Philippine

Electrical
Code (PEC)
Part 1 2017
Edition

Chapter 1 - General
 ARTICLE 1.0 - INTRODUCTION
1.0.1.1 Purpose
(A) Practical Safeguarding. The purpose of this Code is the practical safeguarding of persons and property from
hazards arising from the use of electricity.
(B) Adequacy. This Code contains provisions that are considered minimum requirements necessary for safety.
Compliance therewith and proper maintenance will result in an installation that is essentially free from hazard but not
necessarily efficient, convenient, or adequate for good service or future expansion of electrical use.
FPN: Hazards often occur because of overloading of wiring systems by methods or usage not in conformity with this Code. This occurs
because initial wiring did not provide for increases in the use of electricity. An initial adequate installation and reasonable provisions for system
changes provide for future increases in the use of electricity.

(C) Intention. This Code is intended as a design specification or an instruction manual to qualified persons.
(D) Relation to Other International Standards. The requirements in this Code address the fundamental principles of
protection for safety contained in Section 131 of International Electrotechnical Commission Standard 60364-1, Electrical
Installations of Buildings.
FPN: IEC 60364-1, Section 131. Contains fundamental principles of protection for safety that encompass protection against thermal effects,
protection against overcurrent, protection against fault currents, and protection against overvoltage. All of these potential hazards are
addressed by the requirements in this Code

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 ARTICLE 1.0 - INTRODUCTION
1.0.1.2 Scope.
(A) Covered. This Code covers the installation of electrical conductors, equipment, and raceways; monitoring, signaling,
and communications conductors, equipment, and raceways; and optical fiber cables and raceways installed within or on, to
or from:
(1) Public and private buildings, including but not limited to residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, cultural, agricultural, agro-
industrial, planned unit development and all other buildings/premises that may require practical safeguarding of persons and property
from the hazards arising from the use of electricity.
(2) Electric generating plants
(3) Industrial plants
(4) Transformer stations
(5) Permanent and temporary substations, etc.
(6) Airfields
(7) Railways switchyards
(8) Yards, carnival, parks, parking and other lots
(9) Quarries and mines
(10) Watercraft (11) Dockyards (12) Trailers
(13) Mobile homes and recreational vehicles
(14) Offshore facilities

(B) Not Covered. This Code does not cover the following:
(1) Installations in railway rolling stock, aircraft, or automotive vehicles
(2) Installations of railways for generation, transformation, transmission, or distribution of power used exclusively for operation of rolling
stock 3
 ARTICLE 1.0 - INTRODUCTION
1.0.1.3 Authority.
(A) This Code has been approved and adopted by the Board of Electrical Engineering, Professional
Regulation Commission.
(B) By virtue of authority vested in the Board under the Republic Act 7920 or national electrical engineering
law, it hereby direct strict adherence to the provisions of this Code.

1.0.1.4 Enforcement.
(A) This Code is intended for mandatory application by the Office of the Building Official/EE over electrical
installations.
(B) The Office of the Building Official/EE shall have the responsibility of implementing the provisions of this
Code.
(C) This Code may require new products, constructions, or materials that may not yet be available at the time
this Code is adopted. In such event, the Office of the Building Official/EE may permit the use of the products,
constructions, or materials that comply with the most recent previous edition of this Code adopted by the
National Building Code.
FPN: Application of electrical products and equipment for additional installation or replacement is suggested to be consulted with a licensed
electrical practitioner prior to installation for safety. Failure to do so may result in fire, serious injury, or death. 4
 ARTICLE 1.0 - INTRODUCTION
1.0.1.5 Mandatory Rules, Permissive Rules, Explanatory Material,
and Appendices.
(A) Mandatory Rules. Mandatory rules of this Code are those that identify actions that are specifically required or
prohibited and are characterized by the use of the terms shall or shall not.
(B) Permissive Rules. Permissive rules of this Code are those that identify actions that are allowed but not
required, are normally used to describe options or alternative methods, and are characterized by the use of the terms shall
be permitted or shall not be required.
(C) Explanatory Material. Explanatory material, such as references to other standards, references to related sections of
this Code, or information related to a Code rule, is included in this Code in the form of fine print notes (FPN). Fine print
notes are informational only and are not enforceable as requirements of this Code.
Brackets containing section references to another NFPA document are for informational purposes only and are provided as
a guide to indicate the source of the extracted text. These bracketed references immediately follow the extracted text.
(D) Appendices. Nonmandatory information relative to the use of the PEC1 is provided in appendices. Appendices are
not part of the enforceable requirements of the PEC1, but are included for information purposes only.

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 ARTICLE 1.0 - INTRODUCTION
1.0.1.6 Interpretation.
Interpretation of this Code shall be by licensed electrical practitioners. In case of conflicting interpretations, these may be
referred to the Philippine Electrical Code Part 1 Committee for interpretation. Should disagreement remain, thereafter, the
Committee's interpretation shall be referred to the Board of Electrical Engineering who shall render the final decision.

1.0.1.7 Examination of Equipment for Safety.

For specific items of equipment and materials referred to in this Code, examinations for safety made under standard
conditions will provide a basis for approval where the record is made generally available through promulgation by
organizations properly equipped and qualified for experimental testing, inspections of the run of goods at factories, and
service-value determination through field inspections. This avoids the necessity for repetition of examinations by different
examiners, frequently with inadequate facilities for such work, and the confusion that would result from conflicting reports as
to the suitability of devices and materials examined for a given purpose.
It is the intent of this Code that factory-installed internal wiring or the construction of equipment need not be inspected at the
time of installation of the equipment, except to detect alterations or damage, if the equipment has been listed by a qualified
electrical testing laboratory that is recognized as having the facilities described in the preceding paragraph and that requires
suitability for installation in accordance with this Code.
FPN No. 1: See requirements in Section 1.10.1.3.
FPN No. 2: Listed is defined in Article 1.1.
FPN No. 3: Appendix F contains an informative list of product safety standards for electrical equipment.
FPN No. 4: Application of electrical equipment and devices shall always be consulted with a licensed electrical practitioner. Failure to do so 6
may result in fire, serious injury, or death.
 ARTICLE 1.0 - INTRODUCTION
1.0.1.8 Wiring Planning.
(A) Future Expansion and Convenience. Plans and specifications that provide ample space in raceways, spare
raceways, and additional spaces allow for future increases in electric power and communication circuits. Distribution centers
located in readily accessible locations provide convenience and safety of operation.
(B) Number of Circuits in Enclosures. It is elsewhere provided in this Code that the number of wires and circuits
confined in a single enclosure be varyingly restricted. Limiting the number of circuits in a single enclosure will minimizes the
effects from a short circuit or ground fault.

1.0.1.9 Units of Measurement.

(A) Measurement Systems of Preference. For the purpose of this Code, metric units of measurement are in
accordance with the modernized metric system known as the International System of Units (SI).
(B) Trade Sizes. Where the actual measured size of a product is not the same as the nominal size, trade size designators
shall be used rather than dimensions. Trade practices shall be followed in all cases.
(C) Extracted Material. Where material is extracted from another standard, the context of the original material shall not
be compromised or violated. Any editing of the extracted text shall be confined to making the style consistent with that of the
PEC 1.
FPN: SI conversions are based on IEEE/ASTM SI 10-1997, Standard for the Use of the International System of Units (SI): The Modern Metric
System. 7
 ARTICLE 1.0 - INTRODUCTION
1.0.1.10 Apprenticeship.
(A) Republic Act 7920 or the national electrical engineering law requires apprenticeship as one of the
qualifications to the registration and licensure examinations for Registered Master Electrician (RME) in order
to practice electrical engineering in the Philippines. Knowledge and understanding of the Philippine Electrical
Code, Parts 1 and 2 (PEC1 and PEC2) form part of the examinations given.
(B) An apprentice shall undergo training under a person holding a valid certificate of registration and a valid
professional license for the practice of electrical engineering under Republic Act 7920 or the national
electrical engineering law.

1.0.1.11Services of Licensed Electrical Practitioner.

For dedications and actions involving a knowledge of electrical engineering and/or training in electrical
installations and practices, the services of a licensed electrical practitioner is required.

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 ARTICLE 1.1 - DEFINITIONS
1.1.1.1 Scope.
This article contains only those definitions essential to the application of this Code. It is not intended to include
commonly defined general terms or commonly defined technical terms from related codes and standards. In
general, only those terms that are used in two or more articles are defined in Article 1.1. Other definitions are
included in the article in which they are used but may be referenced in Article 1.1.
Part 1.1.1 of this article contains definitions intended to apply wherever the terms are used throughout this Code.
Part 1.1.2 contains definitions applicable to the installations and equipment operating at over 1000 volts,
nominal.

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Tight – closed firmly, cannot

be penetrated
Proof – will not interfere with
the successful operation of
apparatus or equipment 59
ARTICLE 1.2 – PERMITS AND INSPECTION

Electrical Permit for any electrical works for

the following:
• New Construction
• Renovation
• Extension
• Repair

Electrical Permit for buildings, trailers,

mobile homes or other premises – Go
to Office of the Building Official.
Electrical Permit for Watercrafts –
Authority of Maritime
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ARTICLE 1.3 – ELECTRICAL PLANS AND SPECIFICATION

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Thank you

References:
PEC 2017
Engr. Lauren M. Olivos Presentation