Electrical Services - Power

5BUIL001W
Tuesday 16 March 2021
MODULE TIMETABLE
TO THE END OF THE SEMESTER

16 March Power Ian

23 March Lighting Ian
30 March Fire alarms and Suppression Ian
06 April Exam revision Jane / Ian
 WHY ARE YOU
LEARNING THIS?
Various reasons that include……

• There will be questions in the exam on any of the subjects

that are covered by Jane or myself.
• The exam is in May and there will be a revision lecture in
due course.
• It is, more importantly, part of your leaning and
understanding on the technical nature of buildings.
• The role of the Technical Services Manager.
• You will be involved in larger scale commercial projects in
your careers.
Recap and Objectives
The following and more, were covered in Technology at Level
4, please refer to the Slides and the Technology module at
level 4.
The important material for us at Level 5 is:
• Power Distribution in Commercial Buildings
• Emergency Power Supplies
• HVAC Power
• Earthing and Bonding
• At the end of the session and by reading the material on
Blackboard you should be able to describe power
distribution in Commercial Buildings and identify how this is
displayed diagrammatically on a schematic.
Recap and Objectives

There is also additional information on Blackboard that you

need to study and understand as any of these topics could
come up in an exam.

So a quick recap…………
 Electrical Terminology

• In electricity the electron charge is very small so we

measure a number of electrons called a Coulomb
• Coulomb = 6.3 x 1018 electron charges
• 1 coulomb per second = 1 ampere
• Ampere is often shortened to amp or amps
• A circuit is a loop through which electricity flows
 Some More Terminology
• The pressure required to push a
charge through a circuit is called
electromotive force (EMF)
• Electromotive force = voltage
• Voltage is shortened to volts
• Electrical Resistance tries to stop
electron flow. Resistance is
measured in Ohms
• Long thin wires have high
resistance, short thick wires have
low resistance
• Resistance produces HEAT
 Spot the differences in
More Height =
Water Tank water Pressure, Flow Rate
More Pressure = and Pipe Resistance
Higher voltage between pipes a, b, c & d

Long Pipe, Small

Diameter =
High Resistance a b c
Big height x Big diameter =
Lots of Power

d 2d
Bigger
diameter =
More flow=
d Higher current
Even more Terminology
• Pressure = Volts
• Flow rate = Amps (current)
• Frictional resistance = Electrical
resistance

• Volts = V
• Amps = I
• Resistance = R = Ohms = Ω
(omega)
• Power = Energy/second = Watts =
W
So lets look at what happens in
Commercial Buildings…..
• What is a Commercial Building?
– Offices
– Retail
– Leisure
– Hotels
– Airports
– Etc
So lets look at what happens in
Commercial Buildings…..

• Commercial buildings are different to a domestic

property because they have different requirements for
electrical power.
• There is often a need for:
• A larger electrical supply due to increase loads from
equipment and HVAC plant. This is usually 3 phase
415v.
• The need for standby power if there is an interruption in
the supply from the grid. Additional supplies or UPS and
Generators. (see later)
 Regulations and Good Practice
• Legal Framework
• As well as industry standards, electrical contractors are
subject to a number of statutory regulations covering health
and safety, safe working practices and management of
electrical supply and products. In addition to legislation,
contractors are also bound by their duties and
responsibilities under contract law. Key legal requirements
for electrical work are outlined in:
• The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 - these
regulations have far reaching implications for all
employers. They impose a duty of care on employers to
manage their electrical systems and products so as not to
cause death or injury to others. The regulations cover the
design, construction, operation and maintenance of these
systems.
 Regulations and Good Practice
• The Building Act 1984 & 2000: The Building Regulations -
stem from the main Act of Parliament, the Building Act
1984. The Building Regulations exist to promote standards
for most aspects of a building's construction, including its
structure, fire safety, sound insulation, drainage, ventilation
and electrical safety.
Regulations and Good Practice
Electrical installation work is governed by industry standards
and a legal framework.
• Industry Standards are voluntary codes of rules written by
the industry to which they apply and approved by a
nationally recognised body. They are aimed at simplifying
the terminology, processes and procedures used within
that particular industry.
• Standards (whether International, European or British) do
not form part of law, nor are they legally enforceable,
except where they form part of a contract. In a contract,
the relevant standards will normally be stated as the
standard of work required to fulfil the contract.
Regulations and Good Practice

• However, some standards are given an elevated status

when referred to either directly or indirectly in statutes. The
most significant example of this for the electrical industry is
British Standard 7671 which is referred to indirectly in the
Electricity at Work (1989) Regulations (via the HS(R)25
document) and directly in the Approved Document for Part
P of the Building Regulations. Being referred to directly or
indirectly in legislation gives the standards a pseudo legal
status.

• REMEMBER ELECTRICITY IS DANGEROUS AND AS

STUDENTS YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF HOW IT
WORKS AND NEVER
Power distribution

Incoming Supply (415v)

Some supply distribution single phase (240v)
Some remains as 415v for HVAC and other equipment (such
as certain equipment in hospitals)
Distributed via Main Electrical Panels and Sub mains
Distribution Boards allocated accordingly
There may be a requirement for meters and sub meters
Regulations and Testing and Commissioning. 18th Edition of
the NICEIC, Part P of the Building Regulations.
Power distribution – Single Phase
Power distribution – Transformer and 3
Phase
Power distribution – Main Panel
Power distribution – Rising Bus Bar

• Tap off units

• Cost efficiency
• Precast Units
Power distribution – Armoured Cables
• Pulling cables
• Sizing
• Radii
Power distribution – UPS
• Load Shedding
• Good example of
UPS is your laptop
etc
• Sized according to
the equipment it
serves
• Maintenance
through a by pass
switch
 Power distribution – Generators
Consider fuel, storage and bunding
Size of unit, construction constraints, maintenance,
replacement
Noise
Exhaust
Power distribution – MCP
Rather than
feed power to
Mechanical
Plant, on
occasion plant
is fed through
and MCP. This
allows control,
possibly in a
fire, emergency,
load shedding,
or to meet
peak/off peak
criteria
Power distribution – Local DB

• Local distribution Board

• Sub circuits for light and
power or Light and
separate power.
• Can be split again to
essential and non
essential
Power distribution – Cable Management

• Cable containment and Management is important as it offers

segregation and protection.
• Top Left, different types of enclosed metal trunking
• Top Right, different types of exposed tray and baskets
• Bottom left, tray, trunking and conduit
• Bottom right, flexible conduit
Power distribution – Floors
 Power distribution – Floors

From the Local distribution Board, power is distributed in a number

of ways:
On the left using underfloor bus bar for a raised floor. Note the
essential and non essential supplies.
On the right, trunking that is in the screed, 3 separate
compartments, probably power, voice and data
Power distribution – Floors

Presentation at floor is a floor box

On the left, a 2 x double gang power and 4 stamped outlets for

voice and data

On the right a Concrete or screed floor box. Note the conduit

connections
 Power distribution – Walls

Top Left: Three compartment trunking.

Top right : Masonary wall installation
Centre: Timber stud wall
Bottom right: Chases in wall for installation of conduits

Remember cables are often not where you think they are!
Testing and Commissioning
Testing and Commissioning
Testing and Commissioning

The important points to remember:

• Commissioning is a process that does not start with testing
and witnessing.
• Design considerations for testing
• Off site testing and witnessing, Switch Panels are an
example.
• Integrated process that requires coordination of other
services and building components .
• Often involves the use of specialists or manufacturers.

• Read the material on Blackboard to understand and be

more conversant with the test and commissioning
process
Earthing and Bonding
 Earthing and Bonding

NOTE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE LOW EARTH LOOP RESISTANCE TO BLOW MCB
THROUGH OVERCURRENT
THE LESS RESISTANCE THE HIGHER THE CURRENT.
 Earthing and Bonding

“TT”
Earthing
system
Bonding

Earthing

EARTH BONDING
Earthing and Bonding
Lightning Protection
 Lightning Protection

Bonding and
earthing to a steel
frame

Earthing pit cover

Earthing pit and
earthing Rod. Need
for testing, path of
least resistance
Questions ?
Tutorial
Go through the slides from the lecture. What questions do you have?
Look at the roof plan and schematic. Familiarise yourself with the
terminology
Can you identify:
The cable identification and fuse size for the incoming supply?
The essential and non essential feeds?
Identify the fire alarm panel
Where is the UPS?
Power supplies to the local lighting and power distribution board?
Identify the life and essential services.
Identify the two generators. What do they feed if they run?
What is an EPO?