Application of Key Aspects of the

Trinidad and Tobago Electrical

Wiring Code: Low Voltage (TTS
171: Part1) to the Low Voltage
Electrical Systems of a Simple
Building
 Application of
Standards:
Lighting Layout Design
 Lighting Layout Design
• Type of Light Fixture
– Ceiling Design
– Voltage
– Wattage
– Aesthetics
– Security
• Different Methods to Design Lighting Systems
• For this example,
– Area Category Method for Internal
 Lighting Layout Design
• Once Number of Lights determined, Layout light
fixtures on drawing
– Number Light Fixtures e.g. L1, L2 etc.
• Layout of fixtures may vary on purpose
– For general purpose, you may to evenly space out
fixtures
– For task lighting, you may want a particular area
highlighted
– For Security Lighting, you want to cover as much area
as possible etc
 Lighting Layout Design
• Example
 Lighting Layout Design
• Example (with Dimensions)
 Lighting Layout Design
• Example
– Internal
• Based on user requirements and others, selected 2 X
32 W, 115 V 1.2m Bare, Surface Mounted, Electronic
Fluorescent Fixtures for the entire dwelling
Lighting Layout Design
 Lighting Layout Design
• Example
– Internal
• Based on user requirements and others, selected 2 X 32 W,
115 V 1.2m Bare, Surface Mounted, Electronic Fluorescent
Fixtures
• Using Area Category Method,
• For Kitchen, Area = 80 ft sq
– Allowed Lighting Power = 1.6 W/ftsq
– Total Allowed power = 80 X 1.6
= 128 W
– Power Per Fixture = 32 X 2 W
= 64 W
– No. of Fixtures = 128 / 64
= 2 Light Fixtures
 Lighting Layout Design
• Example
– Internal
• Using Area Category Method,
• For Bathroom, Area = 240 ft sq
– Allowed Lighting Power = 0.6 W/ftsq
– Total Allowed power = 240 X 0.6
= 144 W
– Power Per Fixture = 32 X 2 W
= 64 W
– No. of Fixtures = 144 / 64
= 2.25 Light Fixtures
= 3 Light Fixtures
 Lighting Layout Design
• Example
– Internal
• Using Area Category Method,
• For Living Room, Area = 160 ft sq
– Allowed Lighting Power = 1.1 W/ftsq
– Total Allowed power = 160 X 1.1
= 176 W
– Power Per Fixture = 32 X 2 W
= 64 W
– No. of Fixtures = 160 / 64
= 2.75 Light Fixtures
= 3 Light Fixtures
– For Aesthetics, 4 Fixtures were used.
 Lighting Layout Design
• Example
– Internal
• 4 No. Lights for the Living Room, 2 No. Lights for the
Kitchen and 3 No. Lights for the Washroom / bathroom.
• L1 – L9
• Place L1 – L9 on the drawing
 Lighting Layout Design
• Example (Continued)
– Internal Lighting
 Lighting Layout Design
– Internal
• If the fixture that is chosen is LED, utilise a 70%
reduction in Wattage/sq ft
• i.e. For Kitchen, Area = 80 ft sq
– Allowed Lighting Power = 1.6 W/ftsq X 0.7 = 1.12 W/ft sq
– Total Allowed power = 80 X 1.12
= 89.6 W Approximately 90 W
– Power Per Fixture = 32 X 2 W
= 64 W
– No. of Fixtures = 90 / 64
= 1.4
= 2 Light Fixtures
 Lighting Layout Design
• Example (Continued)
• Control of Lights (Switches)
– Switches must comply with
• 5.9 Isolation of appliance or luminaire
Isolation of appliance or luminaire

 An appliance or luminaire connected to an installation, other than by means of a plug and receptacle-
outlet, shall be controlled by a switch or switches, separate from the appliance or luminaire and
arranged to disconnect all live supply conductors. The maximum height of this switch shall be 2 m
above floor finish.
• < 2m above floor finish
– Lights on same circuit can be switched
– Identify switches and the associated light it controls
– S1, S2 etc.
– Layout switches on the lighting layout drawing
 Lighting Layout Design
• Example (Continued)
• Finished Lighting Layout Design
 Application of
Standards:
Receptacle Layout Design
 Receptacle Outlet Layout Design
• Type of Receptacle Outlet
– Equipment it intends to supply
– Location
– Voltage
– Power
• Determine location of equipment
– General purpose outlets
– Special Code requirements
– Special equipment
• Layout Outlets on drawing
– Number Outlets e.g. P1, P2 etc.
• According to Clause 9.12.7, lighting and outlet circuits are to be
separate from each other
 Receptacle Outlet Layout Design
• Previous Example (with Dimensions)
 Receptacle Outlet Layout Design
• Example
– General Purpose Outlets
• These outlets are usually 115V, 15A Duplex Outlets
• Using Clause 9.12.1
In residential buildings receptacle outlets shall be installed in each room, except bathrooms, such that no point,
measured horizontally along the floor line of any wall, is more than 1.8 metres (6 ft) from a receptacle outlet.

• Outlets are not to exceed 3.6 m (12 ft) between each

other
• Based on Clause 9.12.6, all outlets must have a ground
and be polarized
All receptacle outlets shall have a contact for grounding and shall be polarised.
 Receptacle Outlet Layout Design
• Example (General Purpose)
 Receptacle Outlet Layout Design
• Example (Continued)
– Special Code Requirements
• GFCI outlets
– Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) outlets are utilised to
provide personnel protection
– Operate by measuring the differential in current between the
live conductor and the neutral conductor
– Installed in accordance with Clause 9.13
 Receptacle Outlet Design
• Ground fault circuit interrupter:
device intended for the protection of personnel that
functions to de-energize a circuit or portion thereof
within an established period of time when a current to
ground exceeds some predetermined value that is less
than that required to operate the overcurrent
protective device of the supply circuit

23
Receptacle Outlet Design

24
 Receptacle Outlet Design
• To prevent fatal electric shock to personnel
• The typical circuit breaker is designed to operate
as an overcurrent protective device
• The typical circuit breaker will only operate under
fault conditions
• 50mA is fatal to a person
• The smallest typical breaker is 15A, 300 times
more
• GFCI operates within the 4 – 6 mA range and
within a shorter period

25
 Receptacle Outlet Layout Design
• Example (Continued)
– GFCI (Clause 9.13)
Ground-fault circuit interrupter protection shall be provided by either circuit breakers or receptacle
outlets in the following areas:
a) Bathrooms

b) Kitchen countertops

c) Outlets located within 1.8 m from the outer edge of any sink or water tap

d) Open porches

e) Garages

f) Outdoor receptacles

g) Crawl spaces

h) Unfinished basements

i) Rooftops

j) Boathouses

k) Construction sites

l) Other locations which may become damp or wet during normal use
 Receptacle Outlet Layout Design
• Base Plan
 Receptacle Outlet Layout Design
• Example (Continued)
– GFCI
• Based upon Clause 9.13, GFCI required in Porch,
Bathroom / Washroom and the Counter in the Kitchen.
 Receptacle Outlet Layout Design
• Example (GFCI)
 Receptacle Outlet Layout Design
• Example (Continued)
– Special equipment
• Air Conditioning
• For this example, the A/C unit is a 230V, single phase
mini-split unit with a full load current draw of 14A.
• Based on Annex C, the A/C shall have at a minimum a
20A breaker with a 2.5 mm sq conductor
• Further, based on Annex C, the Full load current is not
to exceed 80%.
• 80% of 20A = 16A.
• Meets code requirements for 20A breaker.
 Receptacle Outlet Layout Design
– TTS 171 Part 1 – Annex C

Type of sub-circuit Sub-circuit rating Maximum no. of Cable cross-section Additional requirements
outlets
Amperes mm2
A. Domestic premises
For calculation purposes, full load current shall not
Lighting 15 12 1.5
1 exceed 80 % of overcurrent protection.
2 General purpose receptacle outlet 15 6 1.5 Each receptacle outlet shall be a duplex 15 A 120 V
20 9 2.5 (NEMA 5-15R).
3 Kitchen and allied areas (receptacle 20 2 2.5 Each receptacle outlet shall be a duplex 15 A 120 V
outlets) (NEMA 5-15R).
4 Laundry (receptacle outlets) 20 1 2.5 Each receptacle outlet shall be a duplex 15 A 120 V
(NEMA 5-15R).
5 Air conditioning (receptacle outlets) 20 1 2.5 For calculation purposes full load current shall not
exceed 80 % of overcurrent protection.

6 Water heater 20 1 2.5 For calculation purposes full load current shall not
exceed 80 % of overcurrent protection.

7 Shower heater 30 1 4.0 Refer to 9.7.3.

8 Dryer 30 1 4.0 For calculation purposes full load current shall not
exceed 80 % of overcurrent protection.

9 Electric range 50 1 10 The switch shall be installed within sight, readily

accessible, not directly above the appliance and not
more than 2 m away.
B. Commercial and Industrial premises
1 Lighting 15 6 x 115 V 1.5 For calculation purposes full load current shall not
20 8 x 115 V 2.5 exceed 80 % of overcurrent protection

2 General purpose receptacle outlets 15 3 1.5 Each receptacle outlet shall be a duplex 15 A 120 V
20 4 2.5 (NEMA 5-15R).
30 6 4.0
 Receptacle Outlet Layout Design
• Example (A /C)
 Receptacle Outlet Layout Design
• Example (Continued)
– Special equipment
• Air Conditioning
• For sizing of A/C, utilise the rule of thumb of 400 ft sq
per tonne (12000 BTU) for households
• E.g. for a room of size 600 ft sq,
• A/C size = 600 / 400 X 12000
• = 18,000 BTU (1 ½ Tonnes of A/c)
 Receptacle Outlet Layout Design
• Example (Continued)
– Special Equipment
• Air Conditioning
– In this particular example, the A/C ‘s outlet is mounted less
than 2m and as such, no switch is required.
– Clause 9.12.3
Receptacle outlets mounted above 2 m shall have a readily accessible disconnecting switch.
Exceptions shall include emergency lighting, security cameras, garage door openers and other
applications where it is undesirable to have accidental disconnection of devices.

– Further, since the outlet is adjacent to the A / C evaporator,

Clause 9.14.1 is met
Every non-portable appliance, except electric clocks, bell transformers or emergency signalling circuits, shall
either be fed from an adjacent receptacle-outlet or be controlled by a switch, switch-fuse or push-button, which
shall be additional to any automatic control device, and shall be arranged to disconnect the appliance from all
live supply conductors.
 Receptacle Outlet Layout Design
• Example (Continued)
– Special Equipment
• Shower Heater
– In this particular example, a shower heater is to be installed @
115V and 20A full load current.
– Based on Annex C, the minimum size breaker is 30A with 4.0
mm sq cable.
– The full load current is not to exceed 80% of the overcurrent
protection i.e. 80% of 30A = 24A.
– Using the 30A with the 4.0 mm sq meets the code
requirements for the shower heater.
 Receptacle Outlet Layout Design
– TTS 171 Part 1 – Annex C

Type of sub-circuit Sub-circuit rating Maximum no. of Cable cross-section Additional requirements
outlets
Amperes mm2
A. Domestic premises
For calculation purposes, full load current shall not
Lighting 15 12 1.5
1 exceed 80 % of overcurrent protection.
2 General purpose receptacle outlet 15 6 1.5 Each receptacle outlet shall be a duplex 15 A 120 V
20 9 2.5 (NEMA 5-15R).
3 Kitchen and allied areas (receptacle 20 2 2.5 Each receptacle outlet shall be a duplex 15 A 120 V
outlets) (NEMA 5-15R).
4 Laundry (receptacle outlets) 20 1 2.5 Each receptacle outlet shall be a duplex 15 A 120 V
(NEMA 5-15R).
5 Air conditioning (receptacle outlets) 20 1 2.5 For calculation purposes full load current shall not
exceed 80 % of overcurrent protection.

6 Water heater 20 1 2.5 For calculation purposes full load current shall not
exceed 80 % of overcurrent protection.

7 Shower heater 30 1 4.0 Refer to 9.7.3.

8 Dryer 30 1 4.0 For calculation purposes full load current shall not
exceed 80 % of overcurrent protection.

9 Electric range 50 1 10 The switch shall be installed within sight, readily

accessible, not directly above the appliance and not
more than 2 m away.
B. Commercial and Industrial premises
1 Lighting 15 6 x 115 V 1.5 For calculation purposes full load current shall not
20 8 x 115 V 2.5 exceed 80 % of overcurrent protection

2 General purpose receptacle outlets 15 3 1.5 Each receptacle outlet shall be a duplex 15 A 120 V
20 4 2.5 (NEMA 5-15R).
30 6 4.0
 Receptacle Outlet Layout Design
• Example (Continued)
– Special Equipment
• Shower Heater
– All apparatus in bathrooms must meet Clause 9.7.3
– The shower heater in particular must meet Clause 9.7.3 (d)
a) The use of receptacle outlets shall be permitted in bathrooms for the purpose of supplying
shower heaters provided that the outlets are installed at a minimum height of 2.5 metres above
floor level and mounted on the wall above the shower. All such receptacle outlets shall be
controlled by a switch, inaccessible to any person using the bath or shower. The connections
at the shower heater shall be enclosed. Screw type connections that are exposed shall not be
acceptable.

– and (b)
a) Every switch or other means of control or adjustment shall be so situated as to be out of reach
of a person in contact with the shower, bath, sink or washbasin.
 Receptacle Outlet Layout Design
• Example (Shower Heater)
 Receptacle Outlet Layout Design
• Example (Continued)
– Special Equipment
• Electric Cooker
– In this example, the Electric Cooker / Range is rated @ 230V
single phase with a maximum full load current of 38A.
– Based on Annex C, the minimum required circuit breaker is
50A and 10 mm sq
– 80% of 50A= 40A
– Code met using this requirement.
 Receptacle Outlet Layout Design
– TTS 171 Part 1 – Annex C

Type of sub-circuit Sub-circuit rating Maximum no. of outlets Cable cross-section Additional requirements
Amperes mm2
A. Domestic premises
For calculation purposes, full load current shall not
Lighting 15 12 1.5
1 exceed 80 % of overcurrent protection.
2 General purpose receptacle outlet 15 6 1.5 Each receptacle outlet shall be a duplex 15 A 120 V
20 9 2.5 (NEMA 5-15R).
3 Kitchen and allied areas (receptacle 20 2 2.5 Each receptacle outlet shall be a duplex 15 A 120 V
outlets) (NEMA 5-15R).
4 Laundry (receptacle outlets) 20 1 2.5 Each receptacle outlet shall be a duplex 15 A 120 V
(NEMA 5-15R).
5 Air conditioning (receptacle outlets) 20 1 2.5 For calculation purposes full load current shall not
exceed 80 % of overcurrent protection.

6 Water heater 20 1 2.5 For calculation purposes full load current shall not
exceed 80 % of overcurrent protection.

7 Shower heater 30 1 4.0 Refer to 9.7.3.

8 Dryer 30 1 4.0 For calculation purposes full load current shall not
exceed 80 % of overcurrent protection.

9 Electric range 50 1 10 The switch shall be installed within sight, readily

accessible, not directly above the appliance and not
more than 2 m away.
B. Commercial and Industrial premises
1 Lighting 15 6 x 115 V 1.5 For calculation purposes full load current shall not
20 8 x 115 V 2.5 exceed 80 % of overcurrent protection

2 General purpose receptacle outlets 15 3 1.5 Each receptacle outlet shall be a duplex 15 A 120 V
20 4 2.5 (NEMA 5-15R).
30 6 4.0
 Receptacle Outlet Layout Design
• Example (Continued)
– Special Equipment
• Cooker Outlet
• Based on Annex C, a switch must be installed within
sight, readily accessible and not more than 2 m away.
• Further, based on Clause 9.14.1, a switch is required
Every non-portable appliance, except electric clocks, bell transformers or emergency signalling circuits, shall
either be fed from an adjacent receptacle-outlet or be controlled by a switch, switch-fuse or push-button, which
shall be additional to any automatic control device, and shall be arranged to disconnect the appliance from all
live supply conductors.
 Receptacle Outlet Layout Design
• Example (Cooker Outlet)
 Receptacle Outlet Layout Design
• Example (Final Outlet Design)
END