Building Electrical
Design Principles
Electrical Codes,
Licenses and Permits
Electrical Code
• Design of an electrical system involves applying the
standards written into the building code.
• An electrical code specifies the minimum provisions
necessary for protecting people and property from the
improper use of electricity and electrical equipment.
• It applies to both the manufacture and installation of
electrical equipment.
Electrical Codes,
Licenses and Permits
Philippine Electrical Code (PEC)
• The Philippine Electrical Code is used nationally as the
basis for safeguarding persons, buildings and its
contents from hazards that may arise from the use of
electricity.
• This Code contains provisions which is necessary for
safety and thus is used as basis for the legal
enforcement in the installation of electrical system
design in the country
Electrical Codes,
Licenses and Permits
• Licensing
Most municipalities have ordinances (local laws) that
require that any person who wishes to engage in the
business of installing electrical systems must be licensed
(usually by the state or province).
• Permits
Most municipalities require that a permit be issued
before any electrical installations may be made on a
project.
Electrical Construction Drawings
Electrical construction drawings show the layout and design of
an electrical installation.
The following construction drawings and details are generally
required:
1. Complete plans and specifications of all electrical work
2. Labeling criteria of all electrical equipment
3. Lighting floor plan(s) including electrical circuits indicating
conduit and wiring sizes
4. Power floor plans including electrical circuits indicating
conduit and wiring sizes, equipment, and disconnect switches
5. Exit sign/means of egress lighting location and power supply
6. Panelboard schedule
7. Lighting fixture schedule
8. Symbol schedule and diagrams
Design Requirements
• Location Plan
The location plan will guide the electrical design engineers,
inspectors from the office of the local building official,
inspectors from the local electric utility, prospective
bidders, and other persons who have interests in the
project.
• Electrical Layout
The electrical layout is similar to the architectural layout
except that the electrical layout contains the
interconnection of the service drop/lateral, service
entrance, service equipment, feeder, subfeeder, load
center, panelboards, branch circuit, and nomenclature of
occupancies.
Lighting Layout
Power Layout
Design Requirements
Legend or Symbol
• These help in understanding the electrical plan.
• The recommended symbols are shown in Appendix A of the
Philippine Electrical Code Part 1.
• However, other symbols can be used, especially the local
symbols which are easily understood in the area.
Legends and Symbols
Legends and Symbols
Design Requirements
• General Notes and/or Specifications
These are general requirements showing the following:
a. Nature of electrical service, including number of phases,
number of wires, voltage and frequency.
b. Type of wiring
c. Special equipment to be installed, including rating and
classification of services or duty cycle.
d. Methods of grounding
e. Type and rating of main disconnecting means,
overcurrent protection, and branch circuit wiring
f. Clearance and mounting height of service equipment,
electric meter, panel board and devices.
General Notes and Specifications
Design Requirements
• Schedule of Loads.
This is a load tabulation which indicates the following:
a. Branch circuit for each load or combination of loads
b. Rating of each load and the corresponding computations
c. Source of electric power and rating of service equipment protective
device and disconnect
d. Number of phases, type and the size of wiring
e. Service entrance, feeder, subfeeder, etc.
• Single Line or Riser Diagram
This shows a comprehensive interconnection, size, and rating of the
service drop/lateral, service entrance, service equipment, feeder,
subfeeders, load centers, and panelboard. This is necessary in the
computation of short circuit current and voltage drops.
Schedule of Loads
Riser Diagram
Meralco Service Entrance Design
Design Requirements
Title Block
This is a standard strip of 40 mm height at the bottom of the
sheet and contains the following:
a. Name and location of installation or project
b. Name, signature and address of owner/manager/operator
c. Name, signature and seal of Professional Electrical
Engineer together with his PRC license number and
validity, Professional Tax Receipt Number and Tax
Identification Number
d. Sheet contents
e. Scale
f. Drawing and sheet number
g. Others. The complete requirements are shown in Article 1.3
of PEC 1 2009
Design Requirements
Design Analysis
This is a computation or selection of the following:
a. Size/type/number of wires and size/type of conduits for
branch circuits, sub-feeders, feeders, busways and service
entrance
b. Type, rating and trip setting of overload protective devices
c. Short circuit current and interrupting capacity of overcurrent
protection device.
Thank you.
