Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Electrical Installation of Buildings: 2013 Edition
Electrical Installation of Buildings: 2013 Edition
ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION
OF BUILDINGS
2013 Edition
FOREWORD
The Proclamation to define the powers and duties of the Central and Regional Executive Organs of the
Transitional Government of Ethiopia No. 41/1993 empowers the Ministry of Works and Urban Development to
prepare the Country's Building Code, issue Standards for design and construction works, and follow up and
supervise the implementation of same.
In exercise of these powers and in discharge of its responsibility, the Ministry is issuing a series of Building
Code Standards of general application.
The purpose of these standards is to serve as nationally recognized documents, the application of which is
deemed to ensure compliance of buildings with the minimum requirements for design, construction and quality
of materials set down by the National Building Code.
The major benefits to be gained in applying these standards are the harmonization of professional practice and
the ensuring of appropriate levels of safety, health and economy with due consideration of the objective
conditions and needs of the country.
As these standards are technical documents which, by their very nature, require periodic updating, revised
editions will be issued by the Ministry from time to time as appropriate.
The Ministry welcomes comments and suggestions on all aspect of the Ethiopian Building Code Standards.
All feedback received will be carefully reviewed by professional experts in the field of building construction
with a view to possible incorporation of amendments in future editions.
Mekuria Haile
Minister
Ministry of Construction and
Urban Development
2013
INTRODUCTION
This Code Standard for the Electrical Installation of Buildings, EBCS 10: 2013 Edition, is part of the Building
Code of Ethiopia which is a revision of the eaerlier EBCS 10: 1995 Edition .
EBCS 10 has been mainly adopted and adapted from IEE Regulations for Electrical Installations (Bris=tish
origin), Canadian Electrical Code, Part 1; the German standard (DIN and VDE); and National Fire Protection
Authority/National Electrical Code (NFPA/NEC) of the USA to suit the Ethiopian conditions. Other
publications quoted are shown in the respective sections of the Code and the Ethiopian Standardization Agency
maintains registers of a number of foreign national and international standards.
The Code embraces several aspects of electrical installation work and sets standards and provisions for safe
utilization of electricity.
The Technical Committee for the first edition of the Code Standards for the Electrical Installation of Buildings
comprised of the then following Institutions representing balanced interest of all segments of the public
concerned with the subject matter:
For the revision process to come up with EBCS-10: 2013 Edition, MoCUD signed a memorandum of
understanding with Addis Ababa University in 2012 which mandated also to involve members from other
stakeholders including the industry, private consultants, contractors andgovernment agencies. Accordingly, the
Building Electrical Installation Technical Committee (BEITC) has been formed from practical as well as
theoretically experienced members from Addis Ababa Institute of Technology (AAiT) of the AAU and a
private consultant.
History and Development of the Ethiopian Building Electrical Installation Code
and Standard (now referred to as EBCS-10)
In the growing Ethiopian practice on building electrical installations, introduced, developed and established over
a period extending up to a century since the early 1900s, it appears that electrical installation practices (i.e. both
approved and taken for granted) were practically derived from European practices. Henceforth, the design rules
and contracting or subcontracting practices were implicitly based first on either on earlier versions of IEC 60
364 standards, or later on and more recently on DIN VDE 0 100 standards and regulations.
The first nationally governing regulatory document concerning building electrical installation in Ethiopia has
been issued by the then Ethiopian Electric Light and Power Authority(EELPA) under the theme “Building
Electrical Installation Regulation ????” in 196??. During that time EELPA had been acting not only as a utility
engaged in the generation, transmission, distribution and sales of electric power but also as a regulator of the
same as well as building electrical installations. This first regulatory document, produced by EEPCO, has been
very limited in scope, coverage and application. This problem initiated the process and paved the way for
producing an entirely new and wide code.
By far the more wide issues covering, systematized, and standardized document comparable to international
similar experiences is the Building Electrical Installation Standard and Code of Ethiopia, referred to as EBCS-10
and developed in 1995.
EBCS-10 is an integral part of the Ethiopian Building Code Standard which comprises 11 codes that address the
structural, foundational, earthquake etc aspects of a building. EBCS 10 is concerned about only issues of
electrical installation in a building. The main purpose of EBCS 10 has been for the safe utilization of electricity
in buildings plus embracing several aspects of electrical installation work.
Some time in between, the then EELPA has been transformed in to Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation whose
activity has been limited to only operational and not regulatory. The regulatory aspect has been entitled to
various government agencies through proclamations.
As to application, because no formal enforcement mechanisms have been in place, only very few professionals
practiced the EBCS-10:1995 Building Electrical Installation Code and Standard while most adhering to
international codes and standards. As a result, it has been difficult to do impact analysis of the effect of EBCS-
10:1995 in the Ethiopian building installation practice.
The Ministry of Construction and Urban Development (MoCUD), observing the safety and reliability problems
in many buildings associated to electrical installations, initiated the EBCS10:1995 to be revised in 2011 after its
16 years of service. Accordingly EBCS-10: 2013 Edition, a revised version of EBCS10:1995, has been
produced.
Preface to EBCS-10: 2013 Edition
EBCS-10: 2013 Edition is the updated version of EBCS-10: 1995. In the update process the Building Electrical
Installation Technical Committee (BEITC) focused mainly on the following aspects of revision:
The main purpose of EBCS 10 has been maintained to be primarily for safe utilization of electricity in buildings
ensuring the avoidance of fire hazards on humans/animals, buildings and properties therein and thereby as well
as shock hazards on humans and animals. Critical issues such as reliability, efficiency, economics as well as the
convenience, expansion and maintenance of a building electrical installations have been raised and discussed
among the Tehnical Committee. However, centering on the issue of safety makes logically the conductors,
devices, apparatuses and other electrical materials to be used to be of relatively higher capacity, higher quality
and durable and as a result reliability and efficiency aspects of the installation will be satisfied. However, cost of
the installation would increase which should be compromised for the prior agenda of safety of humans and
properties. Thus, in the selection and endorsement of the prior Normative References, cost has not been
considered.
EBCS-10: 1995 and EBCS-10:2013 both are adoptions of codes and standards from Europe, USA and Canada
plus some adaptations to local context. This process has been maintained and updated versions of the Normative
References have been referred.
NOTICE AND DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY CONCERNING THE USE OF EBCS-10: 2013
DOCUMENTS
The codes, standards, recommended practices, and guides contained in EBCS-10: 2013 are adopted and
adapted from known codes such as that of the European (EN) and/or British (BS), the Canadian and the
American’s NEC.
Accordingly the Building Electrical Installation Technical Committee (BEITC) did not independently test,
evaluate, or verify the accuracy of any information or the soundness of any judgments contained in its codes and
standards.
BEITC disclaims liability for any personal injury, property or other damages of any nature whatsoever, whether
special, indirect, consequential or compensatory, directly or indirectly resulting from the publication, use of, or
reliance on this document.
BEITC also makes no guaranty or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information published
herein.
Anyone using this document should rely on his or her own independent judgment or, as appropriate,
seek the advice of a competent professional in determining the exercise of reasonable care in any given
circumstances.
BEITC has no power, nor does it undertake, to police or enforce compliance with the contents of this document.
Nor does BEITC list, certify, test or inspect products, designs, or installations for compliance with this
document.
Any certification or other statement of compliance with the requirements of this document shall not be
attributable to BEITC and is solely the responsibility of the certifier or maker of the statement.
Users of EBCS 10:2013 should be aware that the document may be superseded at any time by the issuance of
new editions or may be amended from time to time through the issuance of amendments. An official EBCS
10:13 document at any point in time consists of the current edition of the document together with any tentative
amendments and any Errata then in effect.
.
Interpretations of the EBCS 10:2013 Document
…..
Patents
EBCS 10:2013 does not take any position with respect to the validity of any patent rights asserted in connection
with any items which are mentioned in or are the subject of codes, standards, recommended practices, and
guides in EBCS 10:2013 and the EBCS 10:2013 disclaims liability for the infringement of any patent resulting
from the use of or reliance on these documents.
Users of this document are expressly advised that determination of the validity of any such patent rights, and the
risk of infringement of such rights, is entirely their own responsibility.
EBCS 10:2013 adheres to applicable policies of the Ethiopian Standards Agency or the Intellectual Property and
Copyright Protection Authority??? of Ethiopia.
Users of this document should consult applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. EBCS 10 does
not, by the publication of its codes, standards, recommended practices, and guides, intend to urge action that is
not in compliance with applicable laws, and these documents may not be construed as doing so.
Copyrights
This document is copyrighted by the EBCS. It shall be made available for a wide variety of both public and
private uses. These include both use, by reference, in laws and regulations, and use in private self-regulation,
standardization, and the promotion of safe practices and methods.
By making this document available for use and adoption by public authorities and private users, the MoCUD
does not waive any rights in copyright to this document.
Use of EBCS10 document for regulatory purposes should be accomplished through adoption by reference. The
term “adoption by reference” means the citing of title, edition, and publishing information only. Any deletions,
additions, and changes desired by the adopting authority should be noted separately in the adopting instrument.
ETHIOPIAN BUILDING CODE STANDARD
EBCS-10: 2013 ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION OF
BUILDINGS S
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FOREWORD ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. i
INTRODUCTION ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. ii
HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE ETHIOPIAN BUILDING ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION CODE AND STANDARD …. iii
SECTION 3 ILLUMINATION
SECTION 4 CONDUCTORS
Annex (preface)
Annex A (Normative) - Correction factors…………………………………...………………74
Annex B (Normative) - Type of cable and ampacity …………………………………………85
SECTION 5 SERVICE AND SERVICE EQUIPMENT
………………………….………………90
Annex (Informative)
Annex A - System design ……………………………………………………………….219
Annex B - Consultation ……………………………………………………………….220
8.6 Exposed wiring on exterior of buildings and between Buildings on the same premises ...229
8.6.1 Location of conductors……………………………………………………………. 229
8.6.2 Clearance of conductors ………………………………………………………….229
8.6.3 Power supply conductors ………………………………………………………….229
14.1 Scope………………………………………………………………………………..308
14.2 Nonnative references ……………………………………………………………….308
14.3 Definitions …………………………………..………………………………….…….308
14.4 Circuits in basic care areas …………………………………………………………….311
14.4.1 Branch circuits ……………………………………………………………….311
14.4.2 Bonding to earth in basic-care areas …………………………………………….311
14.4.3 Socket outlets in basic-care areas ……………………………………………….312
17.1 Scope………………………………………………………………………………….371
17.2 Normative references ……………………………………………………………….371
17.3 General requirements ……………………………………………………………….371
17.3.1 Construction ……………………………………………………………….371
17.3.2 Disconnecting means ………………………………………………………….372
17.3.3 Rating of disconnecting means and control devices …………………………..372
17.3.4 Thermal protection…………………………………………………………….372
17.3.5 Branch. circuit capacity ……………………………………………………….372
17.3.6 Location ……………………………………………………………………..….372
17.3.7 Bonding ……………………………………………………………………..….373
17.3.8 Protection of sign leads …………………………………………………..…….373
17.3.9 Installation of conductors ……………………………………………………….373
17.3.10 Fuse holders and flashers …………………………………………………….373
17.4 High-voltage luminous discharge tube signs and outline Lighting …………………..373
17.4.1 Enclosure …………………………………………………………………..….373
17.4.2 Protection of uninsulated part ………………………………………………….374
17.4.3 Transformers ……………………………………………………………..…….374
17.4.4 High-voltage wiring methods ………………………………………………….375
18.11 Earthing…………………………………………………………………………..….384
18.11.1 Metal raceway attached to cars …………………………………………….384
18.11.2 Electric lifts ……………………………………………………………….385
18.11.3 Non-electric lifts …………………………………………………………….385
18.11.4 Method of bonding ………………………………………………………….385
18.14 Machine rooms and hoistway pits lighting and Auxiliary …………………………….386
18.14.1 Machine room ……………………………………………………………….386
18.14.2 Hoist pits …………………………………………………………………….387
19.1 Scope………………………………………………………………………………….388
19.2 Normative references ……………………………………………..………………….388
19.3 Wiring method …………………………………………………………….………….388
19.4 Fixed stage switchboard ……………………………………………………………….389
19.4.1 Fuses …………………………………………………………..…………….389
19.4.2 Overcurrent protection ………………………………………………………. 389
19.4.3 Dimmers …………………………………………………..……..…………….390
19.4-4 Control of stage and gallery pockets…………………………………………….390
19.4.5 Conductors ………………………………………………………….………….390
26.1 Scope
26.2 Normative References
26.3 Special Terminology
26.4 Marking
26.5 maximum Photovoltaic Source Circuit and Output Circuit Voltage
26.6 Voltage drop
26.7 Ampere Rating of Photovoltaic Source Circuits
26.8 Overcurrent Protection for Apparatus and Conductors
26.9 Photovoltaic dc arc-fault circuit protection
26.10 Disconnecting means
26.11 Wiring Method
26.12 Attachment plugs and similar wiring devices
26.13 Module Connection Arrangement
26.14 Interconnected System Connection
26.15 Solar photovoltaic systems earthing
26.16 Power conditioning unit
27.1 Scope
27.2 Normative References
27.3 Special Terminology
27.4 General
27.5 Overcurrent Protection
27.6 Disconnecting Means
27.7 Wiring method
27.8 System Earthing
27.9 Ungrounded Renewable Energy Power Systems
27.10 Earthing Electrodes and Earthing conductors
27.11 Equipment bonding
27.11 Marking
27.12 Warning notice and diagram
27.13 Interconnections to other Circuits
27.14 Interconnected system connection
27.15 Loss of interactive system power
27.16 Systems in excess of 750 V dc
12.17 INVERTERS
27.17.1 Maximum circuit loading
27.17.2 Stand-alone systems
27.17.3Utility-interactive inverters mounted in locations that are not readily accessible
27.17.4 Connection to other sources
27.17.5 Ampacity of neutral conductor
27.17.6 Unbalanced interconnections
27.17.7 Utility-interactive point of connection
Appendices