Electrical metering for new college meets Part L2

Metering of the electrical consumption of a new energy-efficient college building in north London is provided by Eaton split-metered distribution boards. 26 Smartboards have been installed in the new Wood Street campus of Barnet College to provide metering capability to the requirements of Part L2 that 90% of consumption can be assigned to specific end-use categories. These boards have dual metering facilities so lighting and small power loads can be metered separately.
Mark Cordell, project manager with MITIE Engineering, which installed the electrical services, explains, ‘A major reason for selecting the Eaton boards was the fact that the Smart meter provides a separate reading for each of the grouped loads. Alternative designs generally provide one measurement for the total board and a separate measurement for one of the grouped loads; this means that values for the second grouped load have to be calculated.’
These meters provide visual readout and remote indication of a range of parameters (including kWh, voltage, current, power factor and maximum demand) for the grouped loads and total board load.
Board sizes installed at Barnet College range from 6+4 TPN ways to 14+10 TPN ways. Each riser cubicle includes two Smart boards to provide power for lighting and other services on adjacent floor areas. Cable feeders supply power to further distribution boards in the core of the building, which will all be linked into a building-management system.
The new building provides teaching facilities for 4000 students and 255 staff.