ELECTRICAL WIRING COMMERCIAL
18TH EDITION BY PHIL SIMMONS
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,Solution And Answer Guide
CHAPTER 1: COMMERCIAL BUILDING PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Review .......................................................................................................................................................... 1
Note To Instructor: It Is Recommended That Students Be Required To Respond, Where
Appropriate, With Answers That Are Complete Sentences.
REVIEW
Refer To The National Electrical Code Or The Working Drawings When Necessary. Where
Applicable, Responses Should Be Written In Complete Sentences.
1. What Section Of A Commercial Building’s Specification Contains A List Of
Contract Documents?
Answer: A List Of The Contract Documents Is Contained In General Clauses And
Conditions. A Listing Of The Commercial Building Contract Documents Is Presented
In This Chapter Under The Heading ―Commercial Building Plans.‖ The Instructor May
Wish To Have The Students Check Over This Listing And Compare It With The Plans
Provided.
2. The Requirement For Temporary Light And Power At The Job Site Will Be Found In What
Portion Of A Commercial Building’s Specification?
Answer: The Supplementary General Conditions Specifies The Job Site Requirements
For Temporary Light And Power. In Some Contracts, This Electrical System Becomes
The Responsibility Of The General Contractor; In Other Contracts, It Is The Electrical
Contractor’s Responsibility To Install And Maintain The Temporary Electrical System.
The Instructor May Wish To Refer The Student To NEC Article 590 And Discuss The
Requirements In Detail.
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,3. The Electrician Uses The Schedule Of Working Drawings For What Purpose?
Answer: The Electrician Uses The Schedule Of Working Drawings To Determine
Whether All Of The Drawings Are At Hand. The Information On ―The Other Sheets‖
May Be Very Important, Especially In Coordinating With Other Contractors.
4. Complete The Following Items By Indicating The Letter(S) Designating The
Correct Source(S) Of Information:
No. Answer Item Information
4. Sections Ceiling Height Sections, Sheet A6
5. Electrical Electrical Electrical Symbol Schedule, Chapter 2,
Symbol Receptacle Style Figure 2–6
Schedule
6. Electrical Electrical Electrical Layout Drawings, Sheets
Layout Outlet Location El, E2, And E3
Drawing
s
7. Elevations Exterior Wall Finishes Elevations, Sheets A4 And A5
8. Site Plan Grading Elevations Site Plan, Sheet A4
9. Electrical Panelboard Schedules Electrical Layout Drawings, Sheet E4
Layout
Drawing
s
10. Architectural Room Width Architectural Floor Plan, Sheets Al,
Floor Plan A2, And A3
11. Architectural Swing Of Door Architectural Floor Plan, Sheets Al, A2,
Floor Plan And A3
12. Sections View Of Interior Wall Sections, Sheet A6
Match The Items On The Left With Those On The Right By Writing The Letter Designation
Of The Appropriate Organization From The List On The Right.
13. NEC Electrical Code National Electrical Code (NEC)
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,14. IAEI Electrical Inspectors International Association Of Electrical
Inspectors (IAEI)
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,15. NFPA Fire Codes National Fire Protection Association
(NFPA)
16. IESNA Lighting Information Illuminating Engineering Society Of
North America (IESNA)
17. UL Listing Service Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL)
18. NEMA Manufacturers’ National Electrical Manufacturers
Standards Association (NEMA)
19. PE Seal Professional Engineer (PE)
Match The Items On The Left With Those On The Right By Writing The Letter Designation
Of The Proper Level Of NEC Interpretation From The List On The Right.
20. With Allowed By The Code Shall Be Permitted, Or Shall Not Be
Special Required, NEC
Permission
21. With May Be Done Shall Be Permitted, Or Shall Not
Special Be Required, NEC
Permission
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, 22. Shall Must Be Done Shall, National Electrical Code
23. Shall Required By The Code Shall, National Electrical Code
24. Never Up To The Electrician Shall Be Permitted, Or Shall Not Be
Required, NEC
25. Find NEC 250.52(A)(5) And Record The First Four Words.
Answer: The First Four Words Of NEC 250.52(A)(5) Are Rod And Pipe Electrodes.
Show Required Conversion Calculations For Problem 26 And Problem 27.
26. Luminaire Style F Is Four Feet Long. The Length In SI Units, As Specified By The NEC, Is
Answer: The Length In SI Units Is 1.22 M; 4 Ft × 0.3048 M/Ft = 1.2192 M. As Will Be
Discussed Later, This Luminaire Is Now Called A 4 By 2 Or The Equivalent 1200 By 600
In Metric Terms. This Question Assumes That The Luminaire Is Exactly 4 Ft Long.
27. The Gross Area Of The Drugstore Basement Is 1395 Square Feet. The Area In
Square Meters Is
Answer: The Area In SI Units Is 129.7 Sq. M; 1395 Sq. Ft × 0.093 Sq. M/Sq. Ft = 129.7 Sq.
To Answer Questions 28–31, Refer To The Plans Included With This Book. Determine
The Following Dimensions. Write The Dimensions Using Unit Names, Not Symbols (For
Example, 1 Foot, Not 1’), And Indicate The Source Of The Information.
28. What Is The Inside Clear Distance Of The Interior Stairway To The Drugstore Basement?
Answer: The Inside Clear Distance Of The Interior Stairway To The Drugstore
Basement Is 4 Ft 0 In. (1.22 M), As Scaled From Sheet A2.
29. What Is The Gross Square Footage Of Each Floor Of The Building?
Answer: The Gross Area Of Each Floor Of The Building Is 60 Ft × 43 Ft = 2580 Sq. Ft
(18.82 M × 13.1 M = 246.5 Sq. M), As Taken From Sheets Al, A2, And A3.
30. What Is The Distance In The Drugstore From The Exterior Block Wall To The
Block Wall Separating The Drugstore From The Bakery?
Answer: The Distance From The Exterior Block Wall In The Drugstore To The Block Wall
Separating The Drugstore From The Bakery Is 21 Ft 7 In. (6.58 M), As Shown On Sheet A2.
31. What Is The Finished Floor To Finished Ceiling Height On The Second Floor?
Answer: The Finished Floor To Finished Ceiling Height On The Second Floor Is 8 Ft 6
In. (2.59 M), As Available From East And West Elevations A41–2, And Sheet A6,
Cross Sections A–A And B–B.
For Problems 32–34, Cite The NEC Source. We Will Show The Method Of Using The
NEC Index For The First Two Questions In Chapter 1 And Will Provide This Same
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, Method Of Locating Requirements In Other Chapters Of This Book.
32. The Standard Ampere Ratings For Fuses And Fixed Trip Circuit Breakers.
Answer: The Standard Ampere Rating For Fuses And Fixed Trip Circuit Breakers Is Given In
NEC Table 240.6(A).
To Find This Information In The Index Of The NEC, Locate ―Circuit Breakers, Article 240,
And Locate Rating And Under That Locate Fixed-Trip Circuit Breakers, 240.6(A)…‖
This Will Provide The Section Number For The Ratings.
33. The Minimum Bending Radius For Metal-Clad Cable With A Smooth Sheath
With An External Diameter Of 1 In.
Answer: The Minimum Bending Radius For Metal Clad Cable With A Smooth Sheath
With An External Diameter Of 1 In. (Size 1) Is Given In NEC 330.24(A)(2) As 12 Times The
Diameter.
To Find This Information In The Index Of The NEC, Locate ―Metal-Clad Cable, Article 330, And
Under That Locate ―Bends, 330.24.‖ 330.24(A)(2).
34. The Permission To Use Splices In Busbars As Grounding Electrode Conductors.
Answer: The Permission To Use Splices In Busbars As A Grounding Electrode
Conductor Is Given In NEC 250.64(C)(2).
35. A) Where Is The Sump Pump In The Commercial Building Located?
b) To What Branch Circuit Is The Sump Pump Connected?
Answer:
a. The Sump Pump Is Located In The Owner’s Space In The Floor Of The Basement.
b. The Sump Pump Is Connected To Circuit 11 In The Owner’s Panelboard.
36. Write A Letter To One Of The Organizations Listed In This Unit Requesting
Information About The Organization And The Services It Provides.
Answer: Write A Letter To One Of The Organizations Listed In Chapter 1, Requesting
Information About The Organization And The Services It Provides.
It Is Suggested That The Instructor Assign Each Student An Organization To Contact
To Provide The Class With Information About Several Organizations. Students Should
Be Encouraged To Investigate The Proper Form Of A Business Letter. They Should Be
Alerted That A Poorly Written Letter Is Unlikely To Get A Response. If Possible, The
Letter Should Be On Business Letterhead Stationery. One Alternative Is For The
Students To Make Arrangements With Employers To Send The Letters On Company
Stationery.
37. The Temperatures From An Arc Flash Can Reach Approximately °F.
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, Answer: The Temperatures From An Arc Flash Can Reach Approximately 35,000°F.
38. The Occupational Safety And Health Act (OSHA) Code Of Federal Regulations
(CFR) Number 29, Subpart S, In Paragraph Discusses The
Training Needed For Those Who Face The Risk Of Electrical Injury.
Answer: The Occupational Safety And Health Act (OSHA) Code Of Federal
Regulations (CFR) Number 29, Subpart S, In Paragraph 1910.332, Discusses The
Training Needed For Those Who Face The Risk Of Electrical Injury.
39. The NEC Defines A Qualified Person As
Answer: The NEC Defines A Qualified Person As One Who Has Skills And
Knowledge Related To The Construction And Operation Of The Electrical Equipment
And Installations And Has Received Safety Training To Recognize And Avoid The
Hazards Involved, Article 100.*
40. According To NFPA 70E Article 110, An Electrician Is Qualified To Do Any And All
Electrical Wiring Tasks. True False
Answer: According To NFPA 70E Article 110, An Electrician Is Qualified To Do Any And
All Electrical Wiring Tasks. False.
41. Live Parts To Which An Employee May Be Exposed Are Required To Be De-
Energized Before The Employee Works On Or Near Them Unless .
Answer: Live Parts To Which An Employee May Be Exposed Are Required To Be De-Energized
Before The Employee Works On Or Near Them, Unless The Employer Can Demonstrate That De-
Energizing Introduces Additional Or Increased Hazards.
42. The OSHA Regulations Provide Rules Regarding To Make Sure That
The Electrical Equipment Being Worked On Will Not Inadvertently Be Turned On
While Someone Is Working On The Supposedly Dead Equipment.
Answer: The OSHA Regulations Provide Rules Regarding Lockout And Tagout
(LOTO) To Make Sure That The Electrical Equipment Being Worked On Will Not
Inadvertently Be Turned On While Someone Is Working On The Supposedly Dead
Equipment.
43. Nearly % Of The Electrocutions Each Year Are From 120-Volt Systems.
Answer: Nearly 50% Of The Electrocutions Each Year Are From 120-Volt Systems.
44. NEC 590.6(A) And (B) Require That Ground-Fault, Circuit-Interrupter Protection For
Personnel Be Provided For All 125-Volt, Single-Phase, -
Ampere Receptacle Outlets Used For Temporary Wiring.
Answer: NEC 590.6(A) And (B) Require That Ground-Fault Circuit-Interrupter
Protection For Personnel Be Provided For All 125-V, Single-Phase, 15-, 20- And 30-A
Receptacle Outlets Used For Temporary Wiring.
45. Section Of The NEC Contains Important Rules On The Arrangement Of The NEC.
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, Answer: Section 90.3 Of The NEC Contains Important Rules On The Arrangement Of The
NEC.
46. The National Electrical Code Is Updated On A -Year Cycle. At The First
Meeting Of The Revision Cycle, The Code Panel Considers The That
Were Submitted. At The Second Meeting, Are Considered.
Answer: 3, Public, Inputs, Public, Comments
*Source NFPA 70-2023 .
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, Solution And Answer Guide
CHAPTER 2: READING ELECTRICAL WORKING DRAWINGS—ENTRY LEVEL
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Review .......................................................................................................................................................... 1
REVIEW
Refer To The National Electrical Code Or The Working Drawings When Necessary. Where
Applicable, Responses Should Be Written In Complete Sentences.
Answer Problems 1–7 By Identifying The Symbol And The Type Of Installation (Wall,
Floor, Or Ceiling) For The Boxes.
Answer: Duplex Receptacle 15- Or 20-A: Wall Installation: See Figure 2–6 And
Specifications.
Answer: Duplex Receptacle On Emergency/Standby Circuit: Wall Installation: See
Figure 2–6 And Specifications.
Answer: Single-Pole, Key-Operated Switch With Pilot Light; Wall
Installation; See Figure 2–7.
Answer: Surface-Mounted Luminaire (Fixture); Ceiling Installation; See Figure 2–5.
Answer: Telephone Outlet ; Wall Installation; See Figure G–6 In Appendix G.
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