The material in this recommended practice was originally published in the first edition of IEEE Std 1015™ (IEEE Blue Book™) in 1997 and is an update of the material in Chapter 1 through Chapter 4, and Chapter 6 of the 2006 edition. It also encompasses the material in Chapter 7 of IEEE Std 242™-2001 (IEEE Buff Book™). Information for selecting the proper circuit breaker for a particular application is provided. Application engineers are aided in specifying the type of circuit breaker, ratings, trip functions, and accessories. Circuit breakers for special applications, e.g., instantaneous only and switches are discussed. In addition, information for applying circuit breakers at different locations in the power system and for protecting specific components is provided.

This recommended practice covers the selection and application of low-voltage circuit breakers listed to North American Product Safety Standards used in industrial and commercial power systems.