OCCUPANT

PROTECTION
ARCH 333 BUILDING UTILITIES 2

GROUP 7- BERNAL, FERRER, ROSALES

need for occupant
protection
Electrocution occurs when a small amount of electrical
current flows through the heart for 1 to 3 s. The amount of
0.006 to 0.2 A (6 to 200 milliamps, or mA) of current flowing
through the heart disrupts the normal coordination of heart
muscles. These muscles lose their vital rhythm and begin to
fibrillate. Death soon follows
 Tamper-
Resistant have built-in shutter systems that
Receptacles prevent foreign objects from
touching electrically live
components when these are
inserted into the slots.

spring-loaded shutter mechanism

Ground Fault Circuit
Interrupter (GFCI)
an electrical device that detects an extremely low
leak (6 mA) of electrical current (called ground
faults) and acts quickly to shut off power.

designed to protect the user of an electrical appliance

much like a circuit breaker or fuse safeguards the
wiring in an electrical system
 Receptacle Outlet
Type

generally used in place of standard

duplex convenience outlets that are
Most convenience outlet-type GFCIs
commonly found throughout the
can be installed so that they will also
house.
protect other electrical outlets further
downstream in the branch circuit
Circuit Breaker Type

A GFCI circuit breaker can be installed in

the panelboard in buildings equipped with
circuit breakers. It gives protection to the
entire branch circuit.
The wiring and each outlet that is served
by the branch circuit is protected by the
GFCI breaker.
 PORTABLE TYPE
Where permanent GFCIs are not [possible
or practical, portable GFCIs may be used.
One type contains the GFCI circuitry in a
plastic enclosure with plug blades in the
back and convenience outlet slots in the Another type of portable GFCI is one that is
front. part of an extension cord, such as those
required on a new model hair dryers.
ARC FAULT CIRCUIT
iNTERRUPTER (AFCI)
A safety device that provides enhanced protection
from fires resulting from arc faults. This device uses
electronics to recognize an arc fault and interrupts the
circuit when the fault occurs.

An AFCI detects low-level arc faults that traditional

over-current protective devices (fuses and circuit
breakers) cannot detect.
FOUR BASIC TYPES OF ARC FAULT CIRCUIT
iNTERRUPTER (AFCI)
• Circuit Breaker Type
A branch/feeder AFCI breaker with
protection provided to branch-circuit wiring
in the form of a circuit breaker
• Convenience Outlet Breaker
An outlet AFCI for protecting connected cord
sets and power-supply cords in the form of
an outlet receptacle.
• Portable Type
A portable AFCI for protecting connected
cord sets and power-supply cords that can be
moved from outlet to outlet.
• Cord-Mounted Type
A cord-mounted AFCI for protecting the
power supply cord connected to it (in the
form of an attachment plug on powe-supply
cord).
NUISANCE TRIPPING

Because the GFCIs and AFCIs are extremely sensitive,

they have a tendency to trip frequently. This repeated
tripping is referred to as nuisance tripping.

EXTREMELY LOW-FREQUENCY
ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS

EMF are silent, invisible magnetic fields produced any

time electricity runs through a wire, an appliance, or piece
of equipment. In buildings, higher levels of EMF can cause
computer monitor interference and raise potential health
concerns.
REFERENCE

Mechanical, and Electrical Systems in Architecture,

Engineering, and Construction by Wujek, J. and
Dagostino, F.
for listening!