must comply with the same energy code as the lighting plan. IECC 2024 requires:

• Receptacle control — At least 50 percent of receptacles in open and enclosed offices must be controlled by occupancy sensors (off when unoccupied)
• HVAC interlock — Where applicable, receptacle circuits may need to interlock with HVAC shutdown
• Metering — Sub-metering for tenant spaces over 25,000 ft² per ASHRAE 90.1

Exam Scenario

On the IDIX exam, expect questions that give a furniture plan and ask where a floor box or poke-through should be placed, or whether a given receptacle height complies with ADA reach ranges. Remember: the NEC governs spacing, ADA governs height, and the designer coordinates both against the furniture and millwork layout.