Academic Catalog

APEL 128: NEC STUDY & CALIFORNIA STATE CERTIFICATION PREPARATION, BUILDING AUTOMATION SYSTEMS, NFPA 70E

Foothill College Course Outline of Record

Foothill College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Fall 2026
Units: 5
Hours: 48 lecture, 45 laboratory per quarter (93 total per quarter)
Prerequisite: Per California Code of Regulations, this course is limited to students admitted to the Electrical Apprenticeship Program.
Advisory: Not open to students with credit in APRT 128.
Degree & Credit Status: Degree-Applicable Credit Course
Foothill GE: Non-GE
Transferable: None
Grade Type: Letter Grade (Request for Pass/No Pass)
Repeatability: Not Repeatable

Student Learning Outcomes

  • A successful student will be able to demonstrate the use of methods for installing a fire alarm system.
  • A successful student will be able to explain a fire alarm system.
  • A successful student will be able to explain fire alarm circuits.
  • A successful student will be able to identify fire alarm equipment.

Description

This course provides preparation for the following: NEC study and California state certification exam, building automation systems, NFPA 70E, and walk out hands-on examination.

Course Objectives

The student will be able to:

  1. Prepare adequately for the California state electrician certification exam.
  2. Understand, identify, and be familiar with automated systems installed in commercial and industrial installations.
  3. Recognize electrical hazards and safe work practices per NFPA 70E.
  4. Successfully complete the ETASV hands-on walk out examination.

Course Content

  1. Code review and state exam preparation
    1. Participate in daily code quizzes and exams
    2. Participate in computer mock exam
    3. Review codeology practices and lessons
  2. Building automation systems
    1. Lighting controls review
    2. Fire alarm life safety review
    3. HVAC controls
    4. Motor controls
    5. Access controls
    6. Security systems
    7. Instrumentation
  3. Electrical safety (NFPA 70E)
    1. Lock out tag out (LOTO) practices
    2. PPE
    3. Minimum approach distances
    4. Hazards with energized work
  4. ETASV walk out exam
    1. Hands-on review (lighting controls, fire alarm, motor controls)
    2. Project drawings and documentation review

Lab Content

  1. Lighting controls
    1. Students will wire and trim a basic system for review
  2. Fire alarm
    1. Students will wire and trim a basic system for review
  3. Motor controls
    1. Students will wire and trim a basic system for review
  4. Transformer/panel makeup
    1. Students will wire and makeup HV sub panel, 75KVA transformer, and LV sub panel

Special Facilities and/or Equipment

1. Laboratory with electrical tools and equipment.
2. When taught as a virtual section, on-going access to computer with software and hardware capable of running video conferencing applications (e.g., Zoom).

Method(s) of Evaluation

Methods of Evaluation may include but are not limited to the following:

Results of written quizzes and average of four tests
Results of hands-on projects and homework
Results of class participation

Method(s) of Instruction

Methods of Instruction may include but are not limited to the following:

Lectures
Lab assignments
Group discussion
Class demonstrations

Representative Text(s) and Other Materials

American Technical Publishers, Inc.. Building Automation. 2008.

National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee for the Electrical Industry and Dranetz-BMI. Power Quality Analysis. 2010.

National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee. Configuring and Installing Structured Cabling Systems. 2009.

James P. Dunlop in Partnership with NJATC. Photovoltaic Systems, 3rd ed.. 2012.

Stephen Lipster in Partnership with Electrical Training Alliance. Health Care Facility Electrical Systems. 2021.

These are the standard Electrical textbooks/workbooks used for this course. Despite being older than five years, they are the most current books used when teaching this course.

ETASV drawings via Procore.

Types and/or Examples of Required Reading, Writing, and Outside of Class Assignments

  1. Students will have assignments requiring self-study of code questions and exams.
  2. Students will have assignments requiring familiarity with the ETASV walk out exam.

Discipline(s)

Electricity