What is a Coordination summary?

A coordination summary is a document that outlines the protective devices and settings used in an electrical system, and how they are coordinated to provide protection against various types of faults. The purpose of a coordination summary is to ensure that the protective devices in an electrical system are properly selected and configured to provide the necessary protection without unnecessary tripping or malfunction.

To create a coordination summary, electrical engineers and contractors must first identify all of the protective devices in the electrical system, including circuit breakers, fuses, relays, and other protective devices. They must then determine the settings and ratings of each device, as well as the types of faults that each device is designed to protect against. This information should be organized in a clear and concise manner, typically in a table or spreadsheet format.

Once all of the protective devices and their settings have been identified, the next step is to determine the coordination between the devices. This involves analyzing the time-current curves of the protective devices to ensure that they are properly coordinated to provide the necessary protection without unnecessary tripping or malfunction. This analysis should be based on the specific fault conditions that the electrical system is expected to encounter, as well as the overall design and operating characteristics of the system.

Overall, a coordination summary is an important tool for ensuring the reliability and safety of electrical systems. It allows electrical engineers and contractors to understand the protective devices and settings in the system, and how they are coordinated to provide protection against various types of faults. By carefully reviewing and updating the coordination summary on a regular basis, electrical professionals can help to ensure the continued safe and efficient operation of the electrical system.