Most Construction projects requires underground cabling system for its power supply, some times High tension system too. The architects and builders are least bothered about how this cables routed to the premises and equipment. If electrical professionals pointed out the feasibility, the aesthetics of the project would touch to the intended level. Hence, in the planning stage itself the routes and size of the power cable trench to be incorporated in the project design.

A. Ground Rod:

16 mm diameter stainless steel. Driving head is to be high strength steel. Couplings are to be long length silicon bronze, internally threaded. Threads are to be rolled onto rod to ensure uniform layers of copper and strength. Earth rod is to be complete with non-corrosive couplings, head and bolted connector of sufficient size, and number of bolted clamps to connect all cables terminated thereto.

1. Introduction and Scope

This method of statement specifies the detailed requirements and procedures for the installation of Power and Lighting System Wiring.

2. Applicable Project Specification

Section: Cables and wiring

Division: Installation

Sub Division: Subdivision

Earthing or Grounding of Diesel Generator Plant is important to ensure correct operation of the plant and safety of the people who work over there. Generator neutral (star point) is to be connected by insulated earthing conductor through the neutral earthing link or device to main earthing bar. Neutral earthing conductor is to be suitably sized to carry maximum earth fault current for time it takes the system protection to operate with final conductor temperature not exceeding 160 deg. C, but not less than 30 mm2 per 100 kVA of generator rating, with a minimum of 50 mm2. All emergency power diesel gensets including portable gensets to be connected to grounding conductor.

Also read: Guidelines for installing emergency power diesel genset.

In electrical projects, both construction as well as maintenance, the following terms used on the Drawings, Specifications and in the actual Work site are equivalent and may be used interchangeably: "earth" and "ground"; "earthing" and "grounding". Besides, this article tries to rectify misinterpretation of some important terms often used by people involved in the electrical earthing / grounding work.

Clean earth grounding or low noise earth shall be provided as required, to ensure that the level of induced or conducted interference from external sources, including the facility power grounding system, does not produce incidence of malfunction of the equipment, which is unacceptable for the operating system. The electronics systems must be protected by providing a network path having low impedance for interconnecting its equipment.

Proper routing, zoning and shielding of the cables / earth wires are important and must serve the purpose of preventing sources of electrical disturbances from the operation of electrical equipment.

Earth electrode resistance, Insulation resistance of factory-built materials installed at the site and Insulation resistance of site-built materials installed at site to be considered individually for field quality control check. It is further to be monitored earth resistance of individual earth unit and combined resistance of earth units.

MV switchgear and MV cables are to have separate main earthing bar connected to framework or earth bar of each item by insulated conductor and the earth-electrode by 2 insulated earthing conductors, one at each end of bar, via testing joints. Earthing conductor is to be minimum 150 mm2.

At the completion of the electrical installation works, the entire installation shall be subject to the test before final placing in service under the full responsibility of the contractor. Unless Otherwise specifically called for all tests shall be carried out in conformity with IEE regulations. Contractor shall coordinate with the Client and the Supervising Engineer to get electricity from the local supply authority before starting of testing and commissioning.

In this sample MEP specification section, Mechanical General Plant and Machines have been described in detail under construction contract work.

Component parts of earthing system are to include the following:

1. Earth electrode (rods, tapes etc.)
2. Main earthing terminals or bars
3. Earthing conductors
4. Protective conductors
5. Equipotential bonding conductors
6. Electrically independent earth electrodes for special systems (clean earth)
7. Accessories and termination fittings, bonding, welding kits and other materials

Below drawing shows how to install cable tray and its support system. This cable tray support system drawing has Isometric view and cross-sectional view. Following are the steps to be done for laying cables on wall mounted cable tray:

1. Install cable tray support using a pre-fabricated flange or GI channel. The size, length and intervals of the support to be as per the specification, standards, number of cables, and size of the cable.
2. Fix the cable tray as shown on the drawing.
3. Lay the cable keeping the distance as per calculation.
4. Tie the cable using cable tie and label the cables as required.

Main earthing bar or loop is to be conveniently located in electrical/mechanical plant rooms, and connected by earthing conductors to exposed conductive parts of motor control centre at its earthing bar, and to motors, switches and other electrical equipment etc. at their earthing terminals, using 20 x 2 mm insulated copper strips or 35 mm2 insulated copper conductor (minimum size) or as required to carry maximum earth fault current for 1 second with final conductor temperature not exceeding 200 deg. C (392 deg. F).

Most electronic systems which are responsible for modern advances are based on digital technology. All digital systems, computers and microprocessors are assembled from simple circuits called logic circuits. The basic building blocks of logic circuits are logic gates. And logic gates themselves are simple electronic circuits comprising of diodes, transistors and resistors.

Electrical wiring needs expertise attention to every building projects. It directly related to the safety of human beings and utilities / equipment people handle. The scope of electrical wiring shall cover supply, installation, testing and commissioning of all conduits and accessories, wiring, switches, socket outlets, spur outlets, junction boxes / pull boxes, GI pull wires, ceiling roses making connections etc. This Electrical Construction Article gives comprehensive details of various installation methods, materials used in each installation methods used in building construction projects.

Busbar Trunking System (BBT) in electrical construction, uses to transporting electrical power to a shorter distance but many utilization point, say, within the building or a compound of facilities. Though cables can also be used in these areas, their economic impact would be high if compared to the effective Busbar Trunking System. It will help us to tap power directly from where we want it to be and make utilize to the service point.

In this sample MEP specification section, Mechanical Ductwork, Grilles And Diffusers have been described in detail under construction contract work.

Main Highlights of this MEP Specification

1. Mechanical Ductwork
2. Mechanical Ductwork Supports
3. Mechanical Dampers - General Requirements
4. Flexible Joints for Mechanical Ductwork
5. Air Intakes and Outlets
6. Kitchen Extract Canopies
7. Kitchen Extract Air Ductwork
8. Access Doors
9. Ductwork Test Points
10. Ductwork Protection
11. Grilles
12. Diffusers
13. Sand Trap Louvres
14. Air Valves
15. Fire Dampers

Comply with the General Conditions, Supplementary Conditions and the requirements in various Sections of the Electrical Specification. In addition read and conform to all Electrical Sections of these specifications. The installation shall comprise air networks connected to roof and down conductors and finally terminated in earth electrodes, via structural re-bars and suitable test points in accordance with the details included on the attached drawings or in the Specification Section.