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In other words
Only the overcurrent protective device (OCPD) nearest to a
fault should clear the fault
Selective Coordination Definition
The concept of protective zones is a useful tool to visualize this.
UTILITY SERVICE
CB M1 Trips CB M1 PRIMARY
PROTECTIVE
ZONE
CB F1
CB PM1
CB PM1 Trips
Change
Must meet
Article 700 per
2014 edition
Changed to
branch in 2014
edition
Deleted in
2014 edition
Must meet Article 700 per 2005-2011 editions
Definitions
The equipment system (Equipment Branch) Meant for
essential equipment loads
Feeds pumps, control systems, vacuums, essential
heating, one elevator.
Can be fed by an alternate source at appropriate time-lag
Change
intervals.
The emergency system
Life safety loads (Life safety Branch) Meant for egress
Exit signs
Elevators
Automatic doors
150A FEEDER
SGHA
Frame 400 A
Sensor/Trip 150.0 A
P
75 KVA TRANSFORMER
S 75 kVA
Pri 480 V
Sec 208 V
Z = 5.00 %
250A MAIN
SFLA
Frame 250 A
Sensor/Trip 250.0 A
PANEL
208 V
Exception No. 2
MAIN PANEL
480 V
400A FEEDER
HJXD6-A
Frame 400 A
Sensor/Trip 400.0 A
CBL
100 ft
1 per phase
500 AWG/kcmil
THHN
Magnetic
Copper
400A MAIN
HJ6
Frame 400 A
Sensor/Trip 400.0 A
PANEL
480 V
Cable Riser Example
NEC Selective Coordination Requirements
http://www.cooperindustries.com/content/
dam/public/bussmann/Electrical/Resourc
es/solution-
center/electrical_inspector_tools/BUS_El
e_Selective_Coord_Req_ChkList.pdf
NEC Selective Coordination Requirements
645.2 Definitions.
Critical Operations Data System. An information technology
equipment system that requires continuous operation for
reasons of public safety, emergency management, national
security, or business continuity.
Oops!
State Adoptions of NFPA -70 (NEC)
http://www.nema.org/Technical/Code-Alerts/pages/default.aspx
1K
10
TCCs
1000 1000
100 100
Developed by testing a circuit breaker by itself
10 10
In the instantaneous region may not be valid for two
circuit breakers connected in series
TIME IN SECONDS
1 1
Tested Levels
0.10
0.01
10
0.01
dynamic impedance of circuit breakers
1K
100K
10K
100
Manufacturer references?
Comparable selective coordination tables and tools are
available from Schneider Electric, Eaton, GE and Siemens.
Common misunderstandings
and pitfalls
Why we dont say 0.01s, 0.05s,
0.001s, etc.
If the fault current exceeds
their current limiting point,
current limiting fuses operate
in less than 0.01s
Current limiting fuses that
coordinate down to 0.01s may
not be coordinated at higher
fault currents
Current limiting fuse TCCs cut
off at 0.01s because only the
ratio tables can be used to
evaluate total coordination
below that point
Challenges Meeting the NEC
Cautions
Make sure automatic transfer switches have an
adequate withstand rating (30 cycle ratings vs. 3
cycle ratings)
May need to move the switch away from the
source, or
May need to increase the frame size of the
switch, or
May need to specify a switch with a higher
withstand rating (more than 3 cycles)
Make sure busway has adequate withstand ratings
Challenges Meeting the NEC
Cautions
Make sure the generator protection devices
Short-circuit
Decrement coordinate with the downstream circuit
Curve of breakers
250 kW
Generator Some manufacturers provide a time delay
Plotted on
300 A LA Generator fault current
curve
SCAgen = Gen FLC / xd
xd => generator subtransient reactance
Gen FLC = kVA / (kVL-L * 3)
Challenges Meeting the NEC
Cautions
Mixing Overcurrent Protective Devices
Cautions
Arc Flash
Selective coordination may impact
arc flash incident energy levels
May be possible to reduce with
Zone Selective Interlocking
Use of breakers LSI rather than
the traditional thermal magnetic
breaker.
Other means
Design Guidelines
Conduct Preliminary Short-Circuit & Selective
Coordination Studies First
Reduce the number of levels (buses) that need to be
coordinated to 3 or 4 if possible
Before letting a job out for bid, conduct preliminary short
circuit and selective coordination studies first as they may
affect the system design
Consider 3-phase and ground fault currents
If a lack of coordination seems to exist using the TCCs,
use the Short Circuit Selective Coordination Tables
Work from the Bottom Up
Starting from the bottom of the system, coordinate the branch
lighting panels first, then the power distribution panels, then
the switchboard or switchgear
Design Guidelines
Name: PD-0001
Overlapping Curves
Manufacturer: *SQUARE D
coordination tables
Nest Curves
Name: PD-0001
The time-current curve of a thermal-
magnetic circuit breaker can
Manufacturer: SQUARED
Type: POWERPACT P-Frame, 3.0 & 3.0A
Frame/Model: PG
Trip: 250 A
Ground Fault
Make sure system is selectively coordinated for ground
faults
Make sure the GFPE also coordinates with the
downstream phase overcurrent devices, not just the
downstream GFPE
Design Guidelines
Transformers
Use the higher protection limits in Article 450 (e.g. 250%
instead of 125% FLA on the primary)
Consider 30 to 75 KVA transformers100 to 225 amp
panelboards with Mission Critical Mains
Increase the Frame Size of the Upstream Circuit Breaker
The upstream circuit breaker should be at least one frame
size larger than the downstream circuit breaker. This may
necessitate increasing the size of panelboards and feeder
conductors.
Very high levels of short circuit selective coordination may be
achieved by using high amp frame electronic trip circuit
breakers with low amp sensors and/or lower ampere rating
adjustments
Design Guidelines
Field Adjustment
Dont neglect to properly adjust circuit breakers in the field as
they are often shipped from the factory with all but the
ampere-rating switch in the lowest position
Summary
Coordination to
System Which Source What Level Reference(s)
Healthcare essential electrical Alternate 1. Optimize as far as 1. NEC-2011 700.1, 700.27; NFPA
practicable 110 6.5.1
2. 0.1s 2. NEC-2014 517.30(G), NFPA 99-
2012
Thank you!!!
Justin Schroeder, P.E.
Schneider Electric USA
2979 Pacific Drive, Suite E
Norcross, GA 30071
Justin.Schroeder@schneider-electric.com
Phone: 770-734-1367