to the
Philippine Electrical Code
2009 Edition
Jaime V. Mendoza, MTM
Jaime V. Mendoza, MTM
Board Member
PEC – 2009 (8
th
Edition)
BEE Resolution No. 12 Series of 2009 –
Adoption of the Revised (8
th
Edition)
Philippine Electrical Code Part I as Part of
the Rules and Regulations Concerning the
Practice of Electrical Engineering and as
Referral Code in Accordance with the
National Building Code – Sept. 14, 2009.
Published in the Philippine Star last
R. A. 7920
R. A. 7920
An Act For, A More Responsive and
Comprehensive Regulation For the Practice,
Licensing, and Registration of Electrical
Engineers and Electricians.
Sec. 4 Powers and Duties of the Board
¾
The Board shall exercise executive
The Board shall exercise executive
/administrative or quasi
/administrative or quasi
-
-
legislative (rule
legislative (rule
-
-making) or quasi
making) or quasi
-
-
judicial (investigative)
judicial (investigative)
powers in carrying out the provisions of
powers in carrying out the provisions of
this Act.
Powers of the Board
Sec. 29. Revocation of Certificates of
Registration and Suspension from the
Practice of the Profession.
The Board shall have the power, upon proper
notice and hearing, to revoke any certificate of
registration of any registrant, to suspend him
from the practice of the profession or to
reprimand him for any specified in the preceding
section, or for the use of perpetration of any
fraud or deceit in obtaining a certificate of
registration, or for gross negligence or
incompetence or for unprofessional or
dishonorable conduct, for violation of this Act
, the
rules and regulations and other policies of the
Licensing
Definition – a permission granted by competent
authority to engage in a practice of profession or
business or in an activity.
A PEE who designed, signed, and sealed an electrical
plans – means he/she guaranteed the safety of the
electrical plans for 15 years in accordance to Civil
Code.
PEE, REE or RME who signed as in-charge of
installations also guaranteed the safety of the
electrical installations for 15 years.
You can only guaranteed the safety of your electrical
designs/installations if you are well-versed in the
Philippine Electrical Code.
“Licensing guarantees the safety
of your works!!!!”
PURPOSE OF PEC
The primary objective of the code is to
establish basic materials quality and electrical
works standards for the safe use of electricity
for light, heat, power, communications,
signaling and for other purposes.
“Practical safeguarding of persons and
property from hazards arising from the use of
electricity”
THE PHILIPPINE ELECTRICAL CODE
KEY TO SAFETY AND FIRE PREVENTION
COMPLIANCE TO THE PEC WILL ENSURE SAFETY AND
PREVENT ELECTRICAL FIRES
Grid/Distribution
Codes
Performance
Standards
•
Power Quality
•
Reliability
•
System Loss
GRID/DISTRIBUTION
DEVELOPMENT
PLANNING CRITERIA
The Philippine
Electrical Code
Safety
Standards
•
Design and Specifications
•
Installation
Consideration should be
given for future expansion
of electrical systems but this
is not a Code requirement.
The PEC is a safety standard,
not a design guide. Electrical
designs must comply with
the requirements of PEC to
ensure safety.
Energy management,
maintenance, and power
quality issues aren’t within
the scope of the PEC.
Philippine Electrical Code
Enforcement
1. This Code is intended for mandatory application
by government bodies exercising legal
jurisdiction over electrical installation.
2. These government bodies will have the
responsibility of implementing the provision of
this Code in deciding on the approval of
equipment and materials and for granting the
special permission contemplated in this Code,
where it assured that equivalent objectives can
be achieved by establishing and maintaining
Philippine Electrical Code
Interpretation
Upon recommendation of the Code
Upon recommendation of the Code
Committee, the
Committee, the
Board of Electrical
Board of Electrical
Engineering shall render the final
Engineering shall render the final
decision
decision in the interpretation of any
in the interpretation of any
portion of the Philippine Electrical
portion of the Philippine Electrical
Code, in case of controversy.
The National Electrical Code
The first documented case of a Code as a
requirement of rules was published on 16
thNov.
1881 entitled “The Dangers of Electric Lighting”.
The first NEC was developed in 1897, eighteen after
the invention of incandescent light bulb by Thomas
A. Edison.
Since 1911, the NFPA of Quincy, Massachussets, has
been responsible for the maintenance and
publication of the NEC.
Regularly revised (every three years) to reflect the
evolution of products, materials, and installation
techniques.
21 Separate Committee, each consisting of 15-20
persons. Members of each committee meet several
times, discuss proposed changes, accepting some
and rejecting others, and rewrite (as required) the
sections of the Code that were assigned to their
THE PHILIPPINE ELECTRICAL CODE
CLASSIFICATION OF CODE
RULES
1. Wiring Design Rules
2. Installation Rules
3. Manufacturing Rules
Wiring design rules used to determine
sizes and rating of circuit conductors and
devices.
Example:
1. Branch circuit conductors supplying a single
motor shall have an ampacity not less than
125% of the full-load current.
Section 4.30.2.2
2. The disconnecting means for motor circuits shall
have an ampere rating of at least 115% of the
full-load current rating of the motor.
Section
THE PHILIPPINE ELECTRICAL CODE
CLASSIFICATION OF CODE RULES
Installation rules
Example:
1. A disconnecting means shall be located within
sight from the motor controller.
Section
4.30.102
2. In class II Division I Locations, motors,
generators, and other rotating electric
machinery shall be dust ignition proof or totally
enclosed pipe ventilated and shall be approved
for class II locations.
Sections 5.02.8
THE PHILIPPINE ELECTRICAL CODE
CLASSIFICATION OF CODE RULES
Manufacturing rules
Example:
Section 4.30.1.7
A motor shall be marked with the following
information:
1) Manufacturer’s Name
2) Rated Volts and Full-load Amperes
3) Rated Frequency and Number of Phases, if
an alternating current motor, etc.
4) Rated full-load speed
THE PHILIPPINE ELECTRICAL CODE
CLASSIFICATION OF CODE RULES
Various Categories of the Code Rules which apply in a Motor and the Circuits
ELECTRICAL FIRES
If a fault develops, the current (and heat energy)
can increase to the extent that either the appliance
burns out, the connecting wiring overheats and
melts the plastic insulation or the plug and socket
may burn out.
An electrical fire then occur where the overheated
wiring, motor, plug, etc. are in contact with or close
to flammable or combustible material.
ELECTRICAL FIRE
can be defined as a fire
where an electric current or electrical fault
is found to have been the source of ignition.
Explosion
Triangle of Fire
combustion
Regularly revised (every three years) to
reflect the evolution of products, materials,
and installation techniques.
21 Separate Committee, each consisting of
15-20 persons. Members of each committee
meet several times, discuss proposed
changes, accepting some and rejecting
others, and rewrite (as required) the
sections of the Code that were assigned to
their committee.
Significant Changes to the
Change Type in the PEC 2009
1. New
2. Revision
3. Relocated
4. Reorganization
5. Universal Change
6. Deletion (310.5)
New - Definitions
AHJ – Authority Having Jurisdiction
Bonding Jumper, System
Coordination (Selective)
Electrical Practitioner, Licensed
Electrical Practitioner, Non-Licensed
Guest Rooms
Guest Suite
Guest Room
An accommodation combining living, sleeping,
sanitary and storage facilities.
Guest Suite
An accommodation with two or more contiguous rooms
comprising a compartment, with or without doors between
such rooms, that provides living, sleeping, sanitary, and
New Provision
PEC 2.10.1.5 (c) Identification for Branch
Circuits, page 69
(c) Ungrounded Conductors
Where the premises wiring system has branch
circuits supplied from more than one nominal
voltage system, each ungrounded conductor of a
branch circuit, where accessible shall be
identified by system. The means of identification
shall be permitted to be by separate color
coding, marking tape, tagging, or other
approved means and shall be permanently
posted at each branch-circuit panelboard or
similar branch-circuit distribution equipment.
PEC 2.10.1.5 (c) – Identification for Branch
Circuit for Ungrounded Conductors
New Provision
2.10.1.8(b)(2) –GFCI
Protection Other than
Dwelling
Commercial and
institutional kitchens –
for the purposes of this
section, a kitchen is an
area with a sink and
permanent facilities for
food preparation and
cooking. (Culinary
Schools)
New Provision
2.10.1.8(b)(4) –GFCI
Protection Other than
Dwelling
Outdoor in Public
Spaces – for the
purpose of this section
a public space is
defined as any space
that is for use by, or is
accessible to the
2.10.1.8(b)(5) –GFCI
Protection Other than
Dwelling
(5)Outdoor , where
installed to comply with
2.10.3.14 Heating,
Air-conditioning, and
Refrigeration Outlet
New Provision
2.10.1.8(c)Boat Hoists
GFCP for personnel
shall be provided for
outlets that supply
boat hoists installed in
dwelling unit locations
b) Other than Dwelling Units
1) Bathrooms*
2) Commercial and institutional kitchens
3) Rooftops*
4) Outdoors in public spaces
5) Outdoors, where installed to comply with
2.10.3.14
* Including in PEC 2000
2.10.1.8 GFCI Protection for
Personnel
PEC-2.10.1.8 (a)
a) Dwelling Units
1. Bathrooms
2. Garages
3. Outdoors
4. Crawl spaces at or
below grade level
5. Unfinished
basements
6. Kitchens for
countertop
appliances
7. Wet bar sinks
8. Boathouses
(New Provision)
2.10.1.12.Arc-Fault
Circuit Interrupter
Protection
(b) Dwelling Unit
Bedrooms – All single
phase, 15 and 20 A
branch circuits supplying
outlets installed in
dwelling unit bedrooms
shall be protected by a
listed AFCI. Combination
type installed to provide
protection of the branch
circuit.
Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupter
An AFCI is a device intended to open the circuit when
it detects the current waveform characteristics that are
unique to an arcing fault.
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter
A GFCI is designed to protect persons against electric shock.
It operates on the principles of monitoring the unbalanced current
Between the ungrounded and the grounded neutral conductor.
p88
Revised - Definition
Dwelling Unit – one or more rooms for
the use of one or more persons as a
housekeeping unit with space for eating,
living, sleeping, and permanent
provisions for cooking and sanitation. PEC
2000
Dwelling Unit – a single unit, providing
complete and independent living facilities
for one or more persons, including
permanent provisions for living, sleeping,
cooking, and sanitation. (PEC 2009)
2.10.1.8(a)(8) GCFI Protection
Laundry, utility, and wet bar sinks –
where the receptacles are installed to
serve the countertop surfaces and are
located within 1.8 m (6 ft) of the outside
edge of the sink.
Laundry, utility, and wet bar sinks –
where the receptacles are installed within
1.8 m (6 ft) of the outside edge of the
sink.
GFCI Protection for Personnel
Garage – a building or portion of a building in
which one or more self-propelled vehicles
carrying volatile flammable liquid, for fuel or
power are kept for use, sale, storage, rental,
repair, exhibition, or demonstrating purposes,
and all that portion of a building that is on or
below the floor or floors in which such vehicles
are kept and that is not separated there from by
suitable cutoffs.
Garage – A building or portion of a building in
which one or more self-propelled vehicles can be
kept for use, sale, storage, rental, repair,
exhibition, or demonstration purposes.
Relocated -Definition
Solidly Grounded – PEC 2000
Grounded, Solidly – PEC 2009
Grounded Conductors PEC-2000
(b)
Sizes Larger than 14 mm
2
. An
insulated rounded conductor larger than
14 mm
2
shall be identified either by a
continuous white or natural gray outer
finish or by three continuous white stripes
on other than green insulation along its
entire length or at the time of installation
by a distinctive white marking at its
terminations. This marking shall encircle
the conductor or insulation.
Sizes Larger Than 14 mm
2
. An insulated
conductor larger than 14 mm
2
shall be
identified by one of the following means:
1) By a continuous white or gray cover finish.
2) By three continuous white stripes along its
entire length on its entire length on other
than green insulation
3) At the time of installation, by a distinctive
white or gray marking at its terminations.
This marking shall encircle the conductor or
insulation.
(d)
Grounded Conductors of Different
Systems.
Where conductors of different
systems are installed in the same raceway,
cable, box, auxiliary gutter, or other type of
enclosure, one system grounded conductor, if
required, shall have an outer covering
conforming to Section 2.1.1.6(a) or (b). Each
other system grounded conductor shall have an
outer covering of white with a readily
distinguishable different colored stripe (not
green) running along the insulation, or other and
different means of identification as allowed by
Section 2.1.1.6(a) or (b) that will distinguish
each system grounded conductor.
(d) Grounded Conductors of Different Systems. Where grounded
conductors of different systems are installed in the same raceway,
cable, box, auxiliary gutter, or other type of enclosure, each grounded
conductor shall be identified by system. Identification that distinguishes
each system grounded conductor shall be permitted by one of the
following means:
(1) One system grounded conductor shall have an outer
covering
conforming to 2.0.1.6(a) or 2.0.1.6(b).
(2) The grounded conductor(s) of other systems shall have a
different outer covering conforming to 2.0.1.6(a) or 2.0.1.6(b) or by an
outer covering of white or gray with a readily distinguishable colored
stripe other than green running along the insulation.
(3) Other and different means of identification as allowed by
2.0.1.6(a) or 2.0.1.6(b) that will distinguish each system grounded
conductor.
This means of identification shall be permanently posted at each
2.1.1.6(d) Means of Identifying
Grounded Conductors PEC-2009
Color Coding
120/240 –
V, Single
Phase
208Y/120 –
V,
Three-Phase
480Y/277-V,
Three-Phase
Phase A
Black
Black
Brown
Phase B
Red
Red
Orange
Phase C
Blue
Yellow
Neutral
White
White with
Branch Circuits
A. Tamper-Resistant Receptacles in
Dwellings Unit (406.11) (NEC-2008)
Why do you think it is a
tamper-resistant receptacle?
…..To increase safety for children.
…..maybe that your son, daughter, or
grandchildren that you will save…
Branch Circuits
A. Tamper-Resistant Receptacles in
Branch-Circuit, Feeder, and Service Calculations
2000 Article 2.20
2009 Article 2.20
Part Sections
Part Sections
I. General 2.20.1.1- 4
I. General 2.20.1.1 -5
II. Feeders and 2.20.2.1 - 14
Services
II. Branch Circuit 2.20.2.1 - 7
Load Calculations
III. Optional 2.20.3.1 - 7
Calculations for
Computing Feeder
and Service Loads
III. Feeder and 2.20.3.1 - 23
Service Load
Calculations
IV. Method for 2.20.4.1 - 2
Computing Farm Loads
IV. Optional Feeder2.20.4.1 - 9
And Service Load
Calculations
Universal Change
A universal change throughout the 2009
PEC is the replacement of “computed
load” and “demand load” with “calculated
load.” For example, the term demand
load is being replaced with calculated load
to improve clarity and to reduce
confusion, especially when related to
“calculated load” and “demand factor.”
The term calculated load includes demand
factor, the concepts of diversity, and
Disconnecting Means
a) Location
a) Readily Accessible Location. The service
disconnecting means shall be installed at a
readily accessible location of a building or a
structure. For a building, the service
disconnecting means shall be installed either
at the outside wall or inside nearest point of
entrance of the service conductors to the
Disconnecting Means
a) Location
2) Bathrooms. Service disconnecting means
shall NOT be installed in bathrooms.
The title of Article 2.50 has been changed from
“Grounding”
to “Grounding and Bonding.”
Change Significance: The scope of the article
clearly covers both grounding and bonding.
Adding the term bonding to the title of the
article is appropriate, and is consistent with the
fact that there are generally as many bonding
requirements and provisions included within
Article 2.50 as there are grounding
requirements, if not more.
2.50.1.2 Definitions (Revision)
Effective Ground-Fault Current Path – An
intentionally constructed, permanent, low
impedance electrically conductive path
designed and intended to carry current
under ground-fault conditions from the
point of a ground fault on a wiring system
to the electrical supply source and that
facilitates the operation of the
overcurrent protective device or
ground-fault detectors on high-impedance
Effective Ground-Fault Current Path
Metal parts of premises wiring are bonded to an effective
ground-fault current path that has sufficiently low impedance
to quickly clear line-to-case faults by opening the circuit
Ground Fault- An unintentionally, electrically
conducting connection between an ungrounded
conductor of an electrical circuit and the
normally non-current-carrying conductors,
metallic enclosures, metallic raceways, metallic,
or earth.
2.50.1.2 Definitions
Ground-Fault Current
Path- An electrically
conductive path from
the point of ground
fault on a wiring
system through
normally
non-current-carrying
conductors,
equipment, or the
earth to the electrical
supply source.
Article 2.50
2.50.2.5(b) Main Bonding Jumper
2.50.2.11 Grounding Separately Derived
Alternating-Current Systems
2.50.2.13 Buildings or Structures Supplied by
Feeder(s) or Branch Circuit(s)
2.50.3 Grounding Electrode System and
Grounding Electrode Conductor
2.50.10 Grounding of Systems and Circuits of 1
kV and Over (High Voltage)
3.10.1.4 Conductors in Parallel
The paralleled conductors in each phase,
polarity, neutral, or grounded circuit
conductor shall
comply with all the
following:
1. Be the same length
2. Have the same conductor material
3. Be the same size in circular mil area
4. Have the same insulation type
5. Be terminated in the same manner.
3.10.1.5 Minimum Size of Conductors
The minimum size of conductors shall be
as shown in Table 3.10.1.5, except as
permitted elsewhere in this Code.
Removal of 10 previous exceptions were
not needed
3.10.1.6 Shielding
In this section’s exception, the voltage
has been reduced from 8 kV to 2.4 kV for
use of unshielded conductors. Cables
operated at a voltage higher than 2.4 kV
will now be required to be shielded.
Many cable manufacturers specifically
recommend against the use of
non-shielded cable above 2 kV because of
arcing problems and cables without
3.10.1.8 Locations
d) Locations Exposed to Direct Sunlight. Insulated
conductors and cables used where exposed to
direct rays of the sun shall comply with one of
the following: (be of a type listed for sunlight
resistance or listed and marked “sunlight
resistant”)
1) Cables listed, or listed and marked , as being sunlight
resistant
2) Conductors listed, or listed and marked , as being
sunlight resistant
3) Covered with insulating material, such as tape or
sleeving, that is listed and marked ,as being sunlight
resistant.”
of Conductors
The PEC 2009 has added a new Fine Print
Note with information on derating for
conduits on rooftops that have direct
sunlight exposures; 17ºC is the indicated
value to be added to the outdoor ambient
temperature to compensate for the direct
solar gain.
3.10.1.15(b)(2) Adjustment Factors
A new last sentence has been added to
3.10.15(b)(2)(a) to require that individual
conductors of paralleled sets be counted as
current-carrying conductor. This is intended to
clarify varying interpretations of whether each
conductor of a paralleled set of conductors is
required to be counted individually or if all of the
conductors count as one for the purpose of
derating. Clearly, each conductor of the parallel
set is required to be counted individually for the
purposes of rating.
Configuration
Conductor if
Neutral is
Counted
Derating
Percentage
Conductors
if Neutral is
Not Counted
Derating
Percentage
All conductors
in single
conduit
12
9
4 conductors in
3 conduits or
cables
4
3
All conductors
in metal
wireway or
auxiliary gutter
12
9
All conductors
in nonmetallic
wireway or
auxiliary gutter
12
9
Table 3.10.1.15(b)(2)(a) Adjustment Factors for More than Three
Current-Carrying Conductors in a Raceway or Cable
Number of
Current-Carrying Conductors
Percent of Values in Tables 3.10.1.16
Through 3.10.1.19 as Adjusted for
Ambient
Temperature if Necessary
4 – 6
7 – 9
10 – 20
21 – 30
31 – 40
41 and above
80
70
50
45
40
35
Configuration
Conductor if
Neutral is
Counted
Derating
Percentage
Conductors
if Neutral is
Not Counted
Derating
Percentage
All conductors
in single
conduit
12
50
9
70
4 conductors in
3 conduits or
cables
4
80
3
Not
required
All conductors
in metal
wireway or
auxiliary gutter
12
Not
required
9
Not
required
All conductors
in nonmetallic
wireway or
auxiliary gutter
12
50
9
70
(4) Neutral Conductor.
a) A neutral conductor that carries only the unbalanced current
from other conductors of the same circuit shall not be required
to be counted when applying the provisions of
Section3.10.1.15(b)(2)(a).
b) In a 3-wire circuit consisting of two phase wires and the
neutral of a 4-wire, 3-phase wye-connected system, a common
conductor carries approximately the same current as the
line-to-neutral load currents of the other conductors and shall be
counted when applying the provisions of Section
3.10.1.15(b)(2)(a).
c) On a 4-wire, 3-phase wye circuit where the major portion of the
load consists of nonlinear loads, harmonic currents are
present in the neutral conductor; the neutral shall therefore be
considered a current-carrying conductor.
Notes
For metal auxiliary gutters, 3.66.2.14(a)
indicates that derating is not required so long as
the number of current-carrying conductors at
any cross section does not exceed 30. A similar
statement is included for sheet metal wireways
in 3.76.2.13.
Derating for the number of current-carrying
conductors in non-metallic auxiliary gutters and
wireways is required, beginning at four-current
carrying conductors, because conductors in
non-metallic enclosures do not dissipate heat as well
as those in sheet-metal enclosures.
Introduction
Art. 6.95 contains many requirements to
keep that supply of water uninterrupted.
For example:
1. Locating the pump so as to minimize its
exposure to fire.
2. Ensuring that the fire pump and its jockey
pump have a reliable source of power.
3. It makes sense to keep fire pump wiring
independent.
Introduction
Other requirements seem wrong at first
glance, until you remember why the fire
pump is there in the first place.
For example:
1. The disconnect must be lockable in the
closed position.
2. Fire pumps power circuits cannot have
automatic protection against overload.
Introduction
¾ “ It’s better to run the fire pump until
its winding melt, than to save the fire
pump and lose the facility”
¾ And the intent of Article 6.95 is to
6.95.1.1 Scope
a) Covered
1) Electric power sources and interconnecting
circuits
2) Switching and control equipment dedicated
to fir pump drivers
b) Not Covered
1) The performance, maintenance, and
acceptance testing of the fire pump system,
and the internal wiring of the components
of the system
2) Pressure maintenance (jockey or makeup)
pumps
6.95.1.3 Power Sources for
Electric-Motor Driven Fire Pumps
a) Individual Source
1) Electric Utility Service.
A separate
service from a connection located ahead
of but not within the service
disconnecting means.
2) On-Site Power.
An on-site power supply,
such as generator, located and
protected to minimize damage by fire is
permitted to supply a fire pump.
Electric-Motor Driven Fire Pumps
6.95.1.3 Power Sources for
Electric-Motor Driven Fire Pumps
Electric-Motor Driven Fire Pumps
6.95.1.3 Power Sources for
Electric-Motor Driven Fire Pumps
b) Multiple Sources
1) Generator Capacity.
Shall have
sufficient capacity to allow normal
starting and running 0f the motor(s)
driving the fire pump(s) while supplying
other simultaneously operated load.
2) Feeder Sources.
3) Arrangement.
The power sources shall
be arranged so that a fire at one will not
cause an interruption at the other
Electric-Motor Driven Fire Pumps
Dedicated transformer and overcurrent
protection sizing can be broken down into
three requirements.
1. The transformer must be size to at least 125%
of the sum of the loads.
2. The transformer primary overcurrent device
must be at least a specified minimum size.
3. The transformer secondary must not contain any
overcurrent device whatsoever.
6.95.1.5 Transformers
The overcurrent device in the primary of a transformer supplying
a fire pump installation. The device is required to be sized to carry
the locked-rotor current motor(s) and associated fire pump
6.95.1.6 Power Wiring
a) Service and Feeder Conductors.
Supply conductors must be
physically routed outside buildings
and must be installed in accordance
with Article 2.30. Where supply
conductors cannot be routed outside
buildings, they must be encased in 2
inches or 50 mm of concrete or brick.
6.95.1.6 Power Wiring
b) Circuit Conductors.
Fire pump supply conductors on the load
side of the final disconnecting means and
overcurrent device(s) must be kept entirely
independent of all other wiring. They can
be routed through a building using one of
the following methods:
1) Be encased in a minimum 2 inches or 50 mm of
concrete
2) Be within an enclosed construction dedicated to
the fire pump circuit(s) and having a minimum
of a 1-hour fire-resistant rating
3) Be listed electrical circuit protective system with
a minimum 1-hour fire rating.
6.95.1.6(c)(2) BC Conductor Size
Fire Pump Motor
Branch Circuit Conductor Size
Branch circuit conductors to a single fire pump
motor must have a rating not less than 125% of the
motor
From Table 4.30.14.5(b)
