FUNDAMENTALS OF BUILDING WIRING

TOPICS
•Building wiring cables
•Planning, Execution & Maintenance
•Statutory requirements
•Summary
 Building Wiring Cables

Copper vs. Aluminum

 Copper in India: A Journey Through Time

 Ensuring Safety and Efficiency: Factors to

Consider in Electrical Wiring and Cabling
 Copper vs. Aluminium
PROPERTY Cu(101) Al(1350) Remarks

Electrical Conductivity (%IACS) 101 61 In bare form Al cheaper

Electrical Resistivity (u-ohm cm) 1.72 2.83 Upsizing of Al required to

compensate resistivity
Temp Coefficient of 0.0039 0.004 No Effect. Ampere rating of cable is
resistance(/oC) decided by insulation
Coefficient of Expansion(/oC) 17*10-6 23*10-6 Cyclic expansion & contraction
weakens adhesion
Tensile Strength (N/mm2) 200-250 50-60 Higher productivity and lower
processing cost for Cu
Elastic modulus (kN/mm2) 116-130 70

Density (gm/cm3) 8.91 2.70 Weight of Cu higher than Al

Melting Point (oC) 1083 660 Higher Short circuit capacity for Cu

Elongation 30-50 8 Cu more ductile

 Building Wiring Cables

 Copper vs. Aluminum

Copper in India: A Journey

Through Time
 Ensuring Safety and Efficiency: Factors to
Consider in Electrical Wiring and Cabling
Copper in India: A Journey Through Time

CCO withdrawn in 1991.

Copper Control
Order was passed
Customer poor feedback
on Al + PVC built
Post China war, Mandatory household wiring
1962: Imposition restriction of Cu observed.
of heavy import in household
duties on Cu, wiring.
Rubber (VIR).
Pre-
Independence Al + PVC therefore
era: Cu became famous.
conductor with
VIR insulation
 Building Wiring Cables

 Copper vs. Aluminum

 Copper in India: A Journey Through Time

Ensuring Safety and Efficiency:

Factors to Consider in Electrical
Wiring and Cabling
 Ensuring Safety & Efficiency

1. PVC vs FRLS

80
70
60
50
40 FRLS
30 PVC
20
10
0 PVC
Oxygen FRLS
Index Smoke
Density Acid Gas
generation
•O2 index: O2 conc. required in O2-N2 mixture to burn insulation.
•Temp index: Temp required an normal O2 level to burn insulation.
•Smoke Density: Visibility during insulation burning.
•Acid gas generation: Amount of HCL (by weight %)emanating from insulation
Ensuring Safety & Efficiency
2. Stranded vs Solid
•Effective surface area more in stranded
•Better Heat dissipation
•Lower Resistance
•Better flexibility

3. Efficiency Consideration
•Core Area Calculation as per IS 732 (Part II)
•One step up-sizing for long term benefit viz – Electricity
savings, improved thermal withstanding limit

4. Cable Derating (IS 3961 Part 5)

•Depends on Position – Vertical, Horizontal, Ceiling
•Depends on Layout – Batten, Casing Capping, Conduit
•Depends on Environment temperature
 FUNDAMENTALS OF BUILDING WIRING

TOPICS
•Building wiring cables
•Planning, Execution &
Maintenance
•Statutory requirements
•Summary
 Planning

1. Preferably at ground floor. 1. Independent vertical

duct from meter room
2. Ventilated and lockable. to main DB in flat with
Coordination between 3. 1m clear space in front of panel board. door on each floor.
Electrical & Civil during
planning 4. 0.7m<Meter Board<1.7m(Above FFL) 2. Hume pipe or DWC
1 ph meter: 300mm X 300mm of dia > 100mm.
Minimum depth below
ground = 750 mm
 Planning

1. Periodical maintenance of
1. Dry type T/F only allowed
earth pit chambers.
inside building structure. Separate room or open space for
incorporating inverter & battery 2. Location of Earth pit should
2. Preferable on ground floor
be nearer to installations.
or above Flood level. Or
3. Mandatory clearance of 2m
3. Associated switchgear in Generator.
from other underground
adjacent room.
services for LA earth pit.
 Planning

Verification of architectural layout Finalization of below drawings-

Discussion with Client, Architect in
to ensure following areas- 1. Electrical layout
1. Space requirement compliance. 1. Utility 2. SLD
2. Clearances between 2. Aesthetics 3. Concealed piping layout
water/sewage/overhead lines. 4. Essential & non-essential load
3. Costing
Finalisation of Interior design 5. Continuous & non-continuous
drawing 4. Future requirements
loads
 Planning
Electrical Layout -

Point of consideration –
1. Light points Location of switchboard-
2. Fan points 1. Immediate within the reach of first step into room
3. Exhaust fan points 2. Must not be hidden behind open door
4. Power outlets – 6A, 16A, 3. Height > 1.25m from FFL for ease accessibility
5. Sound systems 4. Switchboard with plug outlets should be nearer to
6. Computer points appliance to avoid hanging cord.
7. Security system 5. In bathroom, away from water. In kitchen away
8. Fire Alarm systems from direct heat.
 Planning
SLD of 1 BHK dwelling

SLD must have the following -

1. Capacities of all switchgears
2. Details of DB’s with number of ways & the incoming, outgoing MCB’s in it
3. Size of main, sub-main, circuit main & Load on each incoming, outgoing circuit of DB.
 Planning
Switchgear -> To protect wires, appliances, humans

Overload &
Fuse
S/C protection

Overload &
EL+S/C+Overload RCBO/ELMCB MCB
S/C protection

ELCB/RCCB Isolator

Earth leakage protecton

Only manual Isolation
Mandatory for 1 ph
Not a protective device
having load > 5kW
 Execution

Properly coordinated with civil

especially in case of concealed
wiring.
Procurement of material as per the
relevant standard
Color identification of cable(Phase-R
or Y or B, Neutral – Black, Earthing-
Green or Yellow)
Work execution by competent
person only
 Execution & maintenance
Execution
Post Execution & before handover following test need to be conducted-
1. Insulation resistance to earth - >1Mohm at 500V DC
2. Insulation resistance between phase & neutral -> Same
3. Earth resistance at consumer earth electrode -> 1-2 ohm

Maintenance

4. To be done only by qualified personnel

5. Insulation resistance test shall be carried out after every 5 years from initial
Installation and repeated after every 2 years.
3. Earth resistance should be checked in dry season. It should be less than 5 ohm.
4. Periodical watering of earth pits.
5. Checking of earth continuity from all points once a year.
6. Accessories with burnt contact should be replaced
7. Tripping of ELCB should be taken seriously.
 Energy COnservation

1. Use of CFL, LED instead of GLS lamp.

2. Use of solar water heater for water heating
3. Use of electronic regulators instead of
resistance type regualtor.
4. Use of Cu wire of adequate size.
5. Use of high star rating electrical appliances
6. Minimise the length of circuits
7. Use of standard like ISI mark product only
 FUNDAMENTALS OF BUILDING WIRING

TOPICS
•Building wiring cables
•Planning, Execution & Maintenance
•Statutory requirements
•Summary
Statutory Requirements
Designated person, having certificate of competency issued by
appropriate government & whose name present in register (maintained
by contractor), shall be authorised to work

Chartered Electrical safety engineer having degree in EE & experience of

at least 5 years may carry out inspection as per Reg 32 & Reg 45 for the
purpose of self-certification.

1. Electrical supply line & apparatus should be of sufficient rating for

power, insulation, estimated fault current, mechanical strength & it shall
be constructed installed protected & maintained to ensure safety of
human, animal, property.
2. Material & apparatus should conform to relevant IS code.
3. Electrical equipment shall be installed above HFL to ensure no
seepage
Statutory Requirements
1. Supplier shall take necessary precautions to keep his
installation like service cables, meters, in consumer
premises, safe &fit for supplying energy.
2. Consumer shall keep supplier’s installation safe

Supplier shall supply switchgear, enclosed in fireproof

enclosure & in an accessible position to every
conductor of service line except earthed or earthed
neutral conductor.

For safety compliance with earthed conductors in a

two-wire or multi-wire system, permanent
distinguishing indication is needed. No unrelated
insertions in earthed or earthed neutral allowed.
Exceptions: testing link or control switch. (2 pole TPN
or 4 pole SPN)
Statutory Requirements
Supplier shall provide & maintain on the
consumer’s premise for consumers use, a
suitable earth terminal near point of
commencement of supply.

Bare conductors should be inaccessible to

general public & accessible switches shall be
provided to render them dead whenever
necessary.
Eg – In grounding, In Lightning protection system.

Adequate precautions shall be taken to ensure

safety. Workmen shall be provided with tools &
PPE to protect them from electrical & mechanical
injury. Only designated person shall execute
work.
Statutory Requirements
Only licensed electrical contractor is allowed to
carry out electrical work who shall execute the
work under the supervision of person who has
certificate of competency, except in the case of
replacement of lamps, fans, fuses.

Periodical inspection to be carried out by

Electrical Inspector or Supplier or Chartered
Electrical Safety engineer up to voltage level as
notified by respective state. If any irregularity is
observed then supply is liable for disconnection.

For any new or additional supply to electrical

installation, it is required to be test either by
supplier or licensed electrical contractor. Supply
shall be released only after satisfactorily test
result.
Statutory Requirements
Before commissioning generator including
renewable energy installation, above a certain
capacity as decided by state government it is
necessary to get it inspected from electrical
inspector.

If insulation resistance of electrical installation

is not satisfactory then supplier shall not
release electrical supply. IR value should be at
least 1 Mohm.

If electrical installation is unsafe & it is likely to

cause injury on account of leakages or low
resistance, electrical supply to it will be
disconnected.
Statutory Requirements
Adequate capacity switchgear in accessible position shall be
provided by consumer after the point of commencement of
supply. No live part be exposed to prevent accidental shock.
In case of non compliance, supply shall be disconnected.

Following conditions need to be satisfied –

1. Switch to isolate complete supply of building..
2. Safe electrical installations & works are carried out to prevent shock, injury.
3. Ducts provided for electrical cables shall have fire barriers at each floor & shall not
be used for any other service pipes and cables.
4. FRLS or low halogen power cable to be used in building having height >15m.
5. Distribution of electricity to the floors shall be done using bus bar trunking
system;
6. Lightning protection of the building shall be as per the relevant standards;
7. Verification of electrical wiring of the building shall be carried out as per the
relevant standards; and
8. electricity meter shall not be installed in the passage of staircase.
Statutory Requirements
All non-current carrying metal parts of
electrical apparatus except that of class II
appliance , fans, tube light brackets shall be
connected to earth through effective
continuous earth conductor.

All electrical installations excluding those

below 2kW at voltage level below 250 V shall
be provided with earth leakage protective
device like ELCB,RCCB,RCD to disconnect
supply immediately in case of earth leakage.

Approval of Electrical inspector or self-

certification by owner or supplier is required
before the commencement of supply to
electrical installation for the voltage as
notified by respective government of state.
Statutory Requirements
1. No building shall be constructed under existing overhead line.
2. Horizontal clearance when line passes adjacent to the building shall be
more than 1.2m + maximum deflection due to wind pressure and when
line passes above the building then minimum vertical clearance of 2.5m
from highest point.

1. No building shall be constructed under overhead line.

2. Horizontal clearance up to 11kv -> 1.2m + max deflection due to wind.
3. Horizontal clearance exceeding 11kv up to 33kv -> 2m + max deflection due
to wind.
3. Horizontal clearance exceeding 33kv -> 2m + 0.3 m for every 33kv or part
thereof + max deflection due to wind.

If the proposed construction falls in the vicinity of electrical line,

whether overhead or underground, prior intimation to electric Supply
Co. who will follow the checklist which include ROW width to be
maintained clear below lines depending on voltage level &
subsequent approval from electrical inspector needs to be taken.
 FUNDAMENTALS OF BUILDING WIRING

TOPICS
•Building wiring cables
•Planning, Execution & Maintenance
•Statutory requirements
•Summary
 Summary

1. Copper has advantage in terms of – Conductivity, Strength, non-creeping

property, compatibility.
2. Aluminium has advantage in terms of – cheaper cost, light weight, better
conductivity.
3. Copper finding its application in Household wiring while Aluminium in Overhead
conductor.
Thank you
 Electrical Conductivity

Compensating Conductivity & Resistivity, magnifies

the dimension of Al.
Since, Cost ∝ Insulation, Cu used as insulated
conductor.

Despite larger dimension of Al, weight is

only 50% of Cu (due to low density).
In bare form Al cheaper, used in EHV &
HV overhead transmission.
 Electrical Resistivity

Area to be increased for Al conductor for resistivity compensation.

Up-sizing of Al required for having similar properties as that of Copper.

Cu core area (sq mm) Al core area (sq mm)

1 1.5

1.5 2.5

2.5 4

4 6
 Tensile Strength & Young’s Modulus

• Higher Tensile Strength in Cu vs. Al

– Cu > Al tensile strength.
– Faster wire drawing, improves productivity.
• Formation of Oxide Layer
– Al wire drawing → Oxide layer.
– Increased production cost.
• Oxide Layer Removal
– Frequent annealing required.
– Neglect → Increased Al resistance, reduced strength.
• Young's Modulus Comparison
– Copper: More Ductile, Less deformation
– Preferred in applications requiring flexibility.
 Melting Point

• According to IS : 732 (Part II)

 For Cu: Cross section (area in sq. mm) A = 9.4 Ik √t
 For Al: Cross section (area in sq. mm) A = 14.2 Ik √t

Ik =Short circuit current in kilo-Ampere

t =Duration of short circuit current in seconds (time taken by
MCB/Fuse to operate)