Bulletin EC

The 1993 National Electrical Code Mandates:

Elevator Circuits Must Be

Selectively Coordinated
200 A Sub-Feeder
100A
Branch

EL-1

EL-2

EL-3

400A
Feeder
Utility
Transformer

1600A
Main

In most commercial and industrial facilities, a system blackout would be intolerable.

Selective Coordination is always more desirable than a system blackout.

Selective Coordination
What is Selective Coordination?
Today, more than ever, one of the most important parts
of any installation - whether it is an office building, and industrial plant, a theater, a high-rise apartment or a hospital - is
the electrical distribution system. Nothing will stop all
activity, paralyze production, inconvenience and disconcert people and possibly cause a panic more effectively than a major power failure.
We may define selective coordination as THE ACT OF
ISOLATING A FAULTED CIRCUIT FROM THE REMAINDER
OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, THEREBY ELIMINATING
UNNECESSARY POWER OUTAGES. THE FAULTED CIRCUIT IS ISOLATED BY THE SELECTIVE OPERATION OF
ONLY THAT OVERCURRENT PROTECTIVE DEVICE
CLOSEST TO THE OVERCURRENT CONDITION.

Figure 1 illustrates a non-selective system (left) and a

selectively coordinated system (right).
Most designers and specifying engineers will agree
that a system blackout in most commercial and industrial facilities would be intolerable.
Selective Coordination and the NEC
Prior to the 1993 NEC, several sections referenced
selective coordination. Section 240-12 (Electrical System
Coordination) and 517-17 (Ground Fault Protection in
Health Care facilities) are notable. These sections made
reference to requirements for selectively coordinated systems. However, total selective coordination was not mandated.

SELECTIVE COORDINATION

NON-SELECTIVE COORDINATION
(Total System Blackout)

Not Affected
A

Not Affected
A

De-energized
Portion of System

Also Opens

Not Affected
B

B
Also Opens
C

Not
Affected

Opens
Opens

D
D

Branch
Circuit
Fault

De-energized
Portion of System.
(This is the only part of
the system affected).

Figure 1

Fault

,


Elevator Circuits Must Be Selectively Coordinated

The 1993 NEC, Section 620-15(a) states: circuits and
overcurrent devices which feed elevator controllers
shall be selectively coordinated. This wording is
unprecedented in the NEC in that absolute selective coordination is indeed required. A design engineer must specify
main, feeder, sub-feeder, and branch circuit protective
devices that are selectively coordinated for all values of
overloads and short circuits.
To understand this new mandate, we will examine the
system in Figure 2, and those circuits supplying elevator
controllers, specifically down to the 100 ampere branch
circuit.

200A Sub-Feeder

100A
Branch

EL-3

EL-2

EL-1

400A
Feeder

1600A
Main

Utility
Transformer

Figure 2

This Design Violates the National Electrical Code

Figure 3 consists of an Insulated Case Circuit Breaker
(ICCB) and Molded Case Circuit Breakers (MCCBs). Figure
4 shows a lack of coordination for any value of current in
excess of 750 amperes. Faults in excess of 16,000
amperes cause a total system blackout. Violations of section 620-51(a) exist.

400
300
200

100
80
60

1600A ICCB

40

400A MCCB

30

100A
MCCB

20

200A MCCB

100A MCCB

EL-3

400A
MCCB

1
.8
.6
.4
.3
.2

.1
.08
.06
.04
.03
.02

Figure 4

40,000

60,000
80,000
100,000

BLACKOUT
(PARTIAL)
CURRENT IN AMPERES

30,000

8,000
10,000

6,000

4,000

3,000

2,000

.01

600
800
1,000

Figure 3. VIOLATION

100

Utility
Transformer

1600A
ICCB

300
400

EL-2

200

EL-1

TIME IN SECONDS

10
8
6

20,000

200A Sub-Feeder

1,000
800
600

BLACKOUT
(TOTAL)

,




,





This Design Meets the National Electrical Code

Figure 5 consists of Class RK1 LOW-PEAK fuses,
Studying Figure 6, it can be seen that selective coordination exists for these fuses. Compliance with Section 62051(a) exists.

1,000
800
600
400
300
200

LPS-RK400SP

LPS-RK200SP

100
80
60

LPS-RK100SP

LPS-RK200SP

KRP-C1600SP

40
30

.3
.2

.1
.08
.06
.04
.03
.02

300
400

200

100

.01

60,000
80,000
100,000

.4

30,000
40,000

1
.8
.6

20,000

KRP-C1600SP

8,000
10,000

Figure 5. COMPLIANCE

6,000

Utility
Transformer

3,000
4,000

LPS-RK400SP

10
8
6

2,000

EL-3

TIME IN SECONDS

EL-2

EL-1

600
800
1,000

LPS-RK100SP

20

CURRENT IN AMPERES

Figure 6

Summary
Selective coordination is always more desirable
than a system blackout. An analysis of overcurrent device
time-current characteristics is required to assure coordination. Selective coordination for elevator circuits is mandated
in the NEC Section 620-51(a)
The reader is directed to other sources for information
and assistance on performing selective coordination studies:
Buss Bulletin EPD-2, Selective Coordination of Overcurrent Protective Devices for Low Voltage Systems is a
manual on selective coordination.

Tron Computer Software for Power Systems Analysis

consists of a package of three PC based programs,
One of these, BUSSPLOT, performs Selective
Coordination Studies
BUSSPLOT analyzes fuse and circuit breaker time
current curves
Outputs data to a printer or a plotter.

This Bulletin is intended to clearly present comprehensive product data and provide technical information that will help the end user with design applications. Bussmann reserves the right, without notice, to change
design or construction of any products and to discontinue or limit distribution of any products. Bussmann also reserves the right to change or update, without notice, any technical information contained in this
Bulletin. Once a product has been selected, it should be tested by the user in all possible applications.

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Copyrighted April 1993 by Cooper Industries, Inc., Bussmann Division. Printed in U.S.A.