Commercial Loads — Part 1

Jan 1, 2010 12:00 PM, By Mike Holt, NEC Consultant

How to apply demand factors

The electrical load requirements for commercial installations result in a great deal of diversity in
usage. In other words, while some types of equipment and electrical loads are in use for extended
periods, others are only used occasionally or for short periods of time. In addition, there are often
two different types of electrical loads on the same service or feeder that will not be brought into
service simultaneously by their very nature, such as heating and air conditioning. For this reason,
we apply demand factors when calculating service and feeder loads. Different sets of demand
factors apply for different types of electrical loads — and even for different types of commercial
buildings.

Although most of the requirements for service and feeder commercial load calculations are found
in Art. 220, other rules affecting these loads are scattered throughout the Code. For instance,
Chapter 3 of the NEC provides information on the wiring methods used. Other Articles may
provide a more in-depth snapshot of the requirements for particular equipment or applications,
such as the specific requirements for motor circuits found in Art. 430.

Fig. 1. When determining conductor ampacity, remember the allowable ampacities listed in
Table 310.16 are affected by conductor insulation, ambient temperature, and conductor bundling.

Common commercial occupancies include banks, stores, restaurants, and office buildings. Some
other locations with their own special requirements include marinas and mobile home parks. The
NEC also provides specific requirements for calculating the loads for restaurant equipment,
show-window lighting, sign lighting, multi-outlet assemblies, and electric welders.
When doing commercial load calculations, you have to know when the Code allows the
application of a demand factor and when. On the other hand, it's necessary to consider a load as
"continuous duty."

Conductor ampacity

The ampacity of a conductor is the rating (in amperes) that a conductor can carry continuously
without exceeding its insulation temperature rating [Art. 100]. The allowable ampacities listed in
Table 310.16 are affected by conductor insulation, ambient temperature, and conductor bundling
[310.10 and 310.15(B)] (Fig. 1).

Section 110.14(C)(1)(a) states that terminals are rated 60ºC for equipment rated 100A or less,
unless marked 75ºC. Although most terminals are now rated 75ºC, be careful of assumptions —
some equipment is still rated 60ºC. Always read the specifications and manufacturer's labeling
information carefully to know what you're working with. If in doubt, be sure to use the rules of
110.14(C).

Continuous loads

Fig. 2. Where the conductor ampacity doesn’t correspond with a standard overcurrent device
rating, the next higher rated device can be used if it’s not more than 800A.

15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 125, 150, 175, 200, 225, 250, 300, 350,
400, 500, 600, 800, 1,000, 1,200, and 1,600.

Article 100 defines a continuous load as a load where the maximum current is expected to
continue for 3 hours or more. Some NEC sections tell you when certain loads are continuous. For
example, 422.13 requires that water heaters with a capacity of 120 gal or less be considered
continuous loads for purposes of sizing branch circuits. Most commercial lighting and electric
signs are considered continuous loads. Unfortunately, the Code does not always spell out clearly
when to consider a load as a continuous load for calculation purposes.
Ungrounded conductors for branch circuits, feeders, and services are sized at a minimum of
125% of the continuous load before applying any adjustment factor [ 210.19(A)(1), 215.2(A)(1),
and 230.42(A)]. Likewise, the overcurrent protection devices (OCPD) for branch circuits and
feeders are sized at a minimum of 125% of the continuous load [210.20(A), and 215.3].

Neutral conductors that aren't connected to an overcurrent protection device can be sized at
100% of the continuous and noncontinuous load [210.19(A)(1) Ex 2 and 215.2(A)(1) Ex 2].

Example: If a 60A continuous load with 75ºC-rated terminals is supplied by a feeder with four
current-carrying conductors, it's necessary to adjust the conductor ampacity for four current-
carrying conductors.

Fig. 3. If the circuit’s overcurrent device exceeds 800A, the conductor ampacity (after ampacity
adjustment) must have a rating not less than the overcurrent device rating.

Step 1. Take the continuous load times 125% to find the minimum size for conductors and
overcurrent protection.

60A x 1.25 = 75A

Step 2. Select the conductors using the column of Table 310.16 that corresponds with the
temperature rating of the terminals, which was given in this example as 75ºC [110.14(C)(1)]. 4
AWG is rated 85A at 75ºC [Table 310.16].

Step 3. Verify that the conductor is large enough for any necessary deratings, using the column
that corresponds to the conductor's temperature rating. If you're using THHN conductors, use the
90ºC column of Table 310.16. According to the 90ºC column of Table 310.16, 4 AWG is rated at
95A [110.14(C)]. Adjust the ampacity by 80% for four current-carrying conductors [Table
310.15(B)(2)(a)].

95A x 0.80 = 76A

This verifies that a 4 THHN conductor is large enough. An 80A breaker is allowed, because
240.4(B) allows rounding up to the next standard size listed in 240.6(A), and 80A is the next
standard size above the 76A adjusted conductor ampacity.
Conductor overcurrent protection

The purpose of overcurrent protection is to protect conductors and equipment from excessive
temperatures [240.1 FPN]. There are many different rules for protecting conductors and
equipment. The general rule is that conductors must be protected at the point where they receive
their supply in accordance with their ampacities, which are listed in Table 310.16. Other methods
of protection are permitted or required, as listed in 240.4. These include:

Overcurrent protection devices rated 800A or less. You can use the next higher standard rating
see Standard Size OCPDs) of overcurrent protection device above the ampacity of the
ungrounded conductors, if all of the following conditions are met:

1. The conductors don't supply multi-outlet receptacle branch circuits.

2. The ampacity of a conductor, after ampacity adjustment and/or correction, doesn't correspond
with the standard rating of a fuse or circuit breaker in 240.6(A).
3. The overcurrent protection device rating doesn't exceed 800A.

Fig. 4. The figure demonstrates a sample problem of how to calculate general lighting for a hotel
with 40 rooms.

A 400A overcurrent device can protect 500kcmil conductors, where each conductor has an
ampacity of 380A at 75°C, per Table 310.16 (Fig. 2).

This "next size up" rule doesn't apply to feeder tap conductors [240.21(B)] or transformer
secondary conductors [240.21(C)].

Overcurrent protection devices rated over 800A. If the overcurrent protection device exceeds
800A, the conductor ampacity must have a rating of not less than the rating of the overcurrent
protection device. A 1,200A overcurrent protection device can protect three sets of 600kcmil
conductors per phase, where each conductor has an ampacity of 420A at 75°C per Table 310.16
(Fig. 3).
Voltages

Unless other voltages are specified, branch circuit, feeder, and service loads are to be calculated
at a nominal system voltage of 120V, 120/240V, 120/208V, 240V, 277/480V, or 480V.
[220.5(A)]

Fractions

Where calculations result in a fraction of less than 0.50A, you can drop the fraction.

Lighting with demand factors

Table 220.12 requires a minimum load per square foot for general lighting, depending on the
type of occupancy. For certain types of occupancies, Table 220.42 allows a demand factor that
can be applied to the calculated lighting load. For instance, the guest rooms of hotels and motels
are allowed the following demand factors for the general lighting load:

 First 20,000VA at 50% demand factor

 Next 80,000VA at 40% demand factor
 Remainder VA at 30% demand factor

Let's do an example problem. What is the general lighting calculated load for a 40-room hotel?
Each unit contains 600 sq ft of living area (Fig. 4).

As per Tables 220.12 and 220.42, 40 units x 600 sq ft x 2VA = 48,000VA. The first 20,000VA is
calculated at 50% (20,000VA x 0.50 = 10,000VA). The next 80,000VA is calculated at 40%
(28,000VA x 0.40 = 11,200VA). The sum of these two totals is 21,200VA.

Lighting without demand factors

The feeder/service general lighting load for commercial occupancies other than guest rooms of
motels and hotels, hospitals, and storage warehouses is assumed to be continuous. Calculate it at
125% of the general lighting load, as listed in Table 220.12.

The lighting loads listed in Table 220.12 are minimum requirements. If the actual lighting load is
known — and it is larger than the Table 220.12 value — use the actual load.

Lighting, miscellaneous

The feeder/service calculated load for each linear foot of show-window lighting must be
calculated at 200VA per ft. Consider show-window lighting to be a continuous load. Example
D3 in Annex D of the NEC provides a good example calculation that includes show-window
branch circuits.
A 3,000 sq ft store has 30 ft of show window with a total of 80 duplex receptacles. The service is
120/240V, single-phase. The actual connected lighting load is 8,500VA [Annex D, Example
D3].

General lighting = 3,000 sq ft at 3VA per sq ft

General lighting = 9,000 VA

Window lighting load [220.14(G)] = 30 ft at 200VA per ft

Window lighting load = 6,000VA

Outside sign circuit [220.14(F)] = 1,200VA

Lighting total = 9,000VA + 6,000VA + 1,200VA

Lighting total =16,200VA

(This is a continuous load, and will be taken times 125% for the feeder/service sizing.)

In the example, 125% of the actual connected lighting load (8,500VA x 1.25 = 10,650VA) is less
than 125% of the load from Table 220.12 (9,000VA x 1.25 = 11,250VA), so the minimum
lighting load of 9,000VA from Table 220.12 is used in the calculations. Had the actual lighting
load been greater than the value calculated from Table 220.12, 125% of the actual connected
lighting load would have been used. See NEC Annex D, Example D3 for the full calculation on
this store building.

As you can see, it's important to determine what kinds of loads you have before starting your
commercial load calculations. You can avoid confusion and prevent errors by mapping it all out.
For example, use a simple spreadsheet on a computer, or graph it out on paper. If you list each
load in the first column, you can name the applicable tables in the other columns from the more
than half dozen tables that you may need to select from.

In part two of this installment, we'll look at calculating receptacle loads and introduce the
optional calculation method for commercial occupancies. The commercial calculations we've
discussed thus far have used the standard method, but the Code does provide an optional method
for some calculations.

Sidebar: Standard Size OCPDs

The following is a list of some of the standard ampere ratings for fuses and inverse time circuit
breakers: 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 125, 150, 175, 200, 225, 250,
300, 350, 400, 500, 600, 800, 1,000, 1,200, and 1,600.