ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY

City of Ilagan Campus

COLEGE OF ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURE AND TECHNOLOGY
Department of Electrical Engineering

E.E. 412 - ELECTRICAL STANDARDS AND PRACTICES

FIRST SEMESTER 2023-2024

COURSE CODE AND NAME: EE 412 – Electrical Standards and Practices

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course provides the different electrical practices in accordance to local
and international standards.
Number of Units for Lecture and Laboratory: 1 unit field
Number of Contact hours Per Week: 3 hours field
Prerequisite: EE Law, Codes, and Professional Ethics

Course Outline: Electrical Practices in accordance to local and International Standards.

1. Philippine Electrical Code (PEC) 1 and 2

2. National Electrical Code (NEC)
3. National Fire Protection Association (NFNA)
4. Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS)
5. International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)
6. National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA)
7. American National Standard Institute (ANSI)
8. International Electrical Testing Association (NETA)
9. National Electrical Contractor Association (TIA)
10. Telecommunication Industry Association (TIA)
11. Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL)
12. American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)
13. IEEE Standards

CHAPTER 1 - PHILIPPINE ELECTRICAL CODE (PEC) 1

PHILIPPINE ELECTRICAL CODE ( P E C )

PEC I – Electrical Installation inside buildings.
PEC II – Electrical Installation outside buildings.

Note: PEC consists of rules which are intended to make use of electricity safe for
person and property.

Two (2) categories of PEC rules:

1. Mandatory Rules – characterized by the use of the word “SHALL’’.
2. Advisory Rules – characterized by the use of the word “SHOULD” or are stated
as recommendations of that which is advised but not required.

OBJECTIVES:
 a) Safe Use of Electricity - To establish basic materials quality and electrical work
standards for the safe use of electricity for light, heat, power, communications,
signaling and for other purposes.
b) Adequacy – Strict compliance with the provisions of this Code will ensure safety
in electrical installation and construction, but not necessarily efficient, convenient, or
adequate for good service or future expansion of electrical use.

INTENTION: (PEC Part I 2017 Edition)

This Code is intended as a design specification or an instruction manual to qualified
persons.
SCOPE: (PEC Part 1 2017 Edition)
(A) Covered. This Code covers the installation of electrical conductors, equipment,
and raceways; monitoring, signaling, and communications conductors,
equipment, and raceways; and optical fiber cables and raceways installed within
or on, to or from:
1. Public and private buildings, including but not limited to residential,
commercial, industrial,institutional, cultural, agricultural, agro-industrial,
planned unit development and all other buildings/premises that may
require practical safeguarding of persons and property from hazards
arising from the use of electricity.
2. Electric generating plants
3. Industrial plants
4. Transformer stations
5. Permanent and temporary substation, etc.
6. Airfields
7. Railway switchyards
8. Yards, carnival, parks, parking and other lots
9. Quarries and mines
10. Watercraft
11. Dockyards
12. Trailers
13. Mobile homes and recreational vehicles
14. Offshore facilities
(B) Not covered . This Code does not cover the following:
1. Installation in railway, rolling stack, aircraft, or automotive vehicles
2. Installation of railways for generation, transformation, transmission, or
distribution of power used exclusively for operation of rolling stock.

THE USE OF PEC IS MANDATED BY R.A. 7920 ( FORMERLY R.A. 184 ), ALSO KNOWN
AS THE NEW ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING LAW. LIKEWISE, REFERRAL CODES ARE
ALSO USED WHICH ARE MANDATED BY THEIR CORRESPONDING LAWS.
1. P.D. 1096 – National Building Code
2. P.D. 1185 – Fire Code of the Philippines
3. Structural Code R.A. 7920 – is an act providing for a more responsive and
comprehensive regulation for the practice, licensing and registration of electrical
engineers and electricians.
GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES WHO IMPLEMENT PEC:
1. Office of the Building Official
2. Office of the City Electrician (City Electrical Supervising Engineer )
3. Office of the Municipal Electrician (Municipal Electrical Supervising Engineer)
4. Regional Office of the DOLE

SCOPE OF THE PEC:

PEC covers the electric conductors including optical fiber cable and installed
within or on, to or from:
 1. Public and private buildings
2. Electrical generating plants
3. Temporary and permanent substations
4. Industrial plants
5. Transformer stations
6. Railway switchyards
7. Yards, carnival, parking, etc.
8. Watercraft
9. Dockyards
10. Airfields
11. Quarries and mines
12. Mobile homes, travel trailers and recreational vehicles
13. Offshore facilities
14. Other premises which requires electrical installation except to those which are
done in;
a) Aircraft
b) motor vehicles
c) railway rolling stocks

PERMITS AND INSPECTION CERTIFICATES

A permit is required before undertaking any electrical installation.
An inspection is also required after which certificate of final electrical
inspection (CFEI) is issued by the authority.

EXCEPTIONS
A permit is not required for;
1. the installation of electrical portable equipment rated not more than 1,200
VA.
2. reconnection of disconnected service due to non-payment of electric bill or
change of occupants for a period of one year.

REQUIREMENTS FOR ELECTRICAL PERMIT

a) An application form (DPWH form No. 77-001-E) shall be accomplished, signed and
submitted by a duly registered Professional Electrical Engineer. However, if the
installation does not exceed 20 lighting and/or receptacle outlets or 4000 volt-
amperes, 230 volts, the application may be prepared, signed and submitted by a duly
registered electrical engineer or master electrician.
b) The application shall include additionally, the name and signature and seal of the
electrical practitioner who will take charge of the installations as well as the signature
of the owner or his authorized representative.
4,600 mm – over residential property and driveways, and those commercial
areas not subject to truck traffic.
 5,500 mm – over public streets, alleys, roads, parking areas subject to truck
traffic, driveways on other than residential property, and other land
transversed by vehicles such as cultivated, grazing, forest, and orchard.

UNDERGROUND SERVICE-LATERAL CONDUCTOR

This is the underground service conductor between the street main, including any
risers at a pole or other structure or from transformers, and the first point of any
connection to the service-entrance conductors in a terminal box or meter or other
enclosure with adequate space, inside or outside the building wall.

INSULATION
Service-lateral conductor shall withstand exposure to atmospheric and other
conditions of use without detrimental leakage of current.
EXCEPTION:
A grounded conductor shall be permitted to be uninsulated as follows:
a) Bare copper used in a raceway.
b) Bare copper for direct burial where bare copper is judged to be suitable for
the soil conditions.
c) Bare copper for direct burial without regard to soil conditions where part of
cable assembly identified for underground use.
d) Aluminum or copper-clad aluminum without insulation or covering where
part of a cable assembly identified for underground use in a raceway or for
direct burial.

SIZE AND RATING

a) General. Service lateral conductors shall have sufficient ampacity to carry the
current for the load and shall have adequate mechanical strength.
b) Minimum Size. The conductors shall not be smaller than 5.5 mm2copper or 8.0
mm2 aluminum or copper-clad aluminum.

Note: Where two to six service disconnecting means in separate enclosures supply
separate loads from one service drop or lateral, one set of service entrance
conductors shall be permitted to supply each or several such service equipment
enclosures.

EXCEPTION:
– For installations to supply only limited loads of a single branch circuit such
as small polyphase power, controlled water heaters and the like, they shall
not be smaller than 3.5 mm2 copper or 5.0 mm2aluminum or copper-clad
aluminum.

SERVICE ENTRANCE
– Service is defined as the portion of the supply which extends from the street
main duct or transformer to the service switch or switchboard of the building
supply.
 -It is the conductor and equipment for delivering energy from the electricity
supply system to the wiring system of the premises served.

TYPES:
1. Overhead Service Entrance
The most common type of service entrance employed by the power companies
supplying electricity which is either a 2, 3 or 4-wire connection. Generally, the
overhead service cable between the building property line and the supply point is
supplied by electric company to a limit of 30 meters.

2. The Underground Service Entrance

The underground service entrance consists of a raceway conduit extending from the
building to the property line where it is tapped to the main. The type of cable
recommended is the underground service entrance cable commonly referred to as
USE.

SERVICE – ENTRANCE CONDUCTORS

– No. of Service-Entrance Conductor Sets Each service drop or lateral shall
supply only one set of service-entrance conductors.

EXCEPTIONS:
1. Buildings with more than one occupancy.
2. Where two to six service disconnecting means in a separate enclosures
are grouped at one location and supply separate loads from one service drop
or lateral.
SIZE AND RATING:
– Service entrance conductors shall be of sufficient size to carry the computed loads.
Ungrounded conductors shall not be smaller than:
1. 100 A —- For one family dwelling with six or more 2-wire branch circuits.
2. 60 A —- For one family dwelling with an initial computed load of 10 kVA
above.
3. 40 A —- For other loads.

EXCEPTIONS:
1. For loads consisting of not more than 2 – wire branch circuits, 5.5 mm2copper or
8.0 mm2 aluminum or copper-clad aluminum.
2. By special permission, for loads limited by demand or by the source of supply, 5.5
mm2 copper or 8.0 mm2 aluminum or copper-clad aluminum.
3. For limited loads of single branch circuit, 3.5 mm2 copper or 5.5 mm2aluminum or
copper-clad aluminum.

INSTALLATION OF SERVICE CONDUCTORS

 Service entrance conductors shall be installed in accordance with the applicable
requirements of this Code covering the type of wiring method used and limited to the
following methods:
1. Open-wiring on insulators
2. Rigid Metal Conduit (RMC)
3. Intermediate Metallic Tubing (IMT)
4. Electrical Metallic Tubing (EMT)
5. Service-Entrance Cables
6. Wireways
7. Busways
8. Auxiliary gutters
9. Rigid Non-Metallic Conduit (RNMC)
10. Cable Bus
11. Mineral-Insulated Metal-Sheated Cable
12. Type MC Cables

PROTECTION:
Service entrance conductors subjected to physical damage shall be protected in any
of the following ways or methods:
1. By RMC
2. By IMC
3. By RNMC suitable for the location
4. By EMT
5. Type MC cable or other approved means

THE SERVICE EQUIPMENT-DISCONNECTING MEANS GENERAL:

The service-disconnecting means shall be provided to disconnect all
conductors in a building or other structures from the service-entrance
conductor.
NUMBER OF DISCONNECTING MEANS:
The service disconnecting means for each set or each subset of service
entrance conductor shall consist of not more than six switches or six circuit
breakers mounted in a single enclosure, or in a switchboard.
LOCATION:
The service disconnecting means shall be installed either inside or outside the
building or other structure at a readily accessible location nearest the point of
entrance of the service entrance conductor
RATING:
The service disconnecting means shall have a rating of not less than the load to be carried.
In no case shall the rating be lower than specified through:
1. One circuit installation — The service disconnecting means shall have a rating of
not less than 15 amperes.
2. Two circuit installation — The service disconnecting means shall have a rating of
not less than 30 amperes.
3. One family dwelling — The service disconnecting means shall have a rating of:
60 A — where the initial computed loads is 10 kVA or more 100 A — where the initial
installations consist of six or more 2-wire branch circuit.
 4. Others — For all other installations, the service disconnecting means shall have a
rating of not less than 40 amperes.

NOTE:
 The service disconnecting means shall simultaneously disconnect all
ungrounded conductors and shall be capable of being closed on a fault
equal to or greater than the maximum available short-circuit current.

 Service entrance conductor shall have a short-circuit protective device

in each ungrounded conductors. Fuses shall have an Interrupting
Rating no less than the maximum available short circuit current in the
circuit at their supply terminals.

 Circuit breakers shall be free to open in case the circuit is closed on an

overload. Circuit breakers shall have an interrupting rating not less than
the maximum available short-circuit current at its supply terminals.

FEEDERS AND MAIN:

Essential considerations being adapted or followed.
1. On large installation, one feeder is provided for each floor.
2. In small installations, one or two feeders is satisfactory.
3. Feeder for motor must be separate and independent from the light circuits.
4. Feeders requiring more than 50 mm diameter conduit should not be used.
5.Feeders should be subdivided if there are several bends or offsets because
a 50 mm conduit is the largest that could be economically used.
6. Feeders radiating from the distributing panel should be provided each with
a properly rated switch and circuit breaker.
7. Good practice dictates that feeders and main shall be installed inside a
conduit pipe as it carries high voltage that should be well protected.

REQUIRED PARTS OF A STANDARD ELECTRICAL PLAN

A. GENERAL NOTES / SPECIFICATION
Specification written on electrical plan should indicate :
1. That the design is done in accordance with the P.E.C. and all electrical works shall
comply with the provisions of all authorities having jurisdiction on the use of electrical
power.
2. The nature of the service including voltage, phase and frequency.
3. The type of approved wiring to used in installing service entrance,
feeders, sub-feeders, branch circuit conductors, remote control system, fire
protection, signal and communication system.
4. All other aspects and details that the designer and the owner would want to be
done in the actual construction of the project.

EXAMPLE :
1. Works here under shall comply with the latest edition of the P.E.C, the
national building code, municipal or city ordinances, office of the municipal or
city electrician, & Meralco.
 2. Type of services shall be 230 volts, 1 phase, 2 wire system, 60 hertz and
there shall be only one service drop to the building.
3. Method of wiring shall be EMT both exposed and embedded work with
proper fitting and supports. In cases where concealed conduits wiring is
impracticable to use, metal moulding may be applied.
4. All materials and equipment shall be new and approved type for both
location and purpose intended.
5. All lighting and convenience outlet circuit homeruns shall be wired with no
less than 2 sq. mm and 3.5 sq. mm respectively, unless otherwise indicated
on the plan.
6. Lighting and power panel board shall be circuit breaker type surface or
flushed mounted or as indicated on the plan; door shall be provided with
locked and milled key, a line circuit directory card and holder shall be
provided in innerface or door.
7. Whenever required and necessary, full boxes and junction boxes of proper
sizes shall be installed at convenient and inconspicuous locations although
such boxes are not shown on the plans nor mentioned in the specification.
8. All outdoor installation shall be weather proof type.
9. All electrical work shall be done under the direct and immediate supervision
of a duly
licensed Electrical Engineer.

B. LEGEND AND SYMBOLS

The legend or symbols shall show symbols or configurations and figures of
devices and equipment used. Standard Electrical symbols can be obtained
from the appendix – a of the Philippine Electrical Code.

C. LOCATION PLAN
Location or site plan with proposed structures and owner’s land drawn to appropriate
metric scale shall show:
1. Bordering areas showing public or well known streets.
2. Location of service drop, service equipment and nearest pole of the utility
company furnishing electrical energy.
3. Clearance of the path or run of service drops and service structure wires to
adjacent existing or proposed structures.

D. RISER DIAGRAM
The riser diagram consists of the schematic diagram of service entrance, feeders and
branch circuits. This indicates:
1. The number of branch circuits, the size of conductors, size of conduit and
protection for each branch circuit.
2. The sizes of feeders, its conduit and feeder’s protection.
3. The type of service, size of service entrance conductor, conduits and main
protective device.

E. TITLE BLOCK:
Title block or nameplate of plans and drawings shall be a standard strip of 40 mm
high at the bottom of each sheet.

It shall contain the following:

1. Name and location of proposed installation, project, or watercraft;

 2. Name, signature and address of owner/manager/operator;
3. Title of sheet and sheet number;
4. Scale used;
5. Name, signature and dry seal of professional electrical engineer together with
registration number, Professional Tax Receipt (PTR) and Tax Identification Number
(TIN);
6. Initial of draftsman; and
7. Date drawn or revised.

F. ELECTRICAL LIGHTING AND POWER LAYOUT

Electrical layout for each floor of the building shall indicate the location of:
1. Location of lighting outlets.
2. Location of convenience outlets.
3. Location of switches with their corresponding symbols.
4. Location of outlets for air conditioning units.
5. Location of telephone, intercom and master antenna television outlets.
6. Location of service equipment and/or disconnecting means.
7. Location of service kilowatthour meter.

G. SCHEDULE OF LOADS AND COMPUTATIONS:

Schedule of loads in tabulated form shall indicate:

a. MOTOR LOADS:
1. Motor as numbered or identified in power layout.
2. Type of motor
3. HP/kW/kVA rating
4. Voltage rating
5. Full load current rating
6. Frequency rating
7. Number of phases

b. LIGHTING AND POWER LOADS:

1. Panel as numbered in the riser diagram.
2. Circuit designation number.
3. Number and lightning outlets in each circuits.
4. Number of switches in each circuit.
5. Number of convinience outlet
6. Voltage circuit
7. Fuse rating or trip rating of circuit protective device.

c. OTHER LOADS
1. Designation number on plan
2. Description loads
3. Classification of service duty
4. Rating in kilovolt ampere (KVA) or kilowatt (KW)
5. Phase loading indicating full load line current
6. Voltage rating

H. DESIGN COMPUTATION
 Or design analysis where necessary shall be included on the drawings or may be
submitted on separate sheets of uniform size paper, shall allow :
1. Illumination design computations and tabulated lighting levels in lux critical
areas in institutional, Industrial recreational & commercial building.
2. Feed lines and protective devices of motors, electrical equipment and
appliances indicating types and ratings.
3. Sizes of branch circuit wires, Feeders and busbars including protective
devices.
4. Size and type of service entrance wires, race ways and equipment.
5. Setting / ratingsof over current devices.

GROUNDING PROTECTION
A ground is an electrical connection which may either be intentional or
accidental between an electric circuit or equipment and the earth, or to some
conducting body that serves in place of the earth. The purpose of grounding a
circuit is to fix permanently a zero voltage point in the system. The grounded
line of a circuit should not be broken nor fused to maintain a solid and
uninterrupted connection to the ground.

Grounding could be accomplished in the following manner:

1. Connection to a buried cold water main.
2. Connection to a rod or group of rods.
3. Connection to a buried ground plate.

THE PANELBOARD
A panelboard is a single panel or group of panel units designed for assembly
in the form of a single panel. This includes buses, automatic overcurrent
protective devices, and with or without switches for the control of light, heat or
power circuit. It is designed to be placed in a cabinet or cutout box placed in or
against a wall or partition and accessible only from the front.

Principles applied in installing panel board

1. The approach should be accessible and convenient.
2. The panelboard must be centrally located to shorten the home wiring runs.
3. It must be installed near the load center. As in most cases, panelboard is installed
near the kitchen and the laundry where heavy loads are expected.

MAIN- is the feeder interior wiring extending from service switch, generator bus, or
converter bus to the main distribution.

BRANCH CIRCUIT- is defined as the circuit conductors between the final overcurrent device
protecting the circuit and the outlets. This means that the branch circuit is only the wiring
between the circuit overcurrent protection device such as fuses or circuit breaker and the
outlets. However, it is a common knowledge and practice that the branch circuit comprises
the entire circuit including the outlet receptacles and other wiring devices.

PROTECTION OF THE BRANCH CIRCUIT

Any current in excess of the rated current capacity of the equipment or the
rated ampacity of the conductor is called overcurrent.

The causes of overcurrent are:

1. Overload in the equipment conductors.
2. Short circuit or ground fault
 Note: As per PEC requirement, conductors shall be protected against
overcurrent in accordance with their ampacities (Art. 4.5.1.3)
Ampacity – is the current-carrying capacity of an electric conductor.

THE CIRCUIT BREAKER AND THE FUSE

A circuit breaker is an overcurrent protective device also designed to function as a
switch. It is equipped with an automatic tripping device to protect the branch circuit
from overload and ground fault.

A fuse is also an overcurrent protective device with a circuit opening fusible element
which opens when there is an overcurrent in the circuit. It is considered as the
simplest and the most common circuit protective device used into the house wiring
connection.

Advantages of circuit breaker over a fuse

1. The circuit breaker acts as a switch aside from its being an overcurrent
device.
2. When there is an overcurrent, the circuit breaker trips automatically and
after correcting the fault, it is ready to be switched on again, unlike the fuse
which has to be discarded and replaced after it is busted.

Advantages of fuse over a circuit breaker

1. One of its major advantage is its reliability and stability. It can stay on its
position for years and act when called on to act as designed, unlike the circuit
breaker which requires proper maintenance and periodic testing to keep it into
a tip-top condition.
2. The cost of a fuse is less than that of a circuit breaker.

Standard Ampere Ratings of Fuses and Inverse time circuit breakers

15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 45, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 125, 150, 200, 225, 250, 300, 350,
400, 450, 500, 600, 700, 800, 1000, 1200, 1600, 2000, 2500, 3000, 4000, 5000 and
6000

Note: Fuses, circuit breakers or combinations shall not be connected in

parallel.

Exception:
Circuit breakers or fuses, factory assembled in parallel, and approved as a unit.
Position of Knife Switches
a) Single-throw Knife Switches. Single-throw knife switches shall be so
placed that gravity will not tend to close them. Single-throw knife switches,
approved for use in the inverted position, shall be provided with a locking
device that will ensure that the blades remain in the open position when so
set.
b) Double-throw Knife Switches. Double-throw knife switches shall be
permitted to be mounted so that the throw will be either vertical or horizontal.
Where the throw is vertical, a locking device shall be provided to hold the
blades in the open position when so set.

RECEPTACLES AND WIRING DEVICES

ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS AND INSULATORS

Electrical Conductors are substances that offer a very low resistance to current flow.
Insulators are substances that offer a very high resistance to current flow.
 List of some good electrical conductors
1. Silver
2. Copper
3. Aluminum
4. Nickel
5. Brass
6. Zinc
7. Platinum
8. Iron
9. Tin
10. Lead

List of some insulating materials

1. Rubber
2. Porcelain
3. Varnish
4. Slate
5. Glass
6. Mica
7. Latex
8. Asbestos
9. Thermoplastics
10. Paper
11. Oils
12. Wax
13. Dry air

WIRES AND CABLES

Wires are those electrical conductors which are 8 mm2 (AWG no. 8) or smaller, while cables
are those larger than the wires. They are either solid or stranded.

Stranded wire – consists of a group of wires twisted to form metallic string. The total
circular-mil area of a stranded wire is found by multiplying the circular mil area of
each strand by the total number of strand.

Cord is the term given to an insulated stranded wire.

CIRCULAR MIL. This is the unit of cross section in the American wire gauge. The term “mil”
means one-thousandth of an inch (0.001 in.). It is the area of a circular wire having a
diameter of one mil. To find the number of circular mils in a circle of a given diameter, we
have to square the number of mils in the diameter.

Area in circular mil = ( diameter in mils )2

1 inch = 1,000 mils
MCM = 1,000 circular mils

SQUARE MIL. It is the area of a square having its side equal to 1 mil.
Square mil = ( sides )2 = ( 1 mil )2 = ( 0.001 in.)2 = 1 x 10-6 in.2
Square mil = 0.7854 x circular mils

DIFFERENT TYPES OF CABLES

1. Armored Cable. This type of cable, the type AC is a fabricated assembly of insulated
conductors enclosed in flexible metal sheath. Armored cable is used in both exposed and
concealed work.
2. Metal Clad Cable. Cable of the type MC is a factory assembled cable of one or more
conductors, each individually insulated and enclosed in a metallic sheath of interlocking
tape, or a smooth or corrugated tube. This type is used specifically for services, feeders,
branch circuits, either exposed or concealed and for indoor or outdoor work.
.
3. Mineral Insulated Cable. This type of cable, type MI, is a factory assembly of one or
more conductors insulated with a highly compressed refractory mineral insulation and
enclosed in liquid-tight and gas-tight continuous copper sheath. The type MI is used in dry,
wet or continuously moist location as service, feeders or branch circuit.

4. Nonmetallic Sheathed CableTypes NM and NMC are factory assembled two or more
insulated conductors having a moisture-resistant outer sheath, flame-retardant and non-
metallic material. These types are used specifically for one or two dwelling not exceeding 3
storey buildings.

5. Shielded Nonmetallic Sheathed Cable. This type of cable, the type SNM, is a factory
assembly of two or more insulated conductors in an extruded core or moisture-resistant and
flame-retardant material, covered with an overlapping spiral metal tape. This type is used in
hazardous locations and in cable trays or in raceways.

6. Service Entrance Cable. This is a single conductor or multiconductor assembly provided

with or without an over-all covering, primarily used for services and of the types SE and
USE.

7. Underground Feeder and Brach Circuit Cables. This type of cable, the type UF cable is
a moisture-resistant cable used for underground, including direct burial in the ground, as
feeder or branch circuit.

8. Power and Control Tray Cable. Type TC cable is a factory assembly of two or more
insulated conductors with or without associated bare or covered grounding under a metallic
sheath. This is used for installation in cable trays, raceways or where supported by a
messenger wire.

9. Flat Cable Assemblies. This is an assembly of parallel conductors formed integrally with
an insulating material web designed specifically for field installation in metal surface
raceway. Cables of this type are the types FC.

10. Flat Conductor Cable. This type of cable, type FCC consists of three or more flat
conductors placed edge to edge, separated and enclosed within an insulating assembly.
This used for general purpose, appliance branch circuits and for individual branch circuits
specifically on hard, smooth, continuous floor surfaces, etc.

12.Medium Voltage Cables. MV cable is a single or multiconductor solid dielectric insulated

cable rated 2,001 volts or higher and is used for power systems up to 35,000 volts. The MV
cables are of different types and characteristics.

RACEWAYS

Raceways are channels designed for holding wires, cables or bus-bars, which are either
made of metal or insulating materials. The common types of raceways in household wiring
are the a) conduits, b) connectors, and c) others.

a) Conduits
Conduits, pipes or tubings are the most common electrical raceway.
 According to the type of materials used, conduit maybe classified as either metallic
such as steel pipes or nonmetallic such as PVC, and the like. According to its make,
conduits maybe classified as: rigid metal, flexible metal, rigid nonmetal and flexible
nonmetal.

b) Connectors
A connector is a metal sleeve usually made of copper that is slipped over and
secured to the butted ends of conductors in making joint. A connector is also called a
splicing sleeve.

c) Other Raceways
Aside from the conduits and connectors there are still numerous types and kinds of
raceways, among these are the a) conduit couplings, elbows and other fittings; b)
conduit supports, such as clamps, hangers,etc; c) cable trays, cablebus; d) metal
raceways;e) nonmetal raceways.

OUTLETS, RECEPTACLES and other WIRING DEVICES OUTLETS.

An outlet is a point in the wiring system at which current is taken to supply utilization
equipment. The kinds of outlets are: convenience outlet or attachment cap, lighting
outlet, and receptacle outlet.

A convenience outlet or attachment cap is a device which by insertion in a

receptacle, establishes connection between the conductor of the flexible cord and the
conductors connected permanently to the receptacle.

A lighting outlet is an outlet intended for direct connection of a lampholder, a lighting

fixture, or a pendant cord terminating in a lampholder. A receptacle outlet is an outlet
where one or more receptacles are installed.

TYPES OF WIRES

A. TYPES T, TW, THW

The most ordinary type of plastic insulated wire is the “type T”. It may be used only in
dry locations. Some manufactures no longer make the ordinary Type T, instead
produce Type TW, which is identical in appearance, but may be used in wet or dry
locations. Also available is Type THW, is similar to Type TW but withstand a greater
degree of heat, and consequently has a higher ampacity rating in the larger sizes.

B. TYPES THHN, THWN

These are comparatively new types of wire, consisting of the basic Type THH and
THW but with less thermoplastic insulation, and with a final extruded jacket of nylon.
Nylon has exceptional insulating qualities and great mechanical strength, all of which
results in a wire which is smaller in diameter than ordinary Types T, TW, TW of
corresponding size.

C. TYPE XHHW
In appearance, it resembles Types T, TW, THW but because of somewhat thinner
layer of insulation, the over-all diameter is smaller. The insulation is “cross-linked
synthetic polymer,” which has an extraordinary properties as to insulating value, heat
resistance, and moisture resistance. It may be used in dry or wet locations. While at
present, it is an expensive wire, it would be no surprise if in due course of time, this
one single type will replace all the many types and subtypes of Type T or R now
recognized by the Code.
D. RUBBER-COVERED WIRE
It consists of copper conductor, tinned to make it easier to remove the insulation, and
for easy
soldering. Over the copper is a layer of rubber, the thickness of which depends on
the size of the wire.
Then follows an outer fabric braid which is saturated with moisture-and-fire-resistant
compounds; if it is
set on fire with a blowtorch, the flame dies out when the torch is removed.

E. OTHER TYPES
Other types such as the basic Type R, which is suitable for only in dry locations, is no
longer being made.

The most ordinary kind is Type RHW, which may be used for dry or wet locations.
Types RH and RHH have insulation which withstands more heat and therefore have
a higher ampacity in the larger size. They may be used only in dry locations.

KINDS OF LOCATIONS

DAMP LOCATION
Partially protected locations under canopies, marquees, roofed open porches, and
like locations, and interior locations subjected to moderate degree of moisture, such
as some basements, some barns, and some cold-storage warehouses.

DRY LOCATION
A location not normally subject to dampness or wetness. A location classified as dry may be
temporarily subject to dampness or wetness, as in the case of a building under construction.

WET LOCATION
Installations underground or in concrete slabs or masonry in direct contact with the earth,
and location subject to saturation with water or other liquids, such as vehicle washing areas,
and locations exposed to weather and unprotected.

HAZARDOUS (CLASSIFIED) LOCATIONS

Locations where fire or explosion hazards may exist due to flammable gases or
vapors, flammable liquids, combustible dust, or ignitible fibers or flyings.

1. Class I Locations. Class I locations are those in which flammable gases or vapors are or
may be present in the air in quantities sufficient to produce explosive or ignitible mixtures.

a) Class I, Division 1. A Class I, Division 1 location is a location: I) in which igntible

concentrations of flammable gases or vapors can exist under normal operating
conditions; or ii) in which ignitible concentrations of such gas vapors may exist
frequently because of repair or maintenance operations or because of leakage; or iii)
in which breakdown or faulty operation of equipment or processes might release
ignitible concentrations of flammable gases or vapors, and might also cause
simultaneous failure of electric equipment.

b) Class I, Division 2. A Class I, Division 2 location is a location: I) in which volatile

flammable liquids or flammable gases are handled, processes, or used, but in which
the liquids, vapors, or gases will normally be confines within closed containers or
closed systems from which they can escape only in case of accidental rupture or
breakdown of such containers or systems, or in case of abnormal operation of
equipment; or ii) in which ignitible concentrations of gases or vapors are normally
 prevented by positive mechanical ventilation, and which might become hazardous
through failure or abnormal operation of the ventilating equipment; iii) that is adjacent
to Class I, Division 1 location, and to which ignitible concentrations of gases or
vapors might occasionally be communicated unless such communication is
prevented by adequate positive ventilation from a source of clean air, and effective
safeguards against ventilation failure are provided.

2. Class II Locations. Class II locations are those that are hazardous because of the
presence of combustible dust.

a) Class II, Division 1. A class II, Division 1 location is a location: I) in which

combustible dust is in the air normal operating conditions in quantities sufficient to
produce explosive or ignitable mixtures; or ii) where mechanical failure or abnormal
operation of machinery or equipment might cause such explosive or ignitible mixtures
to be produced, and might also provide a source of ignition through simultaneous
failure of electric equipment, operation devices, or from other causes; or iii) in which
combustible dusts of an electrically conductive nature may be present in hazardous
quantities.

b) Class II, Division 2. A Class II, Division 2 location is a location where combustible
dust is not normally in the air in quantities sufficient to produce explosive or ignitible
mixtures, and dust accumulations are normally insufficient to interfere with the normal
operation of electrical equipment or other apparatus, but combustible dust may be in
suspension in the air as a result of infrequent malfunctioning of handling or
processing equipment and where combustible dust accumulations on, in, or in the
vicinity of the electrical equipment may be sufficient to interfere with the safe
dissipation of heat from electrical equipment or may be ignitible by abnormal
operation or failure of electrical equipment.

3. Class III Locations. Class III locations are those that are hazardous because of the
presence of easily combustible fibers or flyings, but in which such fibers or flyings are not
likely to be in suspension in the air in quantities sufficient to produce ignitible mixtures.

a) Class III, Division 1. A Class III, Divisions 1 location is a location in which easily
ignitible fibers or materials producing combustible flyings are handled, manufactured,
or used.

b) Class III, Division 2. A Class III, Division 2 location is a location in which easily
ignitible fibers are stored or handled.

Reference: Philippine Electrical Code Part 1

Researched by:

ENGR. ARNOLD L. ALBURO

Instructor