Maximum Demand Table C1 is a testament to the empirical wisdom embedded in electrical codes. It transforms electrical design from a naive addition of nameplate ratings into a sophisticated, probabilistic exercise. By balancing the statistical reality of intermittent load usage against the need for safe, economical infrastructure, Table C1 ensures that buildings receive a supply that is just right —neither wastefully large nor dangerously small. For the electrician, it is an everyday tool; for the engineer, a principle of efficient design; and for the client, the hidden reason their electrical service costs are reasonable. Without Table C1, every switchboard would be oversized, every cable overpriced, and the entire electrical industry would be drowning in unnecessary copper.
To use Table C1, an engineer first lists every circuit's connected load. Next, they apply the appropriate multiplier or rule from the table. Finally, they sum the results. For example, a house with 10kW of lighting, 15kW of socket outlets, and a 5kW cooker might have a total connected load of 30kW, but after applying Table C1, the maximum demand could be as low as 12–15kW. This final figure directly determines the size of the main switch, the incoming supply cable, and the service fuse. maximum demand table c1
3A for the first 20 points + 2A for each additional 20 points. Socket-outlets (≤ 10A) Maximum Demand Table C1 is a testament to