Pagemike@standardsmichigan.com, Author at Standards Michigan

Wires

Ampere current flows through copper or aluminum conductor due to the movement of free electrons in response to an applied electric field of varying voltages. Each copper or aluminum contributes one free electron to the electron sea, creating a vast reservoir of mobile charge carriers. When a potential difference (voltage) is applied across the ends of the conductor, an electric field is established within the conductor. This field exerts a force on the free electrons, causing them to move in the direction of the electric field. The resulting current flow can be transformed into different forms depending on the nature of the device.

Heating: When current flows through a resistor, it encounters resistance, which causes the resistor to heat up. This is the principle behind electric heaters, toasters, and incandescent light bulbs.

Mechanical Work: Current flowing through an electric motor creates a magnetic field, which interacts with the magnetic field of the motor’s permanent magnets or electromagnets. This interaction generates a mechanical force, causing the motor to rotate. Thus, electrical energy is converted into mechanical energy; including sound.

Light: In an incandescent light bulb, a filament heats up ( a quantum phenomena) due to the current passing through it. This is an example of electrical energy being converted into light energy; including the chemical energy through light emitting diodes

Today we dwell on how conductors are specified and installed in building premise wiring systems primarily; with some attention to paths designed to carry current flowing through unwanted paths (ground faults, phase imbalance, etc). In the time we have we will review the present state of the best practice literature developed by the organizations listed below:

International Electrotechnical Commission

60304 Low voltage installations: Protection against electric shock

Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers

National Electrical Safety Code

Insulated Cable Engineers Association

International Association of Electrical Inspectors

National Fire Protection Association

National Electrical Code

Code Making Panel 6

Transcript of CMP-6 Proposals for 2026 NEC

Other organizations such as the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, ASTM International, Underwriter Laboratories, also set product and installation standards. Data center wiring; fiber-optic and low-voltage control wiring is covered in other colloquia (e.g. Infotech and Security) and coordinated with the IEEE Education & Healthcare Facilities Committee.

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2017 National Electrical Code § 110.5

National Electrical Code: 310.15(B) Temperature Correction Factors

Neher-McGrath Calculation: Cable Calculation ampacity and Thermal Analysis

Voltage Drop Calculation Example

ETAP: Cabling Sizing – Cable Thermal Analysis

System Aspects of Electrical Energy

Impedance Grounding for Electric Grid Surviability

Electric Power Availability: Cold Weather Preparedness

Architecture of power systems: Special cases

Outdoor Deicing & Snow Melting

Campus Outdoor Lighting

High Voltage Electric Service

Campus Bulk Electrical Distribution

Codex Alimentarius

The Codex Alimentarius Commission regularly reviews and updates its standards and guidelines to reflect the latest scientific knowledge and technological advancements in the food industry. These standards are voluntary, but they serve as a reference for countries and international organizations when developing their own food safety and quality regulations. Compliance with Codex standards can facilitate international trade by ensuring that food products meet common criteria for safety and quality.

Some of the key areas addressed by Codex standards include:

Food safety: Codex sets standards for food contaminants, residues of pesticides and veterinary drugs, food additives, and microbiological criteria to ensure that food products are safe for consumption.

Food labeling: Codex provides guidelines on how food products should be labeled, including information on ingredients, nutrition, allergens, and more.

Food hygiene: It establishes principles and guidelines for food handling, processing, and storage to prevent foodborne illnesses.

Food quality: Codex standards also cover the quality attributes of various food products, including fruits, vegetables, and various processed foods.

Food additives: Codex regulates the use of food additives to ensure they are safe for consumption and serve a specific purpose in food production.

Residue limits: It sets maximum residue limits for various chemicals, such as pesticides and veterinary drugs, in food products to protect consumers from potential harm.

Blockchain Tokens for Food Traceability

The Science of Food Standards

Food Safety Risk Management

📰 | #CodexNews | National Codex Committee of Turkmenistan🇹🇲 visits Germany🇩🇪

➕ℹ️➡️ https://t.co/TixjQTUILA #FoodSafety | #Codex pic.twitter.com/1d29EQISDh

— Codex Alimentarius (@FAOWHOCodex) September 15, 2023

Impedance Grounding for Electric Grid Surviability

University of California Berkeley

Readings:

Resistance Grounding System Basics

High Resistance Grounding

Electrical Safety for High Resistance Grounded Systems

2028 National Electrical Safety Code

August 14, 2003

WHAT I EAT IN A DAY

Western University Summary of Revenues and Expenses: $1.122B

CSA Group

Middlesex County Ontario

Ontario

Facilities Management

Electrical Commissioning Specifications

University of California San Diego Microgrid Installation

The InterNational Electrical Testing Association (NETA) is an association of leading electrical testing companies comprised of visionaries who are committed to advancing the industry’s standards for power system installation and maintenance to ensure the highest level of reliability and safety. It has launched a new revision cycle to update the existing Edition of ANSI/NETA ECS Standard for Electrical Commissioning Specifications for Electrical Power Equipment and Systems. From the standard prospectus:

Scope: It is the purpose of these specifications to assure that tested electrical equipment and systems are operational, are within applicable standards and manufacturer’s tolerances, and are installed in accordance with design specifications.

Project Need: The purpose of these specifications is to assure that tested electrical systems are safe, reliable, and operational; are in conformance with applicable standards and manufacturers’ tolerances; and are installed in accordance with design specifications. These specifications are specifically intended for application on electrical power equipment and systems.

Stakeholders: Commissioning agents, governmental agencies, A&E firms, inspection authorities, owners of facilities that utilize large blocks of electrical energy, electrical testing firms.

This standard is not intended to be submitted for consideration as an ISO, IEC, or ISO/IEC JTC-1 standard.

Revision cycles to other titles in the NETA catalogue:

NETA ECS-2024
NETA ATS-2025
NETA ETT-2026
NETA MTS-2027

NETA standards are typically referenced in electrical system construction documents for setting safety criteria before local authorities permit initial system energization and building occupancy. The NETA suite is also among the constellation of consensus documents that set the standard of care for the safety of building electrical systems across the full span of an electrical system life cycle.

We review the NETA catalog jointly with the IEEE Education & Healthcare Facilities Committee which is the locus of the most informed technical and business opinions on customer-owned electrical power generating facilities for the education facilities industry. That committee meets online twice today:

Teleconferences | May 22, 2018

All standards dealing with the #TotalCostofOwnership of distributed electrical energy resources are on the standing agenda of our weekly Open Door teleconferences which are hosted weekly on Wednesday at 11 AM Eastern time. Click here to log in.

Issue:[13-44]

Category: Electrical, Facility Asset Management, #SmartCampus

Colleagues: Mike Anthony, Jim Harvey, Gary Walls, Glenn Keates

Bucolia 300

Arboreta

Why the “Arbor” in Ann Arbor Michigan?

Other Ways of Knowing Climate Change

Anglo-americká vysoká škola, z.ú. Czech Republic

Today we walk through literature governing the safety and sustainability of the open space features of education community estates. Unlike the titles for the building envelope, which are known to most design professionals and contractors, the standards for grounds and landscaping are widely scattered; many of them occupational safety related; created, administered and enforced by units of government.

During the fair seasons we examine the moment in landscape, garden, tree and water literature. We also track titles about the reclamation of building roofs for permeable surfaces and gardens.

During the winter months in the northern hemisphere we include snow and ice management; while covering summer month technologies for southern hemisphere (and vice-versa). Snowfalls in the southern hemisphere are mainly contained to the highlands and mountain ranges, which are almost exclusively in Victoria and Southern New South Wales, as well as the mountains in Tasmania. Winter does not pose as much of a cost burden to education facilities in the southern hemisphere as it does in the northern hemisphere.

Arboreta

Landscape standards refer to guidelines or regulations that specify the requirements for the design, installation, and maintenance of outdoor spaces such as parks, gardens, streetscapes, and public spaces. Landscape standards typically cover various aspects of landscape design, including vegetation selection, planting arrangements, irrigation systems, hardscape materials, and lighting.

These standards may be set by government agencies at the federal, state, or local level, or by professional organizations such as the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). Landscape standards aim to ensure that outdoor spaces are safe, functional, and aesthetically pleasing while also promoting sustainability and environmental protection.

Landscape standards may also address issues such as accessibility for people with disabilities, water conservation, stormwater management, and erosion control. They may vary depending on the specific location, climate, and intended use of the outdoor space. Compliance with landscape standards may be required for approval of development projects, public funding, or other permits.

Father Marquette Catholic Academy | Marquette County Michigan

We track the standards catalog of two ANSI-accredited standards developers:

American Hort

Tree Care Industry Association

Additional practice titles applicable to accessory systems:

ASABE/ICC 802 Landscape Irrigation Sprinkler and Emitter Standard

National Electrical Code: Article 411 Low-Voltage Lighting

Upcode Article 411

National Electrical Code: Article 225: Outside Branch Circuits and Feeders

Illumination Engineering Society (Lighting Library)

Land F/X: Landscape Lighting, Codes, Guidelines and Techniques

OSHA Landscape and Horticultural Services

As a cross-cutting subject involving soil and water and sun many other standards developers, and all levels of government, produce best practice literature for today’s topic. We’ll have a look at what’s moving among those.

To join us use the login credentials at the upper right of our home page.

Linfield University oregon twilight best 1923 september solstice

blithewood garden bard college new york needs attribution 1921 721

EWVDXrpWkAMMsak missouri state garden 1921 721

university of southern mississippi spring 1921 719 featured image

Grotto_University_of_Notre_Dame_Spring 1918 719 featured image

the university of oklahoma spring flowers facebook cover 1921 721

michigan state university gardens james siatczynski needs attribution summer 1920

St. Olaf College minnesota facebook cover summer 1921 719

University_of_Washington_Quad,_Spring_2007 1923 721

unlv university of nevada spring facebook 1923 721

EUtdIViUUAAW040 Cal State Long Beach garden 1923

university of bergen norway garden global student staff needs attribution map screen capture by victor sanchez 2019

University of St. Michael's College garden canada best 1923 global

Standing Agenda / Bucolia

Massey University new zealand facebook cover international 1920 719

The University of Queensland international australia water needs attribution

ESVAQZUXYAAjKhC La Trobe University melbourne australia water intern 1919

university of western australia facebook cover 1921 721

Nothing evokes the ancestral blood memory of a man quite like a photo of a peasant girl with goats pic.twitter.com/2hSTF5CcW6

— miss white (@cinecitta2030) July 13, 2025

Monticello

University of Virginia Landscape Services

Garden Club of Virginia Virtual Tour April 2020

Jefferson’s Plan for an Academical Village

Standards Virginia

Members of #UVA28 and transfer students assembled on the Lawn for Opening Convocation this evening. They heard from @presjimryan and student leaders before signing the Honor Code, promising not to lie, cheat or steal while at UVA. pic.twitter.com/Z0QhGFNyA8

— UVA (@UVA) August 26, 2024

University of Virginia | Albemarle County

LIVE: Student Radio 95.3 FM

University of Florida (Gainesville): College of Journalism and Communications

Standards Florida

Scrumpy

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International Mechanical Code

“Plaza Italia” 1971 | Giorgio de Chirico

After architectural trades, the mechanical technologies occupy the largest part of building construction:

HVAC:
- Heating Systems: Technologies include furnaces, boilers, heat pumps, and radiant heating systems.
- Ventilation Systems: Incorporating technologies like air handlers, fans, and ductwork to ensure proper air circulation.
- Air Conditioning Systems: Including central air conditioning units, split systems, and variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems.
Plumbing:
- Water Supply Systems: Involving technologies for water distribution, pumps, and pressure regulation.
- Sanitary Systems: Including drainage, sewage systems, and waste disposal technologies.
- Fixtures and Faucets: Incorporating technologies for sinks, toilets, showers, and other plumbing fixtures.
Fire Protection:
- Fire Sprinkler Systems: Employing technologies like sprinkler heads, pipes, pumps, and water tanks.
- Fire Suppression Systems: Including technologies such as gas-based or foam-based suppression systems.
Energy Efficiency Technologies:
- Energy Management Systems (EMS): Utilizing sensors, controllers, and software to optimize energy consumption in HVAC systems.
- Energy Recovery Systems: Incorporating technologies like heat exchangers to recover and reuse energy from exhaust air.
Building Automation (BAS):
- Control Systems: Using sensors, actuators, and controllers to manage and automate various mechanical systems for optimal performance and energy efficiency.
- Smart Building Technologies: Integrating with other building systems for centralized control and monitoring.
Materials and Construction Techniques:
- Piping Materials: Selecting appropriate materials for pipes and fittings based on the application.
- Prefab and Modular Construction: Leveraging off-site fabrication and assembly for mechanical components.

Our examination of the movement in best practice in the mechanical disciplines usually requires an understanding of first principles that appear in the International Building Code

2024 International Mechanical Code

Current Code Development Cycles (2024-2026)

2024/2025/2026 Code Development Schedule

“On the Mechanical Equivalent of Heat” | 1850 James Prescott Joule | Proceedings of the Royal Society of London

Representative Design Guidelines:

Michigan State University

Florida State University

US Department of Energy: Sandia National Laboratories

Group A Model Building Codes

We are waiting for the link to the Complete Monograph for the Group A cycle in which one of our proposals (Chapter 27 Electrical) will be heard at the April 2023 Committee Action Hearings in Orlando.

Superceded:

Because of the larger, disruptive concepts usually require more than one revision cycle — i.e. 3 to 9 years — it is wise to track those ideas in the transcripts of public hearings on the revisions. For example, the ICC Group A Committee Action Hearings were completed (virtually) in May 2021. The complete monograph of proposals is linked below:

2021 Group A Complete Proposed Changes

Transcript of committee response is linked below:

2021 REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ACTION HEARINGS ON THE 2021 EDITIONS OF THE GROUP A INTERNATIONAL CODES

A sample of the topics that need attention that involve the mechanical disciplines (e.g. energy, environmental air, water) :

Soil gas and carbon monoxide detection and mitigation
Minimum number of required plumbing fixtures in schools and higher education community facilities
Fixtures for adult changing stations and gender neutral toilet and bathing facilities
Fat, oil and grease interceptors in kitchens
Dormitories, residence halls

There are others ideas that can be tracked in the most recent Group B Hearings included April 6th:

LIVE: I-Code Group B Public Comment Hearings

Proposals for the 2024 IMC revision will be accepted until January 7, 2024. We maintain this title among our core titles during our periodic Mechanical teleconferences. See our CALENDAR for the next online meeting; open to everyone.