PRELIMINARY DESIGN GUIDELINE PROCEDURE

FOR
DETERMINING CABLE SIZES
FOR
BUILDING PROJECTS

1 Cable Sizing
This guideline has been prepared to provide guidance to designers in the
determination in the selection of power cables for building projects. It should
be noted that each project shall be individually treated and assessed.

It is the designer’s responsibility to calculate and apply the correct volt drops
and capacities.

1.1 Cable Selection Criteria

1.1.1 General
Cables shall be selected on all of the following
a) Current carrying capacity, and
b) Volt drop, and
c) Fault withstand capacity

As per QP guidelines the maximum individual cable size for any project shall
normally be limited to 300mm2

The preferred cable configuration is 4C SWA XLPE PVC copper cables. For
external installations screened cables are to directly buried; except under
roads and the like where they are to be in ducts.

Derating factors according to the manufacturer’s data sheets shall to be used

for
a) Soil temperature
b) Thermal resistivity of soil
c) Depth of laying
d) Grouping

However as a guide the following nominal derating figures

a) Soil temperature – 40oC 0.89

b) Thermal resistivity of soil – 2.5 oC.m/W 0.74
c) Depth of laying – 600mm 0.98

Approximate nominal derating factor (excluding derating) 0.65

Page 1 of 4
Cable Sizing Guideline
Rev 0 4/17/2019
1.1.2 Current Carrying Capacity
The protection device capacity protecting the cable is to be selected on the
calculated maximum demand of the load plus 25%.

The selected cable capacity, after derating has been applied, must exceed the
trip capacity of the protecting device.

For example:
A project has a calculated maximum demand of 120 Amps. XLPE 4C cables
are to be used and are to be directly buried.
Therefore projected load will be 150 Amps
MCCB selection 200 Amp frame with trip unit set at 160 Amps.
If cable capacity is derated to 65% than required current capacity of cable is
160/0.65 which is 246 Amps
Cable selection will be 70mm2

1.1.3 Volt Drop Calculations

1.1.3.1 Volt Drop Requirements

The total maximum volt drop from tie in point to the final outlet is to be 5%. As
a rule of thumb, the designer shall allow for 1.5% for the final circuit cabling
which allows for 3.5% for the distribution system.

However, the designer shall fully assess each project and provide a
distribution scheme that is both economic and practical.

In addition the designer shall have an early input in the concept design stage
to ensure that adequate switch rooms have been located to provide an
efficient reticulation system that minimizes cable lengths and sizes. In addition
the reticulation should be designed around the major load centres.

1.1.3.2 Volt Drop Calculations

Cable volt drop calculations shall be based on the following formula

Vd=mV x Ib x L
1000
Where Vd = Volt drop - volts
mV=Cable volt drop/amp/metre
Ib = Projected load including 25% spare capacity - amps
L = Cable length – metres

Using the above example in 1.1.2 the cable has a length of 200m and the
maximum volt drop is to be 3%. (12.45 V)

Maximum mV of cable is

Page 2 of 4
Cable Sizing Guideline
Rev 0 4/17/2019
 mV = Vd x 1000
Ib x L
= 12.45 x 1000
150 x 200
= 0.415

Cable to be selected with an mV of less than 0.415 which results in 120 mm 2

(mV=0.37 from manufacturer’s data)

1.1.4 Fault Withstand Capacity

Upon selection of the cable from the above, the designers shall verify that the
selected cable can withstand the appropriate short circuit current using the
following formula

K2s2=I2t

Where
K = cable constant 162 for XLPE cables operating at 55oC
s = minimum conductor cross sectional area
I = fault current
t = fault clearance time of protection device

For the example above assuming the fault current is 50KA with the MCCB
having a clearance time of 0.1 sec, the minimum cross sectional area is

s = √ (I2t/ K2 )
= √ 500002x0.1/ 1622
= 97.6mm2

Therefore 120 mm2 cables are acceptable.

1.2 Cable Operating Temperature

Upon determining the cable size the designer shall check calculate the
expected operating temperature of the cable. The maximum expected
temperature is to be limited to 70oC. This is due to the terminations in the
switchboards.

Following formula is to be used for calculating operating temperature.

Θo= (ΘR- ΘA)x(Io/ IR)2+ ΘA

Where
Θo= operating temperature
ΘA= ambient temperature - 40oC for direct buried cables
ΘR= rated temperature – 90oC for XLPE cables
Io = operating current
IR = current rating of cable after derating at 40 oC
Page 3 of 4
Cable Sizing Guideline
Rev 0 4/17/2019
Therefore for the above example, the expected operating temperature of the
120mm2 cable based on a current capacity of 363 amps is

Θo= (90- 40)x(150/(363 x 0.89))2+ 40

= 50.77 oC

Page 4 of 4
Cable Sizing Guideline
Rev 0 4/17/2019