Understanding Your Energy System Plan Set

When you receive your plan set from Haven Energy, you’re seeing the blueprint for how your solar and battery system will fit into your home. This document is an important step in moving your project toward permitting, installation, and energy independence.

Here’s a look behind the scenes at what goes into designing it, why certain details matter, and how you can review it with confidence.

🌞 What Your Plan Set Represents

Your plan set is a technical design package created by our licensed engineers and drafters. It shows exactly:

Where your solar panels and battery will be located.
How your system connects to your home’s main service panel and the utility grid.
Compliance with building, electrical, and fire safety codes required by your local jurisdiction.

Each page has a specific role:

Site Plan: A top-down view showing where equipment will be installed on your property.
Single Line Electrical Diagram: The one-line schematic that maps your system’s power flow.
Side Elevation Views: Side views showing spacing, clearance, and code-required safety zones.
Labels and Equipment Specs: All major components listed by model and rating.

These drawings are submitted to your city or county building department for permit approval — so accuracy and compliance are essential.

⚙️ What Goes Into the Design

Every layout we create is custom to your property. Our design team considers:

Your utility and meter location – how power flows in and out of your home.
Electrical capacity – ensuring your existing service panel can safely support new equipment.
Roof structure and shading – optimizing solar production without exceeding weight or wind-load limits.
Local building and fire codes – spacing rules (like 3-foot working clearances or battery distances from gas lines and windows) that vary by city.
Manufacturer requirements – each inverter and battery model has its own safety and ventilation specs.

When you see a note like “Equipment must be mounted 3 ft from gas meter,” it’s not arbitrary — it’s a code requirement designed to keep your system safe and permit-ready.

🧐 What to Pay Attention To

When reviewing your plan set, focus on the big-picture elements:

Area	What to Check	Why It Matters
Equipment Locations	Battery, inverter, panels, and disconnects are positioned where indicated.	Placement must meet fire and building codes; changing later could require re-permitting.
Access & Clearance	Look for 3 ft workspace zones around equipment.	Required for safe maintenance and inspection.
Aesthetics & Visibility	Confirm wall-mounted equipment and conduit runs match your expectations.	We balance code compliance with a clean appearance.
Backup Circuits	If applicable, review which home circuits are connected to backup power.	Ensures critical loads (like fridge, lights, Wi-Fi) are supported.

🔒 Why Some Elements Can’t Be Changed

Sometimes customers ask why a battery can’t move a few feet closer to a wall or why panels can’t fill an entire roof section.
The reason usually comes down to code-driven safety limits — spacing near gas lines, windows, attic vents, or roof ridges.
Local fire authorities (AHJs) have strict rules to ensure firefighter access and system safety.

To avoid costly delays, we design for the most restrictive rule set that applies to your area.
For example, Los Angeles, Contra Costa, Daly City, San Francisco and Santa Clara counties enforce tighter clearance requirements for batteries than other California regions.

✅ Next Steps After Sign-Off

Once you sign:

Haven submits your plan set to your city or county for permitting.
We track approval and update you on progress.
After approval, we schedule your installation day!

Your signature keeps everything moving — and ensures your system is built exactly to the design you’ve approved.

Your plan set is more than a technical document — it’s the blueprint for your home’s energy future. We design every layout with precision, compliance, and care so your installation is safe, efficient, and ready for years of clean energy use.

If you ever have questions about your plan or the permitting process, our team is here to walk you through every step.