VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
VA REGIONAL OFFICE TECHNICAL CRITERIA
Emergency Power
The use of emergency generators will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Battery packs can
adequately handle the Life Safety requirements of NFPA No. 101 and the lowering of elevators in
case of a power outage.
Design Parameters
Electrical systems shall be designed to provide adequate power distribution to all areas of the
building. Provide one 20-amp isolated ground (IG) circuit (clean power) for every two personal
computers. Additionally, provide separate 20-amp circuits for workstation convenience outlets
(number of devices per circuit shall be in accordance with NEC). For the remainder of the building,
provide five watts per square foot, power load capacity for all receptacles (convenient outlets) and
small 120-volt appliances and equipment. Provide three and a half watts per square foot lighting
load capacity per National Electrical Code requirements. All other equipment for HVAC, plumbing,
elevators, etc., should be provided with adequate power.
Low Voltage Distribution
All feeders shall have full size neutral conductors. Provide five 20-amp circuits for every 1,000
square foot of 120/208-volt power requirement. Provide one 20-amp circuit for every 1,000 square
foot of 277/480-volt lighting requirement. Provide 20 percent space capacity for each panel in
addition to the above requirements. Panelboard shall not be loaded more than 80 percent of its
rated nameplate. Branch circuits shall include equipment-grounding conductors. Health Care
Facilities (HCF) wiring for branch circuits may be considered.
Equipment and Material Description
Equipment and material shall comply with NEC and Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ)
standards as minimum criteria of quality and workmanship. Switchboards/distribution boards shall
be of the floor standing, metal clad type and supplied with main circuit breakers and feeder circuit
breakers of frame size and rating required. Ground fault protection features shall be included on
circuit breakers (480/277 volt, 1,000 amps and above). Motor control centers shall be of the floor-
standing, metal clad type with individual plug-in starter cubicles; construction shall be similar to
switchboards. Starters shall be of the combination magnetic type with externally operated fuses to
fit the application. Motor control centers shall be NEMA Type B, Class I and control devices shall
be NEMA Standard Duty Type. Panelboards shall be of the molded case bolt-on circuit breaker type
and shall be surface mounted or flush mounted as required. Panelboards shall be provided with
approximately 25 percent spare capacity and spare breakers for future use. Transformers shall be
of the air-cooled dry type with Class H insulation and 150 degrees Celsius rise. Units shall be
installed on high deflection spring mounts for sound and vibration isolation.
ELECTRICAL
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