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SEPTEMBER 2018 || VOLUME 54 || ISSUE 8

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COMPLETING THE SAFETY TRIFECTA CSA Z463 switches from guideline to standard. P.10 INSIDE

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from the EDITOR PETER SAUNDERS

A National Honour

Cover photo courtesy Danatec

hile professionals in the electrical industry play a vital role in keeping Canada running smoothly, rarely are they recognized with national accolades outside their industry. Yet that’s what happened on June 29, when the Governor-General named Timothy E. MacDonald, president of Ideal Supply in Listowel, Ont., a member of the Order of Canada. “It absolutely came as a surprise,” he says. “I was at work when my phone rang and caller ID showed it was coming from the Governor-General!” Tim has been with Ideal Supply since the early 1980s, when it was a family-owned business, and has successfully maintained its position as one of Canada’s largest independent wholesale distributors of electrical and automotive parts, remaining in charge after it became a subsidiary of Montreal-based Groupe Deschenes in 2016. He also served as chair of Electro-Federation Canada from 2002 to 2003. Besides Ideal Supply’s nearly 100 years of business success, the company has a long track record of community involvement. It is this side of Tim’s life, especially, that earned him a place in the Order of Canada, which recognizes citizens for their outstanding achievements, service to the nation and dedication to their communities. “As long as I’ve been in a position of business leadership, I’ve tried to also take a position of leadership in community initiatives,” he explains. Tim was founding chair of the Stratford Perth Community Foundation (SPCF), has led Listowel’s chamber of commerce, sat on the board of the Stratford Festival and currently chairs the building committee for the festival’s new Tom Patterson Theatre. He also co-founded the Arctic Research Foundation (ARF), a private, non-profit organization that has supported community-building initiatives in Canada’s far north and proved instrumental in finding the lost ships of Sir John Franklin’s ill-fated 1845 Northwest Passage Expedition, including the HMS Erebus in 2014 and the HMS Terror in 2016. Now, his contributions are commemorated with a citation posted in Ottawa near the Governor-General’s official residence, Rideau Hall. All of us here at Electrical Business congratulate Tim on this great honour!

psaunders@ebmag.com

CONTENTS SEPTEMBER 2018 || VOLUME 54 || ISSUE 8

10 14 16

Completing the safety trifecta

As CSA Z463 becomes a standard, rather than just a guideline, its increased scope will have an impact on the maintenance of electrical systems across Canada.

Generating value with standby power

The same skills electrical contractors use every day can also expand their business offerings with the installation and maintenance of standby generators.

Not all service entrance equipment is created equal

Choosing service equipment switchgear is a balancing act of meeting industry standards, the end user’s needs and the relevant utility’s requirements.

COLUMNS

DEPARTMENTS

8 Electrical Safety 360 The impact of human performance (HP) on the electrical construction sector.

4 Industry news 8 Calendar 19 Personalities 20 Products & solutions 21 Code conundrum

22 Code File Understanding the intent behind Rule 10-210. EBMAG.COM

September 2018 · ELECTRICAL BUSINESS

INDUSTRY news

September 2018 || Volume 54 || Issue 8 ELECTRICAL BUSINESS is the #1 Canadian resource for electrical contractors, maintenance & engineering professionals, distributors, manufacturers and their agents, and associated stakeholders.

Editor Peter Saunders psaunders@ebmag.com Associate Publisher Anthony Capkun acapkun@ebmag.com Account Manager Jacquie Rankin jrankin@ebmag.com Assistant Editor Ellen Cools ecools@annexbusinessmedia.com Media Designer Elena Novinskiy enovinskiy@annexbusinessmedia.com Account Coordinator Kathryn Nyenhuis knyenhuis@annexbusinessmedia.com

CBRE fined $80,000 for electrical shock to worker CBRE has been fined a total of $80,000, reports Ontario’s Ministry of Labour, after a worker was shocked by electricity while changing a 347V fluorescent lighting ballast. On March 31, 2015, two mobile maintenance technicians employed by CBRE were tasked with changing a ballast in the cafeteria at Roberta Bondar Place in Sault Ste Marie, Ont. The task had been brought to their attention by CBRE’s work order, which stated that a light was out in the area. After receiving the work order, the technicians went to the electrical room to lock out power to the electrical equipment in the area. Believing they had successfully locked out the power, the technicians left the electrical room and went to the cafeteria to change the ballast. However, power to the electrical equipment was not locked out. Once at the cafeteria, one of the technicians climbed a ladder to get to the ballast, located in the ceiling. The technician was attempting to change the ballast and received an electrical shock. The technician was subsequently brought to Sault Area Hospital and treated for critical injuries. The incident constituted an offence under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, section 25(2)(a), which requires that an employer provide information, instruction and supervision to a worker to protect the health and safety of the worker. It also constituted an offence under section 25(1)(c) of the Act, which states 4

ELECTRICAL BUSINESS · September 2018

that an employer shall ensure the prescribed measures and procedures are complied with. Additionally, section 42(1) of the Ontario Regulation 851 (Industrial Establishments) prescribes that the power supply to electrical installations, equipment or conductors shall be disconnected, locked out of service and tagged before any work is done, and while it is being done, on or near live exposed parts of the installations, equipment or conductors. After a trial, CBRE was fined a total of $80,000 on two counts. The court also imposed a 25% victim fine surcharge as required by the Provincial Offences Act.

ABB completes acquisition of GE Industrial Solutions

ABB (new.abb.com) has completed its acquisition of GE Industrial Solutions (GEIS), GE’s electrification solutions business. ABB says the $2.6 billion transaction provides growth opportunities by coupling ABB’s digital offering, ABB Ability, with the GEIS installed base. ABB expects to realize approximately $200 million of annual cost synergies by year five. GEIS (geindustrial.com) will be integrated into ABB’s Electrification Products (EP) division, led by president Tarak Mehta, as a new business unit called Electrification Products Industrial Solutions (EPIS). Stephanie Mains, previously president and CEO of GEIS, will also lead the new business unit as managing director. As part of the transaction, ABB has established a long-term strategic supply relationship with GE to supply them with products and solutions from across the ABB portfolio. Included in the acquisition is the right to use the GE brand.

Circulation Manager Urszula Grzyb ugrzyb@annexbusinessmedia.com Tel: 416-442-5600 ext. 3537 Executive Publisher & VP Tim Dimopoulos tdimopoulos@annexbusinessmedia.com President & CEO Mike Fredericks Published by Annex Business Media 111 Gordon Baker Road, Suite 400 Toronto, ON M2H 3R1 Tel. 416-442-5600 • Fax 416-442-2191

Printed in Canada ISSN 0013-4244 Publication Mail Agreement #40065710 Circulation Email: blao@annexbusinessmedia.com Tel: 416-442-5600 ext.3552 Fax: 416-510-6875 or 416-442-2191 Mail: 111 Gordon Baker Road, Suite 400 Toronto, ON M2H 3R1

Subscription rates Canada: Single issue $7.00 12 issues: $37.00 USA: $65.00 (US) International: $78.50 (US) per year Annex Privacy Officer Email: privacy@annexbusinessmedia.com Tel: 800-668-2374 Occasionally, Electrical Business will mail information on behalf of industry related groups whose products and services we believe may be of interest to you. If you prefer not to receive this information, please contact our circulation department in any of the four ways listed above. The contents of Electrical Business are copyright ©2018 by Annex Publishing & Printing Inc. and may not be reproduced in whole or part without written consent. Annex Publishing & Printing Inc. disclaims any warranty as to the accuracy, completeness or currency of the contents of this publication and disclaims all liability in respect of the results of any action taken or not taken in reliance upon information in this publication.

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INDUSTRY news

Northern Cables expanding to add more production capacity Northern Cables (northerncables.com) is expanding its facility in Prescott, Ont., with a 16,200 sq. ft. addition that will connect the company’s Susan Street plant with another building on Wood Street. The company is investing $2 million in the expansion, which will reportedly add new jobs in Prescott and another 10 to 12 jobs at their Brockville sites over the next few years. Northern Cables’ president, Todd Stafford, says the expansion will give the company more production capacity. “It should make us better able to service our customers because we can react faster and take larger orders,” he adds. The company chose to expand now because of space constraints in their current facilities. According to Stafford, the building expansion should be finished by the end of 2018 and machinery will be installed in 2019. The company is using local contractors in the expansion, and the main machinery will be made in Canada. The expansion “will give us a few years of room for capital growth to add machines as we grow, or if opportunities come up we’ll have a space to be able to react to that,” Stafford concludes.

Siemens Canada hosts 11th Women’s Leadership Fireside Chat

Siemens Canada (siemens.com/ca) recently hosted its 11th Women’s Leadership Fireside Chat at its headquarters in Oakville, Ont. An employee-led Women Leadership Community (WLC) with over 300 members organized the event. The group aims to provide inspiration, training, networking and mentorship access. Vanesh Okanlomo, Siemens Canada’s VP of finance and controlling energy management, and Carol McGlogan, Electro-Federation Canada (EFC) president and CEO, shared insights on personal branding, as well as lessons learned in career development and work-life balance. A Q&A session followed the presentations. Video killed the radio star! If video is king, then we are the power behind the throne. Onsite or in our studio, we provide full-service corporate video filming and production. Cue the red carpet! Visit EBMAG.com/advertise 6

ELECTRICAL BUSINESS · September 2018

Northern Cables CEO Shelley Bacon, left, president Todd Stafford, centre, and vice-president Joe Brunner, right. Photo courtesy Deanna Clark.

Siemens Canada 11th Women’s Leadership Fireside Chat. Photo courtesy Siemens Canada.

The audience included a mix of men, women and students.

SaskPower expands nonresidential smart meter pilot

SaskPower (saskpower.com) is launching the deployment phase of its second pilot for commercial and industrial smart meters. The pilot will see the installation of 7,500 smart meters for commercial and industrial customers. This builds on the base of over 500 meters from last year. The first meters installed will be on SaskPower’s largest business customers who have already opted to receive one. An additional 750 small and medium business customers will be notified later that they have been selected to take part. “We learned from what happened in 2014 with smart meters that failed. The meters we’re installing exceed industry standards. Any meter we install in the future will meet a new, more rigorous specification developed specifically for Saskatchewan,” said Sask-

Power’s vice-president of asset management, planning and sustainability, Tim Eckel. “The meters are then tested to ensure they meet this standard by an internationally recognized third party.” The smart meter pilot is a step towards building a smart grid for Saskatchewan in five to 10 years, the company says.

E.B. Horsman & Son announce new location in Saskatoon

E.B. Horsman & Son — Intec Controls (ebhorsman.com) has opened a full-line electrical supply location in Saskatoon. The company has moved from Intec Controls’ old location to a new building on 815 66th Street in Saskatoon. Courtesy E.B. Horsman & Son The 8,300 sq. ft. building now carries over 5,000 SKUs EBMAG.COM

of process instrumentation, automation, industrial controls, sensors, data communications, lighting, power distribution, wire and general electrical supplies. The new location has a counter to provide local customer service, a technical support staff and shipping methods for all job requirements, the company says. Inventory will be supported by the company’s central distribution warehouse.

Schneider Electric and REV partner to provide electrical solutions in Western Canada Schneider Electric Canada (schneider-electric.ca) is partnering with REV (reveng.ca), a Calgary-based electrical engineering consultancy, to provide holistic solutions to meet customer demands. Specifically, REV is partnering with Schneider Electric on its medium-voltage line of arc resistance. “This partnership will allow our customers to benefit from world-class arc resistance equipment integrated into custom solutions, designed and manufactured in Alberta,” said Christian Cossette, marketing and engineering director, Canada, Schneider Electric. REV offers electrical designs, products and services for oil and gas, mining, commercial and utility industries.

Courtesy CNW Group/Schneider Electric.

IES, AVIXA jointly publish standard on lighting for videoconferencing rooms

The Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) (ies.org) and the Audiovisual and Integrated Experience Association (AVIXA) (avixa. org) have released a new standard, Recommended Practice for Lighting Performance for Small to Medium Sized Videoconferencing Rooms (ANSI/IES/AVIXA RP-38-17). Created by lighting experts from IES and videoconferencing experts from AVIXA, the standard is ANSI (American National Standards Institute) approved. It provides lighting parameters and performance criteria for small-to-medium-sized single-axis videoconferencing spaces defined as one set of video displays and cameras. Although the standard is written to consider between three and 25 primary seating locations, the principles can be applied to other applications as outlined. The standard provides guidance to professionals involved in the design, construction, assessment and support of videoconferencing environments. It presents performance criteria for the design and measurement/evaluation of room lighting. RP-38-17 provides measurable lighting performance criteria so the new standard will: • Offer minimum lighting performance requirements for optimum participant viewing of displays, presenter and task area. • Optimize lighting for cameras, thereby improving the images transmitted to remote sites. • Enhance videoconference communications, comfort and productivity.

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2018-05-14 1:49 PM

ELECTRICAL SAFETY360

CALENDAR

MIKE DOHERTY

The impact of human performance in the electrical construction sector

he 2019 Electrical volved with organizing the event. Safety Workshop Electrical incidents among (ESW) will be held in workers in the construction Jacksonville, Fla., from industry make up a significant Mar. 4 to 8, 2019, at proportion of the total number the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville of incidents globally. Indeed, Riverside (tinyurl.com/jfkjhz7). many others around the world Mark your calendar now to save have realized that electrical hazthose dates, talk to your manager ards in the construction sector and get this item into your 2019 are significant and prevalent.1, 2 budget proposals. The NAC’s purpose is to esIt will be my 19th ESW in a row. tablish a body of acknowledged construction industry I have highlighted the leaders, who are electvalue of this event— The root or, as I like to call it, cause of any ed to it. The academy provides a networking the Super Bowl of electrical system for past and electrical safety— incident can present members many times in this column. almost always of the construction The IEEE IAS be traced back industry and recognizes fresh and novel Electrical Safety to human industry achievement Committee (ESafC) sponsors the ESW. performance with appropriate awards programs. ESafC’s scope covers all matters within IAS’ scope that specifically relate to occupation- The importance of human al hazards of electrical energy. performance Topics include, but are not In Washington, Behzad and I dislimited to: hazard phenomena, cussed the possibility of working inherently safer design, work together on the topic of ‘human practices, hazard mitigation and performance’ (HP) in the elecelectrical safety management. trical construction sector and its The ESafC has created subcom- potential impact on incidents and mittees to help fulfil their mis- injuries. Our CSA Z462 technical sion, including the construction committee (TC) developed and subcommittee, which I chair. published Annex U, Human PerBut more than anything, the formance and Workplace Electrical ESW is dedicated to changing Safety, for the 2015 standard. In electrical safety culture around my opinion, it is a world-class the world. document. I have presented many times HP is a critical component at the ESW and will have the of workplace safety. In fact, the distinct pleasure of co-pre- root cause of any electrical incisenting in March with Behzad dent can almost always be traced Esmaeili, PhD, an assistant pro- back to it. fessor at the Volgenau School of At the 2019 ESW, we will disEngineering at George Mason cuss the need for human-factor University in Fairfax, Va. best practices to mitigate hazWe met in October 2017 at an ards. Here is part of our abstract Electrical Safety in Construc- as approved for the conference: tion Workshop in Washington, The construction industry is one D.C., which was sponsored and of the most hazardous industries led by the National Academy of worldwide and contact with electric Construction (NAC) and ESW. energy is a major cause of injury As the chair of the construction and death among construction subcommittee, I was very in- workers. Therefore, finding innov-

ELECTRICAL BUSINESS · September 2018

ative ways to identify, assess and mitigate electrical hazards in the early stages of a project would save lives and prevent injury. It is well-known that unsafe acts caused by human error are the main reasons for up to 80 per cent of accidents across various industries. Therefore, this paper aims to provide empirical evidence regarding the effectiveness of human-factor best practices in curbing the frequency, probability and severity of accidents. An online questionnaire has been developed and distributed among various electrical sectors to determine the effectiveness of each practice in reducing the frequency, probability and severity of these incidents. The results will be summarized and guidelines provided to help the electrical sector implement human-performance best practices more effectively. It is expected that the results of this study and paper will accelerate and transform current injury prevention practices, as well as overcome some of the barriers in the electrical workplace. Please consider participating in this anonymous and strictly confidential online survey at tinyurl.com/yavrftap.Your thoughts and comments are truly appreciated and valued.

Notes 1. Number of Allowed WSIB Lost Time Electrical Injury Claims by Sector in Ontario, 2007-2016. tinyurl.com/ycsh3lao. 2. Severity of electrical accidents in the construction industry in Spain. tinyurl.com/y8jk5kvc. A subject-matter expert on electrical safety, Mike Doherty is the president and owner of Blue Arc Electrical Safety Technologies Inc. His specialties include electrical safety management, consulting, training, auditing and electrical incident investigations. He is also an independent electrical safety consultant/trainer contractor for eHazard in Canada and an independent technical advisor contractor for eWorkSAFE in Canada. He is a licensed electrician and an IEEE senior member and has served as the Technical Committee chair for CSA Z462 since its inception in 2006. Mike can be reached at electrical360safety@gmail.com.

EPEC 2018: IEEE Canada Electrical Power and Energy Conference October 10-11. Toronto Visit epec2018.ieee.ca InfraCanada 2018 FLIR October 24 - November 2. Multiple locations. Visit tinyurl.com/yb2ej6dz AD North American Meeting, Electrical Supply Division October 29-31. Grapevine, Tex. Visit www.adhq.com APPrO 2018 Association of Power Producers of Ontario November 12-13. Toronto Visit conference.appro.org/ conference2018 BCEA LINK Conference B.C. Electrical Association November 14-15. Vancouver Visit tinyurl.com/y7lsmhme Work Truck Show & Green Truck Summit 2019 National Truck Equipment Assoc. (U.S.) March 5-8, 2019. Indianapolis, Ind. Visit worktruckshow.com PowerTest 2019 InterNational Electrical Testing Association (NETA) March 11-15, 2019. Grapveine, Tex. Visit www.powertest.org ICT Canada BICSI April 8-11, 2019. Toronto Visit www.bicsi.org MCEE 2019 Mécanex, Climatex, Expolectriq, Éclairage April 24-25, 2019. Montreal Visit mcee.ca Lightfair International May 19-23, 2019. Philadelphia, Pa. Visit lightfair.com Indicates EB will be there. Visit EBMAG.COM for an extensive list of upcoming industry events. EBMAG.COM

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Electrical Maintenance

tenance, Z463’s scope is very broad, covering equipment for power generation, transmission and distribution, transformers, cables, switchgear and much more. Annex M of Z463, explains Becker, provides a set of tables that identify these types of electrical equipment, provide guidance for recommended electrical tests and, based on the level of importance of service, the frequency at which these tests should be performed on the equipment. However, Heid points out, it does not cover overhead lines or residential electrical equipment.

COMPLETING THE SAFETY TRIFECTA The scope and impact of CSA Z463 on maintenance of electrical systems / BY ELLEN COOLS

here’s no denying electrical safety in the workplace is critically important—not just for electrical contractors themselves, but also for the operators of electrical equipment and for business productivity. Properly maintaining electrical equipment plays a key role in creating a safe workplace. Yet a number of Canadian companies don’t have an electrical equipment maintenance program or understand its importance. In fact, it was only in 2013, when CSA Z463, Guideline on Maintenance of Electrical Systems, was introduced, that Canada finally had a document on electrical maintenance, explains Kerry Heid, chair of the Z463 Technical Committee. And even then, Z463 was only introduced as a guideline, which is more of a “recommended practice,” Heid says. This will now change with the release of CSA Z463, Standard 10

ELECTRICAL BUSINESS · September 2018

on Maintenance of Electrical Systems, in September.

Understanding Z463 What is Z463? Put simply, it is a standard that requires companies to create an electrical equipment maintenance program, explains Terry Becker, a member of the Z463 Technical Committee. “It starts out by saying companies need to develop an electrical equipment maintenance program, and within that program, they should identify their electrical assets,” he elaborates. “So, you create an inventory of those electrical assets and then, in turn, you need to develop a strategy—or multiple strategies—for maintenance that you want to perform on those assets.” The standard recommends a number of such strategies, he adds, including predictive, preventive, run-to-fail, reliability-centred and risk-based. As a standard on electrical main-

“If you never changed the oil in your car, how long do you think it would last? It’s the same idea.”

Z463’s ultimate priority, Becker argues, is safety. Following this standard will ensure reliability of service and manage damage through protective devices, he explains. If electrical equipment is not maintained properly, on the other hand, then there is the risk of failure. “When qualified electrical professionals have to work on it, we want to minimize their exposure to arc flash and shock hazards,” he says. Predictive maintenance is one possible strategy for reducing these types of exposure. “When we decide we want to do predictive maintenance, we’re proactively trying to prevent an arcing fault,” Becker says. “We want to do more infrared (IR), more ultrasonic and more maintenance strategies that try to measure the ‘health’ of energized electrical equipment and predict when a failure may occur, so maintenance can be applied before the failure. This is ultimately, in my opinion, the best strategy, to do predictive maintenance for safety.” In fact, Heid points out, Z463 lists 10 different online maintenance diagnostic tests, including visual inspections, corona imaging, acoustics, ultrasound and vibration analysis. “There’s a lot of online testing you can do in the electrical world,” he says. “It’s everything from IR scanning to transformer oil to oil-filled equipment, oil analysis and partial discharge testing.” But not all of these tests are mandatory. “There are certain things in an electrical power system that you must maintain regularly, including protecEBMAG.COM

Photos courtesy Danatec

Safety as a priority

tive and switching devices, where really, if you didn’t maintain them, they would have a direct, negative effect on personal safety,” Heid explains. “So that’s where we drew the line. If it has a direct impact on the safety of the personnel who are either operating or maintaining it, that’s where you need to make sure maintenance is done correctly.”

probability of failure is negligible.” When an arcing fault is accidentally created, then “the power circuit breaker with protected relay functions as predicted, so we limit the incident energy, i.e. the heat released from an arc flash,” Becker explains.

Bringing safety measures together

With the release of Z463 as a standard, Becker says there is now a “safety trifecta” Given this focus, there is clearly a strong in Canada. “The Canadian Electrical (CE) Code relationship between Z463 and CSA Z462, Part 1 covers safe installations, CSA Z462 Standard on Workplace Electrical Safety. “Z462 and Z463 tie in really closely,” covers safe workplaces and then Z463 helps Heid explains. “In Z462, a lot references bring those two together,” he explains. This is an important change, he says, to cable, flash hazard or risk assessment include a caveat that the equipment has to be because the CE Code mandates the safe installation of electrical equipment, but does maintained and in proper working order.” Z462 also defines normal operating con- not include maintenance requirements, ditions of energized electrical equipment, while Z462 recognizes the need for safe workplace practices when working on and Becker adds. “So how do we limit an uncontrolled, operating energized electrical equipment. “And then Z463 comes along and closes abnormal condition on energized electrical equipment that creates an arcing fault and the triangle of the electrical safety trifecta.” “The CE Code governs the installation of an arc flash?” he asks. “We can use Z463 to deliver what Z462 would desire for the equipment,” adds Heid, “and there are energized electrical equipment, which is a very tough regulations on all of that, to the normal operating condition. This means the point that you get it installed, but then it’ll ad corline EB_Layout 1 2018-08-15 3:25 PM Page 1

Delivering on Z462

just be ignored for the rest of its lifecycle. So, from a maintenance perspective, you want to make sure the installation that’s been done under the CE Code will be serviced through the lifecycle of the equipment.” If companies use all three of these standards together, says Becker, “you will have the safest installations you can, with the minimum risk to your workers who operate it and also to the workers who do maintenance on it.” As a result, you’ll have better reliability and more uptime.

Impact on companies Company managers may be wondering about additional impacts of Z463 on their business, such as costs and training. Fred Tanguay, a consultant for Canada Training Group, is answering this call by teaching them how to integrate and implement Z463 into their maintenance programs. In his opinion, the standard will help drive the requirement for proper maintenance home. “Currently, people do substation or electrical maintenance because they get a letter from their fire or insurance company that says it has to be done,” he explains. “Maybe only one per cent of power users out there

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September 2018 · ELECTRICAL BUSINESS

2018-08-20 10:26 AM

Electrical Maintenance

are really proactive in doing electrical maintenance. So, I think this is going to have a big impact.” He acknowledges many companies might be averse to Z463 because of the cost. “This standard takes maintenance to a whole different level than what they’re used to,” he says. “I would say it’s going to double or triple their maintenance costs.” Often, when he helps company managers implement Z463, he is asked, “Do I need to do it? What says I need to do it? How much is it going to cost? How long am I going to be shut down for?” “Well, how much is your production of one day worth?” he asks them in return. “I’ve had clients in the past where if they lost a day of production, then they would lose major supply contracts to the automotive industry, for example, because they couldn’t make the delivery. It’s always going to cost you your business to be down for a day. So, how much is $10,000 to $20,000 of electrical maintenance really worth to you, in the grand scheme of things, to prevent that one day of outage? It becomes very valuable at that point!” Consequently, he says it’s “absolutely paramount” for companies to maintain their electrical systems properly. If the equipment malfunctions or breaks, “the repair cost is usually 50 times the replacement cost,” since companies have to pay for overtime, temporary power supplies, and account for production loss. “So, the downtime cost is massive,” he says. “Just think about it, if you never changed the oil in your car, how long do you think it would last? It’s the same idea.” It’s not just the employees who operate and maintain the equipment that need to understand Z463, Tanguay explains. But he often sees only these workers attending his classes. “And why are they going to the course?” he asks. “Because they need a certificate to basically accommodate the need to prove they are qualified. Very few supervisors and managers actually go. But with this new standard, the supervisors, managers and other stakeholders really need to know what the requirements are, because if they forego this, it leaves the door 12

ELECTRICAL BUSINESS · September 2018

The new standard calls upon companies to identify their assets and then develop a maintenance program for qualified electrical workers.

open to many other problems down the road that could be very costly from a liability point of view.”

Impact on contractors In applying this standard, Becker says, companies will turn to electrical contractors. Indeed, contractors who market electrical equipment maintenance to their clients can use Z463 to help them develop maintenance strategies, tests and test frequencies. “Contractors would benefit from Z463 in terms of helping their clients who don’t have electrical engineers or maintenance electricians on staff,” he explains. “They can credibly identify what electrical equipment maintenance program a specific company should consider. That, in turn, should help electrical contractors retain existing clients and get new ones.” Heid agrees Z463 will be extremely beneficial in helping electrical contractors convince their clients of the importance of well-maintained systems and equipment. “That’s one of the major objectives,” he says, “to use this document as a standard to ensure everyone has a written electrical maintenance program. And there are some clauses in Z463 that point toward the factors to consider when conducting a safety-risk analysis for electrical equipment in a plant.

Really, what the standard’s asking you to do is to look at your installation, ask yourself which devices could cause a problem with the electrical safety program and then ensure that equipment is being maintained properly.”

“The CE Code Part 1 Moving forward the benefits and value of covers safe Despite Z463, Becker points out, it has not installations, been widely adopted. “As a guideline, Z463 was not CSA Z462 well-marketed by CSA,” he says. “Incovers safe stead, people like me were marketing workplaces it through our consultancies and by and then presenting at conferences. The lack Z463 helps of stronger marketing of Z463 as a guideline, I think, limited the industry bring understanding the value of it.” those two in “Promotion has been a challenge,” together.” Heid agrees, “but certainly we’re

hitting from a number of different fronts now.” CSA will promote Z463 as a standard on its website, through its social media channels and at conferences. The Technical Committee will promote it, as well. “There was already incredible value in Z463 as a guideline,” says Becker. “Now that it is becoming a standard, we need to get the word out. We need to get small, medium and large companies to understand it exists and how they can get the value out of it.” EBMAG.COM

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Backup Generators

GENERATING VALUE WITH STANDBY POWER

ou might not realize it, but you already know how to install a standby generator. Yes, you do— since as an electrical contractor, the skills you use to install electrical services in homes and businesses every day are the very same skills you need to install a standby generator. So, by adding generator service offerings to your business, you can add value for your customers and increase your revenue stream, all without having to learn a new skill. Adding standby generator sales is as simple as learning what your customers want, brushing up on your knowledge of generators and learning how to transfer your current skill set.

ELECTRICAL BUSINESS · September 2018

The power of power

A continuous supply of electricity is significant to your customers’ everyday lives.

It’s no secret our electrical grid is outdated. The infrastructure we rely on to power our homes, businesses and public facilities was largely built in the middle of the 20th century. Today, new construction, a growing population and an increased reliance on electricity-based devices—such as televisions, notebook computers and mobile phones—are all straining the existing system. As a result, power outages are on the rise. Studies show the five-year annual average of outages has doubled every five years since 2000. Not only are electricity disruption events growing in number, but they are also lasting longer than before, interrupting our lives and halting normal business operations.

A continuous supply of electricity is significant to your customers’ lives. And while that might sound obvious to electrical contractors, homeowners are never more aware of the impact of electricity on their day-to-day lives until it’s gone, at which point their air conditioning (AC) and heating systems don’t work, Internet-based transactions and activities are interrupted, valuable refrigerated food supplies may be put at risk and the whole house is plunged into darkness. Because homeowners usually take electricity for granted, it’s easy for them to become more concerned about protecting their residences against what they perceive as more tangible threats, like floods and fires. EBMAG.COM

Photos: courtesy Briggs & Stratton Standby Power

The skills you already have can expand your business offerings / BY BRIAN NORTHWAY

Yet the likelihood of an unexpected power outage affecting them is at least as great as—and often greater than— an unanticipated natural disaster. As an electrical contractor, you are already in your customers’ homes. Plus, they already trust you to handle and resolve their routine electrical issues. So, why not let them trust you to ensure they are never without power? Simply mentioning backup power to a customer while you’re already at their house on a call will ‘plant the seed’ for them to start considering protecting themselves against unexpected power outages.

Generating sales with generators There are obvious benefits of adding generator sales to your current business, such as increased revenue through a new service offering, but the true added benefit is that you become your customer’s “go-to.” Once a power outage hits your customer’s home and their standby generator switches on, they’ll be repowered and they’ll remember you’re the one who made that happen. They’ll know they can rely on you to ensure their lives are uninterrupted. By providing additional services outside of routine electrical work, you ensure your customers begin to consider you as a resource for all of their household electrical needs. By providing comprehensive electrical services, from routine work to outage preparation, you gain a lifelong customer. In your typical work, you likely only see your customers once or maybe twice a year, but adding generator services allows you to establish multiple touch points with a customer throughout the year, i.e. through maintenance agreements. Simply visiting the customer for a half hour to ensure their unit is properly installed gives you the opportunity to address any additional, outstanding electrical issues they’re experiencing, which in turn will lead to additional sales.

You already know how to do this While many other types of businesses, such as plumbing operations, are capable of adding generator sales and installations to their service offerings, electrical contractors have a leg up on EBMAG.COM

Long after the installation, when a power outage hits your customer’s home and their standby generator switches on, they’ll remember you’re the one who made that happen.

everyone else. As mentioned earlier, you already hold all of the skills necessary to size and install standby generators. The sizing calculators you are familiar with in the Canadian Electrical (CE) Code are the same you would use to size a standby generator. This is why you already have the baseline knowledge to size and install a home’s standby generator.

Step up your skills Relying on your current sizing and electrical knowledge, along with obtaining the appropriate licences, may well be enough to get your foot in the door of the generator sales and installation business, but you can also take it to the next level with some additional best practices. Many generator manufacturers offer optional training to hone your knowledge. You can learn the finer

Maintenance agreements allow you to establish multiple touch points with a customer throughout the year.

points about how to properly size a generator for your customer and correct installation practices—such as where specifically to install the generator—at these sessions. Attending this type of training equips you with that extra bit of knowledge to truly become a trusted resource on standby generators for your customers. Indeed, adding standby generator sales to your service offerings will enhance your reputation and your relationships with your customers. This is the true value-add. By providing comprehensive electrical services, from installation of the generator to scheduled maintenance and emergency services, you can position yourself as a total solution provider, all based on the knowledge and skills you already have. Brian Northway is a third-generation electrician, the former owner of an electrical and generator installation business and a current field service manager for Briggs & Stratton Standby Power. September 2018 · ELECTRICAL BUSINESS

Switchgear

How to select the perfect option for your needs / BY TEDDY CHETTIAR

ith multiple options on the market, projects with huge budgets and tight deadlines looming, it’s easy to make the mistake of relying on the tried and true of the past. And why not? You have always specified the same service entrance switchgear for your projects before, so what’s the problem? Simply put: not all service entrance switchgear is created equal.

ELECTRICAL BUSINESS · September 2018

Service entrance switchgear is also referred to as the point of common coupling (PCC).

Choosing equipment that is inappropriate for your project is done at your potential peril. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Picking the correct equipment is easier than you think. So, what should you examine when selecting the perfect service entrance switchgear for your needs?

Service entrance switchgear vs. switchgear Before we go any further, let’s take a minute to clearly define the differ-

ence between the terms ‘switchgear’ and ‘service entrance switchgear.’ In the simplest terms, switchgear is a combination of electrical disconnect switches, fuses or circuit breakers that are used to control, protect and isolate electrical equipment. Service entrance switchgear, on the other hand, is the link between the utility grid and the end user’s system. It is also referred to as the point of common coupling (PCC), i.e. where two different systems operated by different entities connect. Everything that is upstream of the PCC belongs to and is maintained by the utility, while everything that is downstream of the PCC belongs to and is maintained by the end user. One of the larger challenges with service entrance equipment, as with EBMAG.COM

Photos courtesy S&C Electric Canada

NOT ALL SERVICE ENTRANCE EQUIPMENT IS CREATED EQUAL

One of the many features of service entrance switchgear that may be customized is its exterior paint finish, which in a large facility can help differentiate it from distribution switchgear.

This switchgear, installed outdoors for a Toronto film studio, has been customized with tamper-resistant safety and security features—including padlockable covers over the viewing windows and switch handles—to avoid the need for a protective fence.

all other electrical equipment, is it must meet not only the Canadian Electrical (CE) Code and standards for switchgear, but also the utility’s operating requirements. Often, those requirements can conflict with each other, so the equipment manufacturer will have to find a way to reasonably accommodate both sides. Not only is there a set of industry standards for manufacturers that governs the way switchgear must be built, but there are also other rules that must be followed for the utility to allow its workers to operate the service entrance switchgear. For service entrance switchgear to be deemed safe by an

If you have trouble with your service entrance switchgear, your whole building will be out of power. inspector from Ontario’s Electrical Safety Authority (ESA), for example, it must meet the criteria of Canadian Standards Association (CSA) C22.2 No.31, Switchgear assemblies. Even then, utilities have their own safety operating procedures that dictate switchgear design. This challenging relationship between manufacturers and

utilities exists across borders in Canada and the U.S. Typically, downstream of the PCC, the customer-owned switchgear must meet the CE Code and CSA standard. As such, it doesn’t matter where in the world it was designed or manufactured, so long as it is approved for use in Canada. And since it is installed downstream of the PCC, the manufacturer doesn’t need to know which utility’s network it’s connecting to, because it’s operated by the end user. Service entrance switchgear, on the other hand, is unique in that it must be designed to work equally well with the utility and the end user—and, of course, each utility has unique requirements, based on its own safe operating procedures.

entrance switchgear for not meeting its requirements. For example, the switchgear could be built to CSA standards, but if the wireways are not sealed properly, as per the utility’s standards, then it may be rejected. The resulting delay in energizing the project could end up costing the end user significant amounts of money. Being overlooked and underappreciated can also come from the mistaken belief that the rules and regulations in one place are the same across the board. For example, a consultant who has primarily worked in Saskatchewan, where the main utility for the province is SaskPower, may only be familiar with that

Why

specific utility’s requirements; whereas in Ontario, there are many smaller municipal utilities that each have their own requirements. So, a consultant who works principally in Regina and is knowledgeable on the corresponding standards, requirements and regulations cannot assume the same standards, requirements and regulations will apply for a project in Ottawa.

What to consider The first thing to acknowledge is how critically important service entrance switchgear is as a link. If you have trouble with it, your whole building is out of power.

choose an

EMERGENCY lighting UPS? Provides 10 MODES of protection for clean power to the load ISOLATION TRANSFORMER protects load from upstream faults Manual internal maintenance BYPASS is standard

Overlooked and underappreciated While it is clear the selection of service entrance switchgear is an important part of a project that needs to be addressed early on, it’s surprisingly often overlooked and underappreciated.That lack of foresight can place an entire project in jeopardy. What frequently happens is standard equipment will arrive on-site, but because the specific power grid details were not worked out ahead of time, the utility could reject the service

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September 2018 · ELECTRICAL BUSINESS EB_Sept_Beghelli.indd 1

2018-08-21 11:07 AM

Switchgear

As an example of meeting a utility’s service entrance requirements, key interlocking prevents the closing of an incoming switch while a transformer feeder door is open, ensuring a safe working environment for maintenance crews.

Secondly, as mentioned, it must be appreciated that not all service entrance switchgear is created equal. Some equipment is built to manufacturing standards that assume the best possible conditions, like a clean and dry indoor location, which is not realistic in many cases. You’ll have to deal with electrical rooms where there are sprinklers and where leaks and minor floods can occur. Equipment that’s tolerant for these conditions operates more reliably in the long run. You’ll also want to consider quality. Well-built service entrance switchgear incorporates certain design features, such as welded construction for outer enclosure, power fuses (as opposed to current-limiting 18

fuses) and copper bus instead of aluminum bus. Service entrance switchgear that is built to lower quality standards will result in more frequent maintenance needs, whereas equipment built to higher quality standards will reduce the number of outages. Another factor to consider is customization, since every service entrance switchgear project comes with its own unique requirements. Retrofitting switchgear in an existing electrical room will experience certain design constraints, such as ceiling height. Standard designs typically occupy a larger space, particularly in terms of headroom, so a customized solution that is lower-profile may be required instead. Having to raise the ceiling in a room to accommodate your service en-

ELECTRICAL BUSINESS · September 2018

trance switchgear, after all, would result in immense costs or may otherwise be unfeasible.

The risks of the wrong selection Imagine having equipment you purchased show up on-site that can’t be used. Well, if the service entrance switchgear as delivered does not meet the proper utility standards, then it will not be allowed to be hooked up. If you’re lucky, modifications to meet the utility’s requirements can be made on-site, but otherwise, the equipment will have to be returned to the factory to be completely rebuilt, thus further delaying the project, which costs everybody money. Contractors want to get off the job, get paid and move on. Owners want the

building space occupied, particularly with residential properties that have closings. Delayed closings are very expensive and when funding is involved, banks get nervous. Service entrance switchgear is a critically important link to the grid. If you don’t have a reliable link, the negative implications are huge: you’re out of power, you’re out of production and you’ll need backup generators. Indeed, the importance of service entrance switchgear cannot be overstated. Making the right selection at the beginning means one less thing to worry about on your project later on. Teddy Chettiar, applications director for power quality products for S&C Electric Canada, has more than 10 years’ experience in the power engineering industry. EBMAG.COM

PERSONALITIES

Electrical Business Magazine has hired a new editor, Peter Saunders. He stepped into the role on July 30 and succeeds Anthony Capkun, the magazine’s editor for Peter nearly 14 years, who Saunders. was recently promoted to associate publisher. Saunders brings over 15 years of experience in trade publishing. He has edited magazines about technology for government, electrical sign manufacturing and Anthony other niche industries and Capkun. markets. “I am excited to join the Electrical Business team and look forward to meeting as many professionals in the field as possible,” says Saunders. EBMag’s publisher of 11 years, John MacPherson, recently left the magazine to pursue another opportunity. The board of the National Electrical Trade

EBMAG.COM EB_Sept_Leviton.indd 1

Council (NETCO) has elected Tom Reid as president, as well as a director. Reid is the IBEW’s international vice-president, first district Canada. He replaces Bill Daniels, who retired from both NETCO and the IBEW on July 1, 2018.

Molly Murphy, Jeff Krakowiak, Dave Bucklew. Eaton has announced changes to its electrical sector sales and marketing organization: Molly Murphy has been named senior vice-president, North American sales, and Jeff Krakowiak has been named senior vice-president, marketing and commercial operations. Murphy will lead Eaton’s North American sales, which will now include industrial, OEM, utility, commercial, data centre, service and general sales team. Mean-

while, Krakowiak will lead Eaton’s electrical centres of excellence (CoEs), which include marketing communications, sales operations, customer support, project management, pricing and commercial learning and development. Dave Bucklew, current senior vice-president of North American Sales, plans to retire on Nov. 9, 2018, after 37 years at Eaton. Stelpro recently announced it has created the retail merchandising team. As part of the team, Lucie Lamothe has been appointed to the position of merchandiser. Lamothe began her career in customer service and most recently served as mobile representative and truck supervisor. She will report to Stelpro’s national retail sales director, Pierre-Yves Martin. Phoenix Chabot (pictured, left) replaces Lamothe as the comfort truck supervisor and merchandiser.

September 2018 · ELECTRICAL BUSINESS

2018-08-20 11:00 AM

products and solutions

Luminis introduces Oculus exterior recessed downlight luminaires

Oculus is a recessed downlight designed for outdoor, under-canopy applications, suitable for harsh weather conditions, IP66-rated, with a fully adjustable light module providing 360° rotation and 30° tilt angles. The luminaire has a screwless, low profile trim and is available in two aperture diameters (6-in. and 8-in.). Oculus has a standard 4000K colour temperature, with 2700K, 3000K, 3500K and 5000K options. With a CRI of 80, it is able to deliver up to 6000 lumens and has three reflector optics options: narrow, wide and flood. luminis.com

Arlington offers heavy-duty non-metallic concrete box

Made of heavy-duty plastic, Arlington’s new FLBC4501 4.5-in. non-metallic concrete floor box has six conduit hubs, four plugs and three options for positioning the low-voltage divider in the box. Arlington says adding the new FLBC4502LR levelling ring simplifies the installation of any 6-in. cover on any 4.5-in. concrete box, including FLBC4500 and FLBC4502. The cover is reversible; side A fits any 6-in. round cover with a 3.5-in. screw hole pattern, while side B has a second set of holes for 6-in. covers with a 3.375-in. screw hole pattern. aifittings.com

Mersen releases product recognition app

Illuminate outdoor spaces with WAC’s Hardscape LED luminaires

The new Hardscape LED luminaires from WAC Landscape Lighting can be used for a variety of exterior lighting applications, including facades, rails, steps and other outdoor living areas. The luminaires feature dual 2700K and 3000K CCTs and integral brightness control. Operating with a constant output of 9 to 15V, the fixtures deliver up to 330 lumens with a 90+ CRI and a life of over 50,000 hours. IP66-rated and protected against high-pressure water jets, the luminaires are factory-sealed watertight fixtures. The products are available in four sizes (3-in., 6-in., 13-in. and 18-in.), with the latter three offering CCT selection and integral brightness control. waclighting.com 20

ELECTRICAL BUSINESS · September 2018

Mersen says it has released the industry’s first product recognition app to use a photo to identify and suggest a product cross-reference based on the image. The feature gives the user the option to search for a competitive product via direct text input or photo recognition. They can use a mobile device to scan the fuse into the app for identification, and then Mersen’s product recognition app will suggest a match. Users also have the option to enter voltage, horsepower or KVA rating details in a template to find proper protection for their motors and transformers. mersen.com

imager to recognize a placed reference sticker, determine emissivity and reflected temperature, and set both values automatically. Those three models are also compatible with Ridgid Thermal App, which allows users to create and share reports, as well as view, edit and analyze captured images on a mobile device. ridgid.com

Lutron adds Vive Integral Fixture Control to its Vive IoT platform

Lutron Electronics’ Vive Integral Fixture Control, a wireless lighting control solution, makes existing fixtures wireless and smart. The product can be used on its own or within the Lutron Vive wireless lighting control system. Ideal for commercial or government offices and educational facilities, the fixture control technology also works with any Lutron EcoSystem LED driver or third-party DALI drivers. The controller also features fixture-level occupancy sensing and daylight harvesting capabilities, in addition to wireless communication. It is integrated directly into a luminaire and sent to the jobsite, pre-installed from the factory. lutron.com

Test low-voltage electrical installations with Megger’s MFT70

Prevent system downtime with Ridgid’s thermal imagers

Ridgid says its new thermal imagers can prevent costly system downtime and keep buildings running at optimal performance. The new line includes four thermal imagers — RT-3, RT-5x, RT-7x and RT-9x — that range from providing 160x120 pixel thermal images to 320x240 pixel thermal images. The RT-5x, RT-7x and RT-9x feature e-Assist, which allows the

The battery-powered MFT70 tests low-voltage electrical installations, and can be operated from a ladder-shelf or platform, around the neck, placed on the floor or in the hand. Featuring a large backlit display and colour-coded EBMAG.COM

products and solutions

range selection, dual function display with rotary dials showing all tests available, the tester has an internal memory that allows results to be stored on-the-go and transferred to a Bluetooth-enabled device. The MFT70 is a combined instrument offering a variety of testing options, including ground testing with 2-pole, 3-pole, attached rod technique and stakeless with optional clamps; GFCI tripping; insulation testing at 100V, 250V, 500V and 1000V, and continuity resistance testing at 200 mA or 15 mA. megger.com

Get two lights in one with Milwaukee’s M18 Radius compact site light

The M18 Radius compact site light with flood mode provides a compact solution for users who “require the versatility of two lights in one,” according to Milwaukee. With 2,200 lumens of light output in area mode and 1,000 lumens of flood lighting, the light is suitable for large work areas and smaller task situations. The main body provides 360° of area light, while an independent array of LEDs on the side provide 90° of task lighting. Equipped with

CODE conundrum

a 4.25-in. self-centering metal hook, users can hang the unit overhead on studs and piping. An AC inlet also gives users the option of plugging in the light for extended run-time. milwaukeetool.com

TACKLE THE CODE CONUNDRUM IF YOU DARE!

TE’s Flex Grip wire connectors enable “fast, flexible and easy wire termination”

Where is it permitted to install electrical non-metallic tubing (ENT)? a) Underground with mechanical protection b) Behind drywall c) On building surfaces d) All of the above

TO ADVERTISE

24 13 17 2 9 11

Ontario’s Electrical Safety Authority • esasafe.com

QUESTION 1

Except for receptacles located in bathrooms or washrooms, all 15 A and 20 A non-locking receptacles in a patient care area are required to be hospital-grade. a) True b) False TE Connectivity recently launched Flex Grip wire connectors for “fast, flexible and easy wire termination.” The connectors accommodate solid and stranded wires between 24 and 14 AWG (0.2 to 4 mm2) and feature an operating lever that allows releasable and reworkable wire termination. Featuring transparent housings, users can visually confirm the proper wire strip length and insertion for electrical installation. With a built-in test slot, installers can also conduct the electrical test while keeping the wires terminated. The connectors conform to the UL 486C safety standard for splicing wire connectors and have a 16A current rating and 600V AC/ DC voltage rating. te.com Visit EBMAG.COM for the latest news, stories, products, videos, photo galleries and industry events.

Leviton Canada Northern Cables Standard Products Thomas & Betts Wago Canada

Anthony Capkun • acapkun@ebmag.com Jacquie Rankin • jrankin@ebmag.com EBMAG.COM

Compiled by Ray Yousef, code engineer

QUESTION 2

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Answers to this month’s questions will appear in October’s Electrical Business.

19 1 23 1,5 7

QUESTION 3 For a retail store, the calculated load for service or feeder conductors shall be based on a basic load of W/m2 of the area of the building, plus other special lighting equipment, heating and air-conditioning loads. a) 15 b) 20 c) 30 d) 50

ANSWERS Electrical Business, July/August 2018

Question 1 The interior of a storage tank that is vented to atmosphere and contains flammable liquids stored above their flashpoint is typically classified as: a) Zone 0. Rule 18-006, Appendix B, CE Code 2018.

Question 2 Permanent climbing steps shall be provided where it is necessary to climb an outdoor floodlighting pole to replace lamps. The lowest step shall not be less than above locations accessible to unauthorized persons. d) 3.7 m. Rule 30-1030, CE Code 2018. Question 3 Fire alarm system conductors are permitted to be installed in electrical non-metallic tubing (ENT) only when embedded in at least 50 mm of masonry or poured concrete. a) True. Rule 32-102(1)(d), CE Code 2018.

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CODE file DAVID PILON

Understanding the intent behind Rule 10-210

ith the rewrite of CE Code Section 10, a number of questions spring to mind. In my opinion, the most important are what is the intent of Rule 10-210 and what is it really saying? To answer these questions, we first need to clarify some terminology and how it is interpreted by different utilities and authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs). What is a grounded conductor? By definition, it is a conductor that is intentionally grounded. Rule 10-210 stipulates that the conductor in a solidly grounded system supplied by the supply authority shall be connected to ground at one point only at the consumer’s service. To understand why that is, we need to understand why Section 10 was rewritten and we need to clarify some other issues that may arise with the changes to the grounding systems. One of the major reasons for the rewrite was issues caused by the long-acceptable, yet unchecked, unsafe and undesirable, effects of neutral return current flowing through bonding conductors, grounding conductors, other metallic surfaces like municipal water lines and even the Earth. Look at a typical residential installation of overhead services with each conductor grounded through a municipal water system. What happens when one consumer loses their grounded system conductor? They use the municipal water line to the neighbour’s grounded system conductor back to the X0, because it is in parallel to their own broken grounded system conductor. It is also important to understand the utilities do not fall under the scope of the CE Code. So, if a utility understands the

issue and decides to change their (d) of Rule 10-210 clarifies it installation methods, then it is shall have no other connection imperative that we understand to ground on the supply side or how to connect to these instal- the load side of the connection. lations properly. Otherwise, we Doing so would create another just make a bad situation worse. parallel neutral return path and And if the consumer installs the wouldn’t serve to mitigate the cables to the utility transformer, concerns that have led to these then the CE Code has authority changes in the first place. over the installation method and So, understanding the intent the grounding requirements, behind “single point system which are still undergoing grounding” helps the inspector changes as we speak. and the installer So, back to my under stand the question — what is goals and methods We are the grounded confor achieving a safer striving ductor? In a typical installation and to achieve utility feed to the eliminating parallel the safest consumer, it is the neutral paths. conductor that is inHowever, there system tentionally grounded are systems—such possible by and functions as the as overhead distribuensuring we tion systems—that fault return path have “single already exist. These and, “if required,” also functions as the point system are not going to go neutral return path. away over night. grounding” This conductor is Consequently, each typically white or AHJ needs to formubare. It must be grounded and late a plan to deal with them on have a system bond jumper in- a case-by-case basis as services stalled at the consumer’s service are updated and changed. to create the fault return path to The next concern that comes the X0 of the system transform- into play is the grounding of er. It must be connected at one the facility at the location of the single point only. service. On a farm, for instance, Why is that? Well, we are you may have extended a service striving to achieve the safest 120 m beyond where the service system possible by ensuring grounding occurred. What is the we have “single point system soil resistivity between these two grounding,” which eliminates points? How would a lightning all possible parallel neutral paths strike affect it? What would the back to the X0—or, in this case, issue be with a ground peneback to the grounded system trating radar (GPR) fault on the conductor. utility system? But what if the utility or the This is where the issue of equiconsumer supplies a neutral potential grounding comes into conductor and a bonding play. An equipotential ground is conductor? The utility trans- a connection between an elecformer already has a system trode and the metallic surfaces bonding jumper installed at of the electrical equipment. the transformer. This system To answer these questions, we already has “single point system may require engineering ground grounding.” So then why would studies or we may simply install we ever want to re-ground either equipotential grounding at each of these conductors? Sub-rule out building to help mitigate the

ELECTRICAL BUSINESS · September 2018

concerns with lightning, GPR, soil resistivity and other issues that may arise when services are grounded at only one point and connected by a bond conductor to a distant or remote location. But the question then becomes how remote is remote? If the grounding takes place in the utility transformer and you are unaware of the lightning effects or soil resistivity in your area, then installing an equipotential ground at each facility should help mitigate these effects, regardless of the distance. So if the transformer is 3 m from the building or 100 m from the building and a bonding conductor interconnects the grounding at the transformer, I would recommend installing an equipotential ground at the building’s main service entrance and for all other buildings that service feeds. Because these equipotential grounds are interconnected by the bonding conductor, we also inadvertently increase the grounding area to help stabilize the utility system, which makes it a win-win. Always consult your AHJ for more specific interpretations.

David Pilon is currently the Training Coordinator for Electrical Inspectors and has been an electrical inspector with SaskPower since 2000. He is also the vice-chair of the Canadian Certified Electrical Inspector (CCEI) committee of the International Association of Electrical Inspectors (IAEI), Canadian Section. David can be reached at dpilon@ saskpower.com.

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