Board Manager: Visualising and Managing Complex Electrical Installations

Modern electrical installations often involve multiple distribution boards fed from various sources—main incoming supplies, sub-mains, generators, and more. Managing these complex supply chains in a certificate can be challenging. Pirform’s Board Manager provides visual tools and efficient workflows to handle even the most intricate multi-board installations with ease.

Why Board Manager Matters

When inspecting or designing installations with multiple boards, you need to:

• Understand supply relationships - Know which boards feed which
• Maintain accurate documentation - Record the complete installation structure
• Work efficiently - Make changes without repetitive data entry
• Present clearly - Show clients how their installation is organised
• Coordinate teams - Assign engineers to specific boards systematically

The Board Manager addresses all these needs in one comprehensive interface.

What You Can Do with Board Manager

Pirform’s Board Manager is a central hub for working with boards across your entire certificate:

Visualisation & Navigation

• Visualisein which the ** board connections** - See how boards connect in a tree structure
• Switch between views - Tree view for relationships, list view for operations
• Expand and collapse nodes - Focus on specific parts of the installation

Board Operations

• Add and copy boards - Create new boards or duplicate existing ones
• Delete multiple boards - Select and remove several boards at once
• Reorder boards - Change the order in which the boards appear in the certificate
• Reorder circuits - Organise circuits within each board
• Exclude boards from PDF - Hide specific boards from printed certificates

Supply Management

• Change board supplies - Use drag-and-drop or selection dialogue
• Visualisethe ** supply chains** - See the flow from incoming supply through sub-boards
• Update supply details - Modify supply characteristics for each board

Engineer and Instrument Management

• Assign engineers per board - Record who inspected or tested each board
• Set instruments - Track which test equipment was used where
• Copy to blanks - Populate blank fields with the current engineer/instrument
• Clear all assignments - Reset engineer and instrument data across all boards

Export and Reporting

• Export to Excel - Create spreadsheets of boards and circuits
• Print supply diagrams - Generate visual documentation of board relationships

Two Views of Your Installation

The Board Manager offers two complementary views of your installation.

Supplies View: Visual Relationships

Click Supplies in the ribbon to see boards organised by their supply relationships:

This tree view shows:

• The incoming supply at the top
• Main distribution boards beneath it
• Sub-mains and their fed boards indented appropriately
• The complete supply chain from source to final circuit

Use the + and - buttons or the ribbon controls to expand and collapse sections as needed. This is invaluable when documenting complex installations where understanding the supply hierarchy is critical.

List View: Efficient Operations

Click List in the ribbon to see all boards as a flat list:

List view is ideal for:

• Selecting multiple boards for bulk operations
• Quickly scanning board details
• Finding specific boards by designation or location
• Performing operations that don’t require understanding supply relationships

You can select multiple boards using Ctrl+Click or Shift+Click, just like in Windows Explorer:

Working with Board Supplies

Understanding and documenting board supplies is fundamental to electrical certificates. The Board Manager makes this straightforward.

Changing a Board’s Supply

Method 1: Using the Supply Column

Click into the Supply column for any board:

Select the appropriate supply from the dropdown. Pirform shows all available boards that could supply the selected board. Method 2: Drag and Drop

The most intuitive method—simply drag a board and drop it onto its supply board:

The board immediately moves to appear under its new supply in the tree structure. This visual feedback makes it easy to organise complex installations.

Supply Chain Scenarios

Scenario 1: Basic Installation

• Incoming supply → Main distribution board → Branch circuits Scenario 2: Sub-Main Installation
• Incoming supply → Main distribution board → Sub-main cable → Garage consumer unit

Use drag-and-drop to move the garage consumer unit under the main board. The tree structure immediately reflects this relationship. Scenario 3: Multiple Sub-Mains

• Incoming supply → Main distribution board → Three sub-mains feeding:
  • Outbuilding workshop
  • Detached garage
  • Garden office

Create all boards, then drag each sub-board onto the main board. The tree view shows the complete structure at a glance. Scenario 4: Split Installation

• Two incoming supplies (e.g., normal and generator)
• Each supplies different boards

Use the Supplies view to verify each supply chain is correct and no boards are accidentally connected to the wrong source.

Managing Engineers and Instruments

When multiple engineers inspect an installation or different test instruments are used at various locations, the Board Manager helps you track these details efficiently.

Viewing and Editing Engineer Details

Both views show the engineer and instrument information for each board:

Click into any engineer or instrument field to change it for that specific board.

Copy to Blanks

After copying a previous certificate or adding new boards, you often need to update the engineer and instrument details for boards where these fields are blank. To use Copy to Blanks:

1. Ensure the correct engineer and instrument are selected in the ribbon
2. Click Copy to Blanks in the ribbon
3. Confirm the operation

Pirform copies the selected engineer and instrument to all boards where these fields are currently blank. Boards already assigned to an engineer or instrument remain unchanged.

This is particularly useful when:

• You’ve copied a certificate from a previous inspection
• Multiple engineers worked on the installation
• Some boards were tested with different instruments

Clear All Engineers and Instruments

When starting a new certificate based on a template or previous installation:

1. Click Clear Engineers or Clear Instruments in the ribbon
2. All boards have their engineer or instrument fields cleared
3. Use Copy to Blanks to assign the current engineer/instrument

This two-step process ensures you don’t accidentally leave old engineer or instrument data in your new certificate.

Adding, Copying, and Deleting Boards

Adding New Boards

Click Add Board in the ribbon to create a new distribution board. Pirform adds it to the certificate and opens the board details for you to complete.

Copying Existing Boards

When you have similar boards (e.g., identical consumer units in a block of flats):

1. Select the board to copy
2. Click Copy Board in the ribbon
3. Pirform creates a duplicate with all circuits and settings
4. Modify the designation and adjust circuits as needed

This saves significant time compared to entering every circuit manually.

Deleting Multiple Boards

To remove several boards at once:

1. Switch to List view
2. Select multiple boards (Ctrl+Click or Shift+Click)
3. Click Delete Board in the ribbon
4. Confirm the deletion

All selected boards and their circuits are removed from the certificate.

Reordering Boards and Circuits

Reordering Boards

The order boards appear in the certificate PDF for clarity and professionalism. To reorder boards:

• Select the board
• Use the Move Up or Move Down buttons in the ribbon
• Repeat until the boards are in the desired order

Alternatively, in Supplies view, changing a board’s supply automatically repositions it in the tree structure.

Reordering Circuits

The Board Manager also lets you reorder circuits within a board:

1. Navigate to the board containing the circuits
2. Use the circuit reordering controls
3. Arrange circuits logically (e.g., lighting first, then sockets, then larger loads)

This is particularly useful when circuits were added in the order discovered rather than in a logical presentation order.

Excluding Boards from PDFs

Sometimes you want a board recorded in your certificate but not shown to the client in the PDF:

• Boards not yet installed, but planned for future work
• Boards in areas outside the inspection scope
• Temporary boards that will be removed To exclude a board from the PDF:

1. Select the board in Board Manager
2. Check the Exclude from PDF option
3. The board remains in your Pirform certificate but won’t appear in the printed output

This keeps your internal records complete while presenting only relevant information to clients.

Adjusting Board Ways

Consumer units and distribution boards come in various sizes—6-way, 10-way, 18-way, etc. The Board Manager lets you quickly adjust the number of ways:

1. Select the board
2. Use the Ways control in the ribbon
3. Enter the number of ways
4. Pirform updates the board

This affects circuit capacity and how the board appears in documentation.

Exporting to Excel

For installations with many boards and circuits, an Excel export provides a convenient overview and allows external analysis or record-keeping. To export boards and circuits:

1. Open the Board Manager
2. Click Export to Excel (or use the File menu)
3. Choose a location to save the file
4. Open the Excel file

The export includes:

• Board designations and locations
• Circuit numbers and descriptions
• Cable types and sizes
• Protective devices
• Test results
• Supply relationships

Learn more in our Excel export documentation.

Printing Supply Diagrams

The Board Manager can generate printable diagrams showing how boards connect:

1. Ensure you’re in Supplies view
2. Arrange the tree to show the information clearly
3. Click Print Diagram in the ribbon
4. Print or save as PDF

These diagrams are excellent for:

• Client handover documentation
• Training new engineers on the installation
• Planning future modifications
• Understanding existing installations during inspections

Working with Split Boards

Split boards (consumer units with multiple RCDs protecting different groups of circuits) present a documentation challenge. The Board Manager works alongside other Pirform features to handle these correctly.

Reporting Split Board RCDs

While all circuits in a split board belong to the same physical board, they may have different RCD protection: Best practice for split boards:

1. Create one board in Pirform representing the consumer unit
2. Enter all circuits
3. Specify RCD details for each circuit individually
4. Use circuit remarks to clarify which RCD protects which circuits

Example remarks:

• Circuit 1-5: “Protected by RCD1 (80A, 30mA Type A)”
• Circuit 6-10: “Protected by RCD2 (80A, 30mA Type A)”

These remarks appear in the printed certificate, making the split board arrangement clear to clients and other engineers.

Learn more about split boards in our dedicated documentation.

Common Board Manager Workflows

Workflow 1: New Installation Certificate

1. Open Board Manager
2. Add main board
3. Enter main board details
4. Add sub-boards as needed
5. Use drag-and-drop to set up supply relationships
6. Assign engineer and instruments using Copy to Blanks
7. Verify supply chain in Supplies view

Workflow 2: Copying a Previous Certificate

1. Copy the previous certificate
2. Open Board Manager
3. Delete boards no longer present
4. Clear all engineers and instruments
5. Update engineer and instrument to current
6. Use Copy to Blanks to assign across all boards
7. Verify supply relationships haven’t changed

Workflow 3: Complex Commercial Installation

1. Add all boards in any order using List view
2. Switch to Supplies view
3. Drag boards onto their supplies to build the tree
4. Expand and collapse sections to verify each supply chain
5. Export to Excel for client documentation
6. Print supply diagram for installation records

Workflow 4: Multi-Engineer Inspection

1. Open Board Manager
2. Use List view to see all boards
3. Sort or filter by location or designation
4. Assign specific engineer to each board individually
5. Verify each engineer has correct instrument assigned
6. Check assignments before generating certificate

Tips for Efficient Board Management

Use Consistent Naming

Adopt clear board designation conventions:

• Location-based: “DB Kitchen”, “DB Garage”, “CU Workshop”
• Function-based: “Main Board”, “Lighting Submain”, “Socket Submain”
• Level-based: “Ground Floor DB”, “First Floor DB”

Consistent naming makes boards easier to find and organise.

Build Supply Chains as You Go

Don’t wait until the end to organise board supplies. As you add each board, immediately drag it to its correct supply. This prevents confusion and reduces errors.

Review in Supplies View Before Finalising

Before completing a certificate, spend a moment in Supplies view verifying the supply chain accurately reflects the installation. This catches errors that might not be obvious in List view.

Use Excel Export for Client Meetings

Export boards and circuits to Excel when discussing installations with clients. The spreadsheet format is familiar and easy to share digitally.

Use Copy Board for Repetitive Installations

For blocks of flats, student accommodation, or similar repetitive installations, create one board in full, then copy and modify. This ensures consistency and saves time.

Integration with Other Pirform Features

The Board Manager works seamlessly with other Pirform features:

With Circuit Helper

The Circuit Helper appears when working on individual boards, providing real-time validation. Use Board Manager to navigate between boards efficiently, then rely on Circuit Helper for detailed circuit work.

With Intelligence

When you reorganise boards or change supplies, Pirform’s intelligence system recalculates automatically, updating any observations or warnings related to board configuration or supply characteristics.

With Excel Export

Combine Board Manager organisation with Excel export to create comprehensive installation documentation for clients, facilities managers, or maintenance teams.

With PDF Generation

Board order in Board Manager determines the order boards appear in printed certificates. Organise boards logically before generating PDFs to ensure professional, easy-to-follow documentation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change a board’s supply after entering all circuits?

Yes. Use Board Manager to change the supply at any time. Pirform updates all related information automatically, including intelligence and supply text.

What happens to circuits when I delete a board?

All circuits in the deleted board are also deleted. Make sure you don’t need the circuit data before deleting boards.

Can I see boards from multiple certificates at once?

No. Board Manager shows boards from the currently open certificate only. To work with multiple certificates, open them separately.

How do I document a board with mixed RCD and non-RCD circuits?

Use one board and specify RCD protection circuit-by-circuit. Use circuit remarks to clarify the arrangement if needed. See our split boards documentation.

Does reordering boards affect test result numbering?

No. Test results are tied to specific boards and circuits regardless of display order. Reordering only affects how they appear in the certificate.

Can I export supply diagrams to other formats besides PDF?

Print to PDF provides the most flexibility. You can then convert the PDF to images or other formats using external tools if needed.

Learn More

Explore related features and documentation:

• Complete Board Manager Documentation - Full technical reference
• Working with Boards and Circuits - Detailed circuit entry guide
• Split Boards Documentation - Handling consumer units with multiple RCDs
• Exporting to Excel - Complete export features
• Circuit Helper - Visual circuit intelligence

Questions About Board Manager?

Need help organising a particularly complex installation or want guidance on best practices for multi-board documentation? Our support team can provide assistance with Board Manager workflows tailored to your inspection scenarios.

Contact us at support@shineforms.co.uk or explore comprehensive documentation at docs.shineforms.co.uk.