The maximum demand calculations would be:
In the field of electrical engineering, safety and economy often exist in a state of tension. Designing a system with excessive capacity guarantees safety but wastes resources, while an under-sized system is economical but dangerous. The tool that resolves this tension for residential and similar installations is the . Far from being a mere reference page in a wiring standard, Table C1 is a critical instrument that allows electricians and engineers to calculate the expected total current draw of an installation, ensuring that main switches, cables, and supply equipment are neither dangerously overworked nor wastefully oversized.
Furthermore, the engineer bears the responsibility of correct application. Misapplying a diversity factor—for example, treating a commercial kitchen's ovens as "general socket outlets"—could lead to nuisance tripping, voltage drop, or even fire from an undersupplied main switch.
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.