service

[sleepy]

we have an incoming service we are putting on the second floor
so to get the conduit to the second floor we have to encase in concrete
we told the owner this and he came back with can't we us rmc/rsg conduit instead of
being incased in concrete, is this correct is there any where in the code that sayes this
thanks as always

 

[John120/240]

Why not mount your meter & a disconnect rated for the load on an outside wall near the

pole-pad mount transformer ? Then you woul be free to run conduit to the second floor. No

concrete encasement needed.

 

[charlie b]

The relevant code article is 230.70(A)(1). There has to be a service disconnect, and it has to be either outside the building or close to where the conductors enter the building. The question of how close is close enough is a matter for local interpretation. In Washington State, the limit is 15 feet. I have heard that other states impose a 5 foot limit, while still others require the disconnect to be right at the inside wall. However, if you do enclose the service conduits in 2 inches of concrete, they are still considered to be "outside the building," per 230.6(2). So if you do put the disconnect outside, then you don't need to encase the conduits, as John has said. Another option (that the architects or owners might not like) is to run the conduit along the outside wall, and penetrate the electric room at the second floor. If the service equipment is close enough to that penetration, then you may get to take credit for the main breaker as the building's disconnecting means.

 

[sleepy]

service1

service1

john, that is a good idea, we did think of that, and told them that, but the owner,pse&g wants the ats mdp on the second floor
rgs/rmc, is that accepted by the nec, instead of concrete encasement
thanks again

 

[jumper]

john, that is a good idea, we did think of that, and told them that, but the owner,pse&g wants the ats mdp on the second floor
rgs/rmc, is that accepted by the nec, instead of concrete encasement
thanks again

No. Outside or concrete are pretty much your only options AFASIK in this situation for SECs.

 

[cowboyjwc]

Where are you located?

 

[jumper]

Where are you located?

Forgot about your left coast rules. good call.

 

[sleepy]

service1

service1

ok i got about where to put the main disconnect
the owner asked about RGS/RMC cable. they say we can use this instead of the concrete encasement
is that right? where in nec is this
thanks as usual

 

[jumper]

ok i got about where to put the main disconnect
the owner asked about RGS/RMC cable. they say we can use this instead of the concrete encasement
is that right? where in nec is this
thanks as usual

Who says you can use RMC/RGS to allow a service to pass through another occupancy?

Are these feeders with a disconnect off a single service?

We are clear what SECs of multiple services are and multiple feeders off one service are, correct?

 

[charlie b]

the owner asked about RGS/RMC cable. they say we can use this instead of the concrete encasement

They are wrong about the "instead of concrete" part. The one and only one reason you might consider encasing the conduits (regardless of the material the conduit is made of) in concrete is to be able to consider the conduit as still being "outside the building." If you do not put the service disconnect outside the building, then you must put it "nearest the point of entry" of the service conductors. For example, if you run the conduits inside the building and take them up to the second floor, and if you encase them in concrete for the entire distance from where the first penetrate the outer wall until they get to the second floor electrical room, then the "point of entry" is not at the first floor (where they first entered the building), but rather in the second floor (wherever you stopped the concrete encasement).

If instead of concrete encasing the conduits within the building, you simply used RGS or RMC, then the "point of entry" would be on the first floor, where the conduit first enters the building. You are not allowed to run the conduit (regardless of material) from that point up to the second floor, and only then install the building's required main disconnecting means. I gave you the relevant code articles in my earlier post.

 

[infinity]

If they insist on running the conduit it simple, run the SE conduit(s) outside of the building or encase them in concrete.