University of Alaska
SRC Solar Panel Project
Draft Specifications for Solar Panel & Installation
Request for Interest and Pre-Solicitation Notification Only
BACKGROUND The University of Alaska Fairbanks is endorsing a rapid increase in efforts to measure, monitor, and foster sustainability on campus. In the spring of 2009 UAF students voted in a $20 tax upon themselves called the Student Initiative for Renewable Energy Now (SIREN). This money has funded the SRC Solar PV Project thus far and the students are seeking a partner within the Fairbanks community in order to further the project, install the system, and take advantage of the 30% federal tax credit available to potential investors.
The Student Recreation Center (SRC) Solar PV Project is a student-run and financially supported initiative to install a 15.6kW system on its southwest exterior wall. In developing this project, students worked with faculty and staff from many departments and disciplines. Not only will it be the first large scale solar array on campus, but it will also create a model and set a precedence for more renewable energy integration. To increase awareness of energy conservation and efficiency, a touch screen monitor will be placed in the lobby of the SRC and a web page will track energy consumption and production as well as overall performance throughout the systems' life (these components have already been acquired through other grants). As the SRC is continually upgraded for efficiency, we will continually educate the population about solar power in Alaska and energy saving through efficiency upgrades.
The SRC Solar PV Project is a strategic step in fostering the cultural change necessary to institutionalize energy awareness and sustainability buy-in on the UAF campus and Alaska’s northern communities. Taking advantage of the SRC’s south facing wall is demonstrative of how sustainable development can attract investment, boost the economy, integrate usable space, and create reliably priced energy.
Today, students seeking a higher education are concerned about environmental issues and look for universities which are in line with their ideals. “Green means eco-friendly, and 69% of college applicants this year say having information about a college's commitment to environmental issues would contribute to their decision to apply to or attend the school, according to a survey of 8,200 students by The Princeton Review. That's up from 64% in 2008”
STAKEHOLDER VISION & CONCEPTUALIZATION
The Plan: The students wish to partner with a Fairbanks for-profit group to install a renewable energy project for education and energy production on the south facing wall of the SRC. This partnership will allow for the use of the federal governments' 30 percent Business Energy Investment Tax Credit (ITC). RFP Financial Elements: The investor will install the system and own the system for the agreed upon term. The investor can receive the 30% tax credit on the total cost of the system in the year of construction (approx. $60,000). The electricity generated, will be used in the SRC building and the exterior south facing wall space will be used by the investor, both at no charge. The investor can capture depreciation on the system however they see fit. The RISE Board will pay a monthly or annual fee to the investor for leasing of the solar PV system, as part of the agreement. At the end of the contract term, the system will be donated to the University and the ownership will transfer to UAF. The third party can then take advantage of a second tax credit based on the donated value of the system. We assume the Solar PV System will take on a negotiated name, involving advertisement for the third-party as an incentive for investing.
UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS SPECIFICATION INDEX SRC SOLAR PANEL INSTALLATION PROJECT NO.: 2011089 SRSA
DIVISION 26 ELECTRICAL
26 00 04 Fastening Hardware 26 05 10 General Provisions 26 05 19 Wire and Cable 26 05 33 Raceways 26 05 35 Pull and Junction Boxes 26 05 53 Identification 26 31 00 Photovoltaic Collector
Design Alaska, Inc. Specification Index - 1 2011089 SRSA UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS DIVISION 26 ELECTRICAL SRC SOLAR PANEL INSTALLATION SECTION 26 00 04 PROJECT NO.: 2011089 SRSA FASTENING HARDWARE
PART 1 GENERAL
1.1 SCOPE
A. Furnish and install all fasteners and other hardware necessary for the proper, secure installation of all electrical features.
PART 2 PRODUCTS
2.1 FASTENERS
A. Raceway supports, boxes, and other electrical devices shall be fastened by wood screws or sheet metal screws on wooden surfaces, toggle bolts on hollow masonry units, expansion bolts on concrete or brick, and machine screws or welded threaded studs on steel work. Threaded studs driven by a powder charge and provided with a lock washer, flat washer, and nut(s) are acceptable in lieu of expansion bolts, machine, or wood screws.
2.2 ASSOCIATED HARDWARE
A. All fasteners shall be provided with flat washers. All fasteners having untapered threads (such as machine screws) shall also be provided with a lock washer under the bolt head or nut, whichever is turned in the process of tightening. Fasteners through resilient materials shall have stop sleeves.
2.3 HARDWARE FINISHES
A. All threaded fasteners and associated hardware shall be steel, with a cadmium-plated finish.
2.4 TOOLING
A. Bolts shall have Hex or Allen heads. Screws shall have straight-slotted, Phillips, or Allen heads. Screws with square-socket heads ("locked-recess" or "Canadian"-style) are permitted only for fastening raceways or other features, which the Owner would normally not be expected to have to change during the life of the facility; their use on enclosures or other assemblies, which might eventually require Owner access, is specifically prohibited.
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PART 3 EXECUTION
3.1 INSTALLATION
A. All fasteners shall be tightened to within secure limits for the size of fastener and material(s) fastened. For applications such as busbar connections, panelboard lugs, field installed bolt in breakers, transformer connections, breaker, and ground bus connections having over a No 10 AWG conductor, a torque wrench shall be used to tighten the fasteners to the manufacturer's recommended value. Provide written documentation of the installation to include a list of the manufacturer’s recommendations for the equipment involved, and the final installed torque values.
B. Fasten hangar rods, conduit clamps, and outlet and junction boxes to building structure using threaded bolts and screws.
C. Do not fasten supports to piping, ductwork, mechanical equipment, conduit, or ceiling suspension system.
D. Fasteners shall be installed with no protruding sharp edges or points.
E. Devices, plates, junction boxes, outlet boxes, enclosures, etc. shall be installed using the fasteners supplied or recommended by the manufacturer for the components to be installed. The use of sheet metal screws instead of machine screws where threaded holes are provided is not acceptable.
F. Fabricate supports from structural steel or steel channel, rigidly welded or bolted to present neat appearance. Use hexagon head bolts with spring lock washers under all nuts.
G. In wet and damp locations use steel channel supports to stand cabinets one inch off wall.
H. Earthquake Anchorages:
1. Equipment weighing more than 50 pounds shall be adequately anchored to the building structure to resist lateral earthquake forces.
2. Total lateral (earthquake) forces shall be 2.75 times the equipment weight acting laterally in any direction through the equipment center of gravity. Provide adequate backing at structural attachment points to accept the forces involved.
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I. Where necessary to install fasteners into the underside of metal roof decking, they shall be placed in the low points of the corrugations where the roofing membrane is thickest, and they shall not be long enough to penetrate the membrane.
J. Fasteners used on doors or covers shall have no sharp edges or points which may cut personnel opening or removing door or cover. Fasteners used on doors and covers shall not damage conductors.
END OF SECTION
Design Alaska, Inc. 26 00 04 - 3 2011089 SRSA UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS DIVISION 26 ELECTRICAL SRC SOLAR PANEL INSTALLATION SECTION 26 05 10 PROJECT NO.: 2011089 SRSA GENERAL PROVISIONS
PART 1 GENERAL
1.1 SCOPE
A. This Section covers general electrical requirements for Work covered under this Division.
B. All work and services specifically covered under this Division is supplementary to that covered under other Divisions of these Contract Documents. The requirements of this Division, which are more stringent than that covered under other parts of these contract documents, apply to work covered under this Division.
C. All incidental work required but not specified under this Division shall comply with the Division in which it is specified.
D. Review the Drawings and Specifications of all other Divisions for additional work under Division 26.
1.2 DEFINITIONS
A. Furnish: Shall mean deliver to the Project site.
B. Install: Shall mean build into the work, including connections and any parts commonly considered as incidental to a complete installation.
C. Provide: Shall mean furnish and install complete.
D. Work or Project: Shall mean all Work required by the Contract Agreement.
1.3 ABBREVIATIONS AND INITIALS
A. Any or all of the following may appear in the Contract Documents, and shall be applied per the following explanations:
a.c. or AC Alternating Current (60 Hz. unless otherwise noted) AFF Above Finished Floor AFG Above Finished Grade AIC Amperes Interrupting Capacity (RMS Symmetrical) ANSI American National Standards Institute ASTM American Society for Testing and Materials AWG American Wire Gauge Size
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d.c. or DC Direct Current EMT Electrical Metallic Tubing gnd Ground GFCI Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter Hertz or Hz Frequency in Cycles per Second HP Horsepower ICEA Insulated Cable Engineers Association IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers IES Illuminating Engineering Society IMC Intermediate Metal Conduit Lt Lighting MSS Motor Starting Switch MCC Motor Control Center NEC National Electrical Code NESC National Electrical Safety Code NECA National Electrical Contractors Association, Inc. NEMA National Electrical Manufacturers Association NIC Not in Contract NIE Not in Electrical O.L. Motor Overload Devices OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration RSC Rigid Steel Conduit UL Underwriter's Laboratories VAC or VDC Volts, AC or DC, respectively
1. Other abbreviations and initials, which may appear in the Contract Documents, are intended to have the meanings commonly accepted in the electrical construction industry, and the Owner shall be contacted for definition if any question arises concerning them.
1.4 DRAWINGS
A. Unless otherwise indicated, Drawing symbols conform to the applicable standards of ANSI. The Drawings (or Contract Drawings) rely heavily upon symbolic representation of the features shown, and represent exact details only so far as indicated. The following should also be kept in mind:
1. The Drawings are, to some extent, diagrammatic and are not intended to show exact details.
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2. Dimensions scaled from the Drawings may vary due to tracing tolerances, printing distortion, field conditions, field changes, and other factors. For these reasons, it shall be the Contractor's responsibility to field verify dimensions that pertain to his work. The Contractor shall make minor relocations where necessary to resolve conflicts or present a uniform appearance. The Drawings show exact location of electrical features only where specifically dimensioned.
3. The Electrical Contractor shall review the Contract Documents of the other trades on the Project, and shall coordinate the installation of electrical features with the work of all other trades. In areas such as mechanical rooms where conflicts are likely with structural, mechanical, or other features, the electrical installation shall be performed after the other trades, and arranged to eliminate conflicts.
4. The Drawings and Specifications are complementary to each other and what is called for by one shall be as binding as if called for by all. Discrepancies between any combination of Drawings, Specification, and/or field conditions shall be promptly brought to the attention of the Owner for a decision. Failure to obtain such decision before proceeding shall automatically leave the Contractor liable for all expenses necessary to correct the situation to the satisfaction of the Owner.
5. Provide fixtures, devices, equipment, conduit, conductors, and accessories indicated on the Drawings unless it is specifically indicated that the fixture, device, equipment, conduit, conductor, or accessory is existing.
1.5 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
A. Provide all Work as shown on the Drawings and in these Specifications for a complete, safe, and functional installation.
B. Unless otherwise noted, all materials shall be of new manufacture and installed before expiration of their shelf life, if applicable.
C. Materials and equipment are to be those of major and reputable manufacturers with ability to render competent and thorough service through local and regional organizations capable of expeditiously providing service, parts, and assistance.
D. Materials of similar nature, style, function, purpose, and/or appearance shall be like products from the standard product line of the same manufacturer.
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E. All products shall be listed and labeled by an approved national testing laboratory for their intended use and location in all cases where such products are listed and labeled. Where no product listed by an approved national testing laboratory for the application is available, provide certification of performance, function, and rating from an independent testing agency or laboratory approved by the Owner.
F. The omission of express reference to any parts, supplies, services, or facilities necessary for, or incidental to, a complete installation shall not be construed as a release from furnishing such items.
G. Any deviations from the installation shown in these Contract Documents, due to a particular manufacturer's requirements, shall be made without additional cost to the Owner.
H. Verification is required of all equipment sizes and locations prior to the ordering or installation of connection materials and disconnecting equipment to ensure that the power connections are of the proper size and type, and in the proper location.
I. All materials shall be installed in a neat, orderly, and secure fashion, as required by these specifications and commonly recognized standards of good workmanship. The norms for execution of the work shall be in conformity with NEC Chapter 3 and the National Electrical Contractors’ Association “National Electrical Installation Standards”, for which the Owner's judgment shall be final.
J. Electrical equipment shall be installed in spaces that are accessible and in a manner that allows for maintenance and replacement. Entries into spaces shall allow for the passage of equipment.
1.6 WIRING OF MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT, MOTORS, AND OTHER UTILIZATION EQUIPMENT
A. Where equipment arrangement varies from that shown on the Drawings, making necessary additional disconnect switches in order to comply with the NEC, such disconnects shall be provided at no additional cost to the Owner.
B. The Electrical Contractor shall provide connection of each motor to its respective controller. The final 18 inches to 36 inches of each connection to a motor shall be made through flexible metal conduit, per Section 26 05 33.
C. Where disconnects or controllers are furnished as part of the mechanical or other utilization equipment, such as in package units, the Electrical Contractor shall provide all power wiring to the equipment and associated disconnects and controllers.
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1.7 REPAIR OF EXISTING FEATURES
A. Where existing or previously completed building surfaces or other features must be cut, penetrated, or otherwise altered for the installation of electrical features, such work shall be carefully laid out and performed, and any subsequent patching or repairs that it necessitates shall be performed by skilled mechanics of the trades involved, at no additional cost to the Owner.
1.8 WORK INCIDENTAL TO SUBSTITUTIONS
A. When substitutions for specified Methods or materials alter the relationship between the work actually required and that called for by the Contract Documents, the Contractor shall bear responsibility for all expenses incurred by any necessary revisions, including the work of other trades.
1.9 REMOVAL OF ELECTRICAL WORK IN EXISTING FACILITIES
A. Where connected to or serving fixtures or equipment being removed, or incidental to the required removal of walls, ceilings, or other features, existing electrical features shall be removed as follows:
1. All abandoned wiring shall be removed back to its source of supply.
2. Exposed items shall be removed in their entirety.
a. All abandoned exposed conduit, including all abandoned conduit above accessible ceiling finishes shall be removed back to the source of supply, or back to the connection to a still active branch. Cap and properly close all openings in remaining conduits, boxes, and enclosures.
3. Concealed items may be abandoned in place if they are completely concealed by the existing construction.
a. Conduits concealed in areas not accessible or that are not being made accessible shall be removed into areas of non-accessibility. Patch to match existing, openings in walls, ceilings, or floors left or created as a result of conduit removal.
b. Conduits that are being removed and that extend below slab on grade shall be ground flush with the top of the slab, plugged with concrete, and the slab patched to match existing.
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4. Where other electrical items are fed through, supported by or attached to a removed item, reroute raceways and/or cut back building surfaces as necessary to rejoin raceways, provide new conductors as necessary, and patch and finish all damaged construction to match surrounding surfaces.
5. Salvage or disposal of removed items shall be as noted on the Drawings or as directed by the Owner.
1.10 VAPOR BARRIER PENETRATIONS
A. Penetrations of the building vapor barrier caused by the electrical installation shall be minimized, and where they do occur they shall be sealed as elsewhere described in these Specifications.
1.11 FIRESTOPPING
A. Where electrical raceways or other features penetrate fire-rated building surfaces, they shall be securely sealed to the surrounding surface per Specification 07 84 13 criteria.
1.12 PROTECTION AND CLEANING
A. All electrical equipment shall, during the entire duration of construction work, be protected against water, dust, debris, overspray or any other contamination, whether environmental in origin or as a result of construction work.
B. All construction dust, debris, overspray, scrap and surplus materials, etc. resulting from this Work shall be cleared away, leaving the installation in completely clean condition.
C. These cleaning requirements apply not only to exterior surfaces, but also interiors of accessible enclosures. In particular, the interiors of equipment having contacts or heat-dissipating components shall be thoroughly vacuum-cleaned prior to energization. This applies to electrical panels, MCC’s, transformers, motor control equipment, junction boxes and other similar electrical equipment and enclosures.
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1.13 SERVICE INTERRUPTIONS
A. All Work covered by this Contract shall be performed on de-energized circuits. Where such de-energization would deprive the Owner of existing service, the Contractor shall give him at least 24 hours advance notice of the outage, or more if the Owner requires. The Contractor will not necessarily be entitled to any extra compensation or time extension for the Owner's inability to grant an outage at a time convenient to the Contractor.
PART 2 PRODUCTS (NOT USED)
PART 3 EXECUTION (NOT USED)
END OF SECTION
Design Alaska, Inc. 26 05 10 - 7 2011089 SRSA UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS DIVISION 26 ELECTRICAL SRC SOLAR PANEL INSTALLATION SECTION 26 05 19 PROJECT NO.: 2011089 SRSA WIRE AND CABLE
PART 1 GENERAL
1.1 SCOPE
A. Provide 600 volt building wire and cable as shown on the Drawings and further specified herein. All wire and cable shall conform to the latest Specifications of the NEC and/or the ICEA and shall be the products of American Insulated Wire, BICC General, Carol Cable, Excel Wire & Cable, Okonite, Southwire, Superior Essex, or any other manufacturer meeting the requirements of the Contract Documents. Alternate Brand or Substitution requests are not required.
B. All wire and cable sizes noted on the Drawings are for copper conductors, and copper conductors only shall be used for building wire throughout the entire installation.
PART 2 PRODUCTS
2.1 CONDUCTORS
A. All conductors shall be copper, except as otherwise noted. Conductors No. 10 AWG and smaller shall be stranded or solid. Conductors No. 8 AWG or larger shall be stranded.
2.2 INSULATION TYPES
A. Branch circuit conductors shall be 600 volt insulated, and unless otherwise noted on the Drawings, shall have the following insulation types:
1. Heated indoor spaces - THHN/THWN or XHHW.
2. In conduit, outdoors or other cold locations - XHHW.
B. Feeder conductors shall have type XHHW insulation.
C. Nylon-jacketed conductors such as types THHN or THWN shall not be used in any location subjected to ambient temperatures below 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
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D. Special Applications:
1. Conductors for PV modules (Photovoltaic (PV) wire) shall be UL rated for PV applications and shall include use of the following types and characteristics:
a. UL Type PV, (UL 4703).
b. USE-2 Rated (14 AWG & Larger 600V).
c. UL Type RHW-2 (90 degrees Celsius set, 14 AWG & Larger per UL).
d. CSA Type RW90 (Insulation, 14AWG & Larger per CSA).
e. Conductors shall be soft annealed stranded, and tinned copper conductors are also acceptable.
f. Insulation shall be sunlight, ozone, moisture and UV resistant and be rated for use in temperatures between -40 degrees Celsius and 90 degrees Celsius.
g. Maximum operating voltage of 600V.
PART 3 EXECUTION
3.1 COLOR CODING
A. Conductors No. 6 AWG and smaller shall be color-coded by factory pigmentation of the insulation. Larger conductors may be color-coded by wrapping the ends with colored tape in all enclosures, except that white (or gray) and green conductors may never be phase-taped for any use other than neutral and ground, respectively. Color- coding throughout the entire installation shall be as follows:
SYSTEM VOLTAGE
Conductor 208Y/120 Phase A Black Phase B Red Phase C Blue Neutral White Ground Green
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3.2 INSTALLATION
A. Route wire and cable as required to meet Project Conditions.
B. Install cable in accordance with NECA Standard of Installation.
C. Branch circuit conductors shall be No. 12 AWG copper, except for the following:
1. On 120 volt, 20 amp circuits over 70 feet (actual measured one-way distance) from panel to the last receptacle or middle of the lighting string (as appropriate), use No. 10 conductors for the entire circuit.
2. Where branch circuit conductor sizes are indicated on the Drawings, they shall take precedence over the foregoing. Where field conditions dictate circuit routings that increase conductor lengths beyond what would be expected from the layout shown on the Drawings, they shall be submitted to the Owner for acceptance.
D. All conductor connections shall be made up securely with solderless pressure connectors such as setscrew lugs, wirenuts, "wingnuts," insulated tap connectors, insulation piercing tap connectors, or suitable crimp fittings. Split bolt connector shall not be used. Where the connector manufacturer does not require twisting together of conductors, conductors shall be left untwisted.
E. Use compression type or mechanical setscrew insulated connector block type connectors for copper wire splices and taps, No.6 AWG and larger. Utilize heat shrink tubing of the proper voltage rating for uninsulated conductors and connectors.
F. Thoroughly clean wires before installing lugs and connectors.
G. Make splices, taps, and terminations to carry full ampacity of conductors without perceptible temperature rise.
H. Terminate spare conductors with wire nuts.
I. Where stranded conductors are used, their ends shall be twisted and "tinned" with solder prior to connection, or else terminated with crimp-on connectors, set screw lugs, box lugs, or self-lifting pressure terminals.
J. Flexible cords shall be connected to equipment, fixtures, boxes, or other enclosures only by means of cord-grip bodies or other strain-relief fittings specifically designed for the purpose.
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K. Where conductors or their connectors are to be connected to metal surfaces, the surface shall first be scraped free of any paint, oxide, or other non-conductive substances. Where there is a possibility of corrosion due to moisture or other cause, a conductive corrosion inhibitor shall be used between the conductor and the metal surface.
L. Where compression fittings are used to terminate or splice conductors operating under 600 volts, the fitting shall have a viewport, or other approved method, so that it can be verified that the conductor is properly seated in the connector.
M. Conductor terminations shall use the manufacturer’s recommended methods and hardware unless specifically noted otherwise.
N. Conductors shall be pulled into raceways only by constant-tension pulling methods. Where necessary, wire-pulling lubricants of a type that is not harmful to conductor insulation and will not harden shall be used.
O. Completely and thoroughly swab raceway system before installing conductors.
P. Neatly train and lace wiring inside boxes, equipment, and panelboards.
Q. All conductors shall be protected from damage. Where the conductor or insulation is damaged, the Owner may require, at no cost to the Owner, the replacement of the entire conductor, or the implementation of an approved repair method approved by the Owner.
R. All new branch circuits shall have dedicated neutral conductors. Handle tied breakers with multi-wire branch circuits are not allowed.
3.3 PV WIRE APPLICATIONS
A. Photovoltaic wire (PV wire) may be used for interconnection wiring of grounded and ungrounded photovoltaic power systems.
3.4 SEPARATION OF SYSTEMS
A. Wiring of different voltage levels, frequency, current characteristics (AC & DC) or functions (normal vs. emergency) shall not share the same raceway or enclosures unless specifically shown on the Drawings or permitted by the Owner, or inherently necessary for correct system function (i.e., at transfer switches, transformers, etc.).
END OF SECTION
Design Alaska, Inc. 26 05 19 - 4 2011089 SRSA UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS DIVISION 26 ELECTRICAL SRC SOLAR PANEL INSTALLATION SECTION 26 05 33 PROJECT NO.: 2011089 SRSA RACEWAYS
PART 1 GENERAL
1.1 SCOPE
A. All conductors shall be run in metal raceways as follows, unless otherwise noted on the Drawings.
1.2 APPLICATIONS
A. Feeder Raceways - Rigid Steel Conduit (RSC). Electrical Metallic Tubing (EMT) may be substituted for RSC if feeder raceway is inside the building and is not subject to physical damage.
B. Raceways Buried in Ground or Under Slab - Rigid Steel Conduit (RSC).
C. Branch Raceways - Unless otherwise shown, raceways concealed in non-concrete walls or above suspended ceilings shall be Electrical Metallic Tubing (EMT); exposed raceways shall be EMT in mechanical and electrical spaces, and shops and other similar type areas with exposed devices and features, and shall be surface metal raceway in finished areas.
D. The substitution of Intermediate Metal conduit for Rigid Steel Conduit where permitted by the NEC is permitted by this Specification, except for the following applications:
1. Buried raceways.
2. RSC and IMC shall not be intermixed in any conduit run unless a pullbox or conduit body is provided between them.
E. The final connection to any motor or other rotating or vibrating equipment, or equipment which may require position adjustment after installation, shall be made through a slack section of flexible metal conduit 18 inches to 36 inches long. For such connections to pump motors, and to equipment in damp, wet, or exterior locations or in Mechanical Rooms, the flex shall be of the oil-resistant liquid-tight type.
F. Other raceways shall be as noted on the Drawings or further specified herein.
G. Nonferrous metal conduit is not permitted unless specifically noted.
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PART 2 PRODUCTS
2.1 TYPE
A. Minimum size for all raceways shall be 3/4-inch diameter unless otherwise noted on drawings. Minimum size for communications raceways shall be 1 inch diameter.
B. Raceways shall be of types and characteristics recognized by the NEC.
2.2 CONDUIT AND TUBING
A. Rigid Steel Conduit shall be hot-dip galvanized, Schedule 40 Dimensions with smooth interior. Acceptable manufacturers include, but are not limited to the following: Allied Tube & Conduit, J & L, Triangle, Western Tube & Conduit, Youngstown, or any other manufacturer meeting the requirements of the Contract Documents. Alternate Brand Request or Substitution Request not required.
1. Rigid Steel Conduit shall be made up with threaded fittings only.
B. Electrical Metallic Tubing shall be hot-dip galvanized, with smooth interior. Acceptable manufacturers include, but are not limited to the following: Allied Tube & Conduit, J & L, Triangle, Western Tube & Conduit, Youngstown, or any other manufacturer meeting the requirements of the Contract Documents. Alternate Brand Request or Substitution Request not required.
1. EMT shall be made up with concrete-tight compression fittings only. Connectors shall have insulated throats.
C. Intermediate Metal Conduit shall be hot-dip galvanized steel, with smooth interior. Acceptable manufacturers include, but are not limited to the following: Allied Tube & Conduit, Cyprus, Western Tube & Conduit, or any other manufacturer meeting the requirements of the Contract Documents. Alternate Brand Request or Substitution Request not required.
1. IMC shall be made up with threaded fittings only.
D. Flexible Metal Conduit ("flex") shall be Greenfield type, made of interlocking galvanized steel armor. Acceptable manufacturers include, but are not limited to the following: Alflex, American Metal, Carol Cable Co., Electri-flex, National Electric, RACO, Rome, Thomas & Betts, Triangle, or any other manufacturer meeting the requirements of the Contract Documents. Alternate Brand Request or Substitution Request not required.
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E. Liquid-tight Flexible Metal Conduit ("sealtite" flex or "LT flex") shall have a flexible galvanized steel spiral core with a flexible outer jacket of PVC, resistant to water, oil, grease, corrosive agents, and abrasion. Acceptable manufacturers include, but are not limited to the following: Carol, Anaconda, or any other manufacturer meeting the requirements of the Contract Documents. Alternate Brand Request or Substitution Request not required.
1. If used without a separate equipment grounding conductor, liquid-tight flex shall have a continuous copper ground wire integral with its construction, and shall be made up with fittings approved for grounding.
F. Surface Metal Raceways shall be installed complete with the manufacturer's standard hardware appropriate to the installation. Surface metal raceways shall be steel, one piece design with a base and cover factory assembled. The raceway shall have minimum dimensions of 0.50 inch wide by 0.34 inch deep unless other sizes and styles are noted on the Drawings or specified in other sections of these Specifications.
2.3 WIREWAYS AND GUTTERS
A. Unless otherwise noted, wireways and gutters shall be similar to pull and junction boxes in construction, with screw covers.
B. Wireways and gutters shall be used only where shown on the drawings or specifically accepted by the Owner.
2.4 CONDUIT BODIES
A. Use of conduit bodies having the "LL" or "LR" configurations is not permitted unless specifically called for or accepted by the Owner.
PART 3 EXECUTION
3.1 LAYOUT
A. Raceways shall be concealed, except in mechanical and electrical rooms and as otherwise noted on the drawings. Exposed raceways shall be run square with the building lines. Concealed raceways shall be run perpendicular or parallel to walls, and shall be grouped together to minimize congestion where practical.
B. Unless otherwise noted on the Drawings or directed by the Owner, branch circuit raceways shall be sized per the NEC tables.
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C. Structural members shall not be cut, drilled, or notched for raceways or other electrical features unless specifically accepted by the Owner.
D. Metal raceways crossing expansion joints, and in other required places, shall make provision for 3-way movement at such points. Such fittings shall be installed so that they are initially in the center of all 3 axes of movement (i.e.: not deflected to make part of a conduit bend, or compressed or extended to compensate for incorrect conduit length).
E. At all raceway penetrations of the vapor barrier provide a double splice patch (one on each side of vapor barrier) by cutting a square piece of vapor barrier 12 inches larger on all sides than the pipe. Cut a round hole in the center of the square splice patch, smaller than the pipe, to form a stretched fit. Force the pipe through the splice patch and tape all sides to the vapor barrier and seal the vapor barrier to the pipe at the penetration with an adhesive compatible with the vapor barrier material.
F. Provide solid blocking installed flat at all vapor barrier penetrations. On the interior face of the exterior stud wall, flat blocking installed at each penetration shall be a minimum of four inches larger than the penetration. Locate the penetration at the centerline of the flat blocking.
G. All raceways running from a warm area to a cold area, and all raceways passing through penetrations in vapor barriers, shall be securely sealed inside the warm end using Polywater FST, Type DUX or GB duct seal. All of which are compounds that are not harmful to the wire insulation. Alternate Brand request or substitution request required.
H. Maintain a minimum 6 inch clearance between conduit and piping. Maintain 12 inch clearance between conduit and heat sources such as flues, steam pipes, heating pipes, and heating appliances.
I. Where electrical raceways must penetrate roofing membranes, such penetrations shall be flashed and sealed as required for mechanical piping penetrations of roof.
J. Raceways shall be installed in switchboards, panelboards, gutters, pull boxes, and the like from the back of the enclosure closest to the mounting surface, to the front in a manner that will not obstruct the future installation of raceways.
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3.2 ASSEMBLY
A. Raceways shall be physically and electrically continuous from enclosure to enclosure. Electrical continuity for nonmetallic conduits shall be assured by inclusion of an NEC-sized grounding conductor. For metallic conduits, it shall be assured by making up all joints wrench-tight and free of foreign materials. Threaded conduits shall enter enclosures by means of threaded hubs or double-locknut-and bushing connections. For conduits of one inch trade size and larger, bushings shall be of the insulated type.
B. Conduit joints shall be cut square, reamed smooth, and cleaned of burrs, cutting oil, cuttings, and other foreign materials prior to assembly. Ends shall be capped to prevent entrance of foreign materials during construction.
C. Bends, offsets, and saddles shall be made with factory elbows and fittings, or field- made with approved benders, to not less than NEC-required radii.
D. Raceways shall be securely fastened in place at NEC-required intervals and at each elbow by means of malleable one-hole straps, clamp-backs where necessary, two-hole sheet metal straps, or other approved devices; all with fastening hardware per Section 26 00 04. Wire shall not be used for fastening raceways. The use of adjustable "trapeze" hangers made of U-channel strut suspended by threaded rods is encouraged for the support of groups of parallel conduits. Conduits shall be secured to each such trapeze by means of the strut manufacturer's standard conduit clamps or by J-bolts, with U-bolts at elbows and ends of runs.
E. Use a junction box at transitions between different types of raceway. Exception: Use one piece manufactured transition fittings between rigid and flexible conduit. Use manufactured transition fitting between conduit and multi-outlet assembly.
END OF SECTION
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PART 1 GENERAL
1.1 PULL BOXES
A. Where necessary in raceway systems to facilitate conductor installation, provide pull boxes as further specified herein. At the minimum, raceway runs shall have a pullbox every 100 feet or after every 360 degrees of bends.
1.2 JUNCTION BOXES
A. Where shown on the plans or where otherwise necessary to tap, terminate, or redirect raceway runs, provide junction boxes as specified herein.
PART 2 PRODUCTS
2.1 SIZES
A. Unless otherwise noted on the Drawings, pull and junction boxes shall be sized according to NEC requirements for the number, size, and entry configuration of the conduits and conductors entering them.
2.2 BRANCH CIRCUITS
A. Unless otherwise noted on the Drawings, pull and junction boxes for branch circuit raceways shall be outlet boxes as specified in Section 26 05 34, with matching blank covers.
2.3 FEEDER AND OTHER PULL AND JUNCTION BOXES
A. For larger than branch circuit raceways and conductors, and where noted on the Drawings, pull and junction boxes shall be made of Code-gauge sheet steel with baked enamel or galvanized finish. Surface-mounted boxes shall have removable screw covers. Flush-mounted boxes shall have flush trim and hinged door with lockable latch, keyed same as panelboards.
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PART 3 EXECUTION
3.1 INSTALLATION
A. Pull and junction boxes shall not be installed in visible locations in finished areas unless specifically called for on the Drawings or accepted by the Owner.
B. Pull and junction boxes shall be securely fastened to the building structure by means independent of the raceways entering them.
3.2 AS-BUILT DRAWINGS
A. Pull and junction box locations for feeders routed in conduits 1-1/2 inches and greater shall be accurately shown on the As-built Drawings. Where pull and junction boxes are not readily visible, their indicated locations shall be accurate to within plus or minus 2 feet of the actual location.
END OF SECTION
Design Alaska, Inc. 26 05 35 - 2 2011089 SRSA UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS DIVISION 26 ELECTRICAL SRC SOLAR PANEL INSTALLATION SECTION 26 05 53 PROJECT NO.: 2011089 SRSA IDENTIFICATION
PART 1 GENERAL
1.1 SCOPE
A. Provide nameplates, panelboard directories, junction box, wire and cable markers, and outlet box color-coding as specified herein.
PART 2 PRODUCTS
2.1 MATERIALS
A. Nameplates: Three layer plastic, nominally 0.125 inch thick, black with white center core unless noted otherwise, with matte finish and square corners. Minimum size shall be 3/4 by 2 inches; minimum lettering shall be 1/4 inch. Unless otherwise noted, all labels shall be nameplates as specified herein.
B. Wire and Cable Markers: Cloth markers, wrap on type or tubing type.
C. Receptacle Plate Labels: Clear adhesive Mylar or plastic type, minimum 3/16 inches size with black letters by a Kroy or other electronic label maker.
D. Nameplates mounted on unheated indoor surface may utilize foam tape similar to Johnson Plastics, 1/32 inch x 1 inch, Part number FT-31. Alternate Brand Request or Substitution Request not required.
PART 3 EXECUTION
3.1 INSTALLATION
A. Panelboards, disconnect switches, push-buttons, selector switches, motor starter switches, distribution panels or switchboards, switches and circuit breakers therein, and the like shall be labeled with laminated plastic labels.
1. Degrease and clean surfaces to receive nameplates.
2. Install nameplates parallel to equipment lines.
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3. Labels shall be secured with pop rivets. Adhesive attachment is not acceptable, except for labels on receptacle plates or nameplates mounted on unheated indoor surfaces with foam tape.
4. Secure nameplate to inside face of recessed panelboard doors in finished areas.
B. Provide new directory cards for all new branch circuit panelboards and all existing branch circuit panelboards with circuits affected by the Project. Directory cards shall be installed in a holder with transparent plastic cover inside the panelboard door filled out with typed information showing the identity and location of all loads served and correlated to the correct branch circuit breaker. Ensure room numbers are the final room numbers.
C. Terminals on strips shall be numbered with indelible markings on special strips designed for the purpose, and a diagram or typed directory shall be provided in the terminal enclosure to identify the origin, function, and destination of each conductor in the enclosure.
D. Indelibly mark the outside cover of each junction box with the breaker number and panel identity of the source of power to each circuit within the box.
E. All conductors in pull or junction boxes or other enclosures shall be permanently and legibly tagged or labeled with panel and circuit numbers or other data, which clearly identifies their origin, function, and destination. Labeling shall be hand written or other appropriate representation. Exception: Conductors in a pull or junction box which contains only an individual branch circuit or a single multi-wire branch circuit whose conductors are terminated on a multi-pole breaker or contiguous breakers need not be tagged or labeled.
F. All receptacle plates shall be labeled with the panel and circuit number for the branch circuit that supplies the receptacle.
G. All raceway systems junction boxes (except those visible in finished areas) shall be color coded by paint, to indicate the raceway is part of the following systems:
1. Emergency: Yellow.
2. Fire Alarm System: Red.
3. Intercom-Telephone-Clock: Blue.
4. 480Y/277 Volt Power: Orange.
5. 208Y/120 Volt Power: White.
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6. DDC System: Green.
7. PV DC Power System: Brown
H. Where more than one nominal voltage system exists in a building, each ungrounded conductor of a multiwire branch circuit, where accessible, shall be identified by phase and system. Install a label on each branch circuit panelboard: “This building contains two wiring systems: 480/277 V Brown, Orange, Yellow, Grey. 208/120 V Black, Red, Blue, White.”
I. Provide labels on PV inverters per NEC 690.5 (C): WARNING ELECTRIC SHOCK HAZARD IF A GROUND FAULT IS INDICATED, NORMALLY GROUNDED CONDUCTORS MAY BE UNGROUNDED AND ENERGIZED
J. Provide label on all junctions boxes per NEC 690.35 (F), combiner boxes and disconnects where DC voltage is used to feed power to the PV inverters. WARNING ELECTRIC SHOCK HAZARD DC CONDUCTORS OF THIS PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM AR UNGROUNDED AND MAY BE ENERGIZED.
K. Provide label on panelboard at circuit breaker used to feed power from the PV inverters into the panelboard per NEC 690.17, combiner boxes and disconnects where DC voltage is used to feed power to the PV inverters and be identified as such. WARNING ELECTRIC SHOCK HAZARD DO NOT TOUCH TERMINALS. TERMINALS ON BOTH THE LINE AND LOAD SIDES MAY BE ENERGIZED IN THE OPEN POSITION.
L. Additional marking may be required per other sections of NEC Article 690.
END OF SECTION
Design Alaska, Inc. 26 05 53 - 3 2011089 SRSA UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS DIVISION 26 ELECTRICAL SRC SOLAR PANEL INSTALLATION SECTION 26 31 00 PROJECT NO.: 2011089 SRSA PHOTOVOLTAIC COLLECTOR
PART 1 GENERAL
1.1 SCOPE
A. Provide photovoltaic solar panel array and DC to AC inverter system to provide power to the Student Recreation Center at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Campus. The work of this section consists of furnishing and installing a complete and operable photovoltaic (PV) system for the project site. This is a performance type specification describing the minimum acceptable photovoltaic solar system. The design intent is to provide PV arrays on the building exterior, inverters, power boxes, and all associated accessories, racks, wiring, etc. required for a complete operating system.
1.2 REFERENCES
A. Installation of the PV system shall conform, at minimum, to the following IEEE Standards:
1. IEEE 80 Recommended Grounding Practices.
2. IEEE 928 - IEEE Recommended Criteria for Terrestrial Photovoltaic Power Systems.
3. IEEE 1262 - IEEE Recommended Practice for Qualification of Photovoltaic (PV) Modules.
4. IEEE 1374 - IEEE Guide for Terrestrial Photovoltaic Power System Safety.
5. IEEE 1547 - Standard for Interconnecting Distributed Resources with Electric Power Systems.
B. Installation of the PV system shall conform, at minimum, to the following UL Standards.
1. UL-1703 Standard for Flat-Plate Photovoltaic Modules & Panels.
2. UL-1741 Standard for Inverters, Converters, and Controllers for Use in Independent Power Systems.
3. All products shall be UL or ETL Listed whenever possible.
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C. Installation of the PV system shall conform, at minimum, to the following NFPA Standards.
1. 2011 NFPA 70 National Electrical Code, Article 690, Solar Photovoltaic Systems.
1.3 QUALITY ASSURANCE
A. Installation and equipment shall comply with all applicable codes, including but not limited to, Articles 250, 690 and 705 of the 2008 NEC. All products that are listed, tested, identified, or labeled by UL, FM, ETL, or other National Testing Organization shall be used when available. Non-listed products will only permitted when there is no listing.
B. The inverter shall be supplied by one manufacturer with an established reputation and at least two years’ experience in the manufacturing of inverter systems of 2 KVA nominal or larger, and who shall be able to provide three references of similar installations rendering satisfactory service.
C. All workmen employed for installation of equipment and wiring specified under this section shall be specifically trained and experienced in the installation of Grid-tie Photovoltaic Energy Systems with minimum three years’ experience including experience in systems the size and complexity of this project.
1.4 SUBMITTALS
A. Submit shop drawings and product data under provisions of Division 1.
B. Submit shop drawings showing plan and elevation views of all equipment.
C. Submit wiring diagram for complete PV system showing complete system with all components to be supplied with all interconnections and wiring.
D. Submit product data showing dimensions, weights, ratings, interconnection points, and diagrams for photovoltaic panels and inverters.
E. Submit calculations for solar photovoltaic modules, array sizing, inverters and power boxes.
F. Submit manufacturer's installation instructions under provisions of Division 1.
G. Submit test summary of all programmed values and set points for inverter and other required components prior to substantial completion inspection.
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1.5 PROJECT RECORD DOCUMENTS
A. Submit record documents under provisions of Division 1.
B. Accurately indicate layout of all equipment showing all interconnections.
1.6 OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE DATA
A. Submit operating instructions and maintenance and repair procedures under the provisions of Division 1.
B. Include manufacturer representative's letter stating the system is operational.
C. Include a completed copy of the written summary of all programmed values and set points for inverters and power boxes and written record of all current and voltage readings.
1.7 DELIVERY, STORAGE, AND HANDLING
A. Deliver products to site under provisions of Division 1.
B. Store and protect products under provisions of Division 1.
C. Protect equipment from dirt and moisture.
1.8 WARRANTY
A. Provide the Owner with a two-year warranty on the photovoltaic, inverter, power boxes and ancillary systems installed. The warranty shall provide for service at the site including trouble-shooting, repair, labor and replacement of components found to be defective. This warranty will start from Date of Substantial Completion. This warranty will not be deemed to have begun unless 30 continuous days of trouble free operation of the photovoltaic and inverter systems are achieved.
B. The photovoltaic panels shall have a 20-year, minimum, product warranty from Date of Substantial Completion to exhibit a power output of not less than 80 percent of rated power specified at the Date of Substantial Completion. If during this period any photovoltaic panels that exhibit a power output less than 80 percent, the manufacturer shall replace affected photovoltaic panels.
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C. Inverter Equipment: The inverter equipment shall have a total 5-year, minimum, product warranty from Date of Substantial Completion. During the 5-year period, the manufacturer shall repair or replace the invert system unit (not including labor) and cover shipping charges incurred during shipment back to the Owner in cases of failure.
D. Any other supplied materials not included in the above materials shall be provided with the manufacturer's standard warranty.
1.9 MAINTENANCE SERVICE
A. Furnish service and maintenance of photovoltaic, inverter, power boxes and ancillary systems for one year from Date of Substantial Completion. The maintenance service shall include one annual inspection and fully test the system.
PART 2 PRODUCTS
2.1 CONDUCTORS
A. DC Conductors
1. As specified in this section, section 26 05 19 as shown on the drawings, and as recommended by the equipment manufacturer. 600V DC Cables connected to the PV array and/or power boxes shall be USE-2 Rated conductors up to the first junction box within the heated building. DC conductors for the remaining portion of the run shall be according to specification 26 05 19.
2.2 PHOTOVOLTAIC PANELS
A. General: Panels shall be UL, FM, or ETL Listed. High-power type, with typical peak power of not less than 215 W under standard test conditions (irradiance of 1000W/sq. m at spectral distribution of 1.5 air mass, cell temperature of 25°C). Current at peak power shall not be less than 8.09 amps, short circuit current of 8.78 amps open circuit voltage at 33.2 VDC. Model #KD215GX-LFBS as manufactured by Kyocera, or approved equal.
B. Panels shall have 20-year limited warranty that guarantees:
1. That no panel will generate less than its specified minimum power when purchased.
2. Continued power of at least 80% of guaranteed minimum power for 20 years.
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2.3 POWER BOXES
A. General: Power boxes shall be Model PB250-CSI as manufactured by Solaredge, or approved equal. Power boxes shall be connected to individual PV panels to provide the following features:
1. Power boxes: a DC-DC power optimizer that is integrated into each solar module and maximizes energy output through constant tracking of the Maximum Power Point (MPP), while monitoring the performance of each module.
2. Maximum Power Harvesting - Power boxes can provide production of up to 25 percent more power through minimization of partial shading sensitivity and module mismatch losses. Optimal DC-AC inversion regardless of temperature or string lengths.
3. Module-level Monitoring and Troubleshooting - module monitoring continuously transmits module performance data to analysis software, remotely accessed via the internet or an iPhone. Faults and safety events are automatically indicated on a virtual site map.
4. Enhanced Installer and Firefighter Safety - electrocution and fire risks are eliminated through automatic module shutdown during installation, service or fire.
5. Flexible Design for Maximum Space Utilization – a single inverter can be connected to parallel strings of different lengths, to different types of modules and to modules on differing roof facets.
6. Balance of System Cost Reduction - design flexibility and longer strings allow for savings on hardware components. Communication over existing power lines and communication gateway integral to the inverter.
7. Reliability – Power Boxes are provided with a 25-year warranty and designed for extreme outdoor conditions.
2.4 INVERTERS
A. General: Inverter SE6000US Solaredge, or approved equal. The inverter shall have the minimum requirements:
1. Units shall be UL or ETL Listed.
2. Maximum input Voltage shall be 500Vdc.
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3. Nominal input DC voltage shall be 325V at 208V.
4. Maximum input current shall be 23Adc.
5. Inverter shall provide reverse-polarity input protection and ground fault isolation detections with 600 kilohms sensitivity.
6. Maximum inverter efficiency shall be greater than 97 percent.
7. Nighttime power consumption shall be less than 2.5W.
8. Nominal output AC voltage of 208(183-229)V.
9. Continuous output AC power shall be 5200 W at 208V 25 degrees Celsius/45 degrees Celsius.
10. Maximum output AC current shall be 25A.
11. Operating temperature shall be from -4 degrees Fahrenheit to +120 degrees Fahrenheit.
12. Enclosure shall be NEMA 3R rated.
13. Inverter shall be provided with an integral AC/DC safety switch.
14. Supported communications interfaces: RS485, Ethernet.
15. Certificates & Standards: IEEE 1741 and be ROHS compliant.
2.5 MONITORING SOFTWARE
A. Basis of design shall be SolarEdge Monitoring Portal, which allows use of web-based and iPhone applications to provide module-level, string-level and system-wide performance monitoring. The software automatically generates alerts on underperforming modules, faults and safety events, visually pinpointed on a site layout map.
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PART 3 EXECUTION
3.1 INSTALLATION
A. General: Install all equipment in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations and as required by 2008 NEC or other applicable codes. A permanent label shall be posted near the main PV disconnect switch that contains the following information per NEC 690.51:
1. Operating current (system's maximum power current).
2. Open-circuit current.
3. Operating voltage (system's maximum power voltage).
4. Open-circuit voltage.
3.2 GROUNDING
A. As indicated on the drawings and as required by the NEC. Maintain a single point ground throughout the photovoltaic system.
3.3 PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV) PANELS
A. GENERAL: Individual photovoltaic panels shall be tested before being installed. Record open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current for each panel. Submit these test results to the Owner. Panels shall be installed on an engineered racking system designed to securely hold panels to a wall or other vertical surface. Installation and attachment structure shall be able to withstand snow and wind loading typical for the area.
B. WIRING: All wiring shall be neatly routed and secured to underside of array. Wire routing shall be such that maximum protection from the elements is provided. Install per manufacturer's instructions and per Architectural details on drawings.
C. Photovoltaic source circuits shall be identified at all terminations as well as associated junction boxes and disconnects
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3.4 INVERTERS
A. Install inverters according to manufacturer's instructions. Refer to Manufacturer's installation guidelines for wiring requirements.
B. WIRING: Inverter input and output circuits shall be identified at all terminations as well as associated junction boxes and disconnects.
3.5 SOFTWARE
A. Contactor shall configure the monitoring software per recommendations by the manufacturer and provide a site layout map so the PV array can be effectively analyzed for faults or other safety events.
3.6 TESTING
A. When installation is complete, system manufacturer's representative(s) or authorized service representative(s) shall test entire installation in the presence of Owner. Coordinate test a minimum of 1 week in advance with the Owner. Notify Contracting Officer immediately of any problems discovered during testing. Test shall include as a minimum:
1. Using a pyrometer complete PV system function test to ensure that the system performs as specified.
2. Retest entire system and associated equipment if initial test requires any corrective action.
3. Record and provide a brief written summary of all programmed values and set points after completing final testing for inverters. Also provide written record of all current and voltage readings.
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3.7 DEMONSTRATION AND TRAINING
A. Provide operating instructions for entire solar system, including operation of PV array, inverter including communications provisions, monitoring software and other features as required by contract documents. Instruct maintenance personnel in operation of the PV panel array(s). Provide written instructions and procedures for shutdown and maintenance of all components of the Grid-tie PV power system. The contractor shall video tape the training and provide an electronic copy to the Owner.
END OF SECTION
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Drawings