Commercial Load Calculations

Mike Holt, NEC Consultant

Oct 1, 2004
Knowing how to correctly size loads in commercial applications is an essential skill for
electricians
Even if you work with stamped drawings, you'll eventually need to do commercial
load calculations in the feld or on a licensing exam. The E! covers commercial
calculations in "rt. ##$, %ut other articles also apply. &or example, you must know the
defnitions in "rt. '$$, %e familiar with what "rt. #'$ says a%out continuous loads,
and understand the overcurrent protection re(uirements set forth in "rt. #)$.
Two items associated with this type of calculation repeatedly need clarifcation*
Voltage
The voltage to use for your calculations depends on the system design voltage. Thus
when you calculate %ranch+circuit, feeder, and service loads, you must use a nominal
system voltage of '#$,, '#$-#)$,, #$./-'#$,, #)$,, 0)1,, ).$/-#11,, ).$,,
2$$/-0)1,, or 2$$, unless otherwise specifed 3##$.#4 3&ig. ' %elow4.
Rounding:
5efer to E! #$$.#364 to end the rounding mystery. When the ampere calculation
exceeds a whole number by 0.5 or more, round up to the next whole
number. ! the extra is 0."# or less, round down to the next whole number.
&or, example, round #7.8" up to 0$", %ut round #7.)8" down to #7".
9pecifc loads. "rt. ##$ doesn't cover all specifc loads. &or example, you'll fnd
motors in "rt. )0$ and air conditioners in "rt. ))$. To know if you should look in
another "rticle, use the E! index.
&ig. '. :on;t make the mistake of using actual feld measurements of system voltage
in your calculations. <nless specifed otherwise, loads shall %e computed using the
nominal system voltage such as '#$,, '#$-#)$,, #$./-'#$,, #)$,, 0)1,,
).$/-#11,, ).$,, 2$$/-0)1, or 2$$,.
"rt. ##$ has specifc re(uirements for most loads, including the following*
:ryers. 9ize the %ranch+circuit conductors and overcurrent protection device for
commercial dryers to the appliance nameplate rating. !alculate the feeder demand
load for dryers at '$$= of the appliance rating. >f the dryers run continuously, you
must size the conductor and protection device at '#8= of the load ?#'$.'73"4, #'8.0,
and #0$.)#@. Ta%le ##$.'. demand factors don't apply to commercial dryers.
Aet's apply what we've Bust learned. Chat size %ranch+circuit conductor and
overcurrent protection does the E! re(uire for a 1kC dryer rated #)$, when the
dryer is in a multi+family dwelling laundry room 3&ig. #4D
>EFGE, 9o*
$,000W%&"0V'&#(
The ampacity of the conductor and overcurrent device must %e at least #7" 3#)$.)4.
Fer Ta%le 0'$.'2, a '$ "CH conductor at 2$I! is rated 0$". Therefore, you must use
a 0$" %reaker with a '$ "CH conductor.
&ig. #. Chen determining proper %ranch+circuit protection and conductor size for a
commercial clothes dryer, you must use a demand load of '$$=. The reduced
demand factors for multiple dryers 3Ta%le ##$.'.4 don;t apply in a commercial
setting.
)lectric heat *"&".+,-./:
9ize %ranch+circuit conductors and the overcurrent protection device for electric
heating to not less than '#8= of the total heating load, including %lower motors.
!alculate the feeder-service demand load for electric heating e(uipment at '$$= of
the total heating load.
0itchen )1uipment:
9ize %ranch+circuit conductors and overcurrent protection for commercial kitchen
e(uipment per the appliance nameplate rating.
To determine the service demand load for commercial kitchen e(uipment that has
thermostatic control or intermittent use, apply the demand factors from Ta%le ##$.#$
to the total connected kitchen e(uipment load. The feeder or service demand load
can't %e less than the sum of the two largest appliance loads. The demand factors of
Ta%le ##$.#$ don't apply to space+heating, ventilating, or air+conditioning e(uipment.
Laundry )1uipment*
9ize these circuits to the appliance nameplate rating. /ou can assume a laundry
circuit isn't a continuous load and that commercial laundry circuits are rated ',8$$,"
J unless noted otherwise in the proBect drawings or exam (uestion.
Lighting:
The E! re(uires a minimum load per s(uare foot for general lighting, depending on
the type of occupancy ?Ta%le ##$.03"4@. &or the guestrooms of hotels, motels,
hospitals, and storage warehouses, you can apply the general lighting demand
factors of Ta%le ##$.'' to the general lighting load.
"ssume the general lighting load for commercial occupancies other than guestrooms
of motels, hotels, hospitals, and storage warehouses is continuous. !alculate it at
'#8= of the general lighting load listed in Ta%le ##$.03"4.
Receptacles:
/ou don't do all receptacle load calculations the same way. The E! has separate
re(uirements, depending on the application.
2ulti3outlet receptacle assembly:
&or service calculations, consider every 8 feet 3or less4 of multi+outlet receptacle
assem%ly to %e '.$,". Chen you can reasona%ly expect a multi+outlet receptacle
assem%ly to power several appliances simultaneously, consider each foot 3or less4 as
'.$," for service calculations. ormally, a multi+outlet receptacle assem%ly isn't a
continuous load ?##$.03643.4@.
5eceptacle ," load*
The minimum load for each commercial or industrial general+use receptacle outlet is
'.$," per strap ?##$.0364374@. ormally, receptacles aren't continuous loads.
4umber o! receptacles permitted on a circuit:
The maximum num%er of receptacle outlets permitted on a commercial or industrial
circuit depends on the circuit ampacity. To calculate that num%er, divide the ," rating
of the circuit %y '.$," for each receptacle strap.
&ig. 0. The minimum load for each commercial general+use receptacle outlet is '.$,"
per strap. >n this example, the '8", '#$, %reaker could accommodate ',.$$," of
load 3'#$, x '8" E ',.$$,"4. Therefore, you could install a total of '$ receptacles on
this circuit.
Aet's work a sample pro%lem. Kow many receptacle outlets are permitted on a '8",
'#$, circuitshown in 3&ig. 04D
Total circuit ," load for a '8" circuit*
'#$,L'8"E',.$$,"
um%er of receptacles per circuit*
',.$$,"G'.$,"E'$ receptacles
Receptacle si5ing:
The E! permits '8" circuits in commercial and industrial occupancies, %ut some
local codes re(uire a minimum #$" rating 30'$.84.
5eceptacle service demand load. >n other than dwelling units, you can add J to the
lighting loads J receptacle loads computed at not more than '.$," per outlet per
##$.0364374. /ou can also add fxed multi+outlet assem%lies computed per ##$.0364
3.4. 6oth of these must adhere to the demand factors given in Ta%le ##$.'' or in
Ta%le ##$.'0.
-an6 and o7ce general lighting and receptacle:
!alculate the receptacle demand load at '.$," for each receptacle strap ?##$.0364
374@ if the num%er of receptacles is known, or '," for each s(uare foot if the num%er
of receptacles is unknown ?Ta%le ##$.03"4 ote %@.
8igns:
The E! re(uires each commercial occupancy that's accessi%le to pedestrians to
have at least one #$" %ranch circuit for a sign ?2$$.83"4@. The load for the re(uired
exterior signs or outline lighting must %e at least ',#$$," ?##$.0364324@. " sign outlet
is a continuous load. /ou must size the feeder load at '#8= of the continuous load
?#'8.#3"43'4 and #0$.)#@.
The following (uestion will allow you to practice what we've Bust covered. Chat's the
demand load for one electric signD
',#$$,"L'.#8E',8$$,"
4eutral calculations:
The neutral load is the maximum un%alanced demand load %etween the grounded
3neutral4 conductor and any one ungrounded 3hot4 conductor J as determined %y the
calculations in "rt. ##$, Fart 6. This means you don't consider line+to+line loads when
sizing the grounded 3neutral4 conductor. Chat a%out load reductionD That depends on
certain factors, which we'll look at next.
Reduction o9er &00(:
/ou can reduce the feeder-service net computed load for 0+wire, single+phase or )+
wire, 0+phase systems that supply linear loads for that portion of the un%alanced load
over #$$", %y a multiplier of 1$=.
To see how this would work for an actual installation, determine the neutral demand
load for a %alanced )$$", 0+wire, '#$-#)$, feeder.
Total neutral load for )$$" service*
&irst '$$" at '$$=* #$$"L'.$$E#$$"
5emainder at 1$=* #$$"L$.1$E')$"
Total demand load* #$$"M')$"E0)$"
5eduction not permitted. /ou can't reduce the neutral demand load for 0+wire, single+
phase, #$./-'#$, or ).$/-#11, circuits that consist of two line wires and the
common conductor 3neutral4 of a )+wire, 0+phase wye system. This is %ecause the
common 3neutral4 conductor of a 0+wire circuit connected to a )+wire, 0+phase wye
system carries a%out the same current as the phase conductors ?0'$.'83643)43%4@.
&ig. ). 9izing the grounded 3neutral4 conductor can %e tricky. Nust remem%er that you
can;t reduce the neutral demand load for 0+wire, single+phase, #$./-'#$, or
).$/-#11, circuits that consist of two line wires and the common conductor 3neutral4
of a )+wire, 0+phase system.
"s proof of this theory, see the example in &ig. ).
>n addition, you can't reduce the neutral demand load for nonlinear loads supplied
from a 0+phase, )+wire, wye+connected system, %ecause they produce triplen
harmonic currents that add on the neutral conductor. This situation can re(uire the
neutral conductor to %e larger than the ungrounded conductor load 3##$.## &F #4.
Knowing the correct way to do commercial load calculations makes you more
valua%le %ecause you can play a key role in the feld design, inspection, and
implementation process. >t's one more skill that helps you do the Bo% right the frst
time.