Bicol University

College of Industrial Technology

East Campus Legazpi City

Wiring Methods in Commercial and Industrial Building

Commercial and Industrial Building

Commercial buildings require special considerations when it comes to

electrical wiring. Most commercial buildings do not have the luxury of a wooden
frame to run wires through, so other wiring methods must be used.

Conduit
A common method of electrical wiring in a commercial setting is by use of
conduit. Conduits can be made of a variety of materials including steel, aluminum,
or PVC depending on the application. For underground conduit runs or conduit
embedded in concrete slabs, PVC conduit is used, as it will not rust or corrode.
PVC conduit can also be found in areas where moisture, water, or chemicals may
be present. These include many outdoor locations, such as a car wash or waste-
water pump house. The main drawbacks to PVC include:

Requires special tools to bend

More expensive than other types of conduit
The next type of conduit, often called EMT, is a thin-walled metallic conduit made
of steel. It is easy to bend, relatively inexpensive, and useful in most commercial
settings. It can also be used in wet areas, as long as special rain tight fittings are
used at the connection points. However, EMT should not be used in areas with
potentially corrosive chemicals, as the conduit can degrade over time. EMT is
typically used in machine shops, large stores, and offices. In hazardous locations,
conduit with threaded ends may be required.

Rigid conduit, available in aluminum or steel, is thick walled and can be threaded,
allowing for explosion proof installation. Rigid EMT can also be bent on-site but
may require more powerful bending tools like a Chicago bender or a hydraulic
bender. Threading gear will also be required, as each piece of pipe needs to be
threaded on both ends. Rigid conduit can be found in fuel stations, refineries, and
propane storage facilities.

Pulling wires through conduit

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 Bicol University
College of Industrial Technology
East Campus Legazpi City

With the conduit system now in place, wires are pulled into them. For short runs,
a steel fish tape may be used to pull a small string into the pipe, which is then
used to pull a bundle of marked wires. For long runs of conduit, a vacuum blower
can be used. A string is attached to a small foam disk, called a mouse, and then
inserted into the end of the pipe. Finally, a vacuum nozzle pushes air down the
pipe, sending the mouse and the string down it. The string can then be used to
pull wire.

When using this method in pipes that run into the ground, water and dirt may
get into them during installation. A simple trick used by pros includes attaching a
bundle of rags to the string. The rags are pulled through the pipe, eliminating
any risk of damaging insulation.

Cables
In some instances, armored cable may be used. This type of cable, known as teck
cable, is available in nearly any size and features a core made of the desired
number and sizes of wires, protective jacketing, flexible aluminum armor, and in
some cases a weather-resistant exterior jacket. Teck cables can be pulled through
conduit, cable tray, or be buried directly in the ground as long as the cable is
rated for direct burial and certain burial depths are adhered to. Teck cables can
also be installed in hazardous locations by using special explosion-proof cable
fittings and approved sealing compounds. The main advantage to teck cable is
its ease of installation and versatility. When using a cable tray system, cables can
also be easily added or removed at any time.

With this basic knowledge of the types of electrical wiring methods used in
commercial buildings, it is easy to select the best option for any installation.

Guides in wiring for commercial and Industrial wiring

SERVICE - ENTRANCE CONDUCTORS

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

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 Bicol University
College of Industrial Technology
East Campus Legazpi City

*EXCEPTIONS:
1. Buildings with more than one occupancy.
2. Where two to six service disconnecting means in a separate enclosure 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 mm2 copper
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 mm2
aluminum 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)

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 Bicol University
College of Industrial Technology
East Campus Legazpi City

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

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 Bicol University
College of Industrial Technology
East Campus Legazpi City

THE SERVICE EQUIPMENT-DISCONNECTING MEANS

GENERAL:

The service-disconnecting means shall be provided to disconnect all conductors

in a building or other structure 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:

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 Bicol University
College of Industrial Technology
East Campus Legazpi City

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.

NOTES:

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 conductor.

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.

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 Bicol University
College of Industrial Technology
East Campus Legazpi City

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.

7 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 juris- diction 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.

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 Bicol University
College of Industrial Technology
East Campus Legazpi City

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 inner face
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.

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 Bicol University
College of Industrial Technology
East Campus Legazpi City

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:

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 Bicol University
College of Industrial Technology
East Campus Legazpi City

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.

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 Bicol University
College of Industrial Technology
East Campus Legazpi City

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.

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 Bicol University
College of Industrial Technology
East Campus Legazpi City

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

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