Undervoltage
BSRIA Power quality guide (AG 2/2000) was written by C C Pearson and V Uthayanan and published by BSRIA in July 2000. It states:
Variations in supply voltage outside the normally accepted limits of ± 10% are subdivided according to the length of the variation.
Long duration variations encompass rms deviations at power frequencies for longer than one minute. EN 50160 specifies the steady state voltage tolerances expected on a power system. A voltage variation is considered to be of long duration when the limits are exceeded for more than 3 minutes (the international standards use a period of one minute).
Long duration variations can be:
- sustained interruptions
- undervoltages
- overvoltages.
An undervoltage is a decrease in the rms ac voltage to less than 90% at the power frequency for a duration longer than 3 minutes.
Undervoltages are the result of the events which are the reverse of the events that cause overvoltages. A load switching on or a capacitor bank switching off can cause an undervoltage until voltage regulation equipment on the system can bring the voltage back to within tolerances. Overloaded circuits can also result in undervoltages.
--BSRIA
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
Featured articles and news
Combating burnout.
The 5 elements of seiri, seiton, seiso, seiketsu and shitsuke.
Shading for housing, a design guide
A look back at embedding a new culture of shading.
The Architectural Technology Awards
The AT Awards 2025 are open for entries!
ECA Blueprint for Electrification
The 'mosaic of interconnected challenges' and how to deliver the UK’s Transition to Clean Power.
Grenfell Tower Principal Contractor Award notice
Tower repair and maintenance contractor announced as demolition contractor.
Passivhaus social homes benefit from heat pump service
Sixteen new homes designed and built to achieve Passivhaus constructed in Dumfries & Galloway.
CABE Publishes Results of 2025 Building Control Survey
Concern over lack of understanding of how roles have changed since the introduction of the BSA 2022.
British Architectural Sculpture 1851-1951
A rich heritage of decorative and figurative sculpture. Book review.
A programme to tackle the lack of diversity.
Independent Building Control review panel
Five members of the newly established, Grenfell Tower Inquiry recommended, panel appointed.
Welsh Recharging Electrical Skills Charter progresses
ECA progressing on the ‘asks’ of the Recharging Electrical Skills Charter at the Senedd in Wales.
A brief history from 1890s to 2020s.
CIOB and CORBON combine forces
To elevate professional standards in Nigeria’s construction industry.
Amendment to the GB Energy Bill welcomed by ECA
Move prevents nationally-owned energy company from investing in solar panels produced by modern slavery.
Gregor Harvie argues that AI is state-sanctioned theft of IP.
Experimental AI housing target help for councils
Experimental AI could help councils meet housing targets by digitising records.