ELECTRIFICATION

Basic guidelines for installing allied services of Electrification

Each specialized service should be executed without mixing up with other services. Wiring of
each service should be taken in its own pipe/ channel except when it is permitted at discretion
of engineer in charge. Consultation should be made with reputed specialized firm to provide for
space and other built in provision for such services. Suitable cat- walks to be provided for
maintenance of systems provided at higher levels. It is also necessary to provide space/ shafts/
Routes and In-built provisions for these services. Co-ordinate provision of these services in
consultation with user, architect, structural engineer and specialised agencies.

Preliminary estimate required for planning allied services of electrification-

Modern colonies require facilities like CCTV (for gate and house security), Intercom system,
basic security system etc. for the safety and convenience of residents.so preliminary estimate
should be provided stating the requirements for such provisions of safety and convenience of
residents. Most of these services pay for themselves within 3 /4 year of installation.

List of Allied Services of Electrification

 Telephone wiring
 Communication cabling
 Computer cabling, networking, dedicated earthing
 Audiovisual systems
 Security Systems
 Sound Reinforcement
 Stage lighting
 External lighting
 Architectural In-built lighting
 Solar energy system
 Photo voltaic power system
 Other specific lighting services etc.
 Building management system

Guidelines for planning office building with regard to installation of electrical and
its allied services-

The main objective is to avoid possible fire hazards, which calls for sound detailed designing
and use of quality equipment’s and material executed with sound workmanship and
supervision. All control LT panels, controlling power supply to the entire building should be
located in a centralised room, from where centralised control and monitoring of the entire power
supply can be made. Earth fault protection shall be provided for each individual building at LT
receiving point i.e. main LT panel. ELCB shall not be provided as a matter of routine in

Compiled By Ar. Jameer Y. Mulani

Pravara Rural College of Architecture, Loni
 ELECTRIFICATION

distribution boards. These can be provided, if required, by the chief engineer in charge. The
office buildings are prone to fire hazards during night time therefore after office hours all LT
panels should be shut off. Only specified LT panels should be switched on which feed load
during night hours. Such panels are called common service panel may feed following loads
some specific lifts, staircase, corridor, compound lights, fire protection loads, pump sets, other
load which are kept on after office hours.

Minimum two transformers should be provided to provide certain redundancy. Also a smaller
size transformer may be provided to take care of reduced load during after office hours. It is
preferable to plan separate service building, to combine all mechanical and electrical services
of the building. Such service building can combine electric substation, DG sets, UPS, air-
conditioning plant, water supply pump sets, etc. While planning maintainability of various
services to be ensured, like providing facilities like access, approachability of various
equipment’s, maintenance space etc.

Planning of electrical installation-

 Providing an efficient power distribution system to meet various power requirements of

equipment’s like ACs, Pumps, Lifts, Specific Equipment’s, Ventilation Plant, AC plant etc
 Reducing operation and maintenance cost by using automation and sensors, remote
control, microprocessor control for controlling various mechanical and electrical activities.
 Energy conservation measures.
 Need of building management system for efficiency and energy cost saving.
 Relative cost of various alternative methods.
 Safety aspects including provision of built in safety measures.
 Specific measures to avoid possible fire hazards.
 Use of appropriate technology.
 Quality control based on quality of material, equipments and appropriate design.
 Aesthetic and coordination with structural and architectural requirements.
 Taking in to account future growth of load.
 Need to provide related space/ conduits/ channels/ cables/ wire for service like
communication cable, computer cabling, fire alarm cabling, UPS cabling etc, CCTV security
system cables.

Planning requirement of electrical substation-

 The Ideal location for electric substation for building and group of buildings would be at load
center and shall be located on ground floor in a separate building.
 Such building shall have direct access through a motor able road to ensure easy access or
removal of equipment.
 The floor level of the sub-station or switch room (in case of LT) shall be above the highest
flood level of the locality.
 In case substation is to be located within main building itself for unavoidable reasons it
should be located at ground floor with easy access from outside.

Compiled By Ar. Jameer Y. Mulani

Pravara Rural College of Architecture, Loni
 ELECTRIFICATION

 Location of substation in basement floor should be avoided on account of flooding and fire
hazard. In case it is unavoidable then provision of automatic dewatering pumping and
construction of waterproof basement.
 Such portion of basement should be isolated from rest of the basement. Should have easy
entry and exit arrangement.
 Suitable mechanical ventilation and fire detection/ protection system to be provided to
confirm BIS requirements and requirements of local fire authority. Only dry type of
transformers and switch gears to be provided unless they are installed in a separate service
building separated from main building.
 Emergency power supply equipment shall not be allowed to be installed above ground floor
or below first basement level of building.
Write short notes on electrical conduits?

 All rigid conduit pipes shall be of steel and be ISI marked.

 The wall thickness shall not be less than 160 mm for conduit upto 32 mm dia and not less
than 200 mm for conduit above 32 mm dia.
 The maximum number of PVC insulated cables conforming to IS 694 : 1990 that can be
drawn in one conduit is given.
 The number of cable per conduit shall not be exceeded
 No steel conduit less than 20 mm in diameter shall be used.
 All conduit accessories shall be of threaded type.
 Conduit pipes shall be joined by means of screwed couplers and screwed accessories only
 The conduit work of each circuit or section shall be completed before cables are drawn in.
 Bare threaded portion of conduit shall not be allowed unless it is treated with anti corrosive
preservative or covered with approved plastic compound
 Surface conduit work exposed to whether shall be painted two coats of red oxide paint
before they are fixed to protect it from rust
 Bends in conduit – All necessary bends in the system, including diversion shall be done
either by neatly bending the pipes without cracking with bending radius of not less than 7.5
cm or alternatively by inserting suitable solid or inspection type normal bends, elbows or
similar fittings, or by fixing cast iron inspection boxes, whichever is more suitable.
 After installation of conduits in surface or recess, all accessible surface of metallic conduit
pipes or fittings etc. shall be painted with two coats of enamel paint of approved shade.

Write Short note on Switch Room-

 Where it is not necessary to provide sub-station a switch room shall be provided.

 This shall be preferably near entrance of building on ground floor.
 This switch room shall receive LT supply for which suitable pipe/ trench provision shall be
kept for cable entry.
 Power distribution shall start with suitable of rising mains (or rising cables) for vertical
distribution.
 A large building will be divided into suitable number of parts, each part will be served by
rising mains

Compiled By Ar. Jameer Y. Mulani

Pravara Rural College of Architecture, Loni
 ELECTRIFICATION

 Suitable provision shall be kept for laying cables/ bus duct from switch room to feed each
rising mains.

Quality of Electric Supply-

 Parameters deciding quality of electric supply are following Voltage, Frequency and
Absence of harmful harmonics and Protection against lightning
 Modern building use large electro mechanical and electronic devices for their proper
operation and protection require quality electric supply.
 Hence based on need suitable additional equipment’s like voltage correctors, filters, surge
protectors, UPS etc may be provided as integral part of electric power system.

Street Lighting Poles

Hot dipped galvanized poles with integrated built in control box and lighting brackets should be
provide as It delays corrosion of poles. The street and area lighting should be designed to keep lux
level at lower limit specified in standards. Having external control box fixed to pole is not preferred
for aesthetic and technical reasons If external control box is fixed to pole it should be of engineered
plastic or polycarbonate material with IP: 65 protections, to avoid corrosion effect. Street lighting
fittings fixed to wall of building should be avoided.

Location of Switchboards-

Switchboards are to be located in common areas like corridors, lobby etc. and not to be located in
locked rooms. Switchboards should be located in dry situation and in well- ventilated space. They shall
not be placed in the vicinity of storage battery or exposed to chemical fumes. Switchboards shall not be
erected above gas stove, or sinks or within 2.5 meter of any washing rooms of launderings or in bath
rooms, toilets or kitchen.

As far as possible main board shall not be located in basement. Such main board can be located on
ground floor. It is preferable to locate main boards in rising main shafts of adequate size, with steel
doors (having ventilation) or in suitable room. Similarly DBs can be in suitable nitches in corridor walls
having doors. Locating main boards under staircase or standing open in corridor is not good practice
besides being highly unaesthetic. The main switch board, which receives power to the building should
invariably located in a switch room, having round a clock access, for emergency attendance to the
switchboards.

Compiled By Ar. Jameer Y. Mulani

Pravara Rural College of Architecture, Loni