Electrical Services

In the US, the term electric service as used herein shall mean the
transmission of electric energy in interstate commerce or the sale of electric
energy at wholesale for resale in interstate commerce, and may be comprised of
various classes of capacity and energy sales and/or transmission services. Electric
service shall include the utilization of facilities owned or operated by any public
utility to affect any of the foregoing sales or services whether by leasing or other
arrangements. As defined herein, electric service is without regard to the form of
payment or compensation for the sales or services rendered whether by purchase
and sale, interchange, exchange, wheeling charge, facilities charge, rental or
otherwise. According to 18 CFR 35.2, (Title 18 -- Conservation Of Power And Water
Resources; Chapter I - Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Department Of
Energy; Subchapter B - Regulations Under The Federal Power Act; Part 35 - Filing Of
Rate Schedules And Tariffs; Subpart A Application).
To specify and design facility electrical systems including power systems,
lighting, communications, alarm systems, lightning protection, grounding system
and controls, an electrical engineer needs to coordinate his effort with the fellow
designers: Architect, Civil Engineer, Structural Engineer, HVAC/Plumbing Engineer,
Fire Protection Engineer, Voice/Data low voltage technology, Building Security,
Vertical Transportation, Electric Utility, Telephone Company, and Internet Access
etc.
I.

Power Systems Design

1. Power systems distribute electrical energy. Major factors to be included
in the design and analysis of these systems are: proper voltage levels,
balances and quality, system capacity, reliability and redundancy,
steady state and transient loads, short circuit protection (design and
analysis), load flow, voltage drop, harmonics, and protective device
coordination. The power systems design shall meet the local building
codes, National Electrical Code (NEC), National Electrical Safety Code
(NESC), and other applicable codes and standards.
2. Electrical engineering documents applicable to power systems shall at a
minimum indicate the following:
a. Electrical legend
b. System one line diagram or Riser Diagram
c. Conductor capacities (sizes) and insulation type
d. Protection devices and interrupting capability (Refer to Photo-2)
Utility Service (Refer to Photo 1A-B)
e. Transformer (Refer to Photo-3)
f. Main and distribution panel board locations and sizes (Refer to Photo-4)

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II.

III.

IV.

Circuitry of all outlets and devices

Short circuit analysis
Load computations
Grounding and bonding
Low Voltage control diagrams
Schedules and details

Lighting Systems Design

1. Lighting systems convert electrical energy into light. Items to be included
in the lighting design and analysis are: average illuminance, equivalent
spherical illuminance, uniformity ratios, visual comfort probability, special
purpose lighting, and the requirements of the local, state, and federal and
ASHRAE 90.1 Energy Efficiency standards, and building Codes.
2. Electrical engineering documents for lighting systems shall, at a
minimum, indicate the following:
a. Lighting fixture performance specifications and arrangements
b. Emergency Lighting
c. Exit Lighting
d. Lighting Control and circuiting
Communications Systems Design
1. Communications systems are utilized to convey messages or data. Items
to be included in the design or analysis of these systems are: Human
factors engineering, cabling requirements, installation requirements,
performance requirements, backup power requirements, the
interrelationship of the various systems, and applicable regulatory
requirements.
2. Electrical engineering documents for communications systems shall, at a
minimum, indicate the following:
a. System riser diagram
b. Equipment legend
c. Conductor type and installation requirements
d. Device type and locations
e. Backup power sources where applicable
Alarm Systems Design
1. Alarm systems are used to monitor and alarm a fire or other emergency
condition. Items to be included in the design or analysis of these systems
are: structure alarm requirements, location and audibility, types of alarms
and initiation devices, notification requirements, installation requirements
and backup power requirements.
2. Design documents for alarm systems shall, at a minimum, indicate the
following:
a. System riser diagram
b. Device types and locations

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VI.

c. Type of conductors and installation requirements including rating

identification and listing requirements
d. Notification requirements
e. Backup power requirements
Grounding Systems Design
1. Grounding Systems are passive systems used to establish an electrical
potential reference point in an electrical system for the proper dissipation
of energy in case of abnormal or transient conditions.
2. Design documents for grounding systems shall indicate at a minimum the
following:
a. type and location of grounding electrodes
b. bonding requirements
c. testing requirements
d. conductor material type, size and protection requirements
e. separate grounding systems, properly bonded, per code and use
requirements
Instrumentation and Control Systems Design
1. Instrumentation and control systems are used to automate processes.
Items to be included in the design and analysis of these systems are:
reliability of control of critical processes, safety of personnel, and
suitability of instruments and control devices in the environment in which
they are installed.
2. Electrical engineering documents for instrumentation and control systems
shall indicate, at a minimum, the following:
a. A description of the control system functions, or a functional diagram
b. Specifications of control instruments and their location
c. Type of conductors and cables, and requirements for their installation

Emerging Issues
a) Quality Assurance and Control of Construction Documents
b) Standardization, integration and promulgation of smart grid technology,
smart power distribution system, smart metering, smart peak load demand
controls, smart building management systems etc.
c) Building commissioning or Integrated systems testing for building electrical,
HVAC, all motor equipment and control systems.
d) Energy Conservation
e) Renewable Energy
f) Energy Efficiency
g) Emerging 3-D modeling platforms: BIM-Revit and Bentley
h) Coordination of design documents with: Architects, Interior Designer,
Lighting Design, Structural Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical
Engineering, Low Voltage Technology

Source: http://www.wbdg.org/design/dd_electricaleng.php

Communications Systems Design

t): Utility service

Photo 3 (left): Transformer; Photo 4
(right): Electrical Room

Power Systems Design

Lighting Systems Design

Photo 3 (left): Transformer; Photo 4

(right): Electrical Room

Alarm Systems Design

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ng

Systems Design

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strumentation and Control

Systems Design