BUILDING ELECTRICAL

MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT

 BUILDING ELECTRICAL
MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT
 BUILDING ELECTRICAL
MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT
 BUILDING ELECTRICAL
MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT
 BUILDING ELECTRICAL
MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT
 BUILDING ELECTRICAL
MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT
 BUILDING ELECTRICAL
MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT
 BUILDING ELECTRICAL
MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT
 BUILDING ELECTRICAL
MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT
 BUILDING ELECTRICAL
MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT
 BUILDING ELECTRICAL
MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT
 BUILDING ELECTRICAL
MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT
Load Computations
Load computations involve computing the demand load for a building system or a distribution system extending from a panel-
board. This load includes the total of all general lighting, appliance, and equipment loads in the building. The demand load al-
lowed by the code takes into account that all of the electrical connections will not be in use at one time. As a result, the demand
load is not a total of all connected loads, but rather a fraction of the connected loads. Code prescribes methods of computing the
demand load, which trims down the total connected load to a safe, more reasonable level.

General considerations in demand load computations follow.

 BUILDING ELECTRICAL
MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT

1. Compute the general lighting load. This is calculated for all types of occupancies based on the unit load given in the table (in
watts) times the square footage of the building. (For this exercise it is based upon Code specified 3 VA/ft2 for residences). The
floor area is determined using the outside dimensions of the building involved and the number of stories. For dwellings, do not
include any open porches, garages, or carports. Any unfinished or unused spaces do not have to be included in the square foot-
age unless they are adaptable for future use.

For the (hypothetical) residential system example, the outside dimensions (excluding garage) of the building are:

19 meters by 11 meters, there are 209 m2 of floor area

The minimum general lighting load, based on the specified 33 VA/m2 for residences:

33 VA/m2 x 209 m2 = 6897 VA

2. Compute the appliance and laundry circuit load. Code requires at least two 20 A appliance branch circuits for the kitchen. The
load is based on 1500 VA (from Code) for each appliance branch circuit in the kitchen. In addition, one 20 A circuit is required for
laundry room appliances.

For the residential system example, this results in a total of three 20 A branch circuits for appliances:

Appliance and laundry load = 3 circuits x 1500 VA

= 4500 VA

3. Subtotal the general lighting, appliance, and laundry branch circuit loads.

For the residential system example:

General lighting 6897 VA

Appliance and laundry circuits 4500 VA

Subtotal 11 397 VA

The demand load allowed by the Code takes into account that all of the electrical connections will not be in use at one time. Alt-
hough there are limits to this reduction for certain types of occupancies, in a dwelling the first 3000 VA are taken as 100%, and
from 3000 to 120 000 VA, only 35% of the load is calculated and the remainder over 120,000 at 25%.

For the residential system example, the load subtotal is 11 397 VA, so:

First 3000 VA at 100% 3000 VA

Remaining 8397 VA at 35% 2939 VA

Total demand load 5939 VA

The loads of all other appliances and equipment (motors) must be added to this demand load to determine the
total service load on the system.
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MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT
 BUILDING ELECTRICAL
MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT
 BUILDING ELECTRICAL
MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT
To determine the appliance and equipment load, all appliances and equipment that will not be on the lines dis-
cussed above must be listed along with their electrical requirements. Nameplate ratings from manufacturers’ data
should be used in the design.

For the residential system example, the following is a list of fixed appliances and equipment and their ratings from manufactur-
er’s data:

Water heater 3800 VA

Clothes dryer 4400 VA

Dishwasher 1000 VA

Range 11 700 VA

Waste disposal 1000 VA

Air conditioner 6300 VA

Garage door opener 1000 VA

The demand load for an electric range, consisting of an oven and a cooktop unit, is taken from manufacturer’s data.

For the residential system example, an electric range with a rating of 11.7 kW, the demand load would be 8 kW (or 8000 VA).

The demand load for the clothes dryer is the total amount of power required according to the manufacturer’s data.

For the residential system example, the full 4400 VA must be used in the calculation.

The demand for fixed appliances (other than the range, clothes dryer, and air conditioning and space heating

equipment) is taken as 100% of the total amount required, except that when there are four or more of these fixed appliances
(other than those omitted), the demand load can be taken as 75% of the fixed appliance load.

For the residential system example, there are three fixed appliances: the water heater at 3800 VA, the dishwasher at 1000 VA,
and the waste disposal at 1000 VA. The total of the ratings is 5800 VA, also the demand load.

Motors, such as those used in central air conditioners, have their demand loads calculated as 125% of the motor rating.

For the residential system example, the air conditioner is rated at 6300 VA and the garage door opener is at 1000 VA. The total
demand load will be 7300 VA x 125% = 9125 VA.

The total demand load for all of the lighting and appliances is then tabulated.

For the residential system example:

General lighting, appliances, and laundry 5939 VA

Electric range 8000 VA

Clothes dryer 4400 VA

Fixed appliances 5800 VA

Motor (air conditioner/opener) 9125 VA

Total demand load 33 264 VA

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MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT
 BUILDING ELECTRICAL
MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT