SECTION5: SERVICE AND SERVICE EQUIPMENT

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SECTION 5 Formatted: Font: (Default) Times New Roman

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SERVICE AND SERVICE EQUIPMENT

5.1 SCOPE

(1) This Section covers services, service equipment, and metering equipment and their installation
requirements for systems operating at 1000.0V or less.

5.2 NORMATIVE REFERENCES

(1) The following references contain provisions which, through reference in this text, constitute
provisions of the Ethiopian Building Code Standard on Electrical Installation of Buildings.

(a)CSA C22.1:2002 Canadian Electrical Code Part 1, Safety Standard for Electrical Formatted: Font color: Auto
Installations, Nineteenth Edition

(b) NFPA 70/NEC: 2008 National Fire Protection Association/American National Formatted: Font color: Auto
Electrical Code, 2008 Edition

(c) BS 7671:2001 IEE: 1970 The Institute of Electrical Engineers, Regulations for the Formatted: Font color: Auto
Electrical Requirements of Buildings, Sixteenth Edition. Formatted: Font: (Default) Times New Roman, Font color:
Auto
5.3 DEFINITIONS Formatted: Font color: Auto

(1) For the purpose of this Section, in addition to the terms defined in Section 1, the following
definitions shall apply.

service conductors / cable the supply conductors/cable that extend from the street
main or from transformers to the service equipment of
the consumer's installation.

service drop the overhead service conductors from the last pole or
other aerial support to and including the splice, if any,
connecting to the service-entrance conductors at the
building or other structure.

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service-entrance conductors, overhead system the service conductors between the terminals of the
service equipment and a point usually outside the
building, clear of building walls, where joined by tap or
splice to the service drop.

service-entrance conductors, underground system the underground service conductors between the
terminals of the service equipment and the last point of
connection to the service entrance conductors.

Note: Where service equipment is located outside the building walls, there may be no service-entrance conductors,
or they may be entirely outside the building.

consumer's installations wiring and apparatus situated upon the consumer's premises installed and
controlled by him, excluding any switchgear of the Supply Authority which the consumer
may be permitted to use.

5.4 GENERALREQUIREMENTS

5.4.1 Number of Services Permitted

5.4.1.1 Single

(1) Except as provided in 5.4.1.2, each consumer's installation shall be supplied with a single service.

5.4.1.2 Multiple services

Unless prohibited by Code or Standard or by regulations of the Supply Authority concerning the number
of services, additional services shall be permitted in the following cases:

(a) In multiple-occupancy building, by special permission, where there is no available space for
service equipment accessible to all the occupants.

(b) Due to capacity requirements, two or more services shall be permitted where:

i) the load requirements are in excess of 3000.0A at a voltage supply of 600.0V· or less;
ii) the load requirements of a single-phase installation are greater than that normal supplied
through one service.
(c) For fire pumps where a separate service is required.

(d) For emergency, legally required standby, optional standby, or parallel power production systems
where a separate service is required.

(e) For different characteristics, such as for different voltage, frequencies or phase, or for different
uses, such as different rate schedules.

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5.4.1.3 Marking

(1) Where more than one service is permitted or provided, a permanent plaque or directory shall be
installed adjacent each service equipment location denoting all other services on or in the consumers'
installation and the area served by each.

5.4.1.4 Grouping

(1) When two or more supply services are installed to a building, all service boxes associated with the
various consumer's services shall be grouped, where practicable.

5.4.2 Consumer's Installation not to be Supplied Through Another Building

(1) Service conductors supplying a consumer's installation shall not pass through the interior of another
building or other structure.

5.4.3 Conductors Considered Outside of a Building

(1) Conductors shall be considered outside of building or other structure under any of the following
conditions:
(a) Where installed under not less than 50.0mm of concrete beneath a building or other structure;
and

(b) Where installed within a building or other structure in a raceway that is enclosed by concrete or
brick not less than 50.0mm thick.

5.4.4 Other Conductors in Raceway or Cable

(1) Conductors other than service conductors shall not be installed in the same service' way or Service-
entrance cable.

Exemption: Earthing conductors and load management control conductor having over current protection.

5.4.5 Clearance from Building Openings

(1) Service conductors installed as open conductors or multi conductor cable without an overall outer
jacket shall have a clearance of not less than 925.0mm from windows, doors, porches, fire escape, or
similar locations.

(2) Service conductors shall not be installed beneath openings through which materials may be moved,
such as openings in farm and commercial buildings.

(3) Overhead wire shall not be run such that they obstruct entrance to these building openings.

Exemption: Conductors running above the top level of a window shall be permitted for a clearance of requirements
of less than 925.0mm as in (1) above.

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5.5 SERVICE EQUIPMENT

5.5.1 General

5.5.1.1 Enclosed or guarded live parts

(1) Service equipment's live parts shall be enclosed or guarded as specified below:

a. They shall be enclosed so that they will not be exposed to accidental contact; or
b. If not enclosed they shall be installed on a switch board, panel board, or control board and
guarded by providing a means for locking or sealing doors giving access to them.

5.5.1.2 Earthing and bonding

(1) Service equipment, raceway, cable armour, cable sheaths, panel boards, etc and any service
conductors that are to be earthed shall be done in accordance with the relevant Parts of Section 7.

5.5.1.3 Available short-circuit current

(1) Service equipment shall be suitable for the short-circuit current available at its supply terminal.

5.5.1.4 Working space

(1) Sufficient working space shall be provided to the vicinity of the service equipment to permit safe
operation, inspection, and repairs.

5.5.1.5 Location

(1) Service boxes or other consumer's service equipment shall be installed in an acceptable location and in
compliance with applicable Codes or Standards or by-laws of the Supply Authority concerning the
location of service boxes or other equipment and shall be:

(a) readily accessible or have the means of operation readily accessible;

(b) not located in coal bine, clothes closets, bathrooms, stairways, rooms in which the temperature
normally exceeds 30°C, dangerous or hazardous locations, in locations where the headroom
clearance is less than 2.0m, nor in any similar undesirable locations; and
(c) placed within the building being served, unless environmental conditions within the structure are
unsuitable, in which case the- service box or other consumer's service equipment may be placed on
the outside of the building or on a pole and shall be:

i) protected from the weather, or be weatherproof;

ii) protected from mechanical injury if less than 2.0m above ground;

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iii) placed as close as practical to the point where the consumer's service conductors enter the
building.

5.5.2 Control

5.5.2.1 General

(1) Every consumer's installation shall be adequately controlled by switchgear readily accessible to the
consumer and which shall incorporate:

(a) means of disconnect,

(b) means of over current protection,
(c) means of earth-leakage protection (if necessary),

Note: Where the Supply Authority provides switchgear and permits part of it to be used by the consumer, the consumer need not
then duplicate that part.

5.5.2.2 Means of disconnect

(1) The means of disconnect required by 5.5.2.1 shall comprise a linked switch suitable for operation on
load or a linked circuit breaker, arranged to disconnect all circuit.

(2) Alternatively, for systems where one conductor is connected with earth, the linked switch or circuit-
breaker may be arranged to disconnect the live conductors only and an isolating link may be inserted in
the earthed conductor; such an isolating link shall be so arranged that it is in contact before the linked
switch can be closed, or shall be securely fixed by bolts or screws.

5.5.2.3 Over current protection

(1) The means of over current protection referred to in 5.5.2.1 shall comprise either a fuse inserted in each
live conductor of the supply or a circuit-breaker having an over current release fitted in each live
conductor of the supply.

Exemption: The means of over current protection may be omitted provided that

i) the rating of all cables connected between the Supply Authority's fuse or circuit-breaker and the consumer's sub-circuit fuse
or circuit breakers is not less than the rating of the Supply Authority's fuse or circuit-breaker; and
ii) the over current device protecting all circuits controlled by the switchgear are located within the same enclosure as the
switchgear or, alternatively, are fixed immediately adjacent to it.

5.5.2.4 Earth-leakage protection

(1) Means for earth-leakage protection shall be provided for service equipment in accordance with Clause
9.4.2, Section 9.

Note: When an installation is being planned, it is desirable to consult the Supply Authority, or a competent person
having knowledge of local conditions, to ascertain whether satisfactory protection against earth leakage will be

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obtained by the use of the fuses or circuit breakers provided for over current protection or by the use of earth-
leakage circuit breaker.

5.5.2.5 Sequence of control

(1) The sequence of the equipment forming the switchgear required by 5.5.2.1 shall be such that the
means of disconnect follows the consumer's terminal without the intervention of any other apparatus (see
Figure 5.1).

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Diagrams illustrations sequence of protective devices in typical domestic

Installations, (the supply undertaking’s equipment and the consumer’s
Switchgear are included)

Fs.1 Service fuse and neutral link, if any.

Wh Watt-hour meter and/or time switch where required for off-peak tariff supply.
S Consumer’s linked switch.
Fs.2 Consumer’s main fuse
CB Consumer’s linked excess-current circuit-breaker with or without earth-leakage trip.
Db Consumer’s distribution board;

Figure 5.1 Sequence of control

Note: The consumer’s linked switch and the consumer's main fuse may be combined in a switch and fuse unit

5.5.2.6 Detached building

(1) Where a consumer's installation comprises installation in two or more buildings, separate means of Formatted: Font: (Default) Times New Roman
disconnect complying with the requirements of 5.5.2.2 shall be provided in each building.

5.5.2.7 Capacity of protective gear

(1) Every means of over current protection shall be suitable for the maximum short-circuit current
attainable or available.

5.5.2.8 Discrimination

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(1) The characteristics and settings of over current protective gear, including fuses, and the arrangement
of the installation shall be such that discrimination in the operation of the over current protective gear is
ensured.

5.6 WIRING METHODS

5.6.1 Underground Consumer's Service Conductors

5.6.1.1 Installation and type

(1) A consumer's service conductors running underground to a building from an underground supply
system or from a pole line shall be:

(a) installed in rigid conduit and be of a type suitable for use in wet locations;
(b) a single or multiple conductor cable for service entrance use below ground provided that:

i) The installation is in accordance with Section 8;

ii) Rigid conduit is used for mechanical protection where portions are exposed to injury; and
iii) The cable without splice or joint from a point of connection at the supply service to the
consumer's service equipment in the building.

5.6.1.2 Conduit to drain

(1) Consumer's service conduit entering a building underground shall be suitably drained.

5.6.1.3 Conduit seal

(1) Consumer's service conduit connected to an underground system shall be sealed with a suitable
compound to prevent the entrance of moisture or gases.

5.6.2 Overhead Consumer's Service Conductors

(1) Conductors of a consumer's service which is connected to an overhead supply service at any point
above ground on a building or other structure shall be installed in a rigid metal conduit or in one of the
following ways, if acceptable:

(a) Other type of rigid conduit,

(b) Busway
(c) Flexible metal conduit, the conductors being lead-sheathed cable
(d) Mineral-insulated cable other than the lightweight type
(e) Aluminium sheathed cable
(f) Any other suitable type cable
(g) Service entrance cable, provided that:

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i) it is protected by an acceptable means if within 2.0m of the ground;

ii) the voltage does not exceed 230.0V to earth;
iii) it is supported at intervals not more than 1.0m; and
iv) it is mounted on insulating supports which hold it not less than 500.0mm from a conducting
surface, if adjacent to such a surface.

(2) Bare overhead supply conductors running on the outside walls of a building may be run as exposed
wiring using types of conductor suitable for exposure to the weather.

(3) The length of consumer's service conductors beyond the service head shall be adequate to enable
connection to the supply service conductors or to the conductors referred to in 5.6.2 with a minimum
length of 750.0mm.

(4) Consumer's service conductors shall be provided with drip loops.

(5) Consumer's service conductors shall be suitable for the temperature which can be experienced in the
particular locality.

5.7 METERING EQUIPMENT

5.7.1 Connection

(1) Metering equipment shall be connected on the load side of the service box except that it may be
connected on the supply where:
(a) no live parts or wiring are exposed;
(b) the voltage does not exceed 380.0V between conductors; and
(c) the rating of the consumer's service does not exceed:

i) 200.0A for a meter mounting device, or

ii) 600.0A for transformer rated meter mounting device located outdoors.
Note:- Transformer rated meter mounting device means a meter mounting device with current transformers and with
or without test switches mounted in the same enclosure.

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