All the requirements in Section 130.5 are mandatory, and therefore are not included in the energy budget for the whole building performance method.
The requirements for electrical power distribution systems apply to all non-residential buildings. The intention is to save energy and to allow future systems for power use monitoring and control to be added when expected changes in the marketplace occur.
A. New Construction and Additions
This Section applies to all new structures, and to some additions and alterations to existing structures.
For additions to existing structures, electrical circuits and Energy Management Control Systems (EMCSs) must in general meet the requirements of Section 130.5 if they:
•Serve a lighting system
•Serve an altered space-conditioning system or water heating system
•Serve an addition to an outdoor lighting system
See Section 141.0(a) of the Code for a list of exceptions
B. Existing Construction
For alterations to existing spaces, electrical circuits and EMCSs that have been altered must in general meet the requirements of Section 130.5 only if:
•Serve lighting, space conditioning or water heating systems
•Are newly installed components of an existing system
See 8.7 (Additions and Alterations), for a list of exceptions.
However, the requirements of Section 130.5 are invoked when any of the following occur:
•Additional feeder(s), panelboard(s), major load(s), and/or motor control center(s) are added.
•A new service and/or main switchboard or panelboard is installed.
•A building is re-purposed and new panelboards and feeders are installed.
C. Acceptance Testing, Commissioning, and Installation Certificates
The requirements of Section 130.5 are not subject to acceptance testing or commissioning.
The requirements of Section 130.5 are organized as follows:
A. Service Metering
Each electrical service shall have metering that will allow the building Owner to get useful information for managing the use of electrical power. The requirements increase as the size of the service increases. For smaller services, the building owner must be able to manually read the energy use (kWh) meter and to reset the readout to allow for period measurements, without of course affecting revenue measurements. As service size increases, the meter must also allow for demand measurements so that the building owner or operator can gain a better understanding of how and when the building uses electrical power. If the building is equipped with an Energy Management and Control System (EMCS) that provides these measurements, then the manual system is not required.
B. Disaggregation of Electrical Circuits
Above a minimum threshold that varies by load type, electrical power systems must be designed and built such that the total load of specific building load types can be measured. For instance, lighting loads must be able to be measured independently of HVAC loads. The intent is to have a single feeder or breaker with each type of load (such as lighting) on it, such that a meter could be placed on the feeder to report energy use by that load type.
Note that this is a wiring requirement only, and the providing of meters is optional.
C. Voltage Drop
This section makes the National Electrical Code/California Electrical Code suggestion of voltage regulation mandatory, limiting branch circuit voltage drop to 3% at design load and to 2% in feeders at design load.
D. Circuit Controls for 120-Volt Receptacles
This section adds minimum requirements for switching of 120-volt receptacles in non-residential applications. The primary reason is to permit simple control of furniture mounted task lights and other plug loads. There are a number of exceptions and exemptions to this requirement as not all receptacles require control.
E. Demand Response Controls and Equipment
Section 130.1(f) requires nonresidential buildings over 10,000 sf to have a demand responsive lighting system. The provisions of new Section 130.5 (e) require that demand responsive loads be equipped with controls that can receive at least one demand response signal and respond.
F. Energy Management Control System (EMCS)
For buildings employing Energy Management Control Systems, some of the above requirements are modified provided that the EMCS provides them.