Philippine Electrical Code Provisions

Introduction

• The Board of Electrical Engineering and Professional Regulation Commission approved and adopted this code
• RA 7920 or National Electrical Engineering Law directs adherence to this code

Enforcement

• The Office of the Building Official/EE must apply this code to electrical installations
• Implementing the provisions of this code is the responsibility of the Office of the Building Official/EE
• This code may require new products/materials, but the OBO/EE can permit the use of products that comply with the most recent National Building Code edition

Wiring Planning

• Plans should allow space in raceways for future increases in electric power and communication circuits
• Accessible distribution centers ensure convenient and safe operations
• The number of wires and circuits in an enclosure is restricted to minimize short circuits or ground faults

Units of Measurement

• Metric units align with the International System of Units (SI)
• Trade size designators should be used when a product's measured size differs from its nominal size
• Extracted material from standards must retain its original context, and editing should align with PEC 1 style
• SI conversions follow IEEE/ASTM SI 10-1997

Definitions

• Ampacity is the current a conductor can carry continuously without exceeding its temperature rating
• An appliance is utilization equipment, generally non-industrial, built in standardized sizes, installed for functions like washing or air conditioning
• An attachment plug connects conductors of a flexible cord to conductors permanently connected to a receptacle
• The term bonded refers to being connected to establish electrical continuity and conductivity
• A bonding conductor or jumper reliably ensures electrical conductivity between metal parts
• The connection between two or more parts of the equipment grounding conductor is a Bonding Jumper, Equipment
• The connection between the grounded circuit conductor and the equipment grounding conductor at the service is a Bonding Jumper, Main
• A branch circuit consists of circuit conductors between the final overcurrent device and the outlets
• A branch circuit that supplies energy to one or more outlets for appliances with no permanently connected luminaires, is a Branch Circuit, Appliance
• A Branch Circuit is used for general purpose, supplying two or more receptacles or outlets for lighting and appliances
• A branch circuit that only supplies one utilization equipment, is a Branch Circuit, Individual
• A building is a structure that stands alone or is separated by firewalls
• The Building Official is appointed by the Secretary of the Department of Public Works and enforces the National Building Code (NBC) under Presidential Decree 1096
• The Building Official is charged with issuing building permits, notices, and certificates
• The Building Official's office (OBO) handles processing permits, notices, and certificates
• The Building Official/EE is a licensed electrical practitioner overseeing electrical installations for code compliance and issuing permits
• A cabinet is an enclosure for surface or flush mounting with a frame for a swinging door
• A circuit breaker is a device that opens and closes a circuit by nonautomatic means and automatically opens on a predetermined overcurrent without damage
• Adjustable refers to a circuit breaker that can be set to trip at various values of current/time within a range
• Instantaneous Trip indicates no delay in the tripping action of a circuit breaker
• Inverse Time marks a delay in a circuit breaker's tripping action that decreases as the current increases
• Non-adjustable suggests that a circuit breaker can not be changed, or for the time required for its operation
• Setting refers to the values of current/time at which an adjustable circuit breaker is set to trip
• A bare conductor has no covering or electrical insulation
• A covered conductor is encased in a material not recognized as electrical insulation
• An insulated Conductor is encased in material recognized as electrical insulation
• A conduit body provides access to a conduit or tubing system's interior via a removable cover at a junction, excluding FS/FD cast or steel metal boxes
• Continuous Load marks where the maximum current is expected to continue for 3 hours or more
• Control Circuit is the circuit of a control apparatus or system that carries the electric signals directing the performance of the controller but does not carry the main power current
• A controller device or group of devices governs the electric power delivered to connected apparatus in some way
• Copper-Clad Aluminum Conductors are conductors drawn from copper-clad aluminum rod, with copper bonded to an aluminum core, where forms as minimum of 10 percent
• Dead Front refers to a device or equipment with no live parts exposed to a person from the operating side
• Demand Factor is the ratio of maximum demand of a system to its total connected load
• A device is an electrical system unit, other than a conductor, that carries or controls energy
• Disconnecting Means refers to a device or group of devices by which circuit conductors can be disconnected from their source of supply
• A dust-tight enclosure restricts dust from entering under test conditions
• Dwelling Unit is a single unit containing independent living facilities for one or more persons, including permanent provisions such as living, sleeping, cooking and sanitation
• Dwelling, One-Family means a building that consists solely of one dwelling unit
• Dwelling, Two-Family means a building that consists solely of two dwelling units
• Dwelling, Multi-Family means a building that contains three or more dwelling units
• Effective Ground-Fault Current Path is an intentionally constructed, low impedance electrically conductive path that carries current underground-fault conditions from the point of wiring system failure
• An Electric Sign is a fixed, stationary, or portable self-contained, electrically operated and/or electrically illuminated utilization equipment conveying information or attention
• Electrical Practitioner is a licensed Registered Master Electrician (RME), Registered Electrical Engineer or Professional Electrical Engineer (PEE) with electrical knowledge/training compliant with RA 7920
• An Electronically Actuated Fuse is an overcurrent protective device with current-sensing, timing, and interrupting modules
• Enclosure refers to the case or housing of apparatus or fence surrounding an installation, preventing contact with energized parts and protecting from physical damage
• Energized refers to being electrically connected to a source of voltage
• Equipment is a general term including material, fittings, devices, appliances, luminaires, apparatus used as part of, or in connection with, an electrical installation
• Fitting is an accessory such as a locknut, bushing, or other such wiring part which is intended for mechanical rather than an electrical purpose
• Ground" refers to the earth
• Grounded" refers to being connected (connecting) to earth or to some conducting body that serves as a place of the earth
• Ground, Solidly means connected to ground without inserting any resistor or impedance device
• Grounded Conductor is a system or circuit conductor that is intentionally grounded
• Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter is intended for the protection of personnel that functions to de-energize a circuit or portion thereof within an established period of time
• Ground-Fault Circuit Path refers to an electrically conductive path from ground fault through non-current-carrying conductors/equipment to electrical supply source
• Grounding Conductor, Equipment (ECG) is the conductive path that provides a ground-fault current path and connects normally non-current-carrying metal parts of equipment together and to the system grounded conductor
• A Grounding Electrode is what provides an electrical connection to the earth
• An object that is guarded is covered, shielded, fenced, enclosed, or otherwise protected to remove the likelihood of approach or contact by unauthorized people
• Industrial Control Panel refers to an assembly of two or more components consisting of power circuit components only, such and motor controllers overload relays,control circuit components, switches etc.
• Interrupting Rating is the highest current at rated voltage that a device is intended to interrupt under standard test conditions
• Lighting Outlet means an outlet intended for the direct connection of a lamp holder, a luminaire (lighting fixture) or a pendant cord terminating in lamp holder
• Live Parts are energized conductive components
• A Luminaire is a complete lighting unit consisting of a lamp or lamps as well as the parts designed to position, distribute light, to protect lamps, and ballast to connect lamps to the power supply
• Motor Control Center is an assembly of one or more enclosed sections having a common power bus and principally containing motor control units
• Neutral Conductor refers to the conductor connected to the neutral point of a system being used to carry current under normal conditions
• Neutral Point refers to the common point on a wye-connection in a polyphase system, or midpoint on a single-phase, 3-wire system, or midpoint of a single-phase portion of a 3-phase delta system
• An Outlet is a point on the wiring system at which current is taken to supply utilization equipment
• Overcurrent refers to any current in excess of the rated current of the equipment, or ampacity of a conductor
• Overcurrent Protective Device, Branch Circuit refers to a device capable of providing protection of service from overload, short circuit, or ground fault etc.
• Overload is operation of equipment in excess of normal, full-load rating that would cause damage or dangerous overheating
• Panelboard refers to a single panel designed for assembly single including automatic overcurrent devices equipped with/or without switches placed in a cabinet by a wall, partition or support and only be accessible from the front
• Power Outlet refers to an enclosed assembly that may include receptacles, circuit breakers, fuse holders, fused switches, buses, used to supply and control power
• Raceway is an enclosed channel of metallic or nonmetallic materials designed expressly for holding wires, cables, or busbars
• Receptacle describes a contact device, installed at the outlet for the connection of an attachment plug
• A Receptacle Outlet refers to an outlet where one or more receptacles are installed
• Service means the conductors and equipment to deliver electrical energy from the serving utility to the wiring system of the premise served
• Service Cable is a service conductor comprised in the form of a cable
• Service Conductors are the conductors from the service point to the service disconnecting means
• A Service Conductors, Overhead are the overhead conductors between service point/the first structure
• A Service Conductors, Underground is between service point/the first structure Service Drop refers to the overhead conductors between the utility electric supply system/ service point
• Service-Entrance Conductors, Overhead System means the service conductors between the terminals/ service equipment
• Service-Entrance Conductors, Underground System means the service conductor lateral/underground
• Service Equipment is needed because it typically consists of a circuit breaker and their accessories, connected to the system on load/cutoff
• Service Lateral describes the underground conductors between the utility electric supply system and load/cutoff
• Service Point means the point of connection between the structures used by the supply to the premises
• Service Protective Device is used as short circuit fault protection for service-entrance conductors
• Short-Circuit Current Rating is the prospective short circuit fault current at a nominal voltage for system connection without exceeding
• Surge Arrester protects from surge voltage by discharging/bypassing surge current, and limits repeat functions
• Surge-Protective Device (SPD) prevents repeat functions
• Switch, Bypass Isolation means a means of operation and disconnecting the transfer
• Switch, Isolating protects from electronic disturbances but is limited
• Switch, Motor-Circuit protects from surges when they are rated at maximum capacity
• Switch, Transfer refers to a device for one or more load conductor connections
• Switchboard is a mounted circuit on the face, protecting equipment
• Switchgear are all sides and tops with sheet metal that perform primary power
• Utilization Equipment is equipment that uses electric energy for electronic/electromechanical reasons
• Voltage means greatest voltage difference between point differences
• Nominal Voltage refers to convenient volts
• Voltage to Ground means voltage to the ground
• Watertight means will not be able to enter tight conditions
• Weatherproof equipment is constructed by exposing to the weather but not affecting the action