Terminology and Definitions

This section provides an alphabetical list of the terms used in and applicable to this chapter of
the Code. In case of any conflict or contradiction between a definition given in this section and
that in Part 1, the meaning provided in this section shall govern for interpretation of the
provisions of this chapter.
ACCESSORY: A device associated with current using equipment or with the wiring of an
installation; for example, a switch, a plug, a socket outlet, a lamp holder, or a ceiling rose.
ALIVE: See LIVE.
APPARATUS: Apparatus means Energy Efficient Apparatus. Electrical apparatus including all
machines, appliances and fittings in which conductors are used or of which they form a part.
APPLIANCE: Appliance means Energy Efficient Appliance. An item of electric current using
equipment other than a luminaries or an independent motor.
BDB: Branch‐ Distribution Board located in the same floor of a building and connected to one
of the SDBs in the same floor:
BRANCH CIRCUIT, APPLIANCE: A branch circuit supplying energy to one or more outlets
to which appliances are to be connected; such branch circuits do not have any permanently
connected lighting fixtures except those that are integral parts of the appliances themselves.
BRANCH CIRCUIT, GENERAL PURPOSE: A branch circuit that supplies a number of
outlets for lighting and/or appliance.
BRANCH CIRCUIT, INDIVIDUAL: A branch circuit that supplies only one utilization
equipment.
BUNCHED: Cables are said to be bunched when two or more are either contained within a
single conduit, duct, ducting, or trunking or, if not enclosed, are not separated from each other.
CABLE: PVC insulated copper cables having copper cross section of 1 mm2 and above. A
length of single insulated conductor (solid or stranded), or two or more such conductors, each
provided with its own insulation. The insulated conductor or conductors may or may not be
provided with an overall mechanical protective covering.
CELING ROSE: A ceiling rose is used for terminating the point wiring for a Light or a Fan in
the ceiling. It has brass terminals in which incoming cables are terminated using brass screws on
the terminals and the outgoing flexible cables get connection through the screw connections.
CIRCUIT: An assembly of electrical equipment supplied from the same origin and protected
against over-current by the same protective device .
SUB CIRCUIT, FINAL CIRCUIT: An outgoing circuit connected to one way of a distribution
board or a fuse board and intended to supply electrical energy, to one or more points, to
current using appliances without the intervention of a further distribution fuse board other
than a one‐way board. It includes all branches and extensions derived from that particular way
in the distribution board or fuse board.
CIRCUIT BREAKER: A device designed to open and close a circuit by non-automatic means
and to open the circuit automatically on a predetermined over-current, without injury to itself
when properly applied within its rating.
CIRCUIT BREAKER: A device used to break a circuit during over current or short circuit
condition. An LV Circuit Breaker is used in a low voltage distribution system and an HV Circuit
Breaker is used in a high voltage distribution system.
CORD, FLEXIBLE CABLE: A flexible cable having large number of strands of conductors of
small cross‐sectional area with a soft PVC insulation. Two flexible cords twisted together may
be termed as twin flexible cord. However, some flexible cords are made following the style of a
twin core PVC insulated copper cables but much soft and flexible.
CUTOUT: Any appliance for automatically interrupting the transmission of energy through a
conductor when the current rises above some predetermined value. A cutout contains a part
for holding either fuse wire (rectangular cross section type) or a part for holding tubular fuse
(cylindrical body rectangular cross section type). (see Fuse)
DB: Distribution Board. This may be the box where the main incoming cable enters and
terminates from the main service feed connection. The SDBs get feed from a DB.
DEMAND FACTOR : The ratio of the maximum demand of a system, or part of a system, to
the total connected load of the system or the part of the system under consideration.
DUCT : A closed passageway formed underground or in a structure and intended to receive
one or more cables which may be drawn in.
EARTH : The conductive mass of the earth, whose electric potential at any point is
conventionally taken as zero.
EARTH ELECTRODE: A metal plate, pipe or other conductor electrically connected to the
general mass of the earth.
EARTH LEAD WIRE: The final conductor by which the connection to the earth electrode is
made.
EARTH CONTINUITY CONDUCTOR (ECC): The conductor, including any clamp,
connecting to the earthing lead or to each other, those parts of an installation which are
required to be earthed. It may be in whole or in part the metal conduit or the metal sheath or
armour of the cables, or the special continuity conductor of a cable or flexible cord
incorporating such a conductor. ECCs of appropriate size must run from an MDB to it’s DBs,
from a DB to its corresponding SDBs, from an SDB to the Switch Boards under this SDB, from an
SDB to the BDBs if there are any, from a BDB to the Switch Boards under this BDB, from an SDB
or a BDB to the Sockets under this SDB or BDB.
EDB: Emergency Distribution Board. This may be the box where the main incoming cable from
the Emergency or Standby Generator Panel enters and. The ESDBs get feed from a EDB.
EFDB: Emergency Floor Distribution Board located in each of the floors of a multistoried
building. The EDBs get feed from EFDB.
ENGINEER‐IN‐CHARGE: An engineer responsible for implementation /execution of the
work of a building or a project. Such an engineer is expected to have significant knowledge in
Electrical Engineering, Electrical Construction, Measurement, Codes and Practices of such work
and availability of different materials needed for the construction.
FDB: Floor Distribution Board located in each of the floors of a multistoried building. The DBs
get feed from FDB.
FUSE : A device that, by the fusion of one or more of its specially designed and proportioned
components, opens the circuit in which it is inserted when the current through it exceeds a
given value for a sufficient time. Fuse is generally made of fusible wires of appropriate ratings
which is either mounted inside glass tubes or porcelain tubes or on a two terminal cutout.
FUSE SWITCH: A composite unit, comprising a switch with the fuse contained in, or
mounted on, the moving member of the switch.
LIGHTING FITTING: A device for supporting or containing a lamp or lamps (for example,
fluorescent or incandescent) together with any holder, shade, or reflector; for example, a
bracket, a pendant with ceiling rose, or a portable unit.
INSULATION : Suitable non‐conducting material, enclosing, surrounding or supporting a
conductor. Usually PVC, polymer, specially treated rubber.

LIVE : Electrically charged so as to have a potential different from that of earth. Also known as
ALIVE.

LUMINAIRE: A complete light fitting consisting of lamp, holder, starting gears, reflectors,
housing and mounting accessories.
LT / LV and HT/ HV: LT or LV in this document indicates 230 Volt single phase and 400 volt 3
phase. HT or HV in this document indicates 11KV Line to line 3 phase system.
MDB: Main Distribution Board. This is the distribution box where the main incoming cable
enters and terminates from the main service feed connection of a large building. The FDBs get
feed from MDB.
OVER‐CURRENT : A current exceeding the rated current. For conductors, the rated value is
the nominal current carrying capacity.
PANEL BOARD : A single panel or a group of panel units designed for assembly in the form
of a single panel including buses, automatic overcurrent devices, and with or without switches
for the control of light, heat, or power circuits, designed to be placed in a cabinet or cutout box
placed in or against a wall or partition and accessible only from the front.
PLUG : A device carrying metallic contacts in the form of pins, intended for engagement with
corresponding socket contacts and arranged for attachment to a flexible cord or cable. A plug
may contain tubular fuse inside it although some plugs do not contain fuse.
POINT (in wiring) : A termination of the fixed wiring intended for the connection of current
using equipment e.g., a Light, a fan, an exhaust fan.
SDB: Sub‐ Distribution Board located in the same floor of a building and connected to the DB.
The BDBs get feed from SDB.
SERVICE : The conductors and equipment required for delivering energy from the electric
supply system to the wiring system of the premises served.
SWITCH : A manually operated device for closing and opening or for changing the connection
of a circuit. A 5A SPST switch is used for the control of a Light or Fan point. A 5A SPDT switch is
also used for the control of a Light or Fan point.
SWITCHBOARD : An assemblage of switchgear with or without instruments; the term,
however, does not apply to a group of local switches on a final sub‐circuit where each switch
has its own insulating base.
SWITCHGEAR : Main switches, cutouts or fuses, conductors and other apparatus in
connection therewith, used for the purpose of controlling or protecting electrical circuits or
machines or other current using appliances.
1.3.6 List of Symbols used for Electrical Drawings
A list of general graphical symbols used for electrical drawings is given in Table 2.13. These are
given as guideline. In case of justified reasons a designer may modify certain symbol.

Table 8.1.15 Symbols used for Electrical Drawings