PHILIPPINE ELECTRICAL CODE 

 (PEC) 
  

- Made by IIEE and approved by the board.  

- This code has the primary objective of establishing basic materials quality 

 and electrical work standards for the safe use of electricity. 

- Strict compliance of this code will ensure safety but not necessarily efficient,

convenient or adequate for good service of future expansion of electrical use. -

This code is intended for mandatory application by government bodies 

 exercising legal jurisdiction over electrical installation. 

- It is the intent of this code that factory installed internal wiring or the 

 construction of equipment used not be inspected at the time of installation

of the equipment, except to detect alterations or damage. 

- Aircraft, motor vehicle and railway rolling stocks are not covered. 

- Deviation of the code is accepted provided with written permission from

code enforcing authority (government bodies). 

- The Board of Electrical Engineering shall render final decision to interpret

in case of controversy. 
 ARTICLE 1.0 — INTRODUCTION

Purpose.

Practical Safeguarding. The purpose of this Code is the practical safeguarding of persons and
property from hazards arising from the use of electricity.

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 No. 1: 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 will provide for future increases in the use of electricity.

FPN No 2: It is highly recommended that a licensed electrical practitioner be consulted for any electrical requirements, including
changes. Failure to do so may result in fire, serious injury, or death.

FPN No. 3: Fire hazard, electrocution, serious injury or even death may also occur with lack or improper maintenance of wiring system.
Wiring system is recommended to be inspected and tested by a licensed electrical practitioner at least once a year for wiring system of
more than three (3) years in installation.

Intention. This Code is intended for the exclusive use of licensed electrical practitioners (PEE, REE,
and RME). This Code is not intended as a design specification nor an instruction manual for a non-
licensed electrical practitioner, unless under the supervision of a licensed electrical practitioner.

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.

1.0.1.2Scope

(a) Covered. This Code covers the installation of electrical conductors, equipment, and
raceways; 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, carnivals, 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:

1.1 Installations in railway rolling stock, aircraft, or automotive vehicles

1.2 Installations of railways for generation, transformation, transmission, or distribution of
power used exclusively for operation of rolling stock

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 RA 7920, it hereby direct strict
adherence to the provisions of this Code.
(c) Where deviations from these provisions are necessary, such deviations shall not be made, except
with written permission from this government bodies exercising legal jurisdiction applicable only to the
particular job for which such permission was granted.

1.0.1.4 Enforcement.

(a) This Code is intended for mandatory application by government bodies exercising legal
jurisdiction over electrical installations.

(b) These government bodies, only through a licensed electrical practitioner, shall have the
responsibility of implementing the provisions of this Code in deciding on the approval of
equipment and materials and for granting the special permission contemplated in this Code,
where it is assured that equivalent objectives can be achieved by establishing and maintaining
effective safety.

(c) The authority having jurisdiction may waive specific requirements in this Code or permit
alternate methods where it is assured that equivalent objectives can be achieved by establishing
and maintaining effective safety

(d) 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 authority having jurisdiction may
permit the use of the products, constructions, or materials that comply with the most recent
previous edition of this Code adopted by the jurisdiction.
 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.

DEFINITION OF TERMS  

ALIVE (LIVE)- Electrically connected to source of potential differences or electrical charge so as to

have a potential difference form that of the earth. 

AMPACITY- The current in amperes a conductor can carry continuously under the conditions of
use without exceeding its temperature rating. 

BRANCH CIRCUIT- The circuit conductors between the final overcurrent device protecting the circuit
and the outlet(s). 

BRANCH CIRCUIT, APPLIANCE- A branch circuit supplying energy to one or more outlets to which
appliances are to be connected; such circuits to have no permanently connected lighting fixtures
not part of an appliance. 

BRANCH CIRCUIT, GENERAL PURPOSE- A branch circuit that supplies a number of outlets for lighting
and appliances. 
BRANCH CIRCUIT, INDIVIDUAL- A branch circuit that supplies only one utilization equipment.
BUSWAY- An approved, completely assembled metal troughing and fitting therefore, containing
bare conductors intended for use as feeders, the conductors being suitably supported on
insulators. 
CABINET- An enclosure designed either for surface or flush mounting and provided with a frame, mat,
or trim in which a swinging door or doors are or may be hung.  
CIRCUIT BREAKER- A device designed to open and close a circuit by a non-automatic means and to
open the circuit automatically with a pre-determined overcurrent without injury to itself when
properly applied within its rating. These have a thermal element in the form of a spring. The spring
expands with heat and trips open the circuit. The circuit breaker can be reset for normal operation,
however after the short has been removed and the thermal element cools down. 

DEAD- Free from any electric connections to a source of potential difference from that of the earth.
The term is used only with reference to current carrying parts which are sometimes alive. 
DEVICE- A unit of an electrical system which is intended to carry but not utilize electric energy. 

DISCONNECTING MEANS- A device, or group of devices, or other means by which the conductors
of a circuit can be disconnected from their source of supply. 

FITTING- An accessory such as a locknut, bushing, or other part of a wiring system that is
intended primarily to perform a mechanical rather than an electrical function 

FLAME-RETARDANT – So constructed or treated that it will not readily burn or convey flame. 

MOISTURE RESISTANT – So constructed or treated that exposure to a moist will not readily cause
injury or harmful change in quality. 
FUSE CUTOUT- A form of fuse and its holder or enclosure characterized by the ready and safe
replace ability of the fuse unit. 
JUNCTION BOX- A box with a blank cover which serves the purpose of joining different runs of
raceway on cable, and provided with sufficient space for connection and branching of the enclosed
conductors. 

OVERLOAD- Operation of equipment in excess of normal, full load rating, or of a conductor in excess
of rated ampacity which it persists for a sufficient length of time, would cause damage or dangerous
overheating. A fault, such as short circuit or ground fault, is not an over load.  

SERVICE DROP- The overhead service conductors from the last pole or other aerial support to
and including the splices, if any, connecting to the service entrance conductors at the building
or other structure. 

SERVICE-ENTRANCE CONDUCTORS, OVERHEAD SYSTEM- The service conductors between the

terminals of the service equipment and a point usually the building, clear of building walls, where
joined by tap or splice to the service drop. 

SERVICE-ENTRANCE CONDUCTORS, UNDERGROUND SYSTEM- The service conductors between

the terminals of the service equipment and the point of connection to the service lateral. 

SERVICE LATERAL- The underground service conductors between the street main, including any risers
at a pole or other structure or from transformers, and the first point of connection to the service-
entrance conductors in as terminal box or meter or other enclosure with adequate space, inside or
outside the building wall. Where there is no terminal box, meter, or other enclosure with adequate
space, the point of connection shall be considered to be the point of entrance of the service
conductors into the building. 

SERVICE RACEWAY- The raceway that encloses the service-entrance conductors  

PANELBOARD- It contains the circuit protective device such as the fuse or circuit breaker. It also
consists of a set of busbars where the protective devices are connected. 

ADVANTAGES OF CIRCUIT BREAKER OVER A FUSE 

1. The circuit breaker acts as a switch aside from its being an overcurrent protective device. 2.
When there is an overcurrent, the circuit breaker trips automatically and after correcting the
fault, it is ready to be switched on again, unlike the fuse which has to be discarded and replaced
after it is busted. 
3. Circuit breaker is readily tripped from a remote location while the fuse is difficult to
switch. 4. Circuit breakers are multi-pole, the fuse on the other hand is a single pole device.
5. It is easy to detect the circuit breaker position it is either close, tripped, or open-right at
its handle while a blown fuse is not easily detected because the melted fusible element is
inside the fuse casing.  

ADVANTAGES OF THE FUSE OVER A CIRCUIT BREAKER 

 1. One of its major advantage is its reliability and stability. The fuse can stay on its position for years
and act when called on to act as designed, unlike the circuit breaker which requires
proper maintenance and periodic testing to keep into a tip-top condition. 
2. The cost of a fuse is less than that of a circuit breaker. 

References:

Philippine Electrical Code

Electrical Layout and Estimate

By: Max B. Fajardo Jr.
Leo R. Fajardo