IEEE 42-1923

42-1923 is the IEEE-published reference for AIEE Standard Symbols for Electrical Equipment of Buildings, a technical document tied to power, energy, and industry applications. It addresses the graphical symbols used to identify electrical equipment in building-related drawings and documentation, helping engineers and designers present installations clearly and consistently. For buyers seeking a historical standards reference, this standard can support interpretation, drafting, and recordkeeping where established symbol conventions matter.

42-1923 overview

This standard focuses on the approved symbols used for electrical equipment found in buildings, giving a common language for diagrams, plans, and schedules. As 42-1923, it belongs to a specialized set of electrical drafting practices associated with AIEE usage. Its purpose is to improve readability and reduce ambiguity when equipment must be shown on engineering documents. In practical terms, it supports consistent presentation of power-related building systems and related technical records.

Typical use cases

Typical use for this standard includes preparing or reviewing building electrical drawings, one-line diagrams, and equipment layouts where clear symbol identification is important. It may be used when documenting switchgear, panels, feeders, controls, and other building electrical equipment in power-oriented projects. The standard can also be helpful in archives, retrofit work, and legacy document interpretation, especially when teams need to match historic drafting conventions with existing installations or technical files.

Why this standard matters

Using a defined symbol standard helps reduce errors in design review, procurement, and installation coordination. For electrical equipment in buildings, consistent notation supports safer communication between engineers, contractors, and maintenance personnel. It can also improve compliance checks and make technical drawings easier to compare across projects. In that sense, 42-1923 helps preserve clarity and control in documentation where the correct identification of equipment is important.

• AIEE symbols for building electrical equipment
• Drawing and diagram reference
• Power and energy documentation support
• Useful for legacy technical records