Module:

ENGINEERING UTILITIES 1 4

REFERENCE:

MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS IN ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING, AND CONSTRUCTION-5TH ED. J. WUJEK & F. DAGOSTINO
 Hi there, future Engineers!

In this module we will continue to discuss the basic BUILDING ELECTRICAL MATERIALS AND
EQUIPMENT.

LEARNING OUTCOMES
After working on this module, the reader will be able to know and understand the
following:
▪ Conductors
▪ Enclosures and Raceways
▪ Electric Motors
▪ Occupant Protection
▪ Equipment Protection
CONDUCTORS
Wire
A wire is a common electrical conductor. Most conductors used in building applications are
classified according to a wire gauge standard and on the cross-sectional area of the wire in units
called circular mils.

A mil is equal to 1/1000 inch, so one circular mil (cmil) is equal to the cross-sectional area of a
0.001 in diameter circle.

A circular mil is a unit of circular cross-sectional area, equal to the area of a circle with a diameter
of one mil.

American Wire Gauge (AWG), a standardized wire gauge system used predominantly in the
United States since 1857 for round, solid, electrically conducting wire.
Electrical conductors:

Solid conductors are a

single solid length of
conductor called a wire.

Stranded conductors
consist of smaller wire
strands.
Buses
A bus, sometimes called a bus bar, is an
electrical conductor (usually copper or
aluminum) that serves as a common
connection for two or more electrical
circuits.

Buses are typically solid bars used for

power distribution.
Conductor Material
Copper and Aluminum conductors are
used in building conductor (wiring)
installations as a compromise between
good conductivity and economy.
Conductor Insulation
Conductors are covered with insulation that
provides electrical isolation and some physical
protection of the conductor material. It prevents
loss of power and the danger of short circuits
and ground faults.
Insulation is also rated for dry, damp, or wet locations.

• A dry location typically applies to conductors that are enclosed in a building

and remain dry except during initial construction.

• A damp location includes wiring in above-ground, protected outdoor

locations such as in covered open decks and canopies.

• A wet location is when the conductor is exposed to weather (i.e., buried

conductors and conductors encased in concrete in contact with the ground)
or exposed to severe moisture conditions such as where the conductor is
subjected to applications involving water (i.e., cleaning or washing processes
such as a car wash).
Cable
A cable contains more than one conductor bundled
together in a factory assembly of wires.

Types of sheathed cables include the following

• Nonmetallic-Sheathed Cable
• Underground Feeder Cable
• Service Entrance Cable
• Armored Cable
• Metal-Clad Cable
• Flat Conductor Cable
• Thermostat Cable
• Nonmetallic-Sheathed Cable
NM consists of two or more insulated
conductors enclosed within a moisture-
resistant, flame-retardant outer sheathing or
jacket that is very flexible. NMC has conductors
encased in the sheathing.

• Underground Feeder Cable

Underground feeder (UF) cables are flame
retardant and moisture, fungus, and corrosion
resistant. UF cable is used in direct-burial
applications as a feeder or branch circuit
provided it is protected by an overcurrent
protection device (fuse or circuit breaker)
before if leaves the panelboard.
• Service Entrance Cable
Service entrance (SE) cable is
suitable for exposed above-grade
conditions. Underground service
entrance (USE) cable is used in
underground service applications.

• Armored Cable
Armored cable, classified as
either AC or ACT, is sometimes referred
to by the trade name, BX cable. This
cable consists of two to four copper
conductors between 14 AWG and 1 AWG
in size that are enclosed within a flexible
spiral-shaped metallic enclosure.
• Metal-Clad Cable
The metal armor may be a smooth
tube, corrugated tube, or interlocked metal
armor. MC cable does not contain a bonding
strip like AC cable, and the armor cannot be
used by itself as an equipment ground.

• Flat Conductor Cable

Flat conductor cable (FCC) is a wiring
system composed of very thin cable with
three or more conductors and special
connectors and terminals.

• Thermostat Cable
Thermostat cable is used in
applications with voltages less than 30 V, such
as wiring to doorbells, chimes, and
thermostats.
Cords
Cords are made of stranded conductors within a flexible
insulated sheathing material. They are designed for
flexibility and bending.

Extension cords are made of stranded wires because they

require flexibility, allowing the cord to be bent and twisted
without stressing the conductors.
ENCLOSURES AND RACEWAYS
Enclosures
Enclosures are electrical boxes and cabinets made of metal
(e.g., steel, galvanized steel, aluminum, and so on) or
nonmetallic (plastic) materials that provide protection for
conductors, connections, controls, and other electrical
equipment.
Electrical Boxes
Electrical boxes are metal and non-metallic (plastic) enclosures
that hold devices such as switches or outlets and safely permit
wiring connections.
• Junction boxes (J-
boxes) are a special
type of electrical box
used to enclose
conductor
connections.

• Pull box is a type of

junction box that
allows access to a
raceway for snaking
conductors through
the raceway.

• Knockouts in most
boxes and other
enclosures can be
easily removed to
allow wiring to enter
the box.
Conduit and Other Raceways
A raceway is as an enclosed channel such as a conduit, tube, or gutter designed for holding wires, cables, or
busbars. In some cases, metal raceways that are fully bonded serve to provide a path for the flow of fault
current to ground.
Busways
A busway is of a standardized, factory-assembled
enclosure consists of outer duct-like housing, bus
bars, and insulators. Busway systems are typically
used in service equipment or as feeders because
these systems are designed to carry large amounts
of current.
Wireways
Wire gutters or wireways are sheet
metal or nonmetallic, flameresistant
plastic troughs that serve as a housing
that encloses and protects conductors.
ELECTRIC MOTORS
In homes, electric motors are found in refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers,
kitchen sink waste disposal, portable kitchen appliances, exhaust and
ventilation fans, clothes washers and dryers, furnaces, air conditioners, and
paddle fans.

In commercial and industrial buildings, electric motors drive

exhaust/ventilation fans, air-handling unit blowers, refrigeration
equipment, air and fluid compressors and pumps, heating system
circulators, and manufacturing equipment and machinery.

The electric motor serves us well beyond the limits of what one human
being can produce.
ELECTRIC MOTORS
• Electric motors are rated in horsepower (hp). One horsepower is equivalent to 33 000 foot-pounds (ft-
lb) of work per minute (550 ft-lb/s).
• Electric motors have a unique advantage over fuel-powered motors in that they can deliver more
horsepower than their rating.
• An electric motor’s locked rotor amperage (LRA) is the highest amperage that a motor pulls. The LRA
occurs the moment the motor is first switched on but before the motor rotor begins to turn.
• Most electric motors are designed to run at 50% to 100% of rated load, with maximum efficiency
typically near 75% of rated load.
• A motor is considered underloaded when it is in the range where efficiency drops significantly with
decreasing load. Overloaded motors can overheat and lose efficiency.
• A motor’s service factor indicates the percentage a motor can be continuously overloaded without
developing damage related to overheating.
• Motors are designed to operate at an ambient (surrounding air) temperature of 40°C (104°F).
Types of Motors
The following is a description of the types of motors.
• Universal Motor – it is a fractional horsepower (less than one horsepower) motor designed to
operate on both AC and DC power.

• Split-Phase Motor – it’s windings are configured so that single-phase AC power is split into two
phases that are 1⁄2 out of phase.

• Capacitor Motor - it has a capacitor that stores and discharges energy to help start the motor rotor.

• Induction Motors – it is use for electromagnetic induction to cause the motor rotor to turn.

• Three-Phase Motors - Large motors operate more efficiently on three-phase AC power.

• Dual-Voltage Motors - Motors above 1⁄4 hp are designed to operate on one of two different line
voltages such as 115 V or 230 V.
Motor Controllers
A motor controller is a switching device designed to start, stop,
and protect the motor.

A variable-frequency drive (VFD) is a solid-state electronic

power conversion device used for controlling the rotational
speed of an AC electric motor by controlling the frequency of the
electrical power supplied to the motor.
OCCUPANT PROTECTION
There is a 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 Receptacles
Tamper-resistant receptacles have built-in shutter
systems that prevent foreign objects from touching
electrically live components when these are
inserted into the slots.
Ground Fault Interruption
A ground fault is the unintentional flow of electrical current
between a power source, such as an ungrounded (hot) wire,
and a grounded surface.

A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) is an electrical device

that detects an extremely low leak (6 mA) of electrical current
(called ground faults) and acts quickly to shut off power.
Arc Fault Protection
An arc fault is an unintentional electrical discharge (an electrical arc) characterized by low and erratic
current. Arcing generates high-intensity heat and expels burning particles, which can easily ignite
combustible materials.

A safety device, called an arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI), provides enhanced protection from fires
resulting from arc faults.
“Nuisance Tripping”
Because GFCIs and AFCIs are extremely sensitive, they have a tendency
to trip frequently. This repeated tripping is referred to as nuisance
tripping, as the general public sees it only as a nuisance.
Extremely Low-Frequency
Electromagnetic Fields
In buildings, higher levels of EMF can cause computer
monitor interference and raise potential health
concerns.

EMF Mitigation: Several methods are successful in

reducing EMF exposure. First, the source generating
EMF or the work area or equipment affected by high
EMF can be relocated away from the field, if practical. If
relocation is not possible or economical, shielding of
magnetic fields can be employed to reduce EMF levels.
EQUIPMENT PROTECTION
Ground Fault Protection of Equipment
Ground fault protection (GFP) is designed to detect and rapidly interrupt
low-level equipment ground faults.

A special type of sensing transformer, called a current transformer (CT),

encircles the conductors in the switchboard or panelboard and produces
a low-current output signal if all current flowing to the load does not
return to the source through the phase or neutral conductors.
Surge Protection
A surge protection device (SPD) is an electrical device that prevents power
surges from reaching electric and electronic equipment or other device. It may
be caused by a lightning strike or from a sudden power spike caused by a
problem in the utility transmission and generating system.

The SPD diverts the surge by allowing the current to flow past rather than
through the protected equipment.
Inrush Current Protection
Inrush current or input surge current refers to the peak instantaneous
current, measured in amperes (A), drawn by an electrical appliance or
piece of equipment (e.g., power supplies, AC motors, lamps, and
lighting ballasts) when it is first turned on.
Lightning Protection
The system of vertical rods, tape, and ground
electrodes is designed to present a low impedance
(resistance) path to the lightning current that
diverts current away from the structural parts of
the building.
Equipment for Hazardous
Locations
A hazardous location is a location in which fire or
explosion hazards may exist because of the presence
of flammable gases or vapors, flammable liquids,
combustible dust, or easily ignited fibers under normal
operation or abnormal operating conditions.
End of the module..