Office TI & Receptacle Demand factor

[TrickleCharge]

I have an office TI that is adding a load to 2 existing panels which one is fed from the other through main lugs and is protected by a 200A OCPD. These are receptacle loads for convenience recepts, modular furniture, kitchen, etc. They are way over on the ampacity of the OCPD so they are taking a demand factor for both panels per 220.44. My question is can they actually do this given that per 220.14 requires appliances or other loads must be calculated based on the aperere rating of the appliance or load served? Given that this is an office space that will have computers, printers, etc can they take a demand factor?

Any help is greatly apprectiated!

 

[JoeStillman]

Tables 220.12 and 220.44 allow you to recognize that the loads are never all on at the same time. I have always used table 220.44 for the situation you are describing. Not so much for 220.12.

A guy I used to work with went around the office with an amprobe one time. He found that none of the computers was pulling more than 25% of nameplate. We all had a better comfort level with the NEC demand factors after that.

For individual kitchen circuits, it pays to be conservative. One coffee pot can eat up a whole branch circuit on its own. Likewise a vending machine. But you can still safely apply the receptacle demand factor to the feeder. 200A is a lot of juice.