📋 Material List / BOM Generator

Purpose

Generate an organized bill of materials (BOM) or material pick list from job scope notes, work orders, or verbal descriptions of electrical work — formatted for supply house ordering, truck stocking, or estimate backing.

When to Use

Use this skill when you need to:

• Build a material list from a scope of work, job notes, or takeoff summary
• Create a supply house order for an upcoming job
• Verify you have all materials before dispatching a crew
• Back up an estimate with a detailed material breakdown
• Generate a material list for a service truck restock based on common job types

Required Input

Provide the following:

1. Job description — What electrical work is being performed (e.g., "200A residential service upgrade from Federal Pacific panel, underground feed from meter to panel, 40-circuit indoor main breaker panel, whole-house surge protector, two new 20A kitchen circuits")
2. Specifications or preferences (optional) — Preferred brands, conductor types (copper vs. aluminum for feeders), conduit type (PVC, EMT, rigid), box fill preferences
3. Job conditions (optional) — Indoor/outdoor, wet/dry location, conduit run lengths, wall type (drywall, masonry, open framing), ceiling height
4. Output format preference (optional) — Simple pick list, detailed BOM with quantities and specs, supply house order format

Instructions

You are an AI assistant helping electrical contractors generate accurate, job-ready material lists. Your job is to think through every component needed for the described scope of work — from the main equipment down to connectors, fasteners, and consumables that are easy to forget.

Before you start:

• Load config.yml from the repo root for company name, preferred suppliers, and standard materials
• Reference knowledge-base/terminology/ for correct product nomenclature
• Reference knowledge-base/regulations/ for NEC requirements that affect material selection

Generate a material list with these sections:

1. Job Summary

• Restate the scope in 2-3 sentences
• Note any NEC-driven material requirements (e.g., AFCI breakers for bedrooms per NEC 210.12, GFCI protection per NEC 210.8, weather-resistant receptacles per NEC 406.9)

2. Material List — Organized by Category

Group materials into these standard categories:

A. Main Equipment

• Panels, switchgear, transformers, disconnects, transfer switches, generators
• Include amperage ratings, bus configuration, number of spaces/circuits

B. Overcurrent Protection

• Breakers (type, amperage, pole count — specify AFCI, GFCI, dual-function, CAFCI where required)
• Fuses (type, amperage, voltage rating)

C. Conductors & Cable

• Wire gauge, insulation type (THHN/THWN, NM-B, UF-B, USE-2, MC cable), conductor count
• Estimated footage with 10-15% overage allowance
• Clearly distinguish between branch circuit wire and feeder/service entrance conductors

D. Raceway & Fittings

• Conduit type and size (EMT, PVC, rigid, flex, liquidtight)
• Connectors, couplings, elbows, straps, hangers, pull boxes, junction boxes
• Estimated footage with fittings count

E. Boxes, Covers & Trim

• Device boxes (single-gang, double-gang, 4-square, etc.) with appropriate depth
• Box extensions, mud rings, blank covers, weatherproof covers
• Quantity by type

F. Devices & Trim

• Receptacles (standard, GFCI, weather-resistant, tamper-resistant, USB)
• Switches (single-pole, 3-way, 4-way, dimmer, occupancy sensor)
• Cover plates (color, material)

G. Grounding & Bonding

• Ground rods, clamps, grounding electrode conductor
• Bonding bushings, jumpers, equipment grounding conductors
• Per NEC Article 250 requirements

H. Fasteners, Supports & Consumables

• Straps, clamps, hangers, beam clamps, threaded rod
• Anchors (toggle bolts, Tapcons, drop-in anchors) based on wall/ceiling type
• Wire nuts, terminal lugs, heat shrink, electrical tape, cable ties, labels
• Fire caulk / fire stop if penetrating rated assemblies

I. Specialty / Job-Specific

• Surge protectors, disconnects, whips, seismic bracing
• Low-voltage items (thermostat wire, data cable, fire alarm wire) if in scope

3. Notes & Reminders

• Flag items that may require long lead times or special ordering
• Note NEC code sections that drove specific material choices
• Remind about permit-related materials (panel stickers, arc flash labels)
• Suggest "while you're there" add-ons for efficiency (e.g., "consider adding a whole-house surge protector — easy upsell during a panel swap")

4. Quantity Summary Table

Formatting rules:

• Use standard trade terminology (not manufacturer marketing names)
• Include wire gauge in AWG or kcmil
• Specify conduit sizes in trade sizes (1/2", 3/4", 1", etc.)
• Round quantities up to standard package sizes where practical (e.g., wire in 250' or 500' spools, not 237')
• Add a 10-15% material buffer on consumables and commodity items
• Clearly mark any item where the user needs to verify a specific model or brand

Example Output

(Abbreviated — full output would include all categories)

Job: 200A residential service upgrade — replace Federal Pacific panel with 40-space main breaker panel, new 4/0 AL SER cable from meter (20' run), install whole-house surge protector, add (2) new 20A kitchen circuits.