View All Codes & Standards: Electrical, Power
Health care building electrical, lighting design model shifts
As hospitals and health care facilities evolve, the lighting, power and electrical systems within them must change
Your questions answered: Microgrid economic modeling: How to make sense of the numbers
Additional questions are answered about microgrid economic modeling with examples of typical outputs
Your questions answered: How to Design for Reduced Incident Energy Exposure
To avoid arc flash incidents, electrical engineers must understand the codes, standards and design requirements when designing for arc flash mitigation. Read this Q&A for more information.
Safety in the design, maintenance of electrical power systems
Safety is the key component of all electrical power systems and must be included in the design — and maintained through the electrical system’s life
Consulting-Specifying Engineer most-viewed content, September 2022
Read the best content in August 2022 including: generators, MEP Giants, power distribution and more.
Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer Content: September 16-22, 2022
The most viewed content from the past week covered power distribution, humidity, docking stations, 2022 MEP Giants and HVAC.
Power distribution options: Comparing feeder methods
Experienced designers and contractors will choose power distribution feeders to meet the specific needs of a project
Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer Content: September 2-September 8, 2022
The most viewed content from the past week covered docking stations, 2022 MEP Giants, design tools, HVAC and NFPA 72.
Designing generator docking station installations
Adding a generator docking station to a new or existing facility is a useful solution which requires careful planning to ensure a successful and safe installation.
Your questions answered: Power for industrial facilities
Unanswered questions from the July 26 webcast are answered by Zia Salami with CDM Smith
Manufacturing and industrial building electrical, power trends
Several new and retrofit manufacturing building projects show trends in electrical, power and lighting systems
Your questions answered: How to design electrical distribution systems
In the webcast “How to design electrical distribution systems,” some items were left unanswered. Tom Divine tackles several here
Your questions answered: Specifying transfer switch controls
In this follow-up Q&A, learn how to select and specify the correct transfer switch control, based on application
Trends, changes in data center electrical system design
Several trends are pushing the electrical and power systems in data centers in different directions
Consulting-Specifying Engineer most-viewed content, April 2022
Read the best content in April 2022 including: Prefabrication, electrical power quality, integrating electrical systems, AI and building systems and more.
Edgar talks design tech for cabling
The video podcast show, Let’s Talk Cabling!, recently invited an ESD expert to discuss the benefits of 3D modeling for designing cable installation projects.
Technology drives K-12 school changes: Electrical, power and lighting
Updates, COVID and tech trends are shifting the way electrical and power systems in K-12 schools are designed
Consulting-Specifying Engineer most-viewed articles, March 2022
Read the best articles in March 2022 including: Health care generators, electrical power quality, switch time duration, lighting controls and more.
Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer articles: March 11-17, 2022
Read the best articles from the past week. Electrical power quality, lighting controls, evaporative cooling options, office buildings and single-pair Ethernet.
Establishing the case for building electrification
Building electrification presents a tangible strategy within the consulting-specifying industry to reduce and eliminate long-term operational CO2 emissions.
Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer articles: February 11-17, 2022
Read the best articles from the past week. Metal-clad cable and busways, chilled water system design, electrical power quality options, engineering salaries and electrification.
Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer articles: February 4-10, 2022
Read the best articles from the past week. Transfer switch time duration, electrical power quality options, health care generators, electrification and fire pump systems.
Electrical power quality and system harmonics: Practical options exist
Harmonic distortion resolution of variable frequency drive motor applications will provide the most beneficial actions for IEEE 519 compliance
How to specify metal-clad cable and busways
Wiring methods like metal-clad cable and busways, using premanufactured components, can offer significant labor savings, but their limitations should be understood before specifying them
State of the Industry Webcast: Power Design Research Results
We asked, you answered and now we’d like to share your thoughts on the state of the industry during these unusual times.
Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer articles: November 5-11, 2021
Read the best articles from the past week. 2021 product of year winners, changes in electrical, power systems and industrial buildings, and commercial wiring methods.
COVID, sustainability drive college electrical, power design
Colleges and universities have been sustainability trendsetters over the past several years. COVID-19 has required designers to think differently
Commercial wiring methods: Back to basics
A working understanding of commonly used wiring methods is critical for electrical engineers who design power systems for buildings
Changes in the electrical, power systems in manufacturing, industrial buildings
Several changes to the design of manufacturing and industrial buildings are covered here by electrical, power and lighting experts
Q&A about hospital backup, standby, emergency power
Your questions about power in hospitals are answered here
Data-driven design series: The impact of building electrification
Glumac's Northern Region Energy Director Brian Goldcrump discusses how a cleaner power grid opens the door for building electrification as a tool in decarbonization.
Backup, standby and emergency power for hospitals
In this wrap-up of an education session, learn about the basics of designing power systems in hospitals
How to design electrical systems in government buildings
In this Q&A with multiple experts, learn how to design electrical and power systems in government, state, municipal, federal, correctional and military buildings
How pandemics affect electrical, power in building design
COVID-19 affected engineers and building professionals’ designs in many ways, such as electrical, power and lighting systems
How to design data center electrical and power systems
An expert panel provides engineering and design tips for electrical, power and lighting systems in this Q&A
Best practices for engineering government buildings: Electrical and power systems
Designing utilities, public works, airport, mass transit, transportation or other government projects is a big task. Learn how to design electrical, power and lighting in government buildings.
Enhancing learning in K-12 schools: Electrical systems
Students and teachers benefit from many electrical engineering technologies in K-12 schools
Office buildings focus on air quality, energy efficiency, electrical systems
Designing office buildings in a post-COVID world is a challenging task with engineering variables. Read about electrical, power and lighting systems
Designing flexible, safe labs: Electrical, power and lighting
Safety, budget, flexibility and flexibility are key factors when designing laboratory and research space
Designing, retrofitting hospitals during COVID: Electrical, power and lighting
While COVID-19 has changed many aspects in a health care facility, some things remain identical. Understand how to design electrical, power and lighting systems
Basics of industrial, manufacturing facility design: Electrical, power and lighting
Industrial and manufacturing facilities have specialty electrical and lighting needs engineers must include in new or retrofit projects
Basics of engine installation and operation
NFPA 37 establishes the minimum fire safety requirements for stationary combustion engine installation and use
Best practices for designing electrical, power and lighting in government buildings
Learn how to specify electrical, power and lighting systems for government and military buildings
Back to basics: Switchgear, transformers and UPSs
Switchgear, transformers and uninterruptible power supplies are among the largest, costliest and most critical devices in a facility
Warehouse, manufacturing facilities go high-tech: Electrical and power
Warehouse, manufacturing and logistics buildings are more than simple boxy structures used to make products and store them before they move onto their next destination. Electrical, power and lighting systems add another layer of complexity
Designing power systems in mission critical environments
Learn about the choices and criteria for the planning and design of mission critical facility switchgear, transformers and UPS
How to design for transformers, switchgear and UPS
It is critical for electrical engineers to be involved early in the programming of a facility to meet end users’ needs and cost constraints in facility construction
Your questions answered: Power quality: How to mitigate harmonics
Understand the causes, code requirements for compliance and mitigation techniques for harmonics in these additional responses
Your questions answered: Power for emergency fire/life safety systems
Questions not answered during the live webcast are answered here; learn more about emergency, standby and backup power for fire and life safety systems
Data centers achieve a new level of high-tech: Electrical and power systems
Designing solutions for data center clients — whether hyperscale or colocation facilities — requires advanced engineering knowledge
How to design K-12 schools: Electrical, power and lighting systems
With increasingly complex systems and technology coming into play, work on modern K-12 projects is anything but elementary
Consulting-Specifying Engineer most-viewed articles, January 2020
Read the best articles in January 2020 including: NEC changes, building automation advances, electrical design for smoke control systems, cooling coil condensate, lighting commissioning and more.
Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer articles: January 24-30
Read the best articles from the past week. Electrical design for smoke control systems, NFPA 20 fire pumps, NEC 2017 changes, NFPA 101 defining egress, and NFPA 110-2019 changes.
Lab, research facility design: Electrical, power and lighting
Learn tips on how to design labs and research facilities — some of the most high-tech buildings around
Transformer selection and sizing
Selecting and sizing electrical distribution transformers is fundamental for electrical designers and engineers
NFPA 110-2019 concepts and changes
Understand NFPA 110 and its relation to emergency power supplies
Learning how to engineer colleges, universities better: Electrical, power and lighting
Read about emerging trends in college and university buildings, and learn about the emerging trends impacting their design
Your questions answered: Circuit protection in electrical/power systems
Questions left unanswered during the Sept. 19, 2019, critical power webcast are answered here
Enhancing efficiency in industrial and manufacturing facilities: Electrical, power and lighting
From high-tech automation to energy-saving lighting and HVAC systems, there is more than meets the eye when it comes to warehouses and factories
Safe electrical system design
Safety is a top priority in a building’s electrical system design
Government facility design: Electrical, power and lighting
Consulting engineers are working on government, state, municipal, federal, correctional and military buildings
Electrical group names president for national committee
Kevin Lippert has been appointed president of the United States National Committee (USNC) to the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and will work on testing, certification and accreditation for the electrotechnical industry.
Electrical & Power Study
Electrical, power systems in industrial projects
Retail, restaurant and mixed-use facilities: Electrical, power, lighting
What are the trickiest aspects of retail, restaurant and mixed-use projects and what trends lie ahead? Read on for solid advice from experienced professionals.
Planning multifamily dwellings: Electrical and lighting systems
Multifamily dwellings are fascinating projects with specific power and electrical requirements. Electrical engineers know these structures are more than just simply boxes to keep human beings in. They’re as complex and varied as the people inside.
Top design trends in data centers: electrical, power, lighting
An increasingly data-driven society demands advanced, high-performance data center facilities. Read on to learn the biggest electrical, power and lighting challenges, emerging technologies and upcoming trends affecting data centers.
Designing high-tech K-12 schools: Electrical, power and lighting
The technology at play in today’s K-12 schools is evolving rapidly—inside the classrooms, and in the various systems behind the scenes. Engineers handling such projects, whether the work is on new facilities or retrofits, have their work cut out for them, especially when it comes to electrical, power and lighting.
Designing flexible, complex office buildings: Electrical, power, and lighting
Mixed-use office buildings demand a great deal of expertise, flexibility, and complex technology, making them more challenging than one might expect. Engineers with experience handling office buildings share advice and a glimpse into the future regarding electrical, power, and lighting.
Designing power systems for co-location data centers
Engineers must consider many factors when designing power and electrical systems for data centers.
Your questions answered: Emergency, standby, and backup generators
Presenters from the critical power webcast on Dec. 11, 2018, answer questions left unaddressed during the live presentation.
Seven tips for transformer design in industrial buildings
Proper knowledge of transformer design for both new and replacement installations is essential to building operation, specifically in industrial applications.
Designing safe laboratories and research facilities: Electrical, power, and lighting
Engineers working on laboratory and research projects are tasked with balancing state-of-the-art systems, budgetary concerns, occupant safety, sustainable performance, and other factors including electrical, power, and lighting.
2018 Electrical & Power Study
Six electrical, power system survey findings
Case study: Expanding transformers
At a plant-cultivation facility, the engineering team calculated what type of electrical distribution system was needed.
Selecting, sizing transformers in nonresidential buildings
Transformers are a critical piece of any electrical infrastructure. Knowing how to properly size and select these transformers will allow the building to function with minimal interruptions.
Designing health care facilities and medical campuses: Electrical, power and lighting
Hospitals, clinics, and similar facilities are among the most demanding an engineer can tackle—technology is evolving rapidly, hospital managers are increasingly budget-conscious, and assist in saving lives. Here, electrical, power, and lighting challenges are addressed.
Examining higher education facilities: Electrical, power, and lighting
As technology advances in every field, the college and university students being prepped for future careers in those fields need the tech they’re learning with to keep up. That presents unique challenges for the engineers working on such structures—specifying advanced systems that satisfy the unique needs of each institution. Here, professionals with experience in the area offer advice on how to tackle such facilities and receive top marks in regard to electrical, power, and lighting.
Electrical power and process production: focus on power systems complements the bottom line
Power factors, harmonics, fluctuations, and outages examined.
Electrical, power systems on the Atlantic Coast
One-third of respondents to the 2016 Electrical & Power Study make product selections for projects along the Atlantic Coast of the United States.
Electrical, power systems in government buildings/military facilities
Four out of every 10 engineers who responded to the 2016 Electrical & Power Study make product selections for government buildings/military facilities.
How to simplify code compliance for lighting projects
Asking key questions will ease the process of complying with required energy codes.
Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer Articles, December 4-10: Performing PV feasibility studies, changes to NFPA 20, salary survey responses, and more.
Performing PV feasibility studies, changes to NFPA 20, salary survey responses, 2016 Electrical and Power study, and strategies for electrical labeling were Consulting-Specifying Engineer's five most clicked articles from last week, December 4-10. Were you out last week? You can catch up here.
Electrical, power systems in office buildings
More than half of engineers who responded to the 2016 Electrical & Power Study make product selections for office buildings.
Detecting failure in electrical systems
Circuit protection, as defined by NFPA 70: National Electrical Code, can be interpreted in many ways, depending on building load and use. Without an effective circuit-protection scheme, a building’s electrical system is prone to myriad failures.
Developing a circuit schedule
Circuit protection, as defined by NFPA 70: National Electrical Code, can be interpreted in many ways, depending on building load and use. Electrical engineers should design a circuit schedule that can be used on the project.
How to predict electrical equipment failures
Electrical engineers can provide many services to help facility managers predict electrical equipment or power distribution system failures.
Understanding overcurrent protection
Electrical engineers can use this guide to understand NFPA 70: National Electrical Code requirements for overcurrent protection.
The basics of arc flash mitigation
Electrical engineers must understand the codes, standards, and design requirements when engineering for arc flash mitigation.
Transformers: Ensuring efficient electrical system design
The best approach for design efficiency is to minimize the number of transformers that are contributing to losses.
Electrical codes and standards within healthcare
Essential systems include emergency systems and equipment systems, which are crucial to life safety and patient care.
Top 5 Consulting-Specifying Engineer Articles, April 10 to 16: commissioning electrical systems, VFDs, pump curves, standby generator systems, NFPA 101
Articles about commissioning electrical systems, networking VFDs, reading pump curves, standby generator systems, and NFPA 101 were Consulting-Specifying Engineer's five most clicked articles from last week, April 10 to 16. Were you out last week? You can catch up here.
Critical Power Hospital Electrical Systems: AIA CES accredited online course
CFE EDU is an interactive online platform that offers multi-media educational courses on engineering topics that are critical to your work. Courses are AIA CES accredited and are self-paced for your convenience.
Conduit connectors for AC/MC fittings
The Quick-Lok Pro Connector from Eaton's Crouse-Hinds Division is a quick, easy, and secure way to terminate AC/MC/FMC cable to a box or enclosure.
LED specifications
Building owners are requesting LEDs because of their energy efficiency and long lifespan. Review the basics of LEDs, explain the key aspects of specifying LEDs, and examine lifecycle cost considerations for LEDs.
Additional information about VFDs, VSDs, and motors
Presenters provided more details about “Energy efficiency: Variable frequency drives (VFDs), variable speed drives (VSDs), and motors.” Several questions from the June 11, 2015, webcast are addressed here.
Linear LED luminaire
LED for large open ceiling environments.
Flexible, sustainable electrical systems
Current building codes and standards allow designers to build flexibility into the electrical system.
Building safe, effective health care facilities: Electrical and power systems
It’s hard to think of an engineering project with higher standards than a hospital or health care facility—successfully designed and installed systems can literally be a matter of life and death. Emergency, standby, and backup power systems are key to these mission critical facilities.
Standards lead to modularity
Standards develop the framework from which design rules emerge.
Consulting-Specifying Engineer 2014 Electrical and Power Study
According to the data in this report, more engineers are researching new electrical and power systems and the challenges of incorporating energy efficient designs continue to climb. View seven key findings and access the full 2014 Electrical and Power Study.
Avoiding corrosion in electrical systems
Properly specifying electrical products for highly corrosive environments will reduce overall long-term cost and risk of failure.
Why independent conduit testing is needed
Performance requirements for coated conduit are crucial.
UL’s new GFCI classes
Ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) are available in three new classes, which electrical engineers should become familiar with.
Transformer efficiency: Minimizing transformer losses
Matching a transformer to its anticipated load is a critical aspect of reducing energy consumption.
Medium-voltage circuit breaker
The VCPW-HD medium-voltage circuit breaker by Eaton are designed to protect transformers, capacitor banks, busbar sections, and cables.
Electrical BIM for Revit MEP families
Siemens produces an electrical distribution set of families to be AutoDesk Seek RMC Styleguide compliant
Bypass/isolation switch
For loads up to 3,000 amps, the 00572TEC bypass/isolation switch from Russelectric reduces the unit’s footprint by 50% in comparison to side-by-side designs. The bypass/isolation switch allows the operator to bypass directly to either the normal or emergency source regardless of the position or condition of the transfer switch.
Fire detector
The advanced multi-criteria fire detector engineered by System Sensor combines a carbon monoxide sensing cell, an infrared sensor, a photoelectric smoke sensor, and a thermal sensor into one. If a fire condition is detected on one sensor, the unit confers with the other three before sending out an alarm. Advanced algorithms are then applied to interpret signals from each sensor to monitor every product of combustion while compensating for changing conditions. www.systemsensor.com #8.
CAMEE sponsors activities for ASHRAE Summer Meeting in June
The Council of American Mechanical/Electrical Engineers, a coalition of members within the American Council of Engineering Companies, is planning several events in conjunction with the ASHRAE Summer Meeting in June in Salt Lake City.
Two-stage commercial rooftop gas/electric
The Tempstar product line from International Comfort Products includes 25-ton PGE300 package gas/electrics with up to 9.5 EER efficiency. This two-stage rooftop unit uses R-22 refrigerant with multiple hermetic-type scroll compressors. The ASHRAE 90.1-compliant unit features independent cooling circuits to provide part-load cooling operation.
Smart Materials Market To Rise To $12.3 Billion In 2010
The term smart materials refers to an interesting class of materials that are able to respond dynamically to external stimuli like heat, humidity, ultraviolet light and pressure. Smart materials systems have sensing and actuating functions that are used for an increasing number of engineering and commercial applications. Currently, the application of smart materials spans most industrial sectors including electronics, medical diagnostics, treatment and surgery, automotive and industrial research processes that require control and sensing. According to a soon-to-be-released and updated technical market research report, RGB -154N Smart Materials: A Technology and Market Assessment from business communications co., inc. (www.bccresearch.com) , the worldwide smart materials market is estimated at $8.1 billion in 2005 and is expected to rise at an average annual growth rate (AAGR) of 8.6% to $12.3 billion in 2010.
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