Section 160.6 — California Energy Code (Title 24, Part 6)

MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS FOR ELECTRIC POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS Multifamily buildings shall comply with the applicable requirements of Sections 160.6(a) through 160.6(e).

(a) Service electrical metering. Each electrical service or feeder that provides power to the common use areas (interior and exterior) shall have a permanently installed metering system that measures electrical energy use in accordance with Table 160.6-A.

Exception to Section 160.6(a): Service or feeder for which the utility company provides a metering system for the multifamily building that indicates instantaneous kW demand and kWh for a utility-defined period.

(b) Separation of electrical circuits for electrical energy monitoring . Electrical power distribution systems shall be designed so that measurement devices can monitor the electrical energy usage of load types according to Table 160.6-B.

Exception 1 to Section 160.6(b): For each separate load type, up to 10 percent of the connected load may be of any type.

Exception 2 to Section 160.6(b): Submetered electrical power distribution systems that provide power to dwelling units.

(c) Voltage drop. The maximum combined voltage drop on both installed feeder conductors and branch circuit conductors to the farthest connected load or outlet shall not exceed 5 percent.

Exception to Section 160.6(c): Voltage drop permitted by California Electrical Code Sections 647.4, 695.6 and 695.7.

(d) Circuit controls for 120-volt receptacles and con- trolled receptacles . In all common areas, both controlled and uncontrolled 120 volt receptacles shall be provided in office areas, lobbies, conference rooms, kitchen areas in office spaces, and copy rooms. Controlled receptacles shall meet the following requirements, as applicable:

Install a control capable of automatically shutting OFF the controlled receptacles when the space is typically unoccupied, either at the receptacle or circuit level. When an automatic time switch control is installed it

TABLE 160.6-A MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR METERING OR SUBMETERING OF ELECTRICAL LOAD

METERING FUNCTIONALITY	ELECTRICAL SERVICES1 RATED 50 KVA OR LESS	ELECTRICAL SERVICES1 RATED MORE THAN 50 KVA AND LESS THAN OR EQUAL TO 250 KVA	ELECTRICAL SERVICES1 RATED MORE THAN 250 KVA AND LESS THAN OR EQUAL TO 1000 KVA	ELECTRICAL SERVICES1 RATED MORE THAN 1000 KVA
Instantaneous (at the time) kW demand	Required	Required	Required	Required
Historical peak demand (kW)	Not required	Not required	Required	Required
Tracking kWh for a user- definable period	Required	Required	Required	Required
kWh per rate period	Not required	Not required	Not required	Required

“Electrical services” applies to the building service-entrance rating or to the submetering service. For a building with submetering, this applies to the submetering service size to the common use areas.

238 2022 CALIFORNIA ENERGY CODE

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MULTIFAMILY BUILDINGS—MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS

TABLE 160.6-B MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR SEPARATION OF ELECTRICAL LOAD

ELECTRICAL LOAD TYPE	ELECTRICAL SERVICES1 RATED 50 KVA OR LESS	ELECTRICAL SERVICES1 RATED MORE THAN 50 KVA AND LESS THAN OR EQUAL TO 250 KVA	ELECTRICAL SERVICES1 RATED MORE THAN 250 KVA AND LESS THAN OR EQUAL TO 1000 KVA	ELECTRICAL SERVICES1 RATED MORE THAN 1000 KVA
Lighting including exit and egress lighting and exterior lighting	Not required	All lighting in aggregate	All lighting disaggregated by floor, type or area	All lighting disaggregated by floor, type or area
HVAC systems and components including chillers, fans, heaters, furnaces, package units, cooling towers and circulation pumps associated with HVAC	Not required	All HVAC in aggregate	All HVAC in aggregate and each HVAC load rated at least 50 kVA	All HVAC in aggregate and each HVAC load rated at least 50 kVA
Domestic and service water system pumps and related systems and components	Not required	All loads in aggregate	All loads in aggregate	All loads in aggregate
Plug load including appliances rated less than 25 kVA	Not required	All plug load in aggregate Groups of plug loads exceeding 25 kVA connected load in an area less than 5000 sf	All plug load separated by floor, type or area Groups of plug loads exceeding 25 kVA connected load in an area less than 5000 sf	All plug load separated by floor, type or area All groups of plug loads exceeding 25 kVA connected load in an area less than 5000 sf
Elevators, escalators, moving walks and transit systems	Not required	All loads in aggregate	All loads in aggregate	All loads in aggregate
Renewable power source (net or total)	Each group	Each group	Each group	Each group
Loads associated with renewable power source	Not required	All loads in aggregate	All loads in aggregate	All loads in aggregate
Charging stations for electric vehicles	All loads in aggregate	All loads in aggregate	All loads in aggregate	All loads in aggregate

“Electrical services” applies to the building service-entrance rating or to the submetering service. For a building with submetering, this applies to the submetering service size to the common use areas.

shall incorporate an override control that allows the controlled receptacle to remain ON for no more than 2 hours when an override is initiated and an automatic holiday “shut-OFF” feature that turns OFF all loads for at least 24 hours and then resumes the normally scheduled operation. Countdown timer switches shall not be used to comply with the automatic time switch control requirements; and

Install at least one controlled receptacle within 6 feet from each uncontrolled receptacle, or install a splitwired receptacle with at least one controlled and one uncontrolled receptacle. Where receptacles are installed in modular furniture in open office areas, at least one controlled receptacle shall be installed at each workstation; and
Provide a permanent and durable marking for controlled receptacles or circuits to differentiate them from uncontrolled receptacles or circuits; and

NOTE: A hardwired power strip controlled by an occupant sensing control may be used to comply with Section 160.6(d). Plug-in strips and other plug-in devices shall not be used to comply with the requirements of this section.

Exception 1 to Section 160.6(d): Receptacles that are only for the following purposes:

A. Receptacles specifically for refrigerators and water

dispensers in kitchen areas.

B. Receptacles located a minimum of 6 feet above the

floor that are specifically for clocks.

C. Receptacles for network copiers, fax machines, A/V

and data equipment other than personal computers in copy rooms.

D. Receptacles on circuits rated more than 20 amperes.

E. Receptacles connected to an uninterruptible power

supply (UPS) that are intended to be in continuous use, 24 hours per day/365 days per year, and are marked to differentiate them from other uncontrolled receptacles or circuits.

Exception 2 to Section 160.6(d): Receptacles in common use areas providing shared provisions for living, eating, cooking or sanitation to dwelling units that would otherwise lack these provisions. (e) Demand responsive controls and equipment. See Section 110.12 for requirements for demand responsive controls and equipment.

NOTE: Definitions of terms and phrases in Section 160.6 are determined as specified in Section 100.1(b). Terms and phrases not found in Section 100.1(b) shall be defined as

MULTIFAMILY BUILDINGS—MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS

specified in Title 24, Part 3, Article 100 of the California Electrical Code .

NOTE: Authority: Sections 25213, 25218, 25218.5, 25402 and 25402.1, Public Resources Code . Reference: Sections 25007, 25008, 25218.5, 25310, 25402, 25402.1, 25402.4, 25402.5, 25402.8 and 25943, Public Resources Code .