Electrical Systems of Buildings

Chapter 1: Introduction
Senior T. A. Abdul Ghani Noori

Energy-Efficient Electrical Systems for Buildings, CRC Press, 2017

Kandahar University
Engineering Faculty
Energy Engineering Department 7-Sep-19
Objectives

 Overview of a general design approach for electrical distribution systems of

residential and commercial buildings.

 Importance of safety when designing building distribution systems.

 Understanding the relevant codes and standards that assist in designing safe
electrical systems.

 Understanding typical design phases for building projects.

 Understanding the main roles of engineers in the engineering design team.

2 7-Sep-19
 Table of Contents

1.1 Introduction

1.2 Overview of Building Electrical Distribution Systems

1.3 General Design Approach

3 7-Sep-19
1.1 Introduction
 In buildings, most energy end-use systems such as lighting, air conditioning
equipment, and appliances require electrical power to operate.

 To be comfortable and productive, electricity has to be readily available

throughout the building.

 Electricity can cause serious injury or death for people and significant damages
for equipment and property.

 For eliminating the danger of electricity, almost each country has electrical
codes, which are called National Electrical Code (NEC).

 Electrical engineer has to follow NEC, while designing electrical systems of

buildings.

4 7-Sep-19
Cont.
The latest version of NEC (for USA) is organized in nine chapters:

1. Definitions of electrical terms and general requirements for installations

2. Wiring and protection of electrical systems
3. Wiring methods and materials
4. General electrical equipment (including lighting, motors, transformers, HVAC
systems, and generators)
5. Requirements for special occupancies (recreational vehicles, floating
buildings, and petrochemical facilities)
6. Special electrical equipment (such as elevators and signs)
7. Special systems (emergency lighting, control circuits, and fiber optic cables)
8. Communications systems
9. Tables and examples
5 7-Sep-19
1.2 Overview of Building Electrical Distribution Systems
In order to safely distribute electricity within buildings, several components have to
be specified, including wiring and protection equipment.
Residential Buildings
Power distribution systems for small residential and commercial buildings are
rather simple to design and install with a limited number of components, as
illustrated in following figure

6 7-Sep-19
Cont.
Commercial Buildings
The electrical power distribution systems for large commercial buildings utilize
several components, including a network of step-down transformers, lighting and
power panels, protection devices, grounding systems, and wiring methods as
shown in the following figure

7 7-Sep-19
Cont.
Distribution Voltages
The specific voltages distributed and served to buildings vary significantly
worldwide and depend on the building types as shown in the following table.

8 7-Sep-19
Cont.
 It is important to note that electrical equipment and devices are generally
sensitive to changes in supply voltage and frequency levels.

 The supply of high voltage level can cause higher currents to flow through
electrical devices.

 Simply doubling the voltage can double the current and a larger current flow
can result in higher heat to be dissipated in the device Q ͌ I2 / Q = RI2

 In fact, most electrical devices cannot operate reliably with supply voltage
levels that are higher than 10% of their rated voltage.

 If a 60 Hz rated motor is operated by 50 Hz power supply, the electrical motor

shaft speed is reduced by the ratio 5/6.

9 7-Sep-19
1.3 General Design Approach
In order to specify the components for electrical distribution systems for
buildings, it is important to determine all the end-use loads that need to be served
by electricity as well as their rated voltages and frequencies.

The design procedure of building electrical systems follows a bottom-up approach

Service
Entrance is
selected
Main panel
board is
selected
Main circuit breaker
is selected

Branch circuit breakers are

selected

Branch circuits are designed

10 Building electrical loads are estimated 7-Sep-19

Cont.
Design Objectives
The following criteria should be considered in a rational design:

Safety: safety should be the most important objective for specifying various
components of the power distribution systems for buildings.

11 7-Sep-19
Cont.
Flexibility: the system should be able to handle additional electrical loads due to
future expansion and/or change of end-use equipment or loads.

12 7-Sep-19
Cont.
Accessibility: The components of the power distribution systems should be
designed to be easily accessible in order to facilitate their maintenance, repair,
and replacement.

13 7-Sep-19
Cont.
Reliability: Electrical distribution systems should be designed to ensure that
they operate reliably without interruption under normal loading conditions.

14 7-Sep-19
Cont.
Energy Efficiency: To ensure efficient use of electricity, specifying high energy-
efficient components for the power distribution system should be considered.

15 7-Sep-19
Cont.
Design Team
For the construction industry, there are several project delivery methodologies
depending on the budget and time constraints as well as desired risk and quality
levels:

 Traditional design-bid-build (DBB) method: separates design and construction.

the contractor does not enter the process until after the design is complete. For
constriction ,a contractor with the lowest price is selected.

 Design-build (DB) method: the design and construction services are contracted
by a single entity.

 Integrated-design-build (IDB) method: It relies upon a multidisciplinary and

collaborative team whose members make decisions together based on a shared
vision and a holistic understanding of the project.

 IDB method follows the design through the entire project life, from pre-design
through occupancy and into operation.

16 7-Sep-19
Cont.
In both DB and IDB architect typically plays the role of the main coordinator of the
design team.

17 7-Sep-19
Cont.
General Design Procedure
When specifying buildings and their systems, including electrical distribution
components, there are typically several phases during the design process:

 Project conceptualization

 Development of a design team

 Program planning for the building

 Schematic design (SD)

 Design development (DD)

 Construction documents (CD)

 Bidding and development of a construction team

 Construction administration
18 7-Sep-19
Cont.
Based on the DBB method, the job of electrical engineer in each of the design
phases are as outlined below:
 Project conceptualization:
 Develop an idea (concept) for a facility by an owner/developer.
 Procure funding through bank loans or donations.

 Development of a design team

 Select a short list of design teams (architect and engineers) through a request of
information (RFI) via business journals.
 Complete interview process with the selected design teams.
 Review the proposal and complete fee negotiation (electrical design fee
typically represents 5%–10% of electrical construction cost).
 Prepare and sign final contracts.

19 7-Sep-19
Cont.

 Program planning for the building

 Gather information from stakeholders and potential users of the building.
 Define main objectives of the building, including types of activities and
functions as well as space requirements.
 Specify the time and budget constraints as well as design targets, such as energy
efficiency ratings and applicable codes and standards.
 Prepare and document a detailed program plan for the building.

20 7-Sep-19
Cont.

 Schematic design (SD)

 Review program plan.
 Study relevant codes and standards (NFPA, UBC, etc.) based on building
type (emergency, life safety egress lighting, and exit sign requirements).
 Coordinate with utilities (power, TV, internet, telephone).
 Coordinate with the architect for required spaces (transformers, MCC, electrical
room).
 Complete SD deliverables (typically include a one-line diagram, load analysis,
and a report).
 Review SD deliverables with the owner and all design team members.
 After this phase, the design project is 30% completed with 15% hours spent.

21 7-Sep-19
Cont.

 Design development (DD)

 Meet with utility representatives to determine specific utility routing options.
 Meet with the mechanical engineer to determine specific HVAC loads.
 Perform lighting calculations (for typical areas).
 Finalize the DD deliverables (including site-plan, revised one-line
diagram, floor plans for power and lighting, schedule sheets, cost
estimates, and book specifications).
 Review of DD deliverables with the owner and other design team members.
 Project 50% completed (with 35% budgeted hours spent).

22 7-Sep-19
Cont.

 Construction documents (CD)

 Coordinate with all stakeholders and involved parties through meetings
and exchanges of drawings.
 Revise and finalize CD deliverables (revised site-plan, revised one-line
diagram, revised floor plans, complete schedule sheets, revised cost
estimate, and book specifications).
 Review of CD deliverables with owner and design team.
 After this phase, the design project is 100% completed (with 90% budgeted
hours spent).

23 7-Sep-19
Cont.

 Bidding and development of a construction team

 Approve the list of potential bidders (preferred contractors!).
 Answer any questions from contractors.
 Assist in the evaluation of bids.
 Rebid, if necessary, after value engineering and some modifications of the
design specifications.

 Construction administration
 Plan and complete the ground breaking ceremony.
 Finalize intermediate and final observations (i.e., punch-lists).
 Prepare and finalize as-built documents..

24 7-Sep-19
Cont.

25
7-Sep-19
Cont. Riser Diagram Plan

26
7-Sep-19
Assignment-1

Please solve the following problems from the problems of chapter-1.

4-1, 4-5, 4-13, 4-21, 4-28, 4-35, 4-41, 4-44, 4-55, 4-59, 4-61, 4-65, 4,70,
4-, 4-72, 4-73, 4-79, 4-80 and 4-82.

Submit the assignment within one week from the date of completion.

27 7-Sep-19
Thank You!