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SECTION 16480
MOTOR CONTROL CENTERS

PART 1 - GENERAL
1.1 DESCRIPTION
A. This section specifies the furnishing, complete installation, and
connection of the motor control centers.
1.2 RELATED WORK
A. Section 13081, SEISMIC RESTRAINT FOR NON-STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS: Seismic
requirements for non-structural equipment.
B. Section 16050, BASIC METHODS AND REQUIREMENTS (ELECTRICAL): General
electrical requirements and items that are common to more than one
section of Division 16.
C. Section 16127, CABLES, LOW VOLTAGE (600 Volts and Below): Cables and
wiring.
D. Section 16155, MOTOR STARTERS: Control and protection of motors.
E. Section 16450, GROUNDING: Requirements for personnel safety and to
provide a low impedance path for possible ground fault currents.
1.3 SUBMITTALS
A. Submit in accordance with Section 16050, BASIC METHODS AND REQUIREMENTS
(ELECTRICAL).
B. Shop Drawings:
1. Sufficient information, clearly presented, shall be included to
determine compliance with drawings and specifications.
2. Include electrical ratings, dimensions, weights, mounting details,
front view, side view, equipment and device arrangement, running
overcurrent protection, branch circuit overcurrent protection, wiring
diagrams, materials, and connection diagrams for each motor control
center.
3. For starters; a list of overload sizes for each motor, and // circuit
breakers // fuse // sizes.
C. Manuals: Two weeks prior to the final inspection, submit four copies of
the following to the Resident Engineer:
1. Complete maintenance, operating and testing manuals including wiring
diagrams, technical data sheets, including load current, overload
relay and settings of adjustable relays, and information for ordering
replacement parts:

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a. Include complete "As Installed" diagrams, which indicate all items

of equipment and their interconnecting wiring.
b. Include complete diagrams of the internal wiring for each of the
items of equipment, including "As Installed" revisions of the
diagrams.
c. The wiring diagrams shall identify the terminals to facilitate
installation, maintenance, operation and testing.
d. Instructions for testing and adjusting overcurrent protective
devices.
D. Certification: Two weeks prior to final inspection, submit four copies
of the following to the Resident Engineer:
SPEC WRITER NOTE: Specify seismic zone
factor "Z" value so motor control center
manufacturers can check/design seismic
strength of their equipment. Delete the
following paragraph if the motor control
center(s) is located outside the seismic
zone.

1. Certification from the manufacturer that the motor control center(s),

accessories, and components will withstand the seismic forces (Z= --)
and that the unit will be fully operational after the seismic event
at the project site.
2. Certification by the manufacturer that the motor control centers
conform to the requirements of the drawings and specifications.
3. Certification by the Contractor that the motor control centers have
been properly installed, adjusted, and tested.
1.4 APPLICABLE PUBLICATIONS
A. Publications listed below (including amendments, addenda, revisions,
supplements and errata) form a part of this specification to the extent
referenced. Publications are referenced in the text by the basic
designation only.
B. National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA):
ICS 1-93................Industrial Control and Systems: General
Requirements
ICS 2-93................Industrial Control and Systems: Controllers,
Contactors, and Overhead Relays, Rated Not More
Than 2000 volts AC or 750 volts DC
ICS 6-93(R 2000)........Industrial Control and Systems: Enclosures
FU 1-86(R 1996).........Low-Voltage Cartridge Fuses

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250-97..................Enclosures for Electrical Equipment (1000 Volts

Maximum)
C. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA):
70-99...................National Electrical Code (NEC)
D. Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL):
486A-97.................Wire Connectors and Soldering Lugs for Use with
Copper Conductors.
845-95..................Motor Control Centers
PART 2 - PRODUCTS
2.1 MOTOR CONTROL CENTERS
A. Factory-assembled and –wired motor control centers shall comply with
NEC, NEMA, and UL, and as shown on the drawings.
B. Motor control centers shall be complete, floor-mounted, metal-enclosed,
grounded, indoor type. The motor control centers shall be NEMA Standard,
class // 1 // 2 //, type // A // B // C //. Ratings shall be not less
than shown on the drawings. Interrupting ratings shall be not less than
the maximum short circuit currents available at motor control center
location as shown on the drawings.
C. Shall conform to the arrangements and details of the drawings and to the
spaces designated for installation.
D. Motor control centers shall be able to withstand the mechanical stresses
caused by rough handling during shipment in addition to the normal
electrical and mechanical stresses, which will occur during operation of
the centers.
E. The components and the control wiring shall conform to the approved shop
drawings as furnished for the various applicable electrical and
mechanical sections of the specifications.
F. Metal enclosure shall be factory phosphatized and painted with primer
and baked enamel or lacquer finishes.
G. Vertical Sections:
1. Approximately 2.25 m (90 inches) high, front and rear line-up,
fabricated by a single manufacturer.
2. Rugged steel assemblies with bracing, reinforcing gussets and jig-
welding to assure rectangular-rigidity. The sections shall be
completely metal-enclosed, including the base.
3. Bolts, nuts and washers shall be rustproof metal.

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4. Spaces within the sections shall be suitable and adequately sized for
starters and accessories as indicated on the drawings.
5 Mount the sections on adequate structural steel supports at the
factory, front and rear, for the full length of each center.
6. Each space shall have an individual door with hinges and latches for
present and future starters.
7. End panels shall be removable to facilitate future additions.
9. Screws in the removable panels shall remain in the panels when the
panels are removed. Self-aligning, self-retaining nuts, which are
parts of the screw assembly, shall remain in tact.
10.Each section in the motor control center shall have isolated vertical
full height wiring troughs.
11.Each section in the motor control center shall be marked with maximum
short circuit current rating.
12.Bus Bars and Interconnections:
a. Shall be silver or tin plated copper or tin plated aluminum.
b. Bus bar shall be ninety eight percent conductivity 1000 amperes
per square inch copper, or 750 amperes per square inch aluminum.
c. Shall be totally enclosed.
d. Bus bar joints and interconnection joints shall be plated,
constant high-pressure type with high strength copper-silicon
bolts, and nuts. Bellville type conical washers under the nuts and
over plated flat steel washers against the aluminum shall be used
for aluminum bus.
e. Shall have insulation as follows:
1) High strength polyester glass or equal.
2) High track-resistance.
3) High impulse and dielectric strength, suitable for withstanding
the maximum short circuit currents.
4) High flame-retardant, self-extinguishing.
5) Comply with NEMA Standard for 50 degree C (122 degrees F)
temperature rise above the ambient temperature.
f. Shall have horizontal main buses and vertical buses for connecting
the motor starters, circuit breakers or switches. Buses shall be
braced as indicated on the drawings.
g. Shall have a ground bus, which extends across the entire width of
each motor control center.

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h. Shall be extendable to additional sections when shown on the

drawings.
13.Equip future spaces for motor controllers, circuit breakers and
switches with all hardware required to accept the future equipment.
SPEC WRITER NOTE: Show on drawings, a
schedule of starters with accessories.
Also coordinate with mechanical equipment.
2.2 STARTERS
A. Factory tested, stab-on, draw-out type up through size 4. Size 5 and
above require bolted connections.
B. Shall conform to the applicable requirements in Section, MOTOR STARTERS.
Include built-in H-O-A selector switches and red and green pilot lights.
C. Products of the same manufacturer as the Motor Control Centers.
D. Interchangeable for the same ratings in all of the motor control centers
being installed for this contract. Each motor starter shall be provided
with a label indicating all of its ratings.
E. Disconnecting devices shall be // circuit breaker // fused switch //
motor circuit protector // type with external operating handle with
lock-open padlocking positions and on-off position indicator:
//1. Circuit Breakers:
a. UL listed and labeled, in accordance with the NEC, as shown on the
drawings and as specified.
b. Bolt-on type with a minimum interrupting rating as indicated on
the drawings.
c. Equipped with automatic, trip free, non-adjustable, inverse time,
and instantaneous magnetic trips for 100 ampere or less. The
magnetic trips shall be adjustable from 3X to 10X for breakers
with 600-ampere frames and higher. Factory setting shall be HI,
unless otherwise noted.
d. Additional features shall be as follows:
1) A rugged, integral housing of molded insulating material.
2) Silver alloy contacts.
3) Arc quenchers and phase barriers for each pole.
4) Quick-make, quick-break, operating mechanisms.
5) A trip element for each pole, thermal magnetic type with long
time delay and instantaneous characteristics, a common trip bar
for all poles and a single operator.
6) Electrically and mechanically trip free.

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7) An overload on one pole of a multi-pole breaker shall

automatically cause all the poles of the breaker to open //.
//2. Fused Switches:
a. Quick-make, quick-break type in accordance with UL 98, NEMA KS 1
and NEC.
b. Minimum duty rating, NEMA classification General Duty (GD) for 240
volts and NEMA classification Heavy Duty (HD) for 480 volts.
c. Horsepower rated and shall have the following features:
1) Copper blades, visible in the OFF position.
2) An arc chute for each pole.
3) Fuse holders for the sizes and types of fuses specified. //
//3. Motor Circuit Protectors:
a. UL listed and labeled in accordance with the NEC, and as shown on
the drawings.
b. Bolt-on type with a minimum interrupting rating as indicated on
the drawings and as specified.
c. Equipped with automatic, adjustable magnetic trip. Magnetic trip
shall be adjustable up to 1300 percent of the motor full load
amperes. Protectors shall include a transient override feature for
motor inrush current, and shall be equipped with a push trip test
button. //
F. Doors for each space shall be interlocked to prevent their opening
unless the disconnect is open. Incorporate "defeater" mechanism for
inspection by qualified mechanic.
G. Identify each motor controller, circuit breaker and switch with a
separate nameplate of laminated black phenolic resin with white core and
engraved lettering not less than 6 mm (1/4 inch) high. Identify each
motor by its number or other designation, which indicates function
fulfilled by the motor. Identify pilot light with ON and OFF
designation.
H. Each starter shall be furnished with unit-mounted microprocessor-based
controls. The controls panel shall be powered by 120 volts.
SPEC WRITER NOTE: Where solid-state
equipment is provided, provide transient
voltage surge protection.

1.Following shall display as a minimum on the control panel:

a. Amperes in each phase.
b. Controller status.

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c. Time and date.

d. Operation settings.
e. Running time.
f. Trip data-cause of trip.
2. Control Functions:
a. Overload trip settings.
b. Trip class.
c. Ground fault-trip level and time, if required.
d. Phase imbalance.
e. Frequency.
f. Remote/local control.
3. Job Conditions: Shall be suitable to operate under 0 to 70 degrees C
(32 to 160 degrees F) and 0 to 95 percent relative humidity.
4. Provide two 10-amp, 120-volt alarm contacts.
PART 3 - EXECUTION
3.1 INSTALLATION
A. Installation shall be in accordance with NEC, written instructions of
the manufacturer, and as shown on the drawings.
B. Install motor control center on concrete pads specified in Section
03300, CAST-IN-PLACE CONCRETE. Bolt the motor control center to the
concrete pads.
C. Comply with mounting and anchoring requirements specified in Section
13080, SEISMIC RESTRAINTS REQUIREMENTS FOR NON-STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS.
3.2.STARTUP AND TESTING
A. At the final inspection in the presence of the VA representative,
demonstrate that the motor control centers operate properly in all
respects.
1. Test and adjust all controls and safeties. Replace or repair all
malfunctioning controls, safeties, and equipment as soon as possible
to avoid any delay in the use of the equipment.
3.3 TRAINING
A. Furnish the services of a competent, factory-trained engineer or
technician for a 2-hour period for instructing VA personnel in operation
and maintenance of the equipment, including review of the operation and
maintenance manual, on a date requested by the Resident Engineer.
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