Machinery Room

Electrical Best
Practices

Brad Heeres
Angus-Young Associates

February 8, 2007
Understand and comply with applicable
codes and standards
The National Electrical Code – requirements
for a safe electrical installation
• Working clearances

• Egress away from equipment

• Proper grounding and bonding

NFPA 70E – Standard for Electrical Safety in

the Workplace
• Article 130 requirements for protection against
arcflash hazard

IEEE – Standards for design and analysis of

electrical distribution systems
• Color Book Series – Red and Green Books
Understand and comply with applicable
codes and standards

ASHRAE 15 – Ventilation requirements for

machine rooms
• Provide 0.5 cfm/ft2 continuous ventilation and
alarm on failure

• Provide shutdown controls outside the

machine room

• Feed ventilation fans from a separate circuit and

provide controls outside the machine room
Understand and comply with applicable
codes and standards

International Institute of Ammonia

Refrigeration (ANSI/IIAR-2 and Bulletin 112)
• Minimize the electrical equipment in the machine
room

• Consider Class 1 Div. 2 electrical installation for

circuits/equipment that may operate in an
emergency

• Provide adequate lighting for operations

•Provide emergency and exit lighting with power

source located outside the machine room
 Good electrical equipment and machine room
design is shown in this illustration

Locate non-machine room

panels outside of machine
room
Starters for compressors
located in room but away from
ammonia sources

Separated
Electrical Room

Control panels Plan for future

readily accessible equipment
Maintain appropriate electrical and machine
room conditions
Keep electrical equipment cool
Ventilate electrical rooms approx.
200 CFM/kW loss

Keep electrical equipment dry

• Provide heating if necessary
• Be aware of moist air passing through
conduits

Use supply fans not exhaust fans

for electrical room ventilation
• Keeps contaminants out
• Provide 30% or MERV 7 filters
Consider medium voltage distribution when:

Individual loads exceed

500HP

The facility covers a large

area and has distributed large
loads

Where the total facility load

exceeds 5000 kVA or
utility requirements dictate
Provide ground fault protection on feeders
when GFP is required on main devices

NEC requires ground fault

protection on 480V solidly
grounded services > 1000A

Phase fuses and CBs may not

clear ground faults before the
main trips

Overcurrent protection
coordination is important for
safety and reliability
Electrical systems studies can improve
electrical system safety and reliability

Fault current studies determine

appropriate equipment ratings

Coordination studies ensure

proper fault clearing

Arc flash evaluation

improves safety
 Fault current studies determine appropriate
equipment ratings

Establishes interrupting
ratings for fuses & CBs

Establishes proper trip

settings or fuse ratings

Provides information
that can be used to limit
damage due to faults
Coordination studies ensure proper fault
clearing
Circuit breakers are set or
fuses selected to:

• Limit fault damage to

equipment and conductors

• Minimize nuisance trips

• Isolate faults
Arc flash evaluation improves safety

Proper labeling indicates

the level of hazard and
appropriate protective gear

Fuse selections or circuit

breaker settings may be
adjusted to reduce the
hazard
Preventative maintenance improves both safety
and reliability
PC Process East Wall 9-28-05
Use good installation practices

Check for hot equipment and

IR PC Process East Wall.is2

Markers:
terminations (thermal scan)
Label Emissivity Background Average Std Dev Max Min
L0 0.95 92.6 91.22 0.13 91.5 91.2
L1 0.95 92.6 96.89 4.30 105.1 93.3
L2 0.95 92.6 97.53 4.24 102.8 92.5
L3 0.95 92.6 96.32 4.33 101.0 90.7
L4 0.95 92.6 95.56 3.14 98.9 91.2

Monitor large loads like

L5 0.95 92.6 95.89 3.88 101.2 90.7
L6 0.95 92.6 96.23 4.22 100.5 89.7

Info:
File Location F:\images\IR PC Process East Wall.is2
Image Time 28-Sep-05 10:09 AM
0.95

compressors and MCCs for

Emissivity
Background Temp 64.00 °F
Image Range 89.60 to 106.70 °F
Average Temp 93.91 °F
Calibration Range 32.00 to 662.00 °F
Lens 40948-2126, 20mm/F.8
Camera S/N FLX.05.05.004

Notations: 600Amp Breaker. Phase A 296 amps, Phase B 302 amps and Phase C 304
amps

Comments:
changes in operation
Electrical best practices:

• Understand Codes and Standards

• Use good planning for new construction, additions and
upgrades
• Properly select and adjust electrical devices
• Monitor the electrical system operation
• Properly inspect and maintain electrical equipment
• Follow good safety practices