Project Name

Firm Name
Date
Engineer
Estimated Available Fault Current Calculator
MAIN FEEDER BRANCH
Name Name Name
Secondary Voltage
Total System Motor Load (HP)
Primary Available Fault Current (A)
Primary Voltage
Transformer Rating (kVA)
Nameplate Transformer Impedance (%Z)
Rated Secondary Current (A) 0
or
Secondary Available Fault Current (A)
Conductor Length (ft.)
Size of Conductors
Copper
Aluminum
In Conduit
Cable
Steel
Non-Magnetic
Number of Sets
Fault Current Available (A)
NOTE: This program estimates available fault currents for three phase systems. The calculation of motor contribution in this
calculator is approximate only - systems with large motor contribution, high X/R conditions, closed transition paralleled sources
or high impedance grounding will require a more accurate calculation method. Please see Application Hints for more information.
Selective Coordination Tool
Selectively Coordinated Breakers
Circuit Breaker Type Coordinates To (A)
BRANCH
CB3
CB2
CB1
625
MAIN
GEN 625
G
MAIN
ATS
CB1
CB2
CB3
BRANCH
GEN
DP
LP
MDP
Voltage
Available Fault Currents
LP
DP
MDP
LP (from Generator)
Generator Fault Current
Gen Fault Current (A)
Generator kW
Output Voltage (V,3)
X'' d (per Unit) *
* (see Application Notes)
Application Hints
Fault Current Calculator
Notes on Printing
When printing the Calculator page, go to File/Print Setup and select "black& white" under Print options.
Sum the horsepowers of all motors on system (optional but recommended)
Provide AIC if the transformer is inside your system, or if the utility available
current is known
Enter the primary voltage to the transformer if available (used only of you
have provided a value for the available primary fault current)
Remember, enter in kVA (i.e. enter 1 MVA as 1000)
Input the impedance as a percentage, not a decimal (i.e.
5.5% would be 5.5).
This is the rated secondary based on the transformer and
voltage you supplied.
If you have the actual available fault current, either as given
to you from the utility, or if you are using this program to
calculate fault currents at other parts of the system where
the AIC is known, input the number here. It will
automatically override the transformer based information.
The conductor length is one way - don't forget changes in
elevation (from panel to ceiling, etc.).
When printing the Calculator page, go to File/Print Setup and select "black& white" under Print options.
Important Information on Selective Coordination
What is Selective Coordination
How to Use The Selective Coordination Tool
Disclaimer - Please Read
Important Information on Selective Coordination
What is Selective Coordination
Selective Coordination is a design requirement newly added by both the 2005 and 2008 National Electrical Code
to Article 700 - Emergency Systems (see 700.27), Article 701 - Legally Required Standby Systems (see 701.18),
and by the 2008 NEC to Article 708 - Critical Operations Power Systems (see 708.54). These Articles also apply
to Health Care Facilities as noted in 517.26. Prior to 2005, Selective Coordination was only required for some
elevator applications by Article 620. For sections of systems falling under Articles 700 , 701 and 708, the
Engineer is responsible for selecting overcurrent devices such that only the device directly upstream of the fault
will trip. This differs from traditional typical coordination and coordination studies that attempted to minimize the
chance of nuisance trips where a fault may open more than one device.
To design a Selectively Coordinated system, the Engineer must choose pairs of overcurrent devices whose time
current curves do no overlap in either the thermal range or the instantaneous range up to the current available at
the downstream breaker. Example: A 20A branch breaker feeding egress lighting per 2005 NEC 700 must
selectively coordinate with all upstream devices. The 20A breaker is in a branch panel that has 2500A of
available fault current. To selectively coordinate, only the 20A breaker may trip under this fault - this means that
the next upstream device must not trip with 2500A of current prior to the 20A device opening. The smallest
device with an instantaneous trip that will not operate at 2500A (including the tolerance band) is a 400A thermal
magnetic or a 300A solid state circuit breaker. That second breaker must in turn coordinate with the next
upstream device at the fault current level available at that second breaker, and so on, up to and including the
service entrance overcurrent device. When the system is being powered by the emergency source, the
The Siemens Selective Coordination Tool will identify commonly used Siemens circuit breakers whose trip curves
do not overlap for the conditions selected by the Engineer. The Tool will identify coordinated commonly used
breaker pairs for up to five levels of distribution. In some cases, Siemens has additional devices and
solutions available for especially difficult design conditions - please feel free to contact your local Siemens
Consultant Account Manager for additional assistance and options. The Siemens Selective Coordination Tool is
based on data for Siemens circuit breakers that may or may not be similar to products by other manufacturers.
We suggest noting on the panel schedule the Siemens breaker suggested by the Tool and calling for an
equivalent product for other approved manufacturers. Inclusion of the Siemens breaker type and size will provide
The choice of selectively coordinated devices requires calculation (and frequently recalculation) by the engineer
of the available fault currents at various points in the system, and often requires resizing panels, switchboards,
conductors, conduits and other system components - this redesign can not be done during the bidding process,
and can be extremely costly if done during construction. For this reason, the Engineer is responsible for
selecting and calling for the correct selectively coordinated devices - please let us know if Siemens can
assist you!
How to Use The Selective Coordination Tool
This summary page and the hints page are not intended to provide a complete technical discussion of the issue
or comprehensive instructions for the Tool's use - if additional information or assistance is needed, please contact
your local Siemens Consultant Account Manager. For more information, click on the "Sel. Coord. Tool Hints" tab
Disclaimer - Please Read
This spreadsheet and worksheet is intended to provide technical and basic design information for the user.
Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc. reserves the right, without notice, to change information or data originally in
this spreadsheet and to discontinue or limit its distribution. The data and information presented in this
spreadsheet is believed to be accurate. However, any and all liability for the content, or any omissions from this
program, including any inaccuracies, errors, or misstatements in such data, calculations or information, is
expressly disclaimed. The software, data, calculation results and other information are provided without warranty
of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability, or
fitness for a particular purpose. Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc. disclaims any liability related to the use of this
Siemens Selective Coordination Tool Hints
Only the white fields are user inputs.
Siemens Selective Coordination Tool Hints
This is a generic one-line that can be used for many different
configurations. The labels "MDP", "DP" and "LP" are to identify
three available fault current locations ("LP" must always be given
because there will always be a branch device with an available
fault current). For assistance or more information, contact your
Siemens Consultant Account Manager.
This Tool identifies breaker pairs that coordinate to a given
available fault current (AFC). To meet the requirements of
Selective Coordination, BRANCH and CB3 must coordinate to
the AFC at "LP", CB3 and CB2 must coordinate to the AFC at LP,
CB2 and CB1 must coordinate to the AFC at DP, and CB1 and
MAIN must coordinate to the AFC at MDP (the downstream
device determines the level of coordination). For example, if
you only have a 20A branch (BRANCH) in a MLO panel ("LP")
fed from a feeder breaker (CB1) in "MDP", you may select "none"
for CB3 and CB2. BRANCH will then coordinate with CB1 to the
AFC at "LP", and CB1 will coordinate with MAIN to the AFC at
"MDP".
Provide the voltage for the breakers being evaluated - use 240
for a 208V system.
Determine the available fault currents for the applicable locations.
Remember, you will have to recalculate available fault currents
and recheck the breaker pairs each time you increase the
conductor size. The Fault Current Calculator makes this easy.
You will need to find the subtransient impedance (X''d) for your
generator from the generator manufacturer - this must be a per
unit value.
This section calculates the AFC at the generator. You can use
the Fault Current Calculator to quickly determine the available
fault current at "LP" - just insert the Gen Fault Current answer
into the "or Secondary Available Fault Current" field and solve for
the proper distance and conductor.
Always pull down the list to see your choices - sometimes the
smallest is not displayed first.
You may not always have a breaker that corresponds to CB1,
CB2 or CB3. If that is the case, select "none" from the available
breaker pulldown list.
The "Coordinates To" field indicates the highest level of fault
current (in amps) to which the shown breaker pair will selectively
coordinate.
Only the white fields are user inputs.
The breakers shown are the type, not the specific breaker.
Example: FD 250 indicates a type FD breaker with a 250A trip.
This breaker type is available in four AIC rating models, the FD6
(65/35kAIC at 240/480V), the HFD6 (100/65kAIC), the HHFD6
(200/100kAIC), and the CFD6 (200/200kAIC) - refer to the
SpeedFax for the correct specific breaker. Make sure you
specify the correct version or required AIC level in the
specifications or by schedule.
An "s" designation after the breaker type (ex. "SMD 800 s")
indicates a solid state electronic trip circuit breaker. No "s"
indicates a thermal-magnetic trip circuit breaker. ALL type WL
are solid state.
The "UL 489" and "UL 1066" notations for the type WL insulated
case breaker indicate switchboard application or switchgear
application, respectively. The "FS" notation indicates the frame
size.