Guidelines On The Short Circuit Current Rating For Industrial Control Panels
Guidelines On The Short Circuit Current Rating For Industrial Control Panels
Guidelines On The Short Circuit Current Rating For Industrial Control Panels
com/sccr
As per NEC Edition 2014, and UL508A Second Edition, Dec. 2013, and with references
to the changes in the calculation method of the SCCR in the latest edition of the UL508A
Second Edition Dec. 2013.
By Gerhard Flierl, Siemens Industry Inc., Application Engineer
Option 2: For unmarked components, use the assumed maximum short circuit current ratings listed in Table SB 4.1 of
the UL508A.
Option 3: High-capacity SCCR is based on testing a Step 2: Applying current limiting components to modify
combination of components per UL508 Supplement SB, the SCCR within a portion of a circuit in the panel
so follow those guidelines.
Which components are considered to be
Within the UL508A Supplement SB, the application of current limiting?
previously investigated and tested assemblies from a UL508A allows the use of one of the following components
supplier of equipment can be utilized as described in the to limit the available fault current to components
manufacturers procedures to determine the SCCR. downstream of the current limiting device:
Manufacturers of low-voltage protection, distribution, and 1. Power transformers with an isolated
control equipment may perform tests according to UL508 secondary winding
Standard for Industrial Equipment, which allows obtaining
high-capacity short circuit current ratings. These high- 2. Circuit breakers that are marked as current limiting
capacity short circuit current ratings exceed the standard 3. Fuses of Class CC, G, J, L, RK1, RK5, CF or T
short circuit current ratings, in most cases.
Note: The current limiting component shall be installed in
Note: The High Capacity Short Circuit Current Ratings the Feeder Circuit!
for Siemens components can be found at:
www.usa.siemens.com/sccr A graphic explanation of the feeder circuit and the branch
circuit can be seen in Figure 1.
All the ratings for Siemens components are conveniently
summarized in Excel spreadsheets. The following information details how to effectively
apply the current limiting components in the feeder
Important note for tested combinations: circuit. Three scenarios are detailed.
If the specified protective device is a Class CC, G, J, L, RK1, Option 1: Use of power transformer with an isolated
RK5, or T fuse, a fuse of a different class may be used, secondary winding, installed in the feeder circuit
provided that the peak let-through current (Ip) and the In general, the SCCR on the line side of the transformer
peak let-through energy (I2t) is equal to or lower than the shall be the interrupting rating of the overcurrent
specified fuse. The peak let-through currents and peak protection device on the primary side of the power
let-through energy shall be taken from Table SB4.2 in transformer, provided that the short circuit current of
the UL508A standard. all the components and overcurrent protective devices
If the specified protective device is a current limiting is equal to or higher than the available short circuit current
circuit breaker, a different current limiting circuit breaker on the secondary side of the transformer.
may be used, provided that the peak let-through current How can the available secondary short circuit current of
and the peak let-through energy is equal to or lower than a transformer be determined?
the specified circuit breaker. The values shall be taken from
the data sheets that are provided by the manufacturer of Method A: Calculation with Formulas
the circuit breaker (see example).
Single-phase Transformers
If the specified protective device is a non-current limiting Transformer Full-Load Current (IFL) = (Transformer kVA
overcurrent protective device, a current limiting device is 1000) / Voltage*
able to be used at the same high fault rating, as long as
Short Circuit Current (ISC line-to-line) = ((Transformer Full
the interrupting rating of the current limiting overcurrent
Load Current (IFL )) / Transformer Impedance (Z)
device is equal to or greater than the specified
overcurrent device. Three-phase Transformers
A graphic explanation of Step 1 for the determination Transformer Full-Load Current (IFL) = (Transformer kVA
of the SCCR for individual power circuit components is 1000) / (Voltage** 1.732)
available in Figure 2. Short Circuit Current (ISC line-to-line-to-line) =
((Transformer Full Load Current (IFL )) / Transformer
Impedance (Z)
If the transformer impedance Z is not available, either a default impedance Z = 2.1% or the values in the tables SB 4.3 for
single-phase transformers or SB 4.4 for three-phase transformers can be applied.
Column 1 Column 2
Transformer
120 120/240b 208 240 277 347 480 600
Max kVA
1 400 A 300 A 230 A 200 A 180 A 140 A 100 A 80 A
3 1,200 A 900 A 690 A 600 A 520 A 420 A 300 A 240 A
5 1,990 A 1,490 A 1,150 A 1,000 A 860 A 690 A 500 A 400 A
10 3,970 A 2,980 A 2,290 A 1,990 A 1,720 A 1,380 A 1,000 A 800 A
15 5,960 A 4,470 A 3,440 A 2,980 A 2,580 A 2,060 A 1,490 A 1,200 A
25 9,930 A 7,450 A 5,730 A 4,970 A 4,300 A 3,440 A 2,490 A 1,990 A
37.5 14,890 A 11,170 A 8,590 A 7,450 A 6,450 A 5,150 A 3,730 A 2,980 A
50 19,850 A 14,890 A 11,450 A 9,930 A 8,600 A 6,870 A 4,970 A 3,970 A
75 29,770 A 22,330 A 17,180 A 14,890 A 12,900 A 10,300 A 7,450 A 5,960 A
a
Z assumed to be 2.1%.
b
Short circuit current shown is line-to-neutral.
Column 1 Column 2
Transformer
120 120/240b 208 240 277 347 480 600
Max kVA
5 1,160 A 930 A 810 A 510 A 410 A 410 A 330 A 80 A
10 2,320 A 1,860 A 1,610 A 1,010 A 810 A 810 A 650 A 240 A
15 3,470 A 2,780 A 2,410 A 1, 510 A 1,210 A 1,210 A 970 A 400 A
20 4,630 A 3,710 A 3,210 A 2,010 A 1,610 A 1,610 A 1,290 A 800 A
25 5,790 A 4,630 A 4,010 A 2,510 A 2,010 A 2,010 A 1,610 A 1,200 A
30 6,940 A 5,560 A 4,820 A 3,010 A 2,410 A 2,410 A 1,930 A 1,990 A
45 10,410 A 8,330 A 7,220 A 4,520 A 3,610 A 3,610 A 2,890 A 2,980 A
75 17,350 A 13,880 A 12,030 A 7,520 A 6,020 A 6,020 A 4,820 A 3,970 A
100 23,140 A 18,510 A 16,040 A 10,030 A 8,020 A 8,020 A 6,420 A 5,960 A
a
Z assumed to be 2.1%.
b
Short circuit current shown is line-to-neutral.
A graphic explanation of Step 2 for using power transformers in the feeder circuit as a current limiting device is available
in Figure 3.1.
Option 2: Use of circuit breaker marked as current limiting Example: Siemens ED Circuit Breaker, CED 6
installed in the feeder circuit
In General:
The SCCR on the line side of fuse in the feeder circuit shall
be the interrupting rating of the fuse if the following two
conditions are fulfilled:
A graphic explanation of Step 2 for using fuses in the feeder circuit as a current limiting device is available in Figure 3.2.
Figure 2: Graphic explanation of Step 1: Determination of the SCCR for individual power circuit components
Figure 3.1: Graphic explanation / example of Step 2: Use of current limiting transformers in the feeder circuit
Figure 3.2: Graphic explanation / example of Step 2: Use of current limiting fuses in the feeder circuit
Figure 3.3: Graphic explanation / example of Step 2: Use of circuit breaker marked as current limiting in the
feeder circuit
Start
Is the component part of the power circuit? no Component is not required to have a SCCR
yes
yes
Is the component a transformer, reactor,
current transformer, dry-type capacitor,
resistor, varistor, voltmeter, S-contractor of a
wye delta starter, enclosure air conditioner
or multi-motor equipment which is cord
connected or protected with a Branch Circuit
Use the tested high fault SCCR for this
Protective Device less than 60 Amps
component / assembly
no yes
no
no
Is the component marked with a SCCR? Use the marked SCCR for this component
no
Step 3: Determination of the overall short circuit current rating of the panel
Start
All SCCRs of individual components
and/or high fault SCCR (Step 1)
and/or the SCCR on the line side
of the current
Does the industrial control panel consist Use the smallest SCCR of any components in the branch
of a single branch circuit and the branch circuit including the SCCR of a possible control circuit
circuit protective device is not installed
yes overcurrent protective device and assign it as the overall
within the panel? SCCR on the panel
no
Does the individual control panel consist Is the SCCR based on a Use the smallest SCCR of any
yes no
of a single branch circuit and the branch high fault current test? components in the branch circuit
circuit protective devise is installed inside including the SCCR of a possible
of the panel? yes control circuit overcurrent
protective device and compare
it with the A.I.C. rating of the
no branch circuit protection
Use the High Fault device. The smaller rating shall
Current and assign this be assigned as the overall SCCR
value as the overall on the panel
Does the industrial control panel consist SCCR on the panel
of several branch circuits and feeder
circuit components within the industrial
control panel?
Feeder
Circuits
Branch
Use the smaller of the high
Have the components in the fault SCCR compared with
feeder circuit been tested for yes the SCCR of a possible control
high fault SCCR? circuit overcurrent protective
Use the smallest SCCR of any branch circuits
based on SCCR of individual power circuit device in the feeder circuit
components and/or high fault SCCRs (Step 1) no
or the SCCR on the line side of the current
limiting device in the feeder circuit (Step 2)
including the SCCR of a possible control
circuit overcurrent protective device Use the smallest SCCR of any feeder circuit component
connected to the branch circuit including a possible control circuit overcurrent protective
device in the feeder circuit
V. Glossary
Standard References:
i. UL508A Second Edition, Standard for Industrial Control Panels
ii. UL508, Standard for Industrial Control Equipment
iii. National Electrical Code NEC, Edition 2014
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