MAJARRAH BUSINESS COMPLEX

6th October

SECTION 16478
MOULDED CASE CIRCUIT BREAKERS
PART 1 - GENERAL
1.1

RELATED DOCUMENTS
A. Drawings and general provisions of Contract, including General and special
Conditions and Division-1 (General requirements), apply to work of this section.
B. General Provisions for Electrical Work, Section 16010, apply to work of this section.
C. The requirements of this section apply to moulded case circuit breakers solid state type
specified elsewhere in these specifications.
D. Low voltage switchgear assemblies main distribution boards. Section 16425.
E. Distribution boards section 16470.
F. Testing and commissioning section 16950.

1.2

DESCRIPTION OF WORK
A. Work includes providing all materials, equipment, accessories, services and tests
necessary to complete and make moulded case circuit breakers ready for operation in
accordance with Drawings and Specifications.

1.3

QUALITY ASSURANCE
A. Manufacturers: Firms regularly engaged in the manufacture of moulded case circuit
breakers solid state type whose products have been in satisfactory use in similar
service for not less than 5 years. produced by a manufacturer listed as an Acceptable
Manufacturer in this section.
B. Standards Compliance: Comply with requirements of applicable local codes, IEC
60947-2, IEC 60947-4, IEC 60947-4-1 and Standards pertaining to moulded case circuit
breakers solid state type (adjustable for long time , short time and instantaneous
protection features).
C. In case of conflict among the referenced standards and codes, the more stringent
provision will govern.

1.4

SUBMITTALS
A. Product Data: Submit manufacturer's data for all types of moulded case circuit
breakers, including solid state type.

PART 2 - PRODUCTS
2.1

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
A. DEFINITIONS
The definitions of terms and symbols used in this Specification are those used in IEC
60947-2.

MOULDED CASE CIRCUIT BREAKERS

FEB. 2014. REV. 01

PAGE 1 OF 7

16478

MAJARRAH BUSINESS COMPLEX

6th October

B. STANDARDS
Moulded case circuit-breakers solid state type, all MCCB's shall comply with IEC
60947-2 plus any additional requirements of this Specification.
All MCCB's shall be equipped with solid state release (adjustable for long time and
short time and/or instantaneous protection depends on the selectivity achievements
features).
Breakers of 1000A rating and above shall be provided with ground fault protection as
per NEC requirements.
C. GENERAL
Minimum short-circuit capacities of circuit breakers shall be as indicated on the
drawings.
All MCCB's connected in one electrical circuit shall be selected to ensure full
discrimination up to and including the prospective short-circuit, and earth fault
currents as specified on drawings and Schedules for prospective earth fault currents the
disconnection times shall not exceed 5s.
All MCCBs should be rated at service short circuit entrance level for all incoming and
outgoing.
All circuit breakers in one electrical circuit shall be fully selective and coordinated, if
selectivity coordination study is failed for any reason, contractor is responsible to add
or change any number of breakers, relays, such that the selectivity coordination shall be
fully achieved with no extra cost to the owner.
2.2

CONSTRUCTION
A. MANUFACTURE
MCCB's shall be manufactured with double insulation of the front face, insulating
auxiliary components from the main power poles thereby allowing as far as reasonable
the fitting of auxiliary units on site without full isolation of the unit.
B. CURRENT RATINGS
Rated currents, rated service short-circuit breaking capacities and trip release settings
shall be as specified in cable installation schedules and on drawings.
Current ratings as specified in the schedules and drawings are for interrupted duty at
220/380V in the final installed location on site under full load operating conditions of
the complete installation, i.e. taking account of heat produced by other devices and the
ambient temperature, physical situation, enclosure, position and attitude of the MCCB.
The appropriate de-rating factors shall be applied to manufacturer's standard ratings
when selecting MCCB's to meet the specified ratings.
MCCB's shall be suitable for operation in both the horizontal and vertical mounting
position without detrimental effect on operation or rating.

MOULDED CASE CIRCUIT BREAKERS

FEB. 2014. REV. 01

PAGE 2 OF 7

16478

MAJARRAH BUSINESS COMPLEX

6th October

C. TRIPPING CHARACTERISTICS
Details of tripping characteristics shall be provided for each type of MCCB. The
details shall include manufacturer's full current discrimination tables showing overload
and short-circuit discrimination and, additionally, a full set of overlay transparency
discrimination curves or software program to enable discrimination settings to be
checked.
D. TEST CERTIFICATES
Complete certificates shall be provided for each type of MCCB, stating the service and
ultimate short-circuit capacities.
E. CONTACTS
The contact arrangement of current-limiting MCCB's where applicable shall be such
that the current-limiting contacts are in series with the main contacts and remain closed
in normal operation, including time delayed over current tripping.
Contacts shall be arranged so that normal current is carried by low-resistance silver
alloy or other non-welding material while arcing is handled by tungsten contacts.
Multi-set contact MCCB's shall be arranged using one set of contacts for thermal
current and other for arc interruption.
F. TERMINALS
Terminals shall be sized to accommodate the size and type of cable of incoming and
outgoing circuits as specified in the schedules or drawings. MCCB's shall be provided
complete with terminal shields.
Terminals shall be arranged for direct connection to busbars, front or rear as required
by the switchboard design.
All poles of multi-pole circuit-breakers shall be constructed so that contacts open,
close and trip simultaneously. It shall not be possible for one or more poles to be
closed while another remains open and vice-versa.
G. OPERATING MECHANISMS
Operating mechanisms shall be over-center, quick-make, quick-break type having
operation in which speed of operation of the breaker is independent of the operator.
All hand-operated circuit breakers shall be fitted with rotary action handles only in the
main distribution boards. The handles shall be lockable in open position.
Where motor operated MCCB's are specified in the schedules or drawings, the motors,
the clutches shall be as scheduled. Direct action operating handles shall be provided
for local operation.
Where solenoid operated MCCBs are specified in the schedules or drawings, the
operating voltage shall be as scheduled. Separate solenoids shall be provided for
opening and closing operations. Built-in push buttons shall be provided for local
operation.

MOULDED CASE CIRCUIT BREAKERS

FEB. 2014. REV. 01

PAGE 3 OF 7

16478

MAJARRAH BUSINESS COMPLEX

6th October

Indication of the "ON", "OFF" and "TRIPPED" conditions shall be provided not only
by the position of the handle but also by means of a colored band, or line which shall
be visible when the circuit-breaker is on but not when it is off or tripped.
The "TRIPPED" condition shall be indicated by the handle assuming a mid-point
position between "ON" and "OFF" It shall not be possible to manually place the handle
in the tripped position.
Indication shall be provided to confirm that all main contacts have separated.
H. ENCLOSURES
Moulded case covers and non-interchangeable trip elements shall be permanently
sealed at works to prevent tampering, but the trip elements may be changed/Adjusted
and re-sealed on site by using suitable tools.
All internal components of MCCB's shall be replaceable on site.
MCCB's shall be certified as satisfying the leakage current testes called for in IEC
60947-2 with regards to safety isolation.
MCCB's used for motor starting shall satisfy the Type 2 coordination requirements
called for in IEC 60947-2.The MCCB and the starter shall preferably be of the same
manufacture, and in all cases shall be tested together and certified as satisfying the coordination requirements.
All MCCB's shall be of the same manufacture and those of like kind shall be of the
same type. This requirement applies to loose or individually mounted MCCB's as well
as to those incorporated within assemblies such as control panels, switchboards and
distribution boards.
I.

PROTECTION MECHANISMS
Each pole shall provide inverse time over current protection and adjustable high set
instantaneous tripping and in accordance to item 2.1 (B) above. All poles shall be
tripped simultaneously if one detects a fault.
Trip units of ratings up to and including 250A shall be built in. Trip units above 250A
shall be replaceable.
Tripping mechanisms shall be selective limiting type to obtain discrimination or by
interconnection with other MCCB trip units.
All adjustable trips shall be visible and adjustable from the front with the breaker in
position. Adjustments to trip settings shall be made to all poles simultaneously by
means of a common adjustment mechanism.
J. OPERATING FACILITIES
Facilities shall be provided for the use of a hand-held tester for on-site testing of all
operational features.
Where specified in the schedules/drawings, earth leakage trips, shunt trips,
undervoltage trips and remote operation shall be provided. These accessories shall all
be factory assembled and tested.

MOULDED CASE CIRCUIT BREAKERS

FEB. 2014. REV. 01

PAGE 4 OF 7

16478

MAJARRAH BUSINESS COMPLEX

6th October

Energy based limiting MCCB's which require replacement of the current limiters after
operatic shall not be re-settable until such replacement has been made.
2.3

AUXILIARY CONTACTS
A. Auxiliary contacts shall be provided where specified in the schedule or drawings,
auxiliary contacts shall operate simultaneously with the main breaker contacts.

2.4

INSPECTION AND TEST PROCEDURES

The tests to be carried out shall include but not necessarily be limited to:1.

2.

Visual and Mechanical Inspection

1.

Inspect physical and mechanical condition.

2.

Inspect anchorage and alignment.

3.

Prior to cleaning the unit, perform as-found tests, if required.

4.

Clean the unit.

5.

Operate the circuit breaker to insure smooth operation.

6.

Inspect bolted electrical connections for high resistance using one of the
following methods:

1.

Use of low-resistance ohmmeter.

2.

Verify tightness of accessible bolted electrical connections by

calibrated torque-wrench method in accordance with
manufacturer's published data.

3.

Perform thermographic survey.

7.

Inspect operating mechanism, contacts, and arc chutes in unsealed units.

8.

Perform as-left tests.

Electrical Tests
1.

Perform resistance measurements through bolted connections with a low-resistance

ohmmeter, if applicable.

2.

Perform insulation-resistance tests on each pole, phase-to-phase and phase-toground with the circuit breaker closed and across each open pole for one minute.
Test voltage shall be in accordance with manufacturers published data.

3.

Perform a contact/pole-resistance test.

4.

Perform insulation-resistance tests on all control wiring with respect to ground.

Applied potential shall be 500 volts dc for 300 volt rated cable and 1000 volts dc
for 600 volt rated cable. Test duration shall be one minute. For units with solidstate components, follow manufacturers recommendation.

MOULDED CASE CIRCUIT BREAKERS

FEB. 2014. REV. 01

PAGE 5 OF 7

16478

MAJARRAH BUSINESS COMPLEX

6th October

3.

2.5

5.

Perform long-time delay time-current characteristic tests by passing 300 percent

rated primary current through each pole separately.

6.

Determine short-time pickup and delay by primary current injection.

7.

Determine ground-fault pickup and time delay by primary current injection.

8.

Determine instantaneous pickup current by primary injection using run-up or pulse

method.

9.

Test functions of the trip unit by means of secondary injection.

10.

Perform minimum pickup voltage test on shunt trip and close coils.

11.

Verify correct operation of any auxiliary features such as trip and pickup
indicators, zone interlocking, electrical close and trip operation, trip-free, and
antipump function.

Test Values
1.

Compare bolted connection resistances to values of similar connections.

2.

Bolt-torque levels.

3.

Microhm or millivolt drop values shall not exceed the high levels of the normal
range as indicated in the manufacturer's published data. If manufacturer's data is
not available, investigate any values which deviate from adjacent poles or similar
breakers by more than 50 percent of the lowest value.

4.

Circuit breaker insulation resistance.

5.

Control wiring minimum insulation-resistance values should be comparable to

previously obtained results but not less than two megohms.

6.

Trip characteristic of breakers shall not exceed manufacturer's published

time-current characteristic tolerance band, including adjustment factors. Circuit
breakers exceeding specified trip time at 300 percent of pickup shall be tagged
defective.

7.

Instantaneous pickup values of molded-case circuit breakers shall be within the

tolerances.

8.

Minimum pickup voltage on shunt trip and close coils should be comparable to
previously obtained results but not less than two megohms.

GENERAL INFORMATION
A. The following information shall be provided for each MCCB.
-

Voltage and rated insulation voltage.

Rated current
Rated operational voltage and rated insulation voltage.
Number of poles
Rated service and ultimate short-circuit capacities.
Method of mounting
Method of connection
Protection against external influence
Current time characteristic curves on log scale.
The It tripping characteristic curves and the peak let-through currents at prospective
fault levels,
- Rated short time withstand current

MOULDED CASE CIRCUIT BREAKERS

FEB. 2014. REV. 01

PAGE 6 OF 7

16478

MAJARRAH BUSINESS COMPLEX

6th October

- Rated short-circuit making capacity

2.6

LABELLING
A. On the front of each MCCB a visible label shall be fitted and described as follows:
Labelling shall be marked as follows:
- Rated current and trip setting (for MCCB's with multiple current ratings the
maximum value shall be marked plus, without ambiguity, the value for which the
MCCB has been adjusted)
- Rated voltage
- Manufacturer's name or trade mark
- Type designation, catalogue number or serial number
- Rated short-circuit capacity in amperes
- Reference ambient temperature if different from 30 oC
A label shall be provided, in a clearly visible position on the front of each circuitbreaker, on which the final commissioned release setting for that circuit-breaker shall
be displayed

2.7

ACCEPTABLE MANUFACTURERS
Refer To The Attached Manufacturer's List.

PART 3 - EXECUTION
3.1

INSPECTION
A. Examine conditions under which moulded case circuit breakers are to be installed and
notify in writing of conditions detrimental to proper completion of the work. Do not
proceed with the work until unsatisfactory conditions have been corrected.

3.2

INSTALLATION
A. Install moulded case circuit breakers as indicated, in accordance with manufacturer's
written instructions, requirements of applicable Standards, and in accordance with
recognized industry practices to ensure that installation complies with requirements
and serves intended function.
B. Coordinate, as necessary to interface installation of moulded case circuit breakers.

3.3

FIELD QUALITY CONTROL

A. Prior to energization of moulded case circuit breakers test devices for continuity of
circuitry and for short circuits. Replace malfunctioning breakers with new breakers
and then demonstrate compliance with requirements.
END OF SECTION 16478

MOULDED CASE CIRCUIT BREAKERS

FEB. 2014. REV. 01

PAGE 7 OF 7

16478