Re: AIC rating panelboard / motor loads
From what you have described with regard to using a series rated panel one word of caution is that any panel applied with the intent of series rating be tested and listed by UL for use in a series application. You can't mix and match or assume.
Also, it is of my opinion that it is possible to avoid the application of fully rated panels should you get a system fault study done be someone qualified to do so. Such a person has the where with all to review the distribution system from the point of service entrance to each load to determine the fault current available at each point in the distribution system. Cable sizes, panel, motor and other inductive load contributions are all taken into consideration when doing this study. A good fault system study can uncover weak points in a distribution system.
With such documentation you may apply devices that have the KAIC and withstand ratings as would be determined in each point in the distribution system. To do otherwise would be Russian roulette.
Fault system studies are often commissioned be industrial and commercial facilities because their services have been updated and other parts of their distributions systems have changed over the years which may have ended up throwing their system coordination way out of wack. The scary part is that everything is OK as long as nothing goes wrong.
