CHAPTER ONE • ARTICLE 1.0 – DEFINITIONS Scope - This article contains only those definitions essential to the proper application of this Code. It is not intended to include commonly defined general terms or commonly defined technical terms from related codes and standards. 1.0.1 General Air Terminal (for lightning protection) - A combination of elevation rod and brace, or footing placed on upper portions of structure, together with tip or point if used. Ampacity - The current, in amperes, that a conductor can carry continuously under the conditions of use without exceeding its temperature rating. Appliance - Utilization equipment, generally other than industrial, normally built in standardized sizes or types, that is installed or connected as a unit to perform one or more functions such as clothes washing, air conditioning, food mixing, deep frying, etc. Appliance (Portable) - An appliance which can easily be moved from one place to another in normal use. Appliance Branch Circuit Armor - A wrapping of galvanized interlocking steel strip forming an integral part of the assembly or certain insulated cables, wires, or cords, which are capable of withstanding certain mechanical tests. Armored Cable - A cable provided with a wrapping or metal usually steel wires or tapes, primarily for the purpose of mechanical protection. Armored Cable (in interior wiring) - A fabricated assembly of insulated conductors and a flexible metallic covering. Arrester (Surge) - A protective device for limiting surge voltage on equipment by discharging or bypassing surge current; it prevents continued flow of follow current to ground and is capable of repeating these functions as specified. Attachment Plug (Plug Cap) - A device that, by insertion in a receptacle, establishes a connection between the conductors of the attached flexible cord and the conductors connected permanently to the receptacle. Auxiliary Gutter - A sheet-metal enclosure for conductors, cables and bus bars at switchboards, meter centers, distribution centers and similar points. Bare Conductor Bonding (Bonded) - The permanent joining of metallic parts to form an electrically conductive path that will ensure electrical continuity and the capacity to conduct safely any current likely to be imposed. Bonding Jumper - A reliable conductor to ensure the required electrical conductivity between metal parts required to be electrically connected. Bonding Jumper (Main) - The connection between the grounded circuit conductor and the equipment grounding conductor at the service. Branch Circuit - The circuit conductors between the final over current device protecting the circuit and the outlet(s). Branch Circuit (Appliance) - A branch circuit that supplies energy to one or more outlets to which appliances are to be connected, and that has no permanently connected lighting fixtures that are not a part of an appliance. Branch Circuit (General Purpose) - A branch circuit that supplies a number of outlets for lighting and appliances. Branch Circuit (Multiwire) - A branch circuit that consists of two or more ungrounded conductors that have a potential difference between them, and a grounded conductor that has equal potential difference between it and each ungrounded conductor of the circuit and that is connected to the neutral or grounded conductor of the system. Bus - A conductor, a group of conductors, in switchgear assemblies which serves as a common connection for two or more circuits. Circuit Breaker - A device designed to open and close a circuit by nonautomatic means and to open the circuit automatically on a predetermined overcurrent without damage to itself when properly applied within its rating. Adjustable (as applied to circuit breakers) • A qualifying term indicating that the circuit breaker can be set to trip at various values of current, time, or both, within a predetermined range Instantaneous Trip (as applied to circuit breakers) • A qualifying term indicating that no delay is purposely introduced in the tripping action of the circuit breaker. Inverse Time (as applied to circuit breakers) • A qualifying term indicating that there is purposely introduced a delay in the tripping action of the circuit breaker, which delay decreases as the magnitude of the current increases. Nonadjustable (as applied to circuit breakers) • A qualifying term indicating that the circuit breaker does not have any adjustment to alter the value of current at which it will trip or the time required for its operation. Conductor Bare. A conductor having no covering or electrical insulation whatsoever. Covered. A conductor encased within material of composition or thickness that is not recognized by this Code as electrical insulation. Insulated. A conductor encased within material of composition and thickness that is recognized by this Code as electrical insulation. Conduit Body - A separate portion of a conduit or tubing system that provides access through a removable cover(s) to the interior of the system at a junction of two or more sections of the system or at a terminal point of the system. Boxes such as FS and FD or larger cast or sheet metal boxes are not classified as conduit bodies. Connector, Pressure (Solderless) - A device that establishes a connection between two or more conductors or between one or more conductors and a terminal by means of mechanical pressure and without the use of solder. Controller - A device or group of devices that serves to govern, in some predetermined manner, the electric power delivered to the apparatus to which it is connected. Copper-Clad Aluminum Conductors - Conductors drawn from a copper-clad aluminum rod with the copper metallurgically bonded to an aluminum core. The copper forms a minimum of 10 percent of the cross-sectional area of a solid conductor or each strand of a stranded conductor. Cutout Box - An enclosure designed for surface mounting that has swinging doors or covers secured directly to and telescoping with the walls of the box proper. Duct - A single enclosure raceway for conductor or cables. Electrical Metallic Tubing - Metal pipe into which electric wires may be drawn and which has a wall thinner than that of rigid conduit with an outside diameter suffiency different from that of rigid conduit to render it impracticable for anyone to thread it with standard pipe thread. Electric Motor - A machine which transform electric power into mechanical power. Feeder - All circuit conductors between the service equipment, the source of a separately derived system, or other power supply source and the final branch-circuit over current device. Festoon Lighting - A string of outdoor lights that is suspended between two points. Flame-Retardant - So constructed or treated that it will not readily burn or convey flame. Flexible Conduit - Non-rigid metal conduit into which conductors may be drawn. Flexible Tubing - Nonmetallic and non-rigid tubing, commonly known as “Loom”, through which a conductor may be drawn. Fuse - An over current protective device with a circuit-opening fusible member which is heated and severed by the passage of over current through it. General-Purpose Branch Circuit Grounded Circuit - A circuit in which one conductor or point (usually the neutral conductor or neutral point of transformer or generator winding) is intentionally grounded, either solidly or through a grounding device. Grounded Conductor - A system or circuit conductor that is intentionally grounded. Grounding Electrode Conductor - The conductor used to connect the grounding electrode to the equipment grounding conductor, to the grounded conductor, or to both, of the circuit at the service equipment or at the source of a separately derived system. Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter - A device intended for the protection of personnel that functions to de-energize a circuit or portion thereof within an established period of time when a current to ground exceeds some predetermined value that is less than that required to operate the overcurrent protective device of the supply circuit. Insulated Conductor - Separated from other conducting surfaces by a dielectric permanently offering a high resistance to the passage of current and to disruptive discharge. Junction Box - A box with a blank cover which serves the purpose of joining different runs of raceway or cable, and provided with sufficient space for connection and branching of the enclosed conductors. Knife Switch - A form of air switch in which the moving element is a hinged blade wedged between stationary contact blades when closed. Lighting Outlet - An outlet intended for the direct connection of a lamp holder, a lighting fixture, or a pendant cord terminating in a lamp holder. Mast - A column pole, or narrow base structure of wood, steel, or other material, supporting overhead conductors, usually be means of arms or brackets. Metal-Clad - So constructed that the conducting parts are entirely enclosed in a metal casing or enclosure. Motor Control Center - An assembly of one or more enclosed sections having a common power bus and principally containing motor control units. Nonincendive Circuit - A circuit, other than field wiring, in which any arc or thermal effect produced under intended operating conditions of the equipment, is not capable, under specified test conditions, of igniting the flammable gas–, vapor–, or dust–air mixture. Nonincendive Field Wiring - Wiring that enters or leaves an equipment enclosure and, under normal operating conditions of the equipment, is not capable, due to arcing or thermal effects, of igniting the flammable gas–, vapor–, or dust–air mixture. Normal operation includes opening, shorting, or grounding the field wiring. Panelboard - A single panel or group of panel units designed for assembly in the form of a single panel; including buses, automatic overcurrent devices, and equipped with or without switches for the control of light, heat, or power circuits; designed to be placed in a cabinet or cutout box placed in or against a wall or partition and accessible only from the front. Pendant - A device or equipment which is suspended from overhead either by means of the flexible cord carrying the current or otherwise. Plenum - A compartment or chamber to which one or more air ducts are connected and that forms part of the air distribution system. Pull Box - A box with a blank cover which is inserted in one or more runs or raceway to facilitate pulling in the conductors, and may also serve the purpose of distributing the conductors. Raceway - An enclosed channel of metal or nonmetallic materials designed expressly for holding wires, cables, or busbars, with additional functions as permitted in this Code. Raceways include, but are not limited to, rigid metal conduit, rigid nonmetallic conduit, intermediate metal conduit, liquidtight flexible conduit, flexible metallic tubing, flexible metal conduit, electrical nonmetallic tubing, electrical metallic tubing, underfloor raceways, cellular concrete floor raceways, cellular metal floor raceways, surface raceways, wireways, and busways. Reactor - A device used for the purpose of minimizing irregularities in the flow of welding currents. Receptacle - A receptacle is a contact device installed at the outlet for the connection of an attachment plug. A single receptacle is a single contact device with no other contact device on the same yoke. A multiple receptacle is two or more contact devices on the same yoke. Remote-Control Circuit - Any electric circuit that controls any other circuit through a relay or an equivalent device. Rigid Metal Conduit - A raceway specially constructed for the purpose of the pulling in or the withdrawing of wires or cables after the conduit is in place and made of metal pipe of standard weight and thickness permitting the cutting of standard threads. Separately Derived System - A premises wiring system whose power is derived from a battery, a solar photovoltaic system, or from a generator, transformer, or converter windings, and that has no direct electrical connection, including a solidly connected grounded circuit conductor, to supply conductors originating in another system. Service Conductors - The conductors from the service point to the service disconnecting means Service-Entrance Conductors, Overhead System - The service conductors between the terminals of the service equipment and a point usually outside the building, clear of building walls, where joined by tap or splice to the service drop. Signaling Circuit - Any electric circuit that energizes signaling equipment. Solar Photovoltaic System - The total components and subsystems that, in combination, convert solar energy into electrical energy suitable for connection to a utilization load. Strain Insulator - A single insulator, an insulator string, or two or more string parallel, designed to transmit to the tower or other support the entire pull of the conductors and to insulate it therefrom. Switchboard - A large single panel, frame, or assembly of panels on which are mounted, on the face or back, or both, switches, overcurrent and other protective devices, buses, and usually instruments. Switchboards are generally accessible from the rear as well as from the front and are not intended to be installed in cabinets. Switchgear - A general term covering an assembly or assemblies of devices for the interruption, control, metering of electric power. Unit Substation - Consists primarily, of one or more transformers mechanically and electrically connected and coordinated in design and construction with one or more switchgear, or motor control, assemblies or combination thereof. ARTICLE 1.2 – PERMITS AND INSPECTION CERTIFICATES 1.2.1 Electrical Permits • 1.2.1.1 Electrical Permit Needed Before Work is Started Before starting any installation work, alternation, repair or extension on any electrical system, the owners, lessors, operator, occupants, or electrical practitioners shall obtain Electrical Permit for Building, Trailers, mobile homes, or other premises from the Office of the Local Building Official, and for watercrafts from the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina). 1.2.1.2 Requirement for Electrical Permit • Signatures and submittals: a. Application for Electrical Permit(DPWH Form No. 96-001-E). 1. Duly qualified electrical practitioner. 2. Professional Electrical Engineer who signed and sealed electrical plans and specifications. 3. Duly registered electrical contractor (with PCAB License – Specialty Electrical Works). **Philippine Contractor Accreditation Board 4. Electrical practitioner in-charge of installation. 5. Owner/authorized representative. b. Five (5) sets of complete electrical plans and specifications signed and sealed by Professional Electrical Engineer. 1.2.1.3 Electrical Permit to Be Issued Immediately a. The application, upon receipt, shall be checked immediately by the local building officials or his representatives for complete with the requirements. If complying, the Electrical Permits shall be issued upon payment of the corresponding electrical fees. b. If the project is extensive and required more time for checking and for computations of fees, the issuance of the Electrical Permit need not be issued immediately. The delay shall not be longer than five (5) working days after which time application together with the accompanying plans shall be considered as complying with all the requirement and the electrical permit shall be issued immediately thereafter. 1.2.1.4 Posting of Electrical Permit • A copy of the Electrical Permit (DPWH Form No. 96-002-E) shall be posted at a conspicuous location at the job site and shall not be removed until final inspection and approval of the work shall have been made. 1.2.2 Electrical Inspection • 1.2.2.1 Application for Inspection • An application for inspection shall be filed with the government authority concerned before a preliminary and/or final inspection is done. 1.2.2.2 Certificate of Inspections No electrical installation, alternation, and/or addition shall be connected or reconnected to any power supply or any other source of electrical energy without a Certificate of Final Electrical Inspection/Completion (DPWH Form No. 96-006-E) obtained from the government authority concerned. 1.2.3 Special • 1.2.3.1 Temporary Installation For temporary electrical installation, the same procedure as stated above shall be followed. At the end of the period covered by the certificate of inspection, the temporary installation shall be removed. Extended use of the temporary installation shall require a new approval electrical permit. • 1.2.3.2 Installation Without Permit Installation of not more than two (2) additional lighting and receptacle/convenience outlets for general purpose may be installed without electrical permit and certificate of final electrical inspection/completion. • 1.2.3.3 Special Permission Required Electrical equipment and wiring not specifically covered or mentioned in the various articles of this Code shall require special permission and approval of the enforcing government authority concerned, prior to installation. • 1.2.3.4 Reconnection of Disconnected Services Reconnection by the utility company of electrical energy in cases where service has been cut off for not more than one (1) year due to non-payment of electric bills, service interruption due to electrical fault, and temporary shutdown/maintenance, shall not require a new certificate of final electrical inspection/completion, provided that there is no alteration on existing electrical connection and reconnection shall be at the discretion of the electric utility company. ARTICLE 1.3 — ELECTRICAL PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS 1.3.1 General • 1.3.1.1 Sheet Size Electrical plans and drawings shall be drawn on sheets of the following standard sizes: 760 mm x 1 000 mm 600 mm x 900 mm 500 mm x 760 mm • 1.3.1.2 Drawing Scale For floor/deck and riser/profile plans, 1:100 scale shall be used. (Other metric scales may be used for convenience) 1.3.2 Plans and Specifications • 1.3.2.1 Plan Requirements A. Location and Site Plans - Location and site plans, with proposed structure and owner’s land drawn to appropriate metric scale shall show: i. Bordering areas showing public or well-known streets, landmarks and/or structures which need not be drawn to scale unless they extend into the area concerned; ii. Location of service drop, service equipment and nearest pole of the utility company furnishing electrical energy; location of the meter as well as sizes of service entrance wires, conduits and service equipment; and iii. Clearance of the path or run of service drops and entrance wires to adjacent existing and/or proposed structures. B. C. Legend or Symbols. Refer to Appendix A – Electrical Symbols. General Notes and/or Specifications - General Notes and/or Specifications, written on the plans or submitted on separate standard size sheets shall show: 1. Nature of electrical service, including number of phases, number of wires, voltage and frequency: 2. Type of wiring; Service entrance Feeders, sub-feeders and branch circuit wires for lighting and/or power load Fire alarm system, if required by law Signaling and communication 3. Special equipment to be installed, indicating ratings and classification of service or duty cycle of; 4. 5. 6. D. Rectifiers Heaters X-ray apparatus Electric welding equipment System or method of grounding. Type and rating of main disconnecting means, overcurrent protection (OCP) and branch circuit wiring. Clearances of service drop, burial depth for service lateral, mounting height and clearance for service equipment, mounting height and clearance for kW-Hr meter. Electrical Layout. Floor plan showing location of equipment and devices, and their interconnection wiring. 1. Plan for Power. Layout and wiring plans for power on the floor plans drawn to scale, shall show: i. ii. iii. iv. Sizes and location of service entrance conductors, raceways, metering equipment, main switchboard, layout of feeders and distribution panels or switches and their sizes, types and ratings. Complete circuits of motors and other electrical equipment, their controlling devices, their locations and ratings. Complete wiring of emergency power system, if any. Nature of processes/activities carried out in each room or area. 2. Plan for Lighting and Receptacle Outlets. Layout and wiring plans for general lighting and convenience outlets on floor plans drawn to scale, shall show: i. ii. iii. iv. v. vi. Location, type and rating of lighting fixtures, indicating illumination in lux in each room or area. In residences, hotels, apartment houses, and churches, the illumination level in each room or area need not be shown nor computed. Location of switches for each fixtures or group of fixtures. Location of receptacle outlets and appliances to be served and their ratings. Complete circuits of the lighting and convenience outlets. Complete wiring of emergency lighting system, if any; A separate drawing showing layout of receptacle outlets may be made at the discretion of the design engineer. 3. Plan for Fire Alarm Circuits. Layout and wiring plans of fire alarm station, fire alarm bell, fire alarm control panel, and other shall be drawn to scale and show: i. ii. Location of outlets, equipment and/or apparatus and controls. Complete circuit showing no. and size of raceway and wire. E. Schedule of Loads - Schedule of load in tabulated form shall indicate: 1. Motor Loads Motors as numbered or identified in power layout Type of motor Horsepower/kilowatt/kilovolt ampere rating Voltage rating Full-load current rating Frequency rating other than 60 hertz Number of phases Type and size of wiring Protective device rating 2. Lighting and Convenience Receptacle Loads. Panel as numbered in the feeder diagram Circuit designation number Number of lighting outlets in each circuit Number of switches in each circuit Number of receptacles (convenience outlets) Voltage of circuit Type and size of wiring Protective device rating 3. Other Loads Designation number on plan Description of load Classification of service duty, if required Rating of kilovolt-ampere or kilowatt Phase loading indicating full load line current Voltage rating Type and size of wiring Protective device rating F. Design Analysis. Design analysis shall be included on the drawings or shall be submitted on separate sheets of standard size, and shall show: 1. 2. 3. 4. Branch circuits, sub-feeders, feeders, busways, and service, entrance . Types, ratings, and trip settings of overload protective devices; Calculation of short circuit current for determining the interrupting capacity of overurrent protection device; Calculation of voltage drops. G. One Line Diagram. One line diagram shall indicate: 1. Lighting and Receptacle Outlet Loads; a. Single line or schematics diagram of lighting and receptacles panelboards showing mains and branch circuit rating; b. Size of conductors for feeders. 2. Motor Loads a. Rating in kilowatts/horsepower/kilovolt ampere b. Full load current c. Locked rotor current d. Phase connection for 1-phase motor on a 3-phase system e. Rated voltage f. Type and size of wiring, indicating load in amperes g. Electric motors shall be numbered consecutively to correspond to their numbers in the layout • Feeders and Sub feeders a. b. c. d. Identification and/or labeling of feeders and sub feeders. Size and type of wires and raceway. Protective devices and controls. The allowable ampacity of the conductor over the designed load current in amperes expressed as a ratio and indicated along side the conductor. • Load Center a. Identification and/or labeling of load center showing type and rating of transformer, switches, circuit breaker and other related devices. b. Incoming and outgoing feeders, type, size and voltage. c. Equipment grounding. 1.3.2.2 Title Block - Title block or nameplate of plans and drawing shall be a standard strip of 40 mm high at the bottom of the sheet. It shall contain the following: a. Name and location of installation or project b. Name, signature and address of owner/manager/ operator c. Title of sheet d. Name, signature and seal of Professional Electrical Engineer together with Professional Regulation Commission professional license number and validity, Professional Tax Receipt Number, and Tax Identification Number e. Scale used, date drawn f. Sheet number 1.3.2.3 Other Details a. Exposed conductors shall show: Means of support and types of insulators; and Spacing's and clearances. b. Auxiliary gutters, wire ways, bus ways, cabinets, boxes, metallic raceways, underground installations, other than specified in the Code shall show: Installation details; Conductor supports, separators, and attachments where required by this Code; and Dimensions and description or specifications. • Low energy power and low voltage power installation shall show: a. Details of battery installation and/or other source of low voltage or low energy power. b. Equipment, wiring, actuating mechanism and protective devices. c. Ventilation details whenever necessary. 1.3.3 Substation Plans and Specifications • 1.3.3.1 Indoor Substation. Indoor substation plans shall show: a. Location and dimensions of: 1. Substation in building plan drawn to scale, 2. Building with respect to entire compound or property, 3. Incoming and outgoing lines, and 4. Windows, doors, and other openings. • Substation structural requirements 1. Materials and construction of walls, floors, roof, windows, enclosures, doors, and their dimensions . 2. Ventilation and drainage systems and other safeguards. • Substation electrical requirements 1. Plan view showing location and sizes of equipment installed, 2. Clearances and spacing's between exposed current-carrying and noncurrent-carrying portions and grounding equipment. 3. Grounding system. • Cross sectional views showing 1. Horizontal and vertical clearances between exposed parts and adjacent surfaces. 2. Horizontal and vertical clearances of exposed parts from floor/ceiling. 3. Finished floor level and ground level. • Miscellaneous 1. Specification of equipment 2. Wiring of lighting and remote control systems, 3. One-line diagram(s) of entire installation with voltage indicated, 4. Computations on size of wires, busbar, transformer, fuses, switches and breaker, and 5. Class of insulation or insulators. 1.3.3.2 Outdoor Substation • Outdoor substation plans shall show same items as indoor substation except that in lieu of walls and roof, details of fence and supporting steel structure shall be shown in accordance with the latest edition of the Philippine Electrical Code, Part 2. ARTICLE 1.10 ⎯ REQUIREMENTS FOR ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS 1.10.1 General • 1.10.1.2 Approval. The conductors and equipment required or permitted by this Code shall be acceptable only if approved. • 1.10.1.3 Examination, Identification, Installation, and Use of Equipment. A. Examination- In judging equipment, considerations such as the following shall be evaluated: 1. Suitability for installation and use in conformity with the provisions of this Code. 2. Mechanical strength and durability, including, for parts designed to enclose and protect other equipment, the adequacy of the protection thus provided. 3. Wire-bending and connection space. 4. Electrical insulation. 5. Heating effects under normal conditions of use and also under abnormal conditions likely to arise in service. 6. Classification by type, size, voltage, current capacity, and specific use. 7. Other factors that contribute to the practical safeguarding of persons using or likely to come in contact with the equipment. B. Installation and Use - Listed or labeled equipment shall be installed and used in accordance with any instructions included in the listing or labeling. 1.10.1.4 Voltages. Throughout this Code, the voltage considered shall be that at which the circuit operates. The voltage rating of electrical equipment shall not be less than the nominal voltage of a circuit to which it is connected. 1.10.1.5 Conductors. Conductors normally used to carry current shall be of copper unless otherwise provided in this Code. Where the conductor material is not specified, the material and the sizes given in this Code shall apply to copper conductors. Where other materials are used, the size shall be changed accordingly. 1.10.1.6 Conductor Sizes. Conductor sizes are expressed in square millimetres (mm2) for stranded or in millimetres diameter (mm dia.) for solid. 1.10.1.7 Insulation Integrity. Completed wiring installations shall be free from short circuits and from grounds other than as required or permitted in Article 2.50. 1.10.1.8 Wiring Methods. Only wiring methods recognized as suitable are included in this Code. The recognized methods of wiring shall be permitted to be installed in any type of building or occupancy, except as otherwise provided in this Code. 1.10.1.9 Interrupting Rating. Equipment intended to interrupt current at fault levels shall have an interrupting rating sufficient for the nominal circuit voltage and the current that is available at the line terminals of the equipment. 1.10.1.10 Circuit Impedance and Other Characteristics. The overcurrent protective devices, the total impedance, the component short-circuit current ratings, and other characteristics of the circuit to be protected shall be selected and coordinated to permit the circuit-protective devices used to clear a fault to do so without extensive damage to the electrical components of the circuit. 1.10.1.11 Deteriorating Agents. Unless identified for use in the operating environment, no conductors or equipment shall be located in damp or wet locations; where exposed to gases, fumes, vapors, liquids, or other agents that have a deteriorating effect on the conductors or equipment; or where exposed to excessive temperatures. 1.10.1.18 Arcing Parts. Parts of electric equipment, which in ordinary operation produce arcs, sparks, flames, or molten metal, shall be enclosed or separated and isolated from all combustible material. 1.10.1.21 Marking. The manufacturer’s name, trademark, or other descriptive marking by which the organization responsible for the product can be identified shall be placed on all electric equipment. Other markings that indicate voltage, current, wattage, or other ratings shall be provided as specified elsewhere in this Code. The marking shall be of sufficient durability to withstand the environment involved. 1.10.1.22 Identification of Disconnecting Means. Each disconnecting means required by this Code for motors and appliances, and each service, feeder, or branch circuit at the point where it originates, shall be legibly marked to indicate its purpose unless located and arranged so the purpose is evident. The marking shall be of sufficient durability to withstand the environment involved. End