Specifications
for
Busways
PART 1 GENERAL
1.1 DESCRIPTION OF WORK
A. This Section covers low impedance feeder and plug-in busway and all
related hardware and equipment.
1. Provide all busway as shown on the Drawings, including all
supports, fittings and associated equipment required for a
complete and satisfactory installation.
B. Related work specified elsewhere:
1. Refer to Volume ....... and Annexure, and Section ..........
GENERAL PROVISIONS.
1.2 JOB CONDITIONS
A. The approximate routing of the busway is shown on the Drawings. The
Contractor shall coordinate the installation of all busway runs with
other trades and the structure, and make workshop drawings for
company approval with field measurements prior to release of the
busway for fabrication
B. The ambient temperature is 50o C and all the busway shall be rated for
this ambient temperature.
PART 2 PRODUCT
2.1 GENERAL
1. Busway shall be 600V rated, copper 3-phase 4-wire with 100% neutral
and 50% integral ground bus suitable for operation on a 415V 50Hz
supply system.
2. Busbar trunking system shall comply with NEMA, UL857 or ASTA and
shall be certified to meet IEC 60439-2 Standards for Busbar Trunking
Systems.
3. The busway assembly shall be designed and manufactured to withstand
22kA r.m.s. up to 630A, 40kA r.m.s. for 800A and minimum 50kA r.m.s.
symmetrical short circuit current above 800A. Use of HRC fuses in series
to increase short circuit rating is not acceptable.
4. All busway products shall be manufactured in a facility, which is Quality
Systems Registered to minimum ISO 9001.
5. Flanges shall be provided at all wall and roof penetrations in finished
areas.
6. External fire barriers as required to maintain the fire rating of the
adjacent areas, where the busway passes through fire rated walls, floors
and openings in both horizontal and vertical runs, shall be provided by
the contractor.
7. Indoor busway shall be of IP40 construction and the busway to be
installed outdoor shall be of IP65 construction. Indoor busway in a
humid area shall be of IP54 construction.
8. Indoor feeder, plug-in and outdoor feeder busway shall be compatible
with each other.
2.2 HOUSING
1. The busway housing shall be constructed of galvanised steel and shall be
provided with a durable protective electrostatically deposited epoxy paint
finish.
2. The busway housing shall be of high efficiency compact design, totally
enclosed, non-ventilated, for protection against mechanical damage and
dirt accumulation.
3. The totally enclosed housing shall be manufactured by the busway
manufacturer. Modifications of busway to make it totally enclosed by
other than the busway manufacturer shall not be acceptable.
4. The busway housing shall have internal fire barriers to prevent the
propagation of smoke and gases and prevent chimney-effect through
busway in case of a fire in the area of the busway installation.
2.3 JOINT
1. The busway joint shall be of the one-bolt type assembly, which utilises a
high strength steel bolt and a pair of large diameter spring steel cupped
Belleville washers to maintain proper pressure over a large contact area.
2. The bolt shall be of torque indicating type and at ground potential. The
bolt shall be of double-headed design of shearing principle to indicate
when proper and pre-determined torque has been applied without any
need of torque wrench.
3. Access to only one side of the busway shall be required for tightening the
joint bolts.
4. It shall be possible to remove any joint connection assembly to allow
electrical isolation or physical removal of a busway length without
disturbing adjacent busway lengths.
2.4 BUS BARS
1. The bus bars shall be fabricated from round edged above 99.98% hard
drawn high conductivity (HDHC) copper.
2. The minimum cross-sectional area of copper busbar at ambient
temperature 50oC shall comply with ADDC requirement
3. All bus bars shall be fully insulated throughout its entire length with
Class B rated (130oC) materials consisting of two layers of heat-formed
polyester film materials around each bus bar. On plug-in busway lengths,
all insulation shall be notched at the openings to allow plug-in unit
mounting. Moulded glass-reinforced polyester and polypropylene shall
be added at the joint and plug-in opening areas to provide continuous
joint integrity.
4. The bus bars shall be silver or tin plated at all contact surfaces to assure
low surface to surface contact resistance and to minimise surface
corrosion.
5. The temperature rise at any point of busway shall not exceed 55oC rise
above the ambient temperature of 50oC when operating at rated load
current.
6. Both feeder and plug-in busway shall be of sandwich construction,
meaning no air gap shall exist between bus bars except at plug-in
openings, to provide superior voltage drop characteristics even at low
power factors.
7. The three-phase, line to line voltage drop shall not exceed 2.5% at full
connected load.
2.5 PLUG-IN OPENINGS
1. Plug-in busway for bus riser shall have plug-in openings at 610mm
centres and all openings shall be usable simultaneously.
2. Each phase position of a plug-in opening shall be individually insulated.
3. It shall be possible to inspect the plug-in opening and bus bars prior to
the installation of the plug-in unit.
4. All the plug-in openings shall be covered by hinged doors, which cover
the openings when not in use.
2.6 PLUG-IN UNITS
1. The plug-in units shall incorporate MCCBs of ratings as indicated on the
drawings. The MCCBs shall be of current limiting type.
2. The plug-in units shall be interchangeable and suitable for plugging in all
sizes of plug-in busway.
3. The plug-in units, which can not be operated directly from the floor, shall
be equipped with suitable means for hook-stick operation.
2.7 PLUG-IN UNIT SAFETY DEVICES
1. The plug-in unit rated 100A or below shall be mechanically interlocked
with the busway housing to prevent installation or removal of plug-in
units while the switch is in the ON position, and be equipped with an
operating handle which always remain in control of the switching
mechanism.
2. The plug-in enclosures shall make positive earth connection with the
ground bus before they make contact with the phase bars.
3. The plug-in units shall be equipped with internal barriers to prevent
accidental contact of fish tape and conductors with live parts on the line
side of the protective device during time of cable terminations.
4. The door covers of all plug-in units must have interlocks to prevent the
cover from being opened when the switch is in the ON position.
PART 3 EXECUTION
3.1 INSTALLATION/APPLICATION/PERFORMANCE/ERECTION
1. Ensure that final installation of busway assembly is fully co-ordinated
with aspects of building construction and with the work of other services.
Final field measurements shall be made by the contractor prior to release
the busways for fabrication.
2. The busbar trunking system shall be supported throughout the entire
length as per manufacturer’s recommendation to withstand the
mechanical load and abnormal forces created under short-circuit
conditions. Expansion fittings shall be provided at places, where the
busbar trunking crosses building expansion joints.
3. Install busway, accessories and associated fittings, as indicated on the
drawings and in accordance with manufacturer’s recommendations.
Supports and hanger spacing shall be noted on layout drawings and shall
not exceed manufacturer’s recommendations.
4. Provide curb around interior floor penetrations.
5. Install busway with integral weather seal located where busway
penetrates exterior wall and/or roof. Provide wall and/or roof flange and
seal around opening to maintain weather tight installation.
6. Tighten the joint bolts to the required torque in accordance with
manufacturer’s recommendation.
7. Cover the busways with plastic wrappers until the building is clean and
busways are ready to be tested and energised.
8. Megger the busways in presence of The Engineer and re-torque the joint
bolts as recommended by the manufacturer.
