GE Global Research - Niskayuna
Site Electrical Standards
DEFINITIONS
Accessible – Capable of being operated without unbolting covers or having
services disconnect and/or material moved out of the way in a
manner other than rolling it on its own wheels.
Low Voltage – Nominal voltages from 0 to and including 600.
Medium Voltage – Nominal voltages of 1000 to 35,000.
High Voltage – Nominal voltages greater than or equal to 35,000.
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
Boxes And Condulets
1. All “FS” type boxes shall include factory installed ground screws. In
addition, all wall and floor mounted “FS” type boxes will include integral
mounting lugs.
2. Condulet bodies of the “C”, “LB”, “LL”, “LR”, “T”, etc. types shall not be
used for splicing.
3. All pendant hung boxes shall have integral threaded hubs.
Conduit And Connectors
1. Flexible steel conduit and liquidtight flexible steel conduit shall only be
used where flexibility is required. They shall not be used in lengths longer
than three feet without permission of a GE Global Research – Niskayuna
“ Facilities Services Operation” electrical engineer.
2. All conduit and cable connectors that are not equipped with a factory
nylon insulator shall have a conduit bushing installed on the end of the
connector after the locknut.
3. Rigid steel conduit nipples, not chase nipples, shall be used when
connecting a conduit coupling or a condulet directly to an enclosure.
4. Rigid steel conduit nipples, not chase nipples, shall be used when close
coupling enclosures through knockouts.
5. Double locknuts shall be used when connecting conduit to an enclosure
through a knockout.
Equipment Ratings
1. Heavy duty industrial rated devices shall be used for all safety switches
and other electrical equipment. NEMA rated devices shall be the
preference for all contactor/motor starter applications.
2. Unless installed for a specific item of equipment, all 120 volt convenience
receptacles and their circuits shall be 20 amps.
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Fill
1. Condulet and box fill markings shall be strictly adhered to. Where factory
markings are not present, fill shall be determined using National Electrical
Code Article 314.
Flexible Cord, Cable And Their Connectors
1. Flexible cord and cable shall only be used were portability is required.
Unless supplied by a factory as the connection means for an item of
equipment, it shall always be used with a plug on one end. Where it is
supplied by a factory as the connection means for an item of equipment, it
can be used with or without a plug depending if movement on wheels or
ease of disconnect is required or not.
2. Except for cable tray applications, Type SO/SOW-A cord shall be used for
all flexible cord requirements through 80 amps. Above 80 amps, Type W
cable shall be used. For cable tray applications, Type TC cable shall be
used.
3. Only copper conductors shall be used in wire, cords and cables.
4. Size (AWG) of Type SO/SOW-A cord to use shall be determined
according to the following:
OVERCURRENT
PROTECTION
(AMPS)
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
60
70
80
NUMBER OF CURRENT CARRYING
CONDUCTORS
2
3
4
14
14
12
12
12
10
12
10
8
10
8
6
8
8
6
8
6
4
6
6
4
6
4
2
4
4
2
4
2
2
2
-
TREAT NEUTRALS OF 3 PHASE, 4 WIRE WYE CIRCUITS WHERE
THE MAJOR PORTION OF THE LOAD CONSISTS OF NONLINEAR
LOADS AS CURRENT CARRYING CONDUCTORS.
FOR MORE THAN 4 CURRENT CARRYING CONDUCTORS, SEE
NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE ARTICLE 400, PARAGRAPH 400.5.
5. All conduit and cable connectors that are not equipped with a factory
nylon insulator shall have a conduit bushing installed on the end of the
connector after the locknut.
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GFCI Requirements
1. All receptacles within six (6) feet of a sink (excluding a cup sink) or water
fountain shall be GFCI protected and shall be so marked. All water
fountains shall be fed from a GFCI circuit breaker or receptacle.
2. All receptacles mounted on a wet hood shall be on a GFCI protected
circuit.
Grounding
1. Conduits containing conductors carrying an open circuit voltage of 50
volts or more shall include a separate copper equipment grounding
conductor. This conductor shall be sized according to the following:
CONDUCTOR OVERCURRENT
EQUIPMENT GROUNDING
PROTECTION RATING
CONDUCTOR SIZE
(in AMPS)
(in AWG)
15
14
20
12
30
10
50
10
65
8
100
6
200
4
300
3
400
2
500
1
600
1/0
800
2/0
1000
3/0
1200
4/0
Any overcurrent protection falling between the values shown will require the
next higher ground conductor size.
2. All non-current-carrying conductive material enclosing conductors of 50
volts or more, ie. junction boxes, pull boxes, switch boxes, receptacle
boxes, etc., shall be grounded using the equipment grounding conductor.
3. Bonding and grounding bushings shall be used on the conduit of feeders
and branch circuits with an overcurrent protection of 100 amps or more.
They shall be install on all box entries and exits of these services.
4. Safety switches shall be equipped with the appropriate factory equipment
grounding kit and, if required, the appropriate factory neutral kit.
5. Listed grounding devices shall be used in all equipment, pull boxes and
junction boxes not supplied with a factory grounding lug or a factory
threaded hole designated for grounding. GE manufactured equipment
grounding kits shall be used in GE manufactured distribution equipment
where such kits are available for the item of equipment being installed.
The listed grounding devices and grounding kits shall be used in lieu of
drilling holes in the sheet metal enclosure and/or using standard screws or
bolts and nuts.
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6. One leg of all control power transformer secondaries greater than 24 volts
shall be grounded at the transformer.
7. All buildings with a footprint of 1000 square feet or more shall have a
building ground grid. Building grounding conductors shall be 4/0.
Exothermic welding shall be the preferred method for connecting and
terminating building ground conductors. Ground rods shall be copper-clad
solid steel with a minimum size of 5/8” diameter by 8 feet long. Triads of
ground rods on ten foot centers at building corners is the preferred
arrangement. Systems shall be tested to insure that the resistance to
ground is 3 ohms or less. If the building grounding system tests to more
than 3 ohms before being tied to the cold water service and the building
steel, additional ground rods shall be added until the loop resistance
requirement of 3 ohms or less is met. Additional ground rods shall be
spaced no less than 10 feet from existing ground rods.
8. Double locknuts shall be used when connecting conduit to an enclosure
through a knockout.
9. Where a wireway contains conductors of various sizes, but only one
equipment grounding conductor, the size of the equipment grounding
conductor shall be determined first based on the largest overcurrent device
setting for the conductors, and then, if necessary, based on voltage drop.
Installation
1. All pendant hung receptacles and switches will be mounted in boxes with
integral threaded hubs. Wiremesh grips shall be used at the top and
bottom of the pendant where flexible steel conduit, liquidtight flexible
steel conduit or flexible cord is used.
2. All conduit and cable connectors that are not equipped with a factory
nylon insulator shall have a conduit bushing installed on the end of the
connector after the locknut.
3. All suspended ceiling drop-in lighting troffers shall be separately
supported from the deck at a minimum of two opposite corners unless the
ceiling is classified as a “listed assembly”.
4. All above-the-ceiling wiring shall be supported so that it is off of the
ceiling and off of mechanical piping and electrical conduit. Supports shall
extend to the deck. Where ceiling hanging wire is used to support the
wiring, the wire shall be independent of that used to support the ceiling
and shall be tied down on the bottom.
5. Every effort shall be made to bring conduits containing the line side
conductors to motor starters and safety switches into the top third of the
enclosure and to take the conduits containing the load side conductors
from motor starters and safety switches out the bottom third of the
enclosure.
6. EMT conduit shall not be used to support light fixtures either as a pendant
mount or as a support from which to hang fixture chain.
7. Rigid steel conduit nipples, not chase nipples, shall be used when
connecting a conduit coupling or a condulet directly to an enclosure
through a knockout.
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8. Rigid steel conduit nipples, not chase nipples, shall be used when close
coupling enclosures through knockouts.
9. Double locknuts shall be used when connecting conduit to an enclosure
through a knockout.
10. Clearances around and above electrical equipment shall be maintained
according to National Electrical Code Article 110, Paragraph 110.26.
11. Equipment control wiring, as DDC wiring, shall not share the same
raceway as power wiring.
12. Wiring to VFD controllers shall be per the manufacturer’s
recommendation.
Lockout Means
1. All motor starters, manual or magnetic, shall be equipped with a means to
lock out the starter other than the branch circuit breaker.
2. Unless the equipment for which the receptacles are being installed has an
accessible main breaker capable of being locked out, all single phase and
three phase receptacles over 30 amps shall be equipped with a
disconnecting lockout means other than their branch circuit breakers.
Marking, Labelling And Color Coding
1. All panelboards shall be marked with the panelboard designation, as
LP2B23 for 208 or 240 volt panelboards and PP1C13 for 480 volt
panelboards, where 2B23 and 1C13 are room designations for the
panelboard location. In addition, they shall also be marked with the
highest voltage of the panelboard, the phase color coding and the source
from where the panelboard is fed. Finally, lighting relay panelboards shall
have the prefixes LRC- and PRC- in place of the LP- and PP- for 208/240
volt and 480 volt panelboards, respectively.
2. All safety switches shall be marked with a safety switch number (if group
mounted), the name or designation of the equipment that it feeds, the
highest voltage in the switch, whether the safety switch is fused or unfused
and the source from where the switch is fed.
3. All motor control center (MCC) cubicles shall be marked with a reference
designation, as 3C, where 3 is the MCC section number from left to right
and C is the cubicle designation from top to bottom. Each cubicle shall
also be marked with its purpose and/or the GE Global Research
designation for the piece of equipment or motor that the cubicle feeds or
controls. Other markings, such as “CAUTION – THIS EQUIPMENT
MAY START AT ANY TIME” or “FED WITH POWER FROM “X”
SEPARATE SOURCES”, may be required. Where multiple sources of
power are present in a cubicle, all sources shall be listed on the front of
that cubicle.
4. All separately mounting motor starters/contactors shall be marked with the
highest voltage in the starter/contactor, the GE Global Research
designation for the motor or equipment that the starter/contactor controls
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5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
and the source from where the starter/contactor is fed. Other markings
may be required (See Item No. 3 above).
All separate sources of power found inside of an item of electrical
equipment shall be listed on the front of the equipment enclosure.
All receptacles shall be marked with the panelboard designation and
circuit number from where they are fed.
The isolated ground conductor of an isolated ground circuit shall be green
with a yellow tracer.
All light switches shall be marked with the source of the wiring to the
switch.
The insulation of all 208Y/120 and 480Y/277 wire through 750 KCM
shall be factory color coded per the coding shown under Wire in this
section.
Neutrals (Grounded Conductor)
1. Safety switches shall be equipped with the appropriate factory equipment
grounding kit and, if required, the appropriate factory neutral kit.
2. All receptacle strips with 120 volt outlets fed from more than one circuit
shall have a separate neutral for each circuit.
3. Neutrals for all multi-pole, non-linear computer and electronic loads shall
be sized at least 1.732 times the overcurrent protection of the circuit they
are feeding.
4. All ballasted and electric-discharge lighting circuits shall be installed with
a separate neutral for each circuit.
5. All single-pole branch circuits shall have a separate neutral for that branch
circuit.
Overcurrent Protection
1. Both the primaries and the secondaries of all control power transformers
shall be overcurrent protected. Protection shall be per NEC Article 450.
Fuses or circuit breakers shall be coordinated between the primaries and
the secondaries so that the secondary protection will blow or trip before
the primary protection.
2. Unless installed for a specific item of equipment, all 120 volt convenience
receptacles and their circuits shall be 20 amps.
3. For overcurrent protection of flexible cords and cables, see “Flexible
Cords, Cables And Their Connectors” above.
Panelboards
1. Panelboards 24” and over in height shall have their covers hinged to the
backbox.
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Receptacles
1. GE Global Research - Niskayuna has a receptacle standard that shall be
followed for all receptacle applications referenced in said standard.
2. All receptacles within six (6) feet of a sink (excluding a cup sink) or water
fountain shall be GFCI protected and shall be so marked. All water
fountains shall be fed from a GFCI circuit breaker or receptacle.
3. Unless installed for a specific item of equipment, all 120 volt convenience
receptacles and their circuits shall be 20 amps.
4. All single phase and three phase receptacles over 30 amps shall be
equipped with a disconnecting lockout means other than their branch
circuit breakers.
5. All single and duplex receptacles are to be mounted with the ground hole
in the face above the other holes.
6. When available for the NEMA configuration being installed, receptacles
on emergency power shall be red.
Safety Switches
1. Safety switches shall be equipped with the appropriate factory equipment
grounding kit and, if required, the appropriate factory neutral kit.
2. All single phase and three phase receptacles over 30 amps shall be
equipped with a disconnecting lockout means other than their branch
circuit breakers.
Supporting
1. All suspended ceiling drop-in lighting troffers shall be separately
supported from the deck at a minimum of two opposite corners unless the
ceiling is classified as a “listed assembly”.
2. All above-the-ceiling wiring shall be supported so that it is off of the
ceiling and off of mechanical piping and electrical conduit. Supports shall
extend to the deck, shall be tied down on both ends and shall be
distinguished from ceiling support wires by a tag or by color.
3. Outlet and switch boxes recessed in metal stud walls shall be supported by
both the stud to the left and the stud to the right of the box. Support shall
be with a Caddy Cat. No. HBS16 bracket or equal. Where there is not a
full 16” center between studs, a Caddy Cat. No. H23 bracket or equal shall
be used.
4. Wooden backboards installed on walls to support electrical equipment
shall be made of flame resistant lumber or shall be interior grade lumber
painted with flame resistant paint.
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Voltage Drop Allowance
Size homerun branch circuit conductors from the panelboard to the
first outlet in accordance with the following maximum circuit length
limits using the center of the load served as the basis for computing
circuit lengths.
CIRCUIT VOLTAGE
120 VOLT (20 AMP CIRCUIT)
277 VOLT (20 AMP CIRCUIT)
CONDUCTOR SIZE (AWG)
12
10
8
65 FEET 110 FEET 165 FEET
150 FEET 250 FEET 380 FEET
PROVIDE MINIMUM #12 AWG CONDUCTORS BEYOND THE FIRST OUTLET
Wire
1. Standard phase color codes shall be as follows:
120, 208, 240 volts Phase A – black
Phase B – red
Phase C – blue
Neutral - white
277, 480 volts
Phase A – brown
Phase B – orange
Phase C – yellow
Neutral – white or gray*
4160 volts
Phase A – violet & violet
Phase B – violet & red
Phase C – violet & blue
34,500 volts
Phase A – violet & brown
Phase B – violet & orange
Phase C – violet & yellow
*Gray shall be used for the neutral in a 277/480 application
when both the 120/208 volt and 277/480 volt neutrals are
present in the same wireway.
2. Only copper conductors shall be used in permanently installed wire, cords
and cables.
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3. Fire alarm wiring shall be per the system manufacturer’s requirements. It
shall have no splices.
4. The isolated ground conductor of an isolated ground circuit shall be green
with a yellow tracer.
5. Wire Ampacity Derating
Where more than three current carrying conductors are installed in
a raceway, the ampacity of the conductors shall be derated
according to the following table:
MINIMUM PERMISSIBLE
WIRE SIZE (AWG)
(MAX. 20 AMP CIRCUITS)
12
10
8
NUMBER OF CURRENT
CARRYING
CONDUCTORS
FOUR TO SIX
SEVEN TO NINE
TEN TO TWENTY
TREAT NEUTRALS OF 3 PHASE, 4 WIRE WYE CIRCUITS WHERE
THE MAJOR PORTION OF THE LOAD CONSISTS OF NONLINEAR
LOADS AS CURRENT CARRYING CONDUCTORS.
NOTE: The above paragraphs are enhancements to the National Electrical Code, which
shall be followed for all applications not mentioned above. The owner’s Authority
Having Jurisdiction shall be consulted on any questions or if any exceptions are taken.
MATERIALS
1. Insulated grounds of Type AC and Type MC cable assemblies shall be green
in color.
2. Strings of temporary lighting shall be of the factory assembled molded cable
type with guards. Strings shall be suspended by the loops on the lighting
fixtures, not by the cord.
3. Unless a larger capacity is required, all metal surface raceway used for
convenience outlets shall be the Wiremold 3000 Series.
4. All plastic surface raceway and its accessories used in offices for convenience
outlets and communications shall be the Panduit PAN-WAY Type T Surface
Raceway in the TG-70 Series.
5. Only copper conductors shall be used in permanently installed wire, cords and
cables.
6. Compression connectors used on wire and cable terminations and splices shall
be the “COPPER ONLY” type.
7. All motor control centers, starters or other equipment requiring indicator
lights shall use LED-type lamps.
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8. Wet chemical hoods shall not have switches or receptacles mounted below the
face of the hood.
9. All lighted exit signs and lighted information signs, as “CAUTION – LASER
ON”, shall be of the LED type.
10. Variable frequency drives installed for Facilities owned pumps and HVAC
units shall be per the specifications developed by GE GRC - Niskayuna
Facilities Engineering.
11. Emergency power transfer switches installed for Facilities owned
infrastructure shall be per the specifications developed by GE GRC –
Niskayuna Facilities Engineering.
12. All lighting control panels installed in the support of infrastructure lighting
shall be GE TLC Level 3 panels with the Controller Card installed. The
correct number of Input/Output Cards for the number of relays present in the
panel shall also be supplied at the time of installation of the panel.
13. When manufactured by GE, GE motors and controls, to include motor starters,
equipment control devices such as relays, push buttons and programmable
controllers, variable frequency drives, etc., shall be used. Package
manufacturers shall be strongly encouraged to supply GE controls in their
equipment. Where delivery becomes an issue, the owner’s Authority Having
Jurisdiction shall be consulted.
14. All motor starters and safety switches installed out-of-doors shall have a
NEMA 4 rated enclosure.
15. Trip programmers of main breakers and tie breakers of 480 volt load center
unit substations shall have long time, short time and ground fault functions.
Trip programmers of feeder breakers of 480 volt load center unit substations
shall have long time, short time, instantaneous and ground fault functions.
16. Delta secondary transformers are prohibited.
17. The insulation of all 208Y/120 and 480Y/277 wire through 750 KCM shall be
factory color coded per the coding shown under Wire in the GENERAL
REQUIREMENTS section.
OPERATIONS
1. All condensate pumps shall be backed up with emergency power.
2. All fire alarm panels and their associated peripheral equipment, whether
equipped with battery back-up or not, shall be backed up with emergency
power.
3. All motors 40 horsepower or more that are not controlled with a variable
frequency drive shall be equipped with power factor correction capacitors that
correct the power factor to better than 95 percent, but less than or equal to the
maximum shown on the motor nameplate.
4. Automated control features for HVAC equipment, such as START or
PURGE, shall not override the “OFF” position of an “OFF-ON” or “HANDOFF-AUTO” switch.
5. Switching orders shall be written for the opening or closing of one or more
low voltage load center unit substation breakers, medium voltage substation
breakers or load interrupting switches or high voltage substation breakers or
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load interrupting switches. These orders shall be written by one member and
approved by a second member of the GE Global Research’s Facilities
Operation salaried electrical staff.
6. All rooms housing infrastructure type electrical equipment shall have a
minimum of one light fixture and one convenience outlet on emergency
power.
7. Wooden backboards installed on walls to support electrical equipment shall be
made of flame resistant lumber or shall be interior grade lumber painted with
flame resistant paint.
Last Revised: 4/27/09 8:27 am
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