Preservation and modernization: challenges of the electrical design in Brazilian indigenous peoples' buildings

Abstract

The electrification of indigenous Brazilian peoples' buildings presents distinct technical challenges
from those faced in conventional construction, especially when dealing with structures entirely composed of
combustible materials such as thatch, wood, bamboo, and vine. This work analyzes the electrical installation design
of the Âtâ Bakairi, a traditional building of the Kurâ-Bakairi people planned for the campus of the Federal
University of Mato Grosso (UFMT), with the aim of demonstrating how technical decisions guided by the
building's specific risk profile result in solutions that go beyond minimum compliance with standards. The
methodology combines i) bibliographic review, ii) normative analysis based on ABNT NBR 5410:2008 and NBR
5419:2015, and iii) project development with the aid of ArchiCAD 27 and AltoQi Builder software. The building
was classified under risk codes BE2, CA2, and CB2 of NBR 5410, which guided the adoption of a multi-layer
protection strategy comprising thermomagnetic circuit breakers, a 300 mA residual differential protection device
(RCD), an arc fault detection device (AFDD), and a surge protection device (SPD), in addition to LSZH conductors
and HDPE conduits. The lightning risk analysis demonstrated that a Level III Lightning Protection System (LPS)
reduces risks to human life and cultural heritage by approximately 95%. The project demonstrates that the
preservation of a building of inestimable cultural value requires applied risk engineering, not merely compliance
with normative tables.