WIRING

AND
PROTECTION
CHAPTER 2
 Use and Identification of
1 Grounded Conductors

Branch Circuits
2
CONTENTS
Feeders
3

Branch-Circuit Calculations
4
 ARTICLE 2.0
U S E A N D I D E N T I F I C AT I O N O F
01 GROUNDED CONDUCTORS
GROUNDED CONDUCTORS
 Must be well-insulated and maintain a continuous,
unbroken path to ensure safety. They should be properly
identified typically through white or gray color coding.
 For a premises wiring system to be electrically connected
to a supply system, the supply system must contain a
grounded conductor that corresponds to the grounded
conductor of the interior system.
 Neutral conductors cannot be shared between multiple
circuits unless allowed by the electrical code.
M e a n s o f I d e n ti f y i n g G r o u n d e d C o n d u c t o r s

Grounded conductors of 14 mm² or smaller/22 mm² or larger must be identified

by a continuous white or gray finish, stripes, or marked at terminations to
01 ensure they are recognized as neutral for safety.

Grounded conductors in flexible cords and in multiconductor cables must be

02 marked with a white or gray outer finish, or other permitted identification
methods.

Grounded conductors from different systems in the same enclosure must be

03 clearly identified using methods like distinct outer coverings, colored stripes,
or other markings that comply with the code.
02 ARTICLE 2.10
BRANCH CIRCUITS
M u l ti w i r e B r a n c h C i r c u i t s

Utilizes two or more ungrounded (hot) conductors with a shared

neutral conductor.

Used for balancing the load on a circuit or supplying two different

circuits from one cable.

Reduces wire usage and voltage drop in larger installations, often

found in commercial or industrial setups.

These circuits are designed to supply power to two separate 120-

volt circuits, or a single 240-volt circuit, by using the same neutral
wire.
I d e n ti fi c a ti o n f o r B r a n c h C i r c u i t s

An electrical wiring system that extends from the final overcurrent

protection device, such as a breaker or fuse, to the outlets
(receptacles, lights, or appliances).

Typically 15 or 20 amps, providing power to standard outlets and

fixtures and dwelling circuits are limited to 230 volts.

GFCI protection is required in many areas including bathrooms,

kitchens, garages, outdoor locations, and near sinks in dwelling
units, as well as in similar areas in other locations like rooftops
and wet indoor areas.
I d e n ti fi c a ti o n f o r B r a n c h C i r c u i t s

Branch circuits must be sized to handle calculated loads for lighting,

appliances, and motor-operated equipment. The number of circuits
required depends on the total load and circuit ratings, and they must
not exceed maximum load limits.
Dwelling units require:
• Small-Appliance Circuits: At least one 20-ampere circuit for specified receptacles.
• Laundry Circuits: One 20-ampere circuit solely for laundry receptacles.
• Bathroom Circuits: One 230-volt, 20-ampere circuit for bathroom receptacles with no
other outlets.
• Garage Circuits: One 20-ampere circuit for garages, which can also serve outdoor
receptacles.
• Small Dwelling Units: For units under 50 m², a single 20-ampere, 2-wire circuit is
allowed if the load is under 3680 volt-amperes.
 Required Outlets

Appliance receptacle outlets must be within 1800

mm of the appliance location and more than 1700
mm (67 inches) above the floor to ensure safe and
convenient use.
A receptacle outlet must be installed at every wall
countertop or work surface that is at least 300 mm
(12 inches) wide and an outlet must be available
within 600 mm of any spot along the countertop.
Receptacle outlets shall be located on or above, but
not more than 500 mm above, the countertop or At least one receptacle outlet must be installed at
work surface. each island/peninsula countertop space that is:
600 mm (24 inches) or more in length, and 300 mm
(12 inches) or more in width.

At least one receptacle outlet must be installed on a

wall within 900 mm (36 inches) of the outside edge of
each basin in a bathroom. The outlet cannot be
placed more than 300 mm (12 inches) below the top
of the basin or countertop.
 Required Outlets

Each balcony, deck, or porch attached to the

dwelling and accessible from inside must have at
least one receptacle outlet, located no more than
2000 mm (6.5 feet) above the walking surface.
At least one receptacle outlet must be installed in
areas designated for laundry equipment and in each
separate unfinished portion of a basement.

Each vehicle bay must have a receptacle outlet

placed no more than 1700 mm (5.5 feet) above the
floor and 300 mm (12 inches) or more in width. At
least one receptacle must be installed in each
attached garage and in each detached garage that
Hallways that are 3000 mm (10 feet) or more in
has electrical power.
length must have at least one receptacle outlet.
Foyers with an area greater than 5.6 m² (60 square
feet) that are not considered part of a hallway must
have a receptacle installed on each wall space that
is 900 mm (36 inches) or more in width.
 Required Outlets

 A 250- or 125-volt, single-phase, 15- or 20-

 Each habitable room (such as living
ampere-rated receptacle outlet must be
rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and
installed near heating, air-conditioning, and
bathrooms) and specific areas like
refrigeration equipment.
hallways, stairways, garages (both
 This outlet must be located within 7500 mm
attached and detached), and exterior
(25 feet) of the indoor service equipment or
entrances must have at least one wall
within 15 meters (49 feet) of the outdoor
switch-controlled lighting outlet.
service equipment.
 The lighting outlet can be controlled by a
 The receptacle must be located in the same
wall switch or, in some cases, by a
room or area as the service equipment for
receptacle.
easy access.
 Required Outlets

For all types of buildings, attics, underfloor

In hotels, motels, dormitories, or similar
spaces, utility rooms, and basements that are
guest accommodations, each habitable room
used for storage or contain equipment
and bathroom must have at least one wall
requiring maintenance must have at least one
switch-controlled lighting outlet.
switch-controlled lighting outlet.
This lighting must be installed near the
equipment for safe servicing, and the switch
must be located at the usual point of entry to
the space.
03 ARTICLE 2.15
F E E D E RS
 FEEDER CONDUCTORS

It refers to the conductors or wires

that carry power from a source, such
as a main distribution panel,
Main Feeders: These connect the main
substation, or transformer, to a
power supply to a building’s distribution
subpanel or a load center. Feeders
panels.
distribute electricity to different areas
Subfeeders: Used to carry power from a
or systems and are designed to
distribution panel to subpanels, which
handle higher currents.
then serve specific areas or devices.

1 2
FEEDER CONDUCTORS

Feeder conductors must be appropriately

For multiple sets of feeders, a common neutral
sized based on the type of load and
can be used, but all conductors must be enclosed
conditions. For systems under 600 volts,
in the same raceway for safety. Feeders supplying
feeders must account for continuous and
equipment or branch circuits must include grounding
non-continuous loads and should be
conductors. Additionally, special provisions are
adjusted to prevent excessive voltage drop.
made for ground-fault protection of equipment
For systems over 600 volts, feeder
and personnel, with Exceptions for industrial
conductor sizing depends on the load type,
processes and autotransformers used in
with specific provisions for transformers
specific voltage systems.
and supervised installations.
 ARTICLE 2.20
04 B R A N C H - C I R C U I T C A L C U L AT I O N S
B r a n c h - C i r c u i t L o a d C a l c u l a ti o n s
Lighting Load for Specified Occupancies
The floor area for each floor shall be calculated from
the outside dimensions of the building, dwelling unit,
or other area involved. For dwelling units, the
calculated floor area shall not include open porches,
garages, or unused or unfinished spaces.
 HOW TO DETERMINE BRANCH CIRCUIT CONDUCTORS,
OVERCURRENT PROTECTIVE DEVICES, AND EQUIPMENT
GROUNDING CONDUCTORS?

Branch Circuits - Minimum Size and Ampacity

Branch-circuit conductors shall have an ampacity not
less than the maximum load to be served, the
minimum branch circuit conductor size shall have an
allowable ampacity not less than the noncontinuous
load plus 125 percent of the continuous load.

Overcurrent Protection
Branch-circuit conductors and equipment shall be
protected by overcurrent protective devices where
a branch circuit supplies continuous loads or any
combination of continuous and noncontinuous loads,
the rating of the overcurrent device shall not be less
than the noncontinuous load plus 125 percent of the
continuous load.
 HOW TO DETERMINE BRANCH CIRCUIT CONDUCTORS,
OVERCURRENT PROTECTIVE DEVICES, AND EQUIPMENT
GROUDING CONDUCTORS?

Size of Equipment Grounding Conductors

Copper, aluminum, or copper-clad aluminum
equipment grounding conductors of the wire
type shall not be smaller than shown in Table
2.50.6.13, but in no case shall they be required
to be larger than the circuit conductors
supplying the equipment.
S A M P L E L O A D S C H E D U L E A N D C O M P U TAT I O N

SINGLE PHASE SYSTEM 2 WIRES, 230V, 60HZ

 B r a n c h - C i r c u i t L o a d C a l c u l a ti o n s

Receptacle Outlets
Receptacle outlets shall be calculated at not
less than 180 volt-amperes for each single or
for each multiple receptacle on one yoke. A
single piece of equipment consisting of a
multiple receptacle comprised of four or more
receptacles shall be calculated at not less than
90 volt-amperes per receptacle.
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