The Ashgabat 600- and 500-Pupil Schools project covers two school buildings of different capacity in Turkmenistan’s capital. Devpan supplied the main distribution, floor and classroom boards together with power factor correction and lighting panels.
Electrical Profile of the Project
- LocationAshgabat, Turkmenistan
- Building typeSchool campus
- Installed power≈ 1,600 kVA
- Transformer configuration2 × 800 kVA
- Main busbar rated current2 × 1,250 A
- Short-time withstand current (Icw)50 kA / 1 s
- Devpan scopeLow voltage switchboards, engineering and site coordination
- Verification standardIEC 61439-1, IEC 61439-2
About the Project
In school buildings the electrical design is driven by safety and simplicity in an environment full of children. Classrooms, laboratories, computer rooms, a sports hall and a canteen create very different loads, with heavy use during lessons and a light profile in the evenings and holidays. Ashgabat’s hot summers and cold winters shift climate-control loads with the season. Boards must be protected against unauthorised access, residual current protection must be applied consistently, and emergency lighting has to work without interruption during an evacuation. With limited technical staff on site, ease of maintenance matters as well.
For schools of this scale, the typical arrangement is roughly 2 × 800 kVA of transformer capacity from the 10 kV network and a coupled main board. DevPanel boards with 2 × 1,250 A busbars, 50 kA / 1 s withstand and Form 3b segregation distribute separate feeders to classroom wings, the sports hall and the kitchen. DevBox boards at floor and classroom level have lockable doors and residual current protection. DevPower panels manage lighting on time schedules, DevComp corrects the reactive load, and a generator of about 630 kVA backs up life-safety services.
Devpan Scope and Switchboard Architecture
Devpan’s scope covers the LV infrastructure of the school buildings, from the main distribution down to the classroom boards.
- Main distribution boards (DevPanel): 2 × 1,250 A busbars, 50 kA / 1 s, Form 3b, bus coupler and generator transfer section.
- Floor and classroom boards (DevBox): Lockable IP31 – IP41 sub-distribution boards with residual current protection.
- Lighting panels (DevPower): Scheduled control of classroom, corridor, sports hall and schoolyard lighting.
- Power factor correction (DevComp): Stepped automatic compensation for kitchen, ventilation and HVAC loads.
Technical Configuration
| Installed power | ≈ 1,600 kVA |
|---|---|
| Transformer configuration | 2 × 800 kVA |
| Medium voltage level | 10 kV |
| Low voltage / frequency | 400 / 230 V, 50 Hz |
| Main busbar rated current | 2 × 1,250 A |
| Short-time withstand current (Icw) | 50 kA / 1 s |
| Form of internal separation | Form 3b |
| Degree of protection (IP) | IP31 – IP41 |
| Generator back-up | 1 × 630 kVA |
| Verification standard | IEC 61439-1, IEC 61439-2 |
Devpan Products Used in This Project
Project-Specific Engineering Topics
Child safety
Boards are placed in locked rooms or lockable enclosures, and all socket circuits are protected by residual current devices.
Emergency lighting and evacuation
Emergency lighting and fire alarm systems have dedicated circuits that remain supplied during generator transfer.
Variable occupancy
Lighting and HVAC circuits are grouped on schedules for lesson hours, evening events and holiday periods.
Ease of maintenance
Clear labelling, standard breaker types and an orderly compartment layout allow quick fault finding with limited staff.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the installed power of the Ashgabat 600- and 500-Pupil Schools?
For school buildings of this scale, the installed power is approximately 1,600 kVA with a typical transformer configuration of 2 × 800 kVA. The main busbar is typically rated 2 × 1,250 A with 50 kA / 1 s withstand; the MV level is 10 kV and standby comes from a generator of around 1 × 630 kVA.
How is residual current protection applied in school boards?
Classroom and laboratory socket circuits are protected by high-sensitivity RCDs, split into groups to avoid nuisance tripping of large areas.
Why are the sports hall and canteen fed separately?
These areas may be used outside school hours and have different load profiles. Separate feeders allow them to be operated and metered independently of the classroom wings.
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Ajayip Bina ESPower plant · TurkmenistanDo you have a project of a similar scale?
Send us your single-line diagram, your transformer rating or simply your load list. Our engineering team runs the short-circuit and discrimination study and defines the form of separation and busbar cross-section with you.
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