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NewsletterMay2007
ElectricalSystemsRulesofThumb
XCELEnergy
LightingRebates
EnergyCompliance
forCommercial
Buildings
LEEDInnovationin
DesignPoints
PlugIntoto
IndustryEvents
ElectricalSystems
RulesofThumb
Daylighting

ELECTRICALSYSTEMSRULESOFTHUMB:
1.ElectricalRoomRequirements
a. Onlargerfacilities,themainroomtypicallyneedstwodoors,oneateachendof
room(notdoubledoorsatonelocation).
b. Doorsmustopeninthedirectionofegressfromtheroom.
c. Doorsmusthavepanichardware.
d. RatedConstruction:Itisnottypicalthatthisroomberequiredtohavea1hour
rating.Iftheelectricalengineerneedsalargetransformer(atransformerwith
aratingover112.5KVA)inthisroom,theyshouldnotifytheArchitectthatthe
roomwillberequiredtohavea1hourratingduetotheNationalElectricalCode
requirements.
2.ElectricalRoomSizingforTypicalFacilities(recreationcenters,multifamily,general
commercial)
Main
Elec
Room

Remote
Elec
RemoteElecRoomsRqd? RoomSize

Notes

020,000sf,
onelevel

10x20

Typicallynot

(1)

20,000
40,000sf
multilevels

15x20

Oneonmainlevelandoneper 8x10each
20,000sfonupperlevel(s)

(1)

+40,000sf

15x20

Oneachlevel,oneper20,000
sfandspace200apart

(1)

Sizeof
Facility

N/A

8x10each

(1)Additionalremoteelectricalroomsshouldbeconsideredforbuildingswithdistinct
spacelayoutswhichmaybenefitfromadditionallocalizeddistributionequipment.(i.e.
Anindividualwingofbuildingthatisseparatedfromthemainbuildingbymultistory
openatrium).

3.ExteriorServiceTransformer(notethatallspecificelectricalutilitytransformer
requirementsaretobecoordinatedwiththelocalutilityengineerfortheprojectasmost
utilitycompaniesvarytheirrequirements)
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Lessexpensiveiftransformerislocatednearelectricalroom.
Formediumtolargefacilitiesanticipate8x8padsize.
Provide36cleararoundthreesides,and12ofclearanceonfrontside.
Typicallydriveupaccessisrequiredfortheutilitycompany.
Itisdesirabletolocatetheelectricalroomonanexteriorwall,nearthefinal
utilitytransformerlocation.

4.Phone/dataRooms
a. Typicallyatleastoneperlevelofanybuildingtype.Cablecanberouted300from
devicetoroom,soadditionalroomswouldberequiredforbuildingslongerthan
300inanydirection.
b. RoomsizesvarybasedupontheITdepartmentsneeds,butanticipate
10x10formaintelephoneroomsand6x6forremoterooms.
5.Wallsthroughoutthefacilitycontainingrecessedelectricalpanelboardsshouldbea
minimumof6deep.
LIGHTINGSYSTEMSRULESOFTHUMB:
1.Lightingis30%oftheoverallbuildingpowerusage.Savingsintheoverallwatts/sf
usedforlightingcanhaveasignificantimpact.
2.Typical2x4lightingfixturespacingis8x10.
3.Wallmountedlightingfixturescanonlybemountedbelow68iftheyproject4or
lessfromthewall.
4.Atypicalbuildingwillendupwithanoveralllightingloadof1.01.5wattsper
squarefoot.
5.Energyefficiencyoftypicallamps
a. One32wattfluorescentT8hastheequivalentlightoutputtothree60watt
incandescentALamps(thestandardhouseholdscrewinlamp)ortwo60watt
halogenMR16lamps.
b. FluorescentHighOutputT5similarefficiencytotheT8fluorescentbutits
smallersizecanleadtomoreefficientfixturedesign.
c. MetalHalideisapproximately15%lessefficientthanfluorescent.
d. LEDactuallyhasaverylowlightoutputperwatt.Itsoverallenergyefficiencyis
similartostandardhalogen,farlessthanfluorescentlamps.ThereasonLED
technologyissaidtobesoefficientisbecauseitdirectsmostofthelightinone
directionsoitisgoodforsigns,stoplights,wayfinders,andotherdirectional
lighting,butnotnecessarilyefficientforoverallroomillumination.
6.Typicallamplife
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

FluorescentT820,000hours,or3yearsat18hours/day
FluorescentHighOutputT520,000hours,or3yearsat18hours/day
MetalHalide20,000hours,or3yearsat18hours/day
IncandescentALamp750hours,or2monthsat18hours/day
IncandescentMR16Halogen10,000hours(withspeciallamp),or11/2years

at18hours/day
f. LED100,000hours,or+15yearsat18hours/day
7.Tohelpwithpreliminarysitebudgetcosts,beforeanengineermaybeinvolvedona
project,thetypicalspacingofpolelightsinaparkinglotisapproximately100on
centerwithananticipatedinstalledcostfornondecorativepolesof$2,000each.
Decorativepoleswilltypicallybeapproximately$3,000installed.
8.DuetotheadoptionoftheInternationalBuildingCodes,compliancewiththe
InternationalEnergyConservationCodeisalsotypicallyrequired.Uponsubmissionof
the100%CDdrawingstothebuildingdepartment,itshouldbeanticipatedthat
stampedcopiesofthecomplianceformsbesubmittedbytheelectricalandmechanical
engineers.
DownloadElectricalSystemsRulesofThumbprintablesheetforreference.
DownloadLightingSystemsRulesofThumbprintablesheetforreference.

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