ELECTRICAL CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES
Calculation of FLOOR AREA needed for electrical room.
1. Determine the Equipment to Be Installed
The electrical room must accommodate equipment such as:
- Main switchboards/panelboards
- Transformers (if applicable)
- Circuit breakers and protective devices
- Generators (if included in the design)
- UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) units
- Meters and control panels
2. Follow Clearance and Working Space Requirements (PEC [Link] & [Link])
According to the Philippine Electrical Code (PEC):
Minimum Working Space in Front of Equipment:
- 0.9 meters (3 feet) for voltages up to 600V
- If equipment operates above 600V, refer to PEC Table [Link]
Width of Working Space:
- Must be at least the width of the equipment or 0.75 meters (30 inches),
whichever is greater.
Height Clearance:
- Minimum 2.0 meters (6.5 feet) from the floor to the ceiling or lowest
structural obstruction.
Door Clearance and Exit Requirements:
- Electrical rooms above 1200A or 1.8m (6ft) wide should have two exits,
one at each end.
- Doors must swing outward and be at least 0.91m (36 inches) wide.
- If equipment has overcurrent protection above 1200A, doors should have
panic hardware.
3. Compute the Required Floor Area
Basic Formula Approach
To estimate the floor area:
- List all equipment dimensions (L × W)
- Add required clearance space per PEC (0.9m in front, 0.75m sides)
- Sum up all required areas to determine the room size
Example Calculation
Assume an electrical room needs to house:
- Panelboard: 1.2m × 0.6m
- Main Switchboard: 2.0m × 0.8m
- Transformer: 1.5m × 1.0m
Calculate the working space per equipment:
1. Panelboard area including clearance: (1.2m + 0.75m) × (0.6m + 0.9m) = 1.95m ×
1.5m
2. Main switchboard area including clearance: (2.0m + 0.75m) × (0.8m + 0.9m) =
2.75m × 1.7m
3. Transformer area including clearance: (1.5m + 0.75m) × (1.0m + 0.9m) = 2.25m
× 1.9m
Total estimated floor area
(1.95 × 1.5) + (2.75 × 1.7) + (2.25 × 1.9) = 2.925 + 4.675 + 4.275 = 11.875 sqm
* Round up to ensure proper spacing, resulting in a recommended floor area of ~12–15
sqm.
4. Consider Additional Factors
Ventilation & Cooling: If large electrical loads or transformers are present,
ventilation space must be considered.
Future Expansion: Add at least 20–30% extra space for future upgrades.
Accessibility: Ensure there is enough space for maintenance personnel to move
freely.
Computation of ELECTRICITY LOAD needed depending on floor area of the room
1. Determine the Load Per Square Meter
The PEC 2017 specifies minimum load allowances for different occupancies:
- Residential / Dwelling Units: 24 VA per square meter
- Commercial / Office / Business: 12 VA per square meter
- Hotels and Motels: 24 VA per square meter
- Schools and Classrooms: 12 VA per square meter
- Hospitals / Nursing Homes: 24 VA per square meter
- Garages, Hallways, Storage Rooms: No specific requirement (lighting load as
needed)
2. Compute the Load
Example Calculation:
Given a residential room with a floor area of 20 m²
Load allowance: 24 VA/m²
3. Convert to Amperes
To determine the current (A), use:
where:
I = Current in Amperes
P = Power in Volt-Amperes (VA)
V = Voltage (typically 230V in the Philippines)
Using the previous example:
4. Consider Other Loads
Besides the general lighting and receptacle load, additional loads must be considered
for appliances such as:
Air conditioners
Water heaters
Cooking appliances
Refrigerators
Other motor loads
*Each of these should be calculated separately and added to the total load.
5. Circuit Breaker & Wire Size Selection
Once the total load is known, select appropriate:
Circuit breaker rating (typically next standard size)
Wire size (based on ampacity tables in PEC)
Circuit Breaker & Wire Size Selection
1. Choosing the Circuit Breaker Rating
The breaker should be sized at least 125% of the continuous load to prevent
overheating.
The formula is: Breaker Size=Total Load × 1.25
*Using our previous example (480 VA at 230V → 2.09 A):
Breaker Size=2.09A×1.25=2.61A
*Since breakers are available in standard sizes, the next higher standard breaker
would be 5A.
Standard breaker sizes (PEC) for lighting/receptacles: 5A, 10A, 15A, 20A, 30A, 40A,
50A, etc.
General lighting: Usually 10A or 15A
Convenience outlets (receptacles): Minimum 20A breaker for general use
Dedicated appliances (AC, water heater, etc.): Check appliance rating
2. Selecting the Wire Size
The wire gauge is based on the current rating (ampacity). According to PEC Table
[Link], the following copper wire sizes are recommended:
The wire size needed: 1.25 mm² (AWG #16)
The breaker size needed: 5A breaker
For other cases:
Lighting circuits: Use 10A breaker with 2.0 mm² wire
Receptacle circuits: Use 20A breaker with 3.5 mm² wire
Aircon (1 HP ~ 6A, 230V): Use 20A breaker with 3.5 mm² wire
Electric water heater (4kW ~ 18A, 230V): Use 30A breaker with 5.5 mm² wire
3. Additional Considerations
Voltage Drop: If wiring is long (>15m), increase wire size to prevent excessive
voltage drop.
Conduit Fill: More wires in a conduit = more heat, requiring a larger wire size.
Appliance Breakers: Large appliances should have dedicated breakers & wires.
4. Sample Household Circuit Layout
A typical small house (30m²) might have:
Calculation of ELECTRICAL ROOM FLOOR AREA depending only in the computed
total load
1. Compute the Required Load in kVA
First, you should already have the total load in Volt-Amperes (VA) or kilo-Volt-Amperes
(kVA):
Example:
If the computed total load is 50,000 VA, then:
2. Determine the Transformer and Panelboard Size
The electrical room should accommodate:
- Main distribution panel (MDP)
- Panelboards (lighting, power, mechanical, emergency)
- Transformers (if needed)
- Other equipment (e.g., ATS, UPS, metering)
A rule of thumb is:
≤75 kVA → Small transformer (floor or wall-mounted)
>75 kVA → Floor-mounted transformer requiring more space
3. Estimate Electrical Room Floor Area Based on Load
According to common engineering design practices:
Rule of Thumb for Quick Calculation:
Example:
For a 150 kVA load:
4. Apply PEC Clearances & Space Planning
The Philippine Electrical Code (PEC) requires minimum clearances for electrical
equipment:
✅ Working Space:
Front of panels & switchgear: at least 1.0m
Side clearance: 0.9m – 1.5m (depends on equipment)
Ceiling height: at least 2.5m
✅ Door Requirements:
Minimum width: 0.9m
Opens outward (for safety)
✅ Ventilation:
Required if transformers or UPS systems are installed
5. Consider Future Expansion
Add at least 20–30% extra space for future loads
Avoid overcrowding for easy maintenance