A Complete Guide to SP3D-Electrical and SmartPlant Electrical

With increasing project complexities and global teams collaborating on electrical systems, integrated tools like SP3D-Electrical and SmartPlant Electrical (SPEL) by Hexagon PPM have become essential. In today’s competitive industrial landscape, effective electrical design and data management are pivotal to delivering efficient, safe, and cost-effective projects. Both SP3D-Electrical and SPEL serve as intelligent engineering design tools specifically created for electrical engineers and designers involved in power distribution, instrumentation, and communication systems in large-scale industrial facilities. While SP3D-Electrical is part of the Smart 3D (SP3D) suite and focuses on the 3D representation and integration of electrical components, SPEL handles the front-end design, analysis, and documentation of electrical systems.

This comprehensive blog by Multisoft Systems explores the features, benefits, use cases, and differences between SP3D-Electrical and SmartPlant Electrical (SPEL) online training to help professionals and organizations understand how these tools revolutionize electrical engineering and project execution.

What is SP3D-Electrical?

SP3D (SmartPlant 3D) Electrical, part of Hexagon’s Smart 3D suite, enables the 3D design, modeling, and integration of electrical components within a plant’s overall digital model. It provides a highly detailed and visual representation of cable trays, junction boxes, lighting, grounding systems, conduits, and equipment placement. Key Features of SP3D-Electrical certification:

• 3D Cable Routing and Tray Modeling: Efficiently model and visualize electrical cable trays and routing paths.
• Clash Detection and Resolution: Avoid spatial conflicts by detecting interference with other plant disciplines (e.g., piping, HVAC).
• Cable Schedules and Reports: Automatically generate reports such as cable routing lengths, tray fill analysis, and cable pulls.
• Integration with Other Smart 3D Modules: Seamlessly integrates with piping, equipment, and structural modules within SP3D.
• Design Consistency and Accuracy: Ensures electrical designs remain consistent with the overall 3D model and other disciplines.
• Data-Driven Design: Central database ensures all changes are reflected in real-time, improving accuracy and reducing errors.

What is SmartPlant Electrical (SPEL)?

SmartPlant Electrical (SPEL) is a comprehensive electrical engineering and design solution designed to handle the front-end engineering, load calculations, cable sizing, and documentation of complex electrical systems. It is widely used across industries like oil & gas, power, petrochemical, and shipbuilding. Key Features of SPEL certification:

• Load Calculations and Sizing: Automates electrical load lists, motor control center (MCC) assignments, and circuit sizing.
• Single-Line Diagrams: Generate intelligent schematics, one-line diagrams, and wiring layouts.
• Cable Management: Create and manage complex cable schedules, routing logic, and drum length optimization.
• Change Management: Track design changes and maintain consistency across documentation.
• Advanced Reporting: Generate detailed reports and documentation like bills of materials (BOM), terminal strips, and loop diagrams.
• Integration with SmartPlant Instrumentation (SPI) and SP3D for a unified workflow.

How SP3D-Electrical and SPEL Work Together?

While both tools serve different stages of the electrical design process, their integration ensures a unified and intelligent engineering environment. Here’s how they complement each other:

Integration Benefits

• Eliminates data duplication and errors
• Enhances coordination between engineering and design
• Speeds up project execution and modification
• Ensures design accuracy and real-time updates

Industries Leveraging SP3D-Electrical and SPEL

The powerful capabilities of these tools are utilized across multiple industries:

1. Oil and Gas

• Offshore platforms and refineries require complex electrical systems for motors, pumps, lighting, and safety systems.
• These tools help manage cable lengths, safe tray layouts, and explosion-proof components.

2. Power Generation

• Design of substations, control panels, and generator connections.
• SPEL supports load balancing and fault analysis; SP3D-Electrical helps visualize and manage power flow.

3. Petrochemicals

• Helps maintain safety-critical systems such as emergency shutdowns, alarms, and instrumentation connections.

4. Mining and Metals

• Ensures proper earthing, tray supports, and robust equipment layout in harsh environments.

5. Marine and Shipbuilding

• Cabling in tight corridors and decks made easier with 3D visualization and tray optimization.

Advantages of Using SP3D-Electrical and SPEL

• Intelligent data entry and 3D modeling reduce human error.
• Real-time synchronization ensures up-to-date documentation.
• Multi-user environment allows global teams to work simultaneously.
• Integrated data sharing across disciplines improves cross-functional workflows.
• SPEL automatically propagates changes across the system.
• SP3D-Electrical reflects spatial changes instantly, minimizing rework.
• Early clash detection and route optimization reduce construction errors and delays.
• Efficient use of materials with drum length optimization and tray fill analysis.
• Supports IEC, IEEE, and other electrical standards.
• Simplifies audits and inspections through structured documentation.

Key Modules and Tools within SPEL and SP3D-Electrical

SmartPlant Electrical (SPEL):

• Load List Management
• Consumer Load Assignment
• Motor Control Center (MCC) Configuration
• Protective Device Coordination
• Cable Routing Matrix
• Panel Layouts and Terminal Blocks
• Standard Libraries and Templates

SP3D-Electrical:

• Cable Tray Modeling
• Lighting Layout
• Junction Box Placement
• Equipment Earthing and Grounding
• Routing Automation Tools
• Tray Fitting and Accessory Libraries
• Clash Detection and Design Review Tools

Training and Certification for SP3D-Electrical and SPEL

With industries rapidly adopting smart plant solutions, the demand for skilled professionals in SP3D-Electrical training and SPEL training has surged. Multiple training providers offer in-depth hands-on training with real-time projects, including:

• Cable routing practices
• Tray modeling workflows
• MCC and load analysis
• Equipment layout and grounding
• Import/export between SPEL and SP3D

Certifications boost career opportunities for roles such as:

• Electrical Design Engineer
• SmartPlant Electrical Designer
• SP3D Electrical Modeler
• Electrical System Administrator

Common Challenges

• Complexity of integrating electrical with other disciplines.

• Keeping documentation up to date during frequent revisions.
• Managing bulk cable data across multiple platforms.

Best Practices

• Use centralized libraries and catalog templates.
• Ensure regular synchronization between SPEL and SP3D.
• Validate tray fill and cable length calculations at each revision stage.
• Implement change tracking and audit tools for documentation control.

Future of Electrical Design with SP3D and SPEL

The integration of AI, automation, and cloud-based platforms is transforming how SP3D-Electrical and SPEL operate. Hexagon is continuously updating these tools to:

• Support cloud-based design environments for remote teams.
• Enable predictive maintenance and reliability-centered design.
• Enhance integration with asset lifecycle management systems.

As digital twin technologies grow, the data-rich models created by SPEL certification and SP3D-Electrical certification will serve as the backbone for operational intelligence in brownfield and greenfield projects.

Conclusion

SP3D-Electrical and SmartPlant Electrical (SPEL) are more than just engineering tools—they are enablers of digital transformation in the plant design ecosystem. From concept to commissioning, these tools allow electrical engineers to work with precision, visibility, and control, ensuring better decision-making and safer outcomes.

Whether you are a plant designer, electrical engineer, or EPC company, adopting these solutions will future-proof your operations, improve coordination, and drastically reduce project risks. As industries continue to evolve with smarter technologies, being proficient in SP3D-Electrical and SPEL is not just an advantage—it’s a necessity. Enroll in Multisoft Systems now!