What Goes on an Equipment Schedule (EQ Sheet) for Plan Review
The short answer: An equipment schedule (often an "EQ" sheet) is the drawing that lists every piece of fixed equipment in a project with the data reviewers, trades, and inspectors need to coordinate it. For each item it gives a tag number, description, manufacturer and model (the "basis of design"), quantity, plumbing connections (hot/cold water, waste, drain), and electrical data — voltage, phase, amperage, wattage, and connected load (VA) — usually grouped by area (front end, produce, kitchen, bakery, etc.). It typically carries a "basis of design, or approved equal" note, meaning the listed model sets the performance standard but equivalent products are acceptable. The schedule's job is coordination: it tells the electrical engineer what to power, the plumber what to connect, and the reviewer that loads and connections have been accounted for. Fields that can't be confirmed at design are marked "verify."
What an equipment schedule is for
The equipment schedule is the single coordination document that ties architectural equipment layout to the engineering disciplines. The electrical engineer sizes circuits from its connected loads; the plumbing engineer roughs in from its water and waste connections; the mechanical engineer coordinates exhaust for heat- and grease-producing equipment. Without it, those disciplines are guessing.
The columns reviewers expect
A complete schedule generally includes:
Tag — a unique number keyed to the equipment on the floor plan.
Description — what the item is (e.g., "12' refrigerated produce case").
Manufacturer + model (basis of design) — the product that sets the standard.
Quantity.
Plumbing — hot water, cold water, waste/indirect, condensate, drain.
Listing a specific manufacturer and model doesn't lock the project to that product. The "or approved equal" convention means the named model establishes the performance and dimensional standard, and a contractor may substitute an equivalent that meets it (subject to approval). This is why schedules show real model numbers but remain competitively bid.
Why "verify" appears so often
On a basis-of-design schedule, many electrical and plumbing values can't be final until the actual purchased equipment is confirmed — voltage and phase in particular vary by model and supply. Marking a field "verify" is correct practice: an unconfirmed connected load stated as fact is worse than one flagged for confirmation, because trades will rough-in to whatever the schedule says.
Common schedule mistakes in review
Equipment on the plan with no schedule tag (or tags with no plan location).
Missing connected loads, so the electrical engineer can't size service.
Plumbing connections omitted for items that clearly need them (sinks, ice machines, dipper wells, condensate from refrigerated cases).
Stating voltage/phase as confirmed when it should be "verify."
No "or approved equal" note, over-restricting the bid.
Model IBC/IMC/IPC framing for general understanding; not a substitute for the adopted codes and amendments your AHJ enforces. Verify against your codes of record.