Philippine Electrical Code (PEC) - Chapter 1: General Notes

Overview and Core Objectives of the Philippine Electrical Code

• Presentation Authors and Project Team:

  • Garbo, Robenson Pepito

  • Boniao, Khenn Montalbo

  • Cortes, Danica Mae Tabel

  • Troniado, Ivenecir Angelo Pabotoy

• Definition and Nature of the Philippine Electrical Code (PEC):

  • The Philippine Electrical Code establishes official safety requirements and standards for electrical installations across the Philippines.

  • It defines rules intended to promote the safe installation and use of electrical conductors, equipment, and associated electrical systems.

  • In simple terms, the PEC is a comprehensive set of electrical safety rules designed to safeguard persons and property from electrical hazards.

• Statutory Purpose of the PEC:

  • The PEC explicitly states its fundamental purpose as: "The practical safeguarding of persons and property from hazards arising from the use of electricity."

• Specific Hazard Mitigation Focus:

  • Reduction of electric shock hazards to human life.

  • Prevention of electrical fires in structures and equipment.

  • Prevention of fires and catastrophic explosions caused by electrical installations.

  • Mitigation of all other technical hazards natively associated with the utilization of electricity.

• Core Learning Objectives for General Electrical Code Principles:

  • Discussing the overarching purpose of the Philippine Electrical Code.

  • Defining fundamental technical terminology utilized throughout the PEC.

  • Explaining the procedures for obtaining an electrical permit and its technical documentation requirements.

  • Providing real-world examples of electrical plans based on PEC standards.

  • Explaining general technical requirements for safe electrical installations.

  • Identifying specific electrical installations that fall inside or outside PEC coverage.

Key Technical Terminology Defined in the PEC

• Technical Definitions for Standardized Application (Article 1.1):

  • Ampacity: The current, expressed in amperes, that a conductor can continuously carry under specified conditions without exceeding its maximum temperature rating.

  • Branch Circuit: Conductors located between the final overcurrent protective device (OCPD) and the outlet(s) supplying power to utilization equipment.

  • Conductor: A material capable of carrying electrical current.

  • Ground: A conducting connection, whether intentional or accidental, between an electrical circuit or equipment and the earth, or to a conducting body serving in place of the earth.

  • Outlet: A point on the wiring system where electric current is taken to supply utilization equipment.

  • Bonding: The permanent joining of metallic parts to form an electrically conductive path that ensures electrical continuity and the capacity to safely conduct any fault current likely to be imposed.

  • Overcurrent: Any current in excess of the rated capacity of equipment or the ampacity of a conductor, resulting from an overload, short circuit, or ground fault.

  • Panelboard: A single panel or group of panel units designed for assembly in the form of a single panel, including buses and automatic overcurrent devices, used to control and distribute branch circuits for lighting and power.

Electrical Permits and Administrative Requirements

• Mandate for Electrical Permits (Article 1.2):

  • An electrical permit is an official legal authorization required before commencing specific electrical work.

  • Mandatory prior authorization applies before starting:

  • New electrical installations

  • Alterations to existing electrical systems

  • Electrical repairs

  • Circuit extensions

• Permit Issuing Authority:

  • For buildings and premises, electrical permits must be obtained directly from the Office of the Building Official (OBO).

• Essential Documentation Required for Permit Applications:

  • Identity details of the Applicant.

  • Details of the Building Owner.

  • Details of the Lot Owner.

  • Administrative approval sections for the Building Official.

  • Official seal and signature of the Professional Electrical Engineer (PEE) who designed and prepared the electrical plans.

  • Designation of the Licensed Electrical Practitioner in charge of executing the electrical installation.

  • Valid professional license cards and accompanying regulatory registration credentials.

  • Complete set of electrical plans, single-line diagrams, load calculations, and technical specifications.

  • Note: Local municipal OBO offices may require additional documents or forms depending on specific project scope and local procedures.

• Step-by-Step Procedure to Obtain an Electrical Permit:

  1. Prepare complete Electrical Plans and technical specifications in accordance with PEC rules.

  2. Have all plans formally signed and sealed by a registered Professional Electrical Engineer (PEE).

  3. Compile all necessary administrative, legal, and ownership documents.

  4. Submit the complete application package to the Office of the Building Official (OBO).

  5. Pay the required regulatory permit fees at the municipal cashier or OBO desk.

  6. Await plan evaluation and document review by OBO technical staff.

  7. Receive the official issued Electrical Permit upon approval.

  8. Conduct installation and undergo mandatory site inspections during and after construction as required.

Electrical Plans, Layouts, and Specifications (Article 1.3)

• Definition and Purpose of Electrical Plans:

  • An electrical plan is a technical drawing specifying the physical location, schematic arrangement, interconnections, and engineering specifications of electrical equipment and wiring.

  • Article 1.3 requires electrical plans to provide sufficient detailed information so that the electrical installation can be properly understood and constructed.

• Core Components of a Standard Electrical Drawing Set:

  1. Location and Site Plan

  2. Lighting Layout Plan

  3. Power and Receptacle Layout Plan

  4. Schedule of Loads and Calculations

  5. Single-Line or Riser Diagram

  6. Electrical Details, Legend, Notes, and Specifications

• Location and Site Plan Details:

  • Depicts property boundaries, adjacent streets, nearby landmarks, utility company poles, overhead or underground service drops, service entrance conductors, electrical meter locations, service equipment, and mandatory physical clearances.

  • Example Configurations:

  • Pad-mounted $75\,\text{kVA}$ transformer connected via a $13.8\,\text{kV}$ primary service tapped from utility pole #126 along "A" Street for a dining facility site.

  • Residential property connection showing overhead power line from utility pole to meter and main panel, complete with ground rod installation and specified clearance dimensions (e.g., $11\,\text{m}$, $15\,\text{m}$, $20\,\text{m}$, $5\,\text{m}$).

  • Subdivision electrical distribution layout, such as the Torie Place subdivision plan by Bleaushea Properties Corporation, showing Meralco post locations and power entrance routes.

  • Service entrance details for a proposed two-storey residential building located in Barangay Bagumbayan Sur, Naga City (designed and certified by Camille Martin).

• Lighting and Receptacle Layout Plans:

  • Depict the exact location and physical interconnections of:

  • Lighting fixtures (ceiling mounted, recessed, pendant, wall sconce)

  • Wall switches (single-pole, two-gang, three-gang, three-way, dimmer)

  • Convenience receptacles and special-purpose power outlets

  • Branch circuit homeruns and wiring loops

  • Standardized PEC Electrical Plan Symbols:

  • Receptacle / Outlet ($E$)

  • Duplex Receptacle Outlet

  • Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter Outlet (GFCI)

  • Single-Pole Switch ($S$ or $S_1$)

  • Two-Gang Switch ($S_2$)

  • Three-Gang Switch ($S_3$)

  • Three-Way Switch ($S_3$ or $S_{3W}$)

  • Dimmer Switch ($D$)

  • Junction Box / J-Box ($J$)

  • Ceiling Light / Recessed Light (RCLT)

  • Wall Mounted Light / Sconce

  • Fan Symbol ($F$)

  • Telephone Outlet / Jack

  • Data Outlet / Jack

  • Doorbell ($B$)

  • Ceiling Mounted Speaker

• Power Layout, Load Schedules, and Standard Specifications:

  • Power layouts depict service entrance conductors, raceways, metering gear, main switchboards, feeders, distribution panels, motor loads, and emergency power systems.

  • Residential Schedule of Loads Example (Barit Residence, Legazpi City; PEE Engr. Edgardo U. Aragon; Owner: Mr. Nesty Aron T. Barit):

  • Circuit C1: Lighting Outlet (4 outlets, $400\,\text{W}$, $230\,\text{V}$, $1.73\,\text{A}$, 15 AT protection, $20\,\text{mm}$ PVC conduit).

  • Circuit C2: Convenience Outlet (5 outlets, $1800\,\text{W}$, $230\,\text{V}$, $7.82\,\text{A}$, 20 AT protection, $20\,\text{mm}$ PVC conduit).

  • Circuit C3: $1\text{ to }2\,\text{HP}$ Air Conditioner (1 outlet, $1492\,\text{W}$, $230\,\text{V}$, $6.48\,\text{A}$, 20 AT protection, $20\,\text{mm}$ PVC conduit).

  • Total Volt-Ampere = $3,692\,\text{VA}$; Total Amperes = $16.03\,\text{A}$.

  • Main Protection Computation: At $80\%$ demand factor, lighting/outlet current = $12.84\,\text{A}$, resulting in a main circuit breaker selection of $30\,\text{AT}$, $2\text{-pole}$ at $230\,\text{V}$.

  • Commercial Schedule of Loads Example (Proposed Commercial Building, Balete, Batangas; Designed by Claribel G. Recio; CADD by Jeremiah J. Grumo; Owners: Roberto Martinez Torres & Perfecta Castillo Torres):

  • Circuits 1–2: Lighting ($600\,\text{W}$ and $700\,\text{W}$, $220\,\text{V}$, $2.73\,\text{A}$ and $3.18\,\text{A}$, 15 AT, Gauge #14 AWG / $2.0\,\text{mm}^2$ TW in $20\,\text{mm}$ PVC).

  • Circuits 3, 8: Convenience Outlets ($540\,\text{W}$ and $720\,\text{W}$, $2.45\,\text{A}$ and $3.27\,\text{A}$, 20 AT, Gauge #12 AWG / $3.5\,\text{mm}^2$ TW in $20\,\text{mm}$ PVC).

  • Circuits 4–5: Air Conditioning Units ($1078\,\text{W}$ each, $4.90\,\text{A}$, 30 AT, Gauge #10 AWG / $5.5\,\text{mm}^2$ TW in $20\,\text{mm}$ PVC).

  • Total Connected Load = $4176\,\text{VA}$; Total Demand Load = $4176\,\text{VA}$.

  • Total Load Current Calculation formula:       $\text{Total Load Current} = \frac{4176 + (0.25 \times 1078)}{220} = 22.66\,\text{A}$

  • Standard Mounting Heights (from finished floor level):

  • Light Switches: $1.40\,\text{m}$

  • Receptacles / Convenience Outlets: $0.30\,\text{m}$

  • Telephone Outlets: $0.30\,\text{m}$

  • Cable TV Outlets: $0.30\,\text{m}$

  • Water Heater Outlets: $2.00\,\text{m}$

  • Air Conditioning Unit (ACU) Outlets: $2.00\,\text{m}$

  • Standard Wiring Methods:

  • Main Service Entrance: Rigid Steel Conduit (RSC).

  • Raceways for Power, Lighting, and Auxiliary Systems: Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Conduit.

  • Minimum Conductor Size: $2.0\,\text{mm}^2$ THHN wire.

  • Minimum Conduit Size: $20\,\text{mm}$ ($3/4"$) trade diameter.

• Single-Line and Riser Diagrams:

  • A single-line diagram is a simplified schematic representation of an electrical power distribution system showing power flow from source to loads.

  • Displays essential system elements: utility grid connection, kWh meter, main disconnect device, distribution panelboard, sub-panelboards, branch overcurrent devices, grounding systems, and connected loads.

  • Examples include:

  • Residential distribution panel routing power to lighting, washing machine/water heater, plugs, and kitchen circuits.

  • Commercial multi-story distribution panel (Panel MDP feeding Sub-Panels LT.1, LT.2, LT.3 via $4 \times 6\,\text{mm}^2$ NYY cable).

  • Utility pole-mounted transformer system ($240/120\,\text{V}$, $3\text{-phase Delta}$, available fault current $8145\,\text{A}$) serving main disconnect panels for multi-tenant apartments.

Technical Requirements for Electrical Installations (Article 1.10)

• Mandatory Requirements under Article 1.10:

  • Regulates equipment approval, installation, usage, accessibility, working spaces, conductor ratings, enclosures, and general electrical integrity.

  • Mandates that all electrical conductors and equipment covered by PEC provisions must be formally approved for their intended environment and load.

• Core Installation Rules:

  • Proper Conductor Sizing: Conductors must be sized with ampacities matching or exceeding the expected electrical load.

  • Overcurrent Protection: Protective devices must be installed to protect circuits from excessive current, short circuits, and ground faults.

  • Grounding and Bonding: Continuous low-impedance grounding paths must be provided to clear fault currents safely.

  • Proper Connections: Terminals and splices must be installed using approved pressure connectors or soldering techniques to ensure mechanical and electrical reliability.

  • Accessibility: Devices requiring operation, inspection, or maintenance must be accessible as required by code.

  • Adequate Working Space: Mandatory clear working spaces and headroom must be maintained around switchboards, panelboards, and motor control equipment.

  • Proper Identification and Marking: All electrical equipment, disconnects, circuit breakers, and enclosures must be permanently labeled with voltage, current rating, and circuit designation.

Scope of Applicability: Covered vs. Non-Covered Installations

• Code Scope Rules (PEC 2017, Article 1.0 – Introduction):

  • The PEC explicitly establishes which physical structures, vehicles, and installations fall within or outside its authority.

• Installations Covered by the PEC:

  • Residential buildings and single/multi-family dwellings

  • Commercial buildings and office complexes

  • Industrial plants and factories

  • Institutional buildings (schools, hospitals, public facilities)

  • Electric power generating plants

  • Transformer stations

  • Electrical substations

  • Airfields and airport lighting systems

  • Public parks and parking lots

  • Quarries and mining facilities

  • Watercraft and marine vessels

  • Dockyards and shipyards

  • Mobile homes and recreational vehicles (RVs)

• Installations Not Covered by the PEC:

  • Railway rolling stock (locomotives and train cars)

  • Aircraft internal wiring and systems

  • Automotive road vehicles

  • Certain railway power supply installations dedicated exclusively to rolling stock operations

Legal References, Governing Laws, and Authorizations

• Statutory Codes and Governing Law References:

  • Philippine Electrical Code (PEC), 2017 Edition — Part 1:

  • Article 1.0 – Introduction

  • Article 1.1 – Definitions

  • Article 1.2 – Permits and Inspection Certificates

  • Article 1.3 – Electrical Plans and Specifications

  • Article 1.10 – Requirements for Electrical Installations

  • Presidential Decree No. 1096: National Building Code of the Philippines.

  • Republic Act No. 7920: New Electrical Engineering Law.

  • Filipino Engineer Knowledge Base & VPRM Engineering: PEC 2017 Chapter 1 Engineering Reference.

• Concluding Ethical Principle:

  • "Following the PEC is not simply about complying with rules; it is about protecting lives, property, and the safe use of electricity."