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Selective Coordination Basics

Selective Coordination Basics
A Primer on the Relationship of Selective Coordination to ATS Selection

Many power distribution systems use selective coordination strategies to minimize the amount of equipment impacted
when faults open overcurrent protection (OCP) devices. Although selective coordination is achieved using fuses and
circuit breakers, ATSs placed in these systems must support the selective coordination strategy. This document describes
selective coordination concepts and provides guidance on specifying appropriate automatic transfer switches.

PROBLEMS IN UNCOORDINATED POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS

In a power distribution system equipped with multiple levels of OCP, circuit breakers or fuses are located in primary,
secondary, and perhaps tertiary circuits. If a fault were to occur far from the primary distribution panel in an uncoordinated
system, it is possible that an OCP device could open far upstream of the fault location, as shown in Figure 1. The tripped
breaker would disconnect power to an unnecessarily large portion of a facility.

0.1 sec
ATS

x
0.1 sec
ATS

0.1 sec
ATS

FAULT
0.1 sec

Figure 1. When a breaker in an upstream panel trips before downstream breakers,

power is lost for a large quantity of loads.

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SELECTIVE COORDINATION DEFINED

Selective Coordination is an approach where OCP opening times are adjusted to allow fuses or breakers located closest
to faults to open first. Article 100 of the 2017 National Electrical Code® (NEC®) provides a more formal definition:1

Localization of an overcurrent condition to restrict outages to the circuit or equipment affected, accomplished by the selection and
installation of overcurrent protective devices and their ratings or settings for the full range of available overcurrents, from overload to the
maximum available fault current, and for the full range of overcurrent protective device opening times associated with those overcurrents.

By installing OCP devices with sequential trip times, designers can ensure that the device located nearest to a fault will
trip first. This arrangement results in the power interruption to fewer loads and less disruption to the facility served by
the power distribution system. Figure 2 shows the isolation of a fault in a system where OCP opening times have been
selectively coordinated.

0.2 sec
ATS

0.15 sec
ATS

Figure 2: By selectively coordinating breaker trip times,

faults can be isolated to the loads furthest downstream,
minimizing impact to the remainder of a facility.
0.1 sec
ATS

x
FAULT
0.05 sec

1 National Fire Protection Association, “NFPA 70 – National Electrical Code,” Quincy, Massachusetts. 2017. p 70-35.
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DIFFERENCES BETWEEN OVERCURRENT PROTECTION DEVICES AND ATSs

In a fused circuit, a fuse opens when subjected to overcurrent for a

prescribed time interval. When a very large overcurrent reaches switched
mechanisms such as circuit breakers and ATSs, strong magnetic forces
attempt to push their contacts apart, which could open the circuit. To
understand the potential impact, it is important to recall the essential
purposes of the OCP devices and ATSs.

The primary function of OCP devices is to open to disconnect power N E

sources from downstream circuits and loads to avoid unsafe conditions
and resulting damage. However, the power switching contacts in an ATS
must remain closed when overcurrents occur (up to the ratings of the
ATS) until an OCP device clears the overcurrent condition. This allows
downstream OCP devices to work as designed, including any provisions
for selective coordination. Figure 3: The ATS switching contacts must
always remain closed until an OCP device
opens.

NEC PROVISIONS REGARDING SELECTIVE COORDINATION

Selective coordination definitions and requirements are set forth in the NEC, which addresses installation standards for
electrical systems and equipment. Specific requirements exist for healthcare facilities, elevator and escalator systems,
emergency and life safety systems, and more. Table 1 below lists commonly referenced NEC provisions regarding selective
coordination. NFPA 99 – Health Care Code and NFPA 110 - Standard for Emergency and Standby Power Systems also
set forth performance requirements for selectively coordinated systems.

Table 1. NEC Selective Coordination Provisions

Article Application Requirement
517 Healthcare Facilities 517.26
620 Elevators/Escalators 620.62
645 IT/Data Systems 645.27
695 Fire Pumps 695.3(c)(3)
700 Emergency Systems 700.10(A)(5)(b)(ii); 700.23; 700.32
701 Life Safety Systems 701.27
708 Critical Operations Power Systems 708.54
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UL 1008 RATINGS

As noted, large fault currents generate magnetic forces that attempt to open switch Older UL 1008 editions described time ratings
in cycles, while later editions describe them in
contacts. If an ATS were to transfer load to an alternate power source during a seconds. The following table specifies converts
common time ratings.
fault, it must be able to close on and hold that current to avoid power interruption. Cycle/Seconds Conversion
In addition, large fault currents passing across ATS switching contacts generate Cycles Seconds

heat that can degrade contact materials and surfaces. To become UL 1008 Listed, 1.5 0.025
3 0.05
ATSs must undergo testing by Underwriters Laboratories or a UL-approved lab to 6 0.1
evaluate the amounts of fault current they can withstand and close on for time- 9 0.15
12 0.2
based ratings specified in the standard or any optional ratings specified on the 18 0.3
manufacturer’s label. The resulting ratings are known as Withstand and Close-On 30 0.5

Ratings, or WCRs.

There is an inverse relationship between the amount of fault current that a transfer switch can handle and the duration it
can be held, as shown in Figure 4. Different types of OCP devices offer differing clearing times. Consequently, an ATS will
typically be assigned multiple ratings according to the types of upstream OCP that can be used. Example ratings from
ASCO transfer switches are shown in Table 2.

Mechanical Limit

I2 t
Amps

Time

Figure 4. There is an inverse relationship between the current an ATS can

withstand and the duration for which it can be held.

Table 2: Ratings for Select ASCO ATSs

Short Time Ratings (sec)
Type & Ampacity Current-Limiting Fuses Specific Breaker Time Based Rating
480V Max 600V Max
Transfer Bypass 480V 600V Max 240V 480V 600V 240V 480V 600V
Frame Class Sec .1 .13 .3 .5 .1 .13 .3 .5
Switch Switch Max Max Amps Max Max Max Max Max Max

H 800-1200 800-1200 200kA 200kA 1600 L 65kA 65kA 65kA 0.05 50kA 50kA 50kA 36kA -- 36kA --

Q 600-1600 600-1600 200kA 200kA 2000 L 65kA 65kA 65kA 0.05 65kA 65kA 65kA 50kA 50kA

S 800-1200 800-1200 200kA 200kA 2500 L 100kA 100kA 65kA 0.05 100kA 100kA 65kA 65kA 65kA

G 1000-1200 1000-1200 200kA 200kA 2000 L 85kA 85kA 85kA 0.05 85kA 85kA 85kA -- --

Because current-limiting fuses open most quickly and also limit the peak fault current, their use results in the highest WCR
ratings. Manufacturers also list maximum test values for use with specific circuit breakers. Because these open less quickly,
the associated values are usually lower than those for fuses. In addition, manufacturers specify values for coordinating
the ATS with circuit breakers other than those on an ATS’ specific list. Because these optional ratings are associated with
a 0.025 or 0.05-second test time interval, they are known as Time Based Ratings. Finally, manufacturers have the option
of testing switches for longer intervals, and UL 1008 suggests durations of 0.1, 0.13, 0.3, and 0.5 seconds. The resulting
values are known as Short Time Ratings. Each type of rating is shown for select ASCO ATSs in Table 2 above.
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REQUIRED INFORMATION

Settings for OCP devices are usually

developed following the completion
of a coordination study of a proposed
power distribution system. Among other
parameters, coordination studies evaluate
the amount and duration of fault currents
at various nodes in the system. Engineers
then select settings for OCP devices that
will cause downstream breakers to trip
before upstream units. As noted, the ATS
must hold the anticipated current to prevent
inadvertent power outages to loads until
OCP devices clear the circuit.

In order to select the most appropriate

ATS, the OCP devices should be known
and the results of a completed selective
coordination study should be available. At
that point, the information needed for ATS
selection includes (1) the nominal voltage
and amperage of the load, (2) the maximum
fault current that will be available, and (3)
the duration for which the ATS must hold
the current. By comparing this information
Figure 5: An ASCO U-frame switch can
to ATS specifications, an appropriate model hold 100kA currents for 0.5 seconds.
can be selected. The WCR Ratings and
Short Time Ratings of the ATS must equal or
exceed the above referenced values.

In some applications, specifiers might

consider using ATSs that can hold current
for longer durations than required by the
0.5 sec 0.2 sec
coordination study. This practice offers the
ATS ATS
promise of additional flexibility for selective 0.5 sec. 0.3 sec.

coordination, particularly when a study is

incomplete or plans for further power system
improvements are unclear. However, higher- 0.3 sec 0.15 sec
rated ATSs typically weigh more (making ATS
0.3 sec.
ATS
0.3 sec.
installation more labor-intensive and costly),
occupy additional space, and have higher
purchase costs. In addition, holding circuits
closed for a longer duration increases 0.16 sec
ATS ATS
0.1 sec

downstream incident energies. This can 0.3 sec. 0.3 sec.

present additional risk to personnel, and

thus effect how equipment can be serviced.
Consequently, minimizing opening time
0.05 sec 0.05 sec
differences between overcurrent protection
tiers can avoid unnecessary logistics and
costs. Figure 5 shows a 30-cycle ATS.
Coordination schemes with and without
Figure 6: Both systems may provide effective selective coordination,
0.5-second switches are compared in but the system at right achieves this objective without the additional
Figure 6. cost of a 0.5-second switch.

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SUMMARY

Selective coordination strategies are used to minimize the quantity of loads that will be de-energized if an OCP device
opens. These strategies enable OCP devices located closest to the fault to trip first, avoiding power disruption to a larger
area of a facility.

Selective coordination is accomplished by using OCP devices that have longer trip times near the power source and
shorter times near load equipment. Automatic transfer switches are not used to selectively coordinate power protection.
Instead they must support selective coordination schemes by closing on and holding greater fault currents than nearby
OCP devices, and must remain closed until OCP devices clear the circuit.

Specifying OCP devices that open later than necessary offers several disadvantages. A resulting selective coordination
strategy could require devices, including ATSs, that are larger and more costly. In addition, using long opening times could
increase incident energies at downstream locations. This effect could affect personnel safety and equipment serviceability.

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