Bicol University

College of Industrial Technology

East Campus Legazpi City

Wiring Methods in Commercial and Industrial Building

The Difference Between Residential And Commercial Electrical Wiring

Commercial and residential electrical wiring are completely different in

terms of energy needs, load demands, and equipment setup. They
also require different classes of materials and procedures. Integrity
Power and Electric specializes in Commercial and Industrial electrical
work. Let's look at some of the differences:

Residential electrical wiring is always completely covered within sheath

insulation. This is meant to protect residents from electrical shock.
From a technical aspect, most residential wiring are single phase and
120 Volts, consisting of three wires, positive, negative, and neutral. For
some more demanding appliances, such as air conditioning units,
refrigerators, washers, and dryers use a two phase circuit of 240 Volts.
In commercial applications this wiring is normally run through conduits
or ceiling rafters where it is easily accessible to service. For residential
applications, the wiring is normally hidden from view within walls and
attic crawl spaces.

Commercial electrical wiring normally uses a three-phase design. In

three phase electrical systems, there are two smaller legs running 120
Volts each and i wider leg running 208 Volts. This setup allows each
wire less workload, while creating a higher output when they work
together. This leads to greater efficiency and longer lasting equipment.
The higher voltage requirements are due to the increased power
demands in an office environment. Commercial wiring often has a
higher level of insulation, known as TTHT (Thermoplastic, high-heat
resistant, nylon coated). This helps to protect the electrical wiring from
corrosive gases and liquids. In some cases, special outlets may be
installed for power-hungry or especially sensitive equipment.

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 Bicol University
College of Industrial Technology
East Campus Legazpi City

Residential Wiring

Insulation – Completely covered with sheath insulation to protect

wiring as well as residents from electrical shock.
Location – Usually hidden from view within wall interiors, rafters and
attic crawl spaces in your home.
Load – Uses a single phase circuit of 120 volts with the exception of
appliances such as air conditioning units, refrigerators, washers and
dryers which use a 2-phase circuit of 240 volts.

Commercial Wiring

Insulation – Has a higher level of insulation which is thermoplastic,

high-heat resistant, nylon coated (THHN) for protection from corrosive
substances.
Location – Typically run through tube-like conduits which provide
protection from damage but are easily accessible for servicing.
Load – Generally a 3-phase electrical system, with 2 smaller legs each
running 120 volts plus 1 wider leg running 208 volts—this reduces
workload on individual wires but provides higher output when
combined.

Commercial vs. Residential Electrical Installation

Electricity is one of those things we take for granted. Flip a switch, and
it’s there. Flip it again, and it goes away.

Electricity is a current that flows continually, much like a raging river.

It’s always there, it’s up to the system within a home or building to
control how it is delivered. And as we all know, too much can be
dangerous, even deadly.The Differences Between Commercial and
Residential Electrical Installation

An electrical panel controls the flow of the electricity to ensure that the
system is neither overloaded nor underpowered. Different buildings
need different electrical loads; residential and commercial properties
are not all the same. There are key differences between the two.
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 Bicol University
College of Industrial Technology
East Campus Legazpi City

Wiring Type

In a residential home, thin, narrow wiring is encased in a plastic

sheathing. This sheathing is used to protect both the wires and the
surrounding areas because it’s usually more exposed to both people
and the environment. It’s built into open spaces – your attic, your
basement – where anyone has access to it.

In a commercial location, wiring is contained in tube-like conduits or in

ceiling rafters for protection and ease of use. Because commercial
locations change more often, the wiring is usually in areas where it is
accessible to service.

Power

Residential and commercial buildings also require different loads of

electricity. Residential buildings use single phase power, which consists
of power delivered in 120 volts. It supplies it with the use of three wires:
positive, negative, and neutral. For some more demanding appliances,
such as refrigerators, dryers, or air conditioners, a two phase circuit of
240 volts is used.

In commercial applications, the wiring normally uses a three-phase

design. This means there are two smaller legs using 120 volts and a
third operating at 208 volts. This requires each leg to operate at a
lower workload while supplying more energy to the final product. This
leads to greater efficiency overall, and helps large commercial
equipment last longer.

Because of this excess in demand, commercial wiring often has more

insulation, known as thermoplastic high=heat resistant nylon coated
(TTHT). This helps protect the electrical wiring from corrosive gases
and liquids.

When hiring an electrician, it’s important to ensure that they

understand the conditions they will be working with, whether it’s
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 Bicol University
College of Industrial Technology
East Campus Legazpi City

commercial or residential.

WIRE MATERIAL
The first and most notable difference between residential and
commercial wiring is the material itself. In a home, where wiring is
usually placed in an attic or crawl space, it’s important that the wire is
covered with a plastic sheath, usually made from PVC.

The PVC is there to protect the residents of the home from electrical
shock.

However, in commercial wiring, the electric wiring is more out in the

open, held in tubes to protect the area around it.

EASE OF ACCESS
When it comes to a residential building, safety and aesthetics are the
most important thing. That’s why they’re tucked away in attics and
crawl spaces. It makes them a little more difficult to get at in the event
of an emergency, but it does keep the whole space looking good.

Aesthetics aren’t nearly as important in commercial buildings. It’s

important that electricians can have easy access to to the wiring to fix
any issues, and install any necessary upgrades without needing to take
expensive measures to get there.

LOAD CAPACITY AND PHASE DESIGN

The average home doesn’t require a colossal amount of power, which
is why they make use of a single-phase, single set of wires: hot, neutral,
and ground.

But commercial buildings require a lot more than that. They operate
on what’s known as a three-phase design that allows them to work
together to meet the high demand of a commercial occupant.

THE PROPER INSULATION

It’s important for the insulation on residential housing to protect the
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 Bicol University
College of Industrial Technology
East Campus Legazpi City

structure from the risk of a fire. However, because commercial wiring

operates at a much higher voltage, it requires a different kind of
insulation.

Commercial wires are usually coated in nylon that resists heat and
protects from corrosion damage.

5 Main Differences Between Residential and Commercial Electrical

Work

Residential wiring refers to any electrical work or wiring that’s meant

for residential buildings and houses. This type of wiring is confined to
homeowners.

On the other hand, commercial wiring is incredibly complicated and is

designed for commercial buildings such as warehouses, hospitals, and
malls.

Each of these types of wiring requires different amounts of electricity

as well as different atmospheric conditions. That’s why both
commercial and residential wiring require different expertise when it
comes to repairs and installation.

Read on as we explain the differences between commercial and

residential buildings when it comes to wiring, licensing, accessibility,
quality, and phases of power required.

Power
Three-phase power is utilized for commercial buildings. This includes a
neutral wire, as well as a 120-volt leg and a 208-volt leg. Residential
buildings use a single power phase with 120-volt wires and a neutral
wire.

Utility companies are also required to supply different amounts of

power for commercial versus residential buildings. Commercial
buildings are larger so they require a lot more power when compared
to residential buildings.
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 Bicol University
College of Industrial Technology
East Campus Legazpi City

Bates-Electric.com states that it’s also important for the electrical

company to ensure that they don’t overload the property with power
by dividing the electrical load into phases. This goes for commercial
and residential building requirements.

Wires
The wiring required for a commercial building is patently different from
that of a residential building.

Commercial building wiring is typically protected inside a series of

tube-like conduits. The wires are also installed in open spaces to make
for easy access.

Residential home wiring is protected inside layers of plastic sheathing

and comes in the form of thin wire. The sheathing is designed to
protect anyone who might accidentally touch the wires which are often
located in the attic or crawl space.

As you can see, conduits aren’t utilized with residential wiring.

Quality
The quality and grade of electrical materials that are utilized for
commercial buildings are different from those utilized for residential
buildings.

Commercial buildings require the use of extremely durable materials

that are resistant to heat, corrosion, and chemical exposure in order to
handle the demand and rigor of supplying power to a large building.

Commercial buildings also require backup power that is able to handle

variable temperature changes and unexpected emergencies. Whereas,
residential sites don’t have the same requirements.

Location
Accessibility also makes a difference between commercial and
residential buildings.
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 Bicol University
College of Industrial Technology
East Campus Legazpi City

In residential buildings, visible electrical wiring is a no-no, especially if

you have children or pets in the house that like to touch and play with
everything.

For best results, it’s recommended to hide electrical wires behind the
drywall so that it’s not easily accessible.

License
Electricians who work in commercial buildings require different
licensing compared to electricians who work in residential buildings.

In addition to licensing, commercial sector electricians are required to

undergo a certified commercial electrician apprenticeship program to
prove their skills.

Adversely, residential electricians only require state licensing as well as

a license by a relevant local agency. They’re not required to acquire
any additional certification.

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