Dan Vaughan
Member
- Location
- Santa Ana, California, USA
What are acceptable locations for the sign required by 2008 NEC section 426.13 for de-icing systems?
Sign for de-icing equipment per NEC 426.13.
- Thread starter Dan Vaughan
- Start date
- Status
texie
Senior Member
- Location
- Fort Collins, Colorado
- Occupation
- Electrician, Contractor, Inspector
I have to say that in all my years of working in Colorado, Wyoming and the West with a ton of snow melt systems I have never once seen such a sign. You're right, it's right there in the code but I never heard of it being enforced.
- Location
- Placerville, CA, USA
- Occupation
- Retired PV System Designer
I guess the only potential out is the "appropriate" part of the section.
If the de-icing installation is outdoors but on a roof gutter or other inaccessible or controlled access place, then it may not be appropriate to place warning signs anywhere.
If the heating system is embedded in concrete (e.g. a sidewalk), then what caution would be appropriate there either? Somewhere where it would be seen by someone about to jackhammer the concrete?
- Occupation
- Licensed Electrician
Me neither. As far as an acceptable location, I would think putting it on a stick and a string that stays in front of the inspector while he walks around would make the installation easier for him to sign off on.
- Location
- Massachusetts
When I have purchased snow melting equipment stickers came with it to apply to the areas. In my case gutters and down spouts.
Dan Vaughan
Member
- Location
- Santa Ana, California, USA
Thanks, this is helpful. The application here is ice-melting at the eave of a 3-story, 13-unit, residential condo. It seems that the intention of this Code section is to warn someone working on or in the vicinity of the system that there is an electrocution hazard. Since this is a 3-story structure, even an electrical "bite" could cause a worker on the roof (re-roofing or repair) to fall to his/her death. It seems that in this case that durable, conspicuous "labels" should be placed on top of the cover panel of the de-icing system. Again, thanks.
Sierrasparky
Senior Member
- Location
- USA
- Occupation
- Electrician ,contractor
As I wire states the lables come with the Deicing materials. I use them and put them on the panel as well as a junction box at the eave.
Sierrasparky
Senior Member
- Location
- USA
- Occupation
- Electrician ,contractor
Where is the building you are working on?
Dan Vaughan
Member
- Location
- Santa Ana, California, USA
The building is in Big Bear Lake, California. Thanks for asking.
Dan Vaughan
Member
- Location
- Santa Ana, California, USA
I contacted the manufacture and learned that they do supply such labels. Thanks for your input. (When you say that you put them on the panel, is that the electrical loadcenter/panelboard or the cover panel for the eave de-icing system?)
Sierrasparky
Senior Member
- Location
- USA
- Occupation
- Electrician ,contractor
''
We do both as we have so many labels that come with the equip.
on goes on the panel that houses the 30ma trip GFCI and others on the local bell box near the eave or downspout.
Sierrasparky
Senior Member
- Location
- USA
- Occupation
- Electrician ,contractor
Nice area , Never worked there though.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
- Occupation
- EC
I agree that the intention is likely to warn people of a potential electrocution hazard. Now just how often do we need to place a label on a gutter with de-icing cable installed in it? Code doesn't tell us, so is one on the entire installation acceptable, maybe every 50 feet, maybe every 5 feet, maybe every foot?? How can we be certain it is seen by anyone that may be in any danger? Next question - how many languages does the sign need to be printed in?
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