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Rightsizing Electrical Power Systems
Standards Michigan, spun-off in 2016 from the original University of Michigan Business & Finance Operation, has peppered NFPA 70 technical committees writing the 2016-2026 National Electric Code with proposals to reduce the size of building premise feeder infrastructure; accommodating the improvements made in illumination and rotating machinery energy conservation since the 1980’s (variable frequency drives, LED lighting, controls, etc.)
These proposals are routinely voted down in 12-20 member committees representing manufacturers (primarily) though local inspection authorities are complicit in overbuilding electric services because they “bill by the service panel ampere rating”. In other words, when a municipality can charge a higher inspection fee for a 1200 ampere panel, what incentive is there to support changes to the NEC that takes that inspection fee down to 400 amperes?
The energy conservation that would result from the acceptance of our proposals into the NEC are related to the following: reduced step down transformer sizes, reduced wire and conduit sizes, reduced panelboard sizes, reduced electric room cooling systems — including the HVAC cooling systems and the ceiling plenum sheet metal carrying the waste heat away.  Up to 20 percent energy savings is in play here and all the experts around the table know it.  So much for the economic footprint of the largest non-residential building construction market in the United States — about $120 billion annually.
The market incumbents are complicit in ignoring energy conservation opportunity. To paraphrase one of Mike Anthony’s colleagues representing electrical equipment manufacturers:
“You’re right Mike, but I am getting paid to vote against you.”
NFPA Electrical Division knows it, too.
University of Michigan
Rightsizing Commercial Electrical Power Systems:Â Review of a New Exception in NEC Section 220.12
Michael A. Anthony – James R. Harvey
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
University of Houston, Clear Lake, Texas
For decades, application of National Electrical Code (NEC) rules for sizing services, feeders and branch circuits has resulted in unused capacity in almost all occupancy classes. US Department of Energy data compiled in 1999 indicates average load on building transformers between 10 and 25 percent. More recent data gathered by the educational facilities industry has verified this claim. Recognizing that aggressive energy codes are driving energy consumption lower, and that larger than necessary transformers create larger than necessary flash hazard, the 2014 NEC will provide an exception in Section 220.12 that will permit designers to reduce transformer kVA ratings and all related components of the power delivery system. This is a conservative, incremental step in the direction of reduced load density that is limited to lighting systems. More study of feeder and branch circuit loading is necessary to inform discussion about circuit design methods in future revisions of the NEC.
CLICK HERE for complete paper
University of Houston
Hospital Plug Load
Today we examine relatively recent transactions in electrotechnologies — power, information and communication technology — that are present (and usually required) in patient care settings.  At a patient’s bedside in a hospital or healthcare setting, various electrical loads or devices may be present to provide medical care, monitoring, and comfort. Some of the common electrical loads found at a patient’s bedside include:
Hospital Bed: Electric hospital beds allow for adjustments in height, head position, and leg position to provide patient comfort and facilitate medical procedures.
Patient Monitor: These monitors display vital signs such as heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and respiratory rate, helping healthcare professionals keep track of the patient’s condition.
Infusion Pumps: These devices administer medications, fluids, and nutrients intravenously at a controlled rate.
Ventilators: Mechanical ventilators provide respiratory support to patients who have difficulty breathing on their own.
Pulse Oximeter: This non-invasive device measures the oxygen saturation level in the patient’s blood.
Electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG) Machine: It records the electrical activity of the heart and is used to diagnose cardiac conditions.
Enteral Feeding Pump: Used to deliver liquid nutrition to patients who cannot take food by mouth.
Suction Machine: It assists in removing secretions from the patient’s airway.
IV Poles: To hold and support intravenous fluid bags and tubing.
Warming Devices: Devices like warming blankets or warm air blowers are used to maintain the patient’s body temperature during surgery or recovery.
Patient Call Button: A simple push-button that allows patients to call for assistance from the nursing staff.
Overbed Tables: A movable table that allows patients to eat, read, or use personal items comfortably.
Reading Lights: Bedside lights that allow patients to read or perform tasks without disturbing others.
Television and Entertainment Devices: To provide entertainment and alleviate boredom during the patient’s stay.
Charging Outlets: Electrical outlets to charge personal electronic devices like smartphones, tablets, and laptops.
It’s important to note that the specific devices and equipment present at a patient’s bedside may vary depending on the level of care required and the hospital’s equipment standards. Additionally, strict safety measures and electrical grounding are essential to ensure patient safety when using electrical devices in a healthcare setting. Â
We have been tracking the back-and-forth on proposals, considerations, adoption and rejections in the 3-year revision cycles of the 2023 National Electrical Code and the2021 Healthcare Facilities Code. We will use the documents linked below as a starting point for discussion; and possible action:
NFPA 99:
Electrical Systems (HEA-ELS) Public Input
Electrical Systems (HEA-ELS) Public Comment
NFPA 70:
Fire Protection Research Foundation:
Electric Circuit Data Collection: An Analysis of Health Care Facilities (Mazetti Associates)
iDesign Services
IEEE Education & Healthcare Facility Electrotechnology
There are many other organizations involved in this very large domain — about 20 percent of the US Gross Domestic Product.
Ahead of the September 7th deadline for new proposals for Article 517 for the 2026 National Electrical Code we will examine their influence in other sessions; specifically in our Health 100,200,300 and 400 colloquia. See our CALENDAR for the next online meeting; open to everyone.
Plug Load Management: Department of Energy By the National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Illumination 300
IEEE Education & Healthcare Facilities Committee
Outdoor Sport Illumination Technical Issues & Representative Calculation
“Starry Night Over the Rhône” 1888 Vincent van Gogh
Today we refresh our understanding of the moment in illumination technologies for outdoor lighting systems— related but different from our exploration of building interior illumination systems in Illumination 200. Later in 2023 we will roll out Illumination 500 which explores litigation related to public illumination technology. As cities-within-cities the shared perimeter of a campus with the host municipality has proven rich in legal controversy and action.
Illumination technology was the original inspiration for the electric utility industry; providing night-time security and transforming every sector of every economy on earth. Lighting load remains the largest component of any building’s electric load — about 35 percent– making it a large target for energy regulations.
Our inquiry begins with selections from the following documents…
International Electrotechnical Commission TC 34 Lighting
IEC 60364 Electrical Installations in Buildings
2023 National Electrical Safety Code
2023 National Electrical Code: Article 410Â (While the bulk of the NEC concerns indoor wiring fire hazards, there are passages that inform outdoor lighting wiring safety)
2019 ASHRAE 90.1: Chapter 9 Lighting
Illumination Engineering Society: Various titles
Salt Water River Project: Outdoor Lighting Standards
US DOE-EERE Building Energy Codes Program
…and about 20 other accredited, consortia or ad hoc standards developers and publishers aligned principally with vertical incumbents. Illumination was the original inspiration (i.e. the first “killer app”) for the electrical power industry in every nation. Its best practice literature reflects a fast-moving, shape-changing domain.
Click in today with the login credentials at the upper right of our home page.
Upper Wharfedale Primary Federation School District Yorkshire Dales
McGill University:Â Before electricity, streets were filled with gas lights
Outdoor lighting systems can be owned and maintained by different entities depending on the context and location. Here are some examples of ownership regimes for outdoor lighting systems:
- Public ownership: In this case, outdoor lighting systems are owned and maintained by the local government or municipal authority. The lighting may be installed in public spaces such as parks, streets, and other outdoor areas for the safety and convenience of the public.
- Private ownership: Outdoor lighting systems may be owned by private individuals or organizations. For example, a business owner may install outdoor lighting for security or aesthetic reasons, or a homeowner may install outdoor lighting in their garden or yard.
- Co-owned: Outdoor lighting systems may be owned jointly by multiple entities. For example, a residential community may jointly own and maintain outdoor lighting in their shared spaces such as parking areas, community parks, or recreational facilities.
- Utility ownership: Outdoor lighting systems may be owned and maintained by utility companies such as electric or energy companies. These companies may install and maintain street lights or other lighting systems for the public good.
- Third-party ownership: In some cases, a third-party entity may own and maintain outdoor lighting systems on behalf of a public or private entity. For example, a lighting contractor may install and maintain lighting in a public park on behalf of a local government.
The ownership regime of an outdoor lighting system can have implications for issues such as installation, maintenance, and cost-sharing. It is important to consider ownership when designing and implementing outdoor lighting systems to ensure their long-term effectiveness and sustainability.
More
International Commission on Illumination
National Electrical Manufacturers Association
National Electrical Contractors Association
Representative Specifications
Sam Houston State University | Division 26500 Interior and Exterior Lighting
University of Delaware | Division 265100 Interior Lighting
Cal Poly University San Luis Obispo | Division 265100 Interior Lighting
Relevant Research
Enhancing the Sustainability of Outdoor Floodlighting for Cultural Heritage Buildings
Christian Wiman ✨ pic.twitter.com/r95fWwZZmP
— Dr. Maya C. Popa (@MayaCPopa) May 28, 2023
Emergency and Standby Power Systems
Sporty weather season in the United States inspires a revisit of best practice for designing, building and maintaining the systems that provide limited electricity when the primary source fails. We have been active in the development of this and related titles for decades and have presented several proposals to the technical committee. Public input for the 2028 Revision will be received until June 4, 2025.
Electrical building, World’s Columbian Exposition, Chicago (1892)
FREE ACCESS to the 2022 Edition of NFPA 110 Standard for Emergency and Standby Power Systems
The scope of NFPA 110 and NFPA 111 are close coupled and summarized below:
NFPA 110 Standard for Emergency and Standby Power Systems. This standard contains requirements covering the performance of emergency and standby power systems providing an alternate source of electrical power to loads in buildings and facilities in the event that the primary power source fails.
NFPA 111 Stored Electrical Energy for Emergency and Standby Power Systems. This standard shall cover performance requirements for stored electrical energy systems providing an alternate source of electrical power in buildings and facilities in the event that the normal electrical power source fails.
FIRST DRAFT AGENDA | August 2022
Public comment on the First Draft of the 2025 Edition will be received until May 31, 2023. Â
We have advocated in this standard since 1996 and still use the original University of Michigan Workspace; though those workspaces must be upgraded to the new Google Sites during 2021. We provide a link to the Standards Michigan Workspace and invite you to join any of our electrical colloquia which are hosted jointly with the IEEE Education & Healthcare Facilities Committee four times per month in European and American time zones. See our CALENDAR for the next online meeting; open to everyone.
Issue: [96-04]
Category: Electrical, Risk
Contact: Mike Anthony, Robert Arno, Neal Dowling, Jim Harvey, Robert Schuerger, Mike Hiler
More
ITM of Emergency Power Systems
Planning for Higher Education Journal: Revisiting the Campus Power Dilemma: A Case Study
Tom is a long-time colleague and friend so Mike happily posts his content:
National Electrical Definitions
International Building Code Chapter 2: Definitions
International Electrotechnical Commission: Electropedia
Because electrotechnology changes continually, definitions (vocabulary) in its best practice literature changes continually; not unlike any language on earth that adapts to the moment and place.
The changes reflect changes in technology or changes in how the technology works in practice; even how the manufacturers create adaptations to field conditions by combining functions.  Any smart electrical component has a digital language embedded in it, for example.
Consider the 2023 National Electrical Code. Apart from many others the NEC will contain a major change to Article 100 (Definitions); the subject of elevated debate over the past three years.
When we refer “language” we must distinguish between formal language, informal language, colloquial language and dialect which may differ the language spoken, language written at the office and language used on the job site. “Terms of art”
2026 National Electrical Code | CMP-1 Second Draft ReportÂ
FREE ACCESS: 2020 National Electrical Code (NFPA 70)
2023 NEC Public Input Report CMP-1 (868 pages)
2023 NEC Second Draft Public Comment Report (914 pages)
Are these terms (or, “terms of art”) best understood in context (upstream articles in Chapters 4 through 8) — or should they be adjudicated by the 14 Principals of Code Making Panel 1?  The answer will arrive in the fullness of time.  Many changes to the National Electrical Code require more than one cycle to stabilize.
Code Making Panel 1 has always been the heaviest of all NEC panels. As explained n our ABOUT, the University of Michigan held a vote in CMP-1 for 20+ years (11 revision cycles) before moving to the healthcare facilities committee for the IEEE Education & Healthcare Facilities Committee. Standards Michigan continues its involvement on behalf of the US education facility industry — the second largest building construction market. There is no other pure user-interest voice on any technical committee; although in some cases consulting companies are retained for special purposes.
To serve the purpose of making NFPA 70 more “useable” we respect the Standards Council decision to make this change if it contributes to the viability of the NFPA business model. We get to say this because no other trade association comes close to having as enduring and as strong a voice: NFPA stands above all other US-based SDO’s in fairness and consideration of its constituency. The electrical safety community in the United States is a mighty tough crowd.
If the change does not work, or work well enough, nothing should prohibit reversing the trend toward “re-centralizing” — or “de-centralizing” the definitions.
Public comment on the First Draft of the 2026 Edition will be received until August 28, 2024.Â
Technical Committees meet during the last half of October to respond to public comment on the First Draft of the 2026 National Electrical Code.Â
Infotech 200
INCITS: InterNational Committee for Information Technology Standards |Â Executive Board
Today we break down the literature for building, maintaining and supporting the computing infrastructure of education communities.  We use the term “infotech” gingerly to explain action for a broad span of technologies that encompass enterprise servers and software, wireless and wired networks, campus phone networks, and desktop computers that provide administrative services and career tech video production.  The private sector has moved at light speed to respond to the circumstances of the pandemic; so have vertical incumbents evolving their business models to seek conformance revenue in this plasma-hot domain.
In 2023 we began breaking down the topic accordingly:
Infotech 100: Survey of the principal standards developing organizations whose catalogs are incorporated by reference into federal and state legislation. Revision cycles.
Infotech 200: Campus computing facilities for research and education
Infotech 300: Communication networks, wired and unwired at the demarcation point; crucial for defining the responsibilities and boundaries between the service provider and the customer.
Infotech 400:Â System, middleware and software — Python, Fortran 2018, Apache, Julia, C++ and others
A quick shoutout to our hardworking Billikens, who made it through midterms week. You did it! 🤩
📸 by Sarah Conroy pic.twitter.com/aRaUJ6Pa6S
— Saint Louis University (@SLU_Official) October 21, 2023
We collaborate closely with the IEEE Education and Healthcare Electrotechnology Committee. Use the login credentials at the upper right of our home page.
📣INCITS Executive Board seeks interested parties to participate in ICT standards development. INCITS holds the leadership role as the U.S. TAG to ISO/IEC JTC 1, Information Technology. Learn more at https://t.co/G9vknxQY2Y and https://t.co/lGh8G4eiL4. #standardsdevelopment #ict pic.twitter.com/Qj2DnryBSr
— INCITS (@INCITS) September 23, 2024
New update alert! The 2022 update to the Trademark Assignment Dataset is now available online. Find 1.29 million trademark assignments, involving 2.28 million unique trademark properties issued by the USPTO between March 1952 and January 2023: https://t.co/njrDAbSpwB pic.twitter.com/GkAXrHoQ9T
— USPTO (@uspto) July 13, 2023
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