FEMA BFE +1

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JustWork

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Hello We have been performing installs in a manner that was allowed to have the meter socket lugs, main/service disconnect breaker lugs to be at the BFE +1 height and the enclosure in which they are in may be below the BFE+1 height. Like others here I assume :happy no: we have performed many service installs since the Sandy storm at the Jersey shore with so many different added requirements from local authorities and the utility companies that service the areas. We were required to maintain all service equipment including the meter sockets to be at BFE+1 some of the installs would put the meters above the utilities required 60" height which passed with local inspection as well as the utility company. Not to long ago the utility company started enforcing the requirement to maintain this 60" to the center of meter socket which has now caused some issues for us not passing our electrical inspections and having to deal with this new issue of the equipment being below the BFE. In most cases it does get approved but it ends up going back and forth. Enough of the long winded rant where in black and white does it give actual wording that the electrical enclosure/equipment/device must be above BFE+1 FEMA, . Icc or IBCI do understand Article 682 states that no electrical equipment or their enclosures can be below the electrical datum. Does this issue fall under this requirement?:? I do apologize if this topic was already discussed.
 
You have at least 4 things coming into play, all of which must be complied with.

FEMA requirements.
Local requirements.
NEC requirements.
POCO requirements.

POCO wants the center of the meter socket 5' above grade so their meter reader can read the meter, so their service personnel can service it, etc. If complying with anything else causes that meter socket to be >5' above grade, you need to build a platform and steps (a safe platform and safe steps).

FEMA has their prescriptive requirements for construction in an area of special flood hazard. To become a member of the national flood insurance program, the locals must adopt local policy which may be more restrictive than FEMA's standards. This is where your base flood elevation comes in.

That +1 is called freeboard. It's a safety margin. Apparently someone around there thought it prudent to make sparky go an extra foot.

Generally speaking, an enclosure can be flooded but the lowest non-submersible connection must be at or above BFE (or in your case BFE +1). Sounds like someone around there thinks it's prudent to have your entire enclosure above BFE?

The NEC has a "plane" they use, if I remember correctly. I'll let someone else dig that one up out of the NEC.

Advice to you is coordinate with your electrical inspector and the poco on jobs in a special flood hazard area. Sketch it all out, show your BFE, elevations to your equipment & connections, etc. and clarify what they expect to see at inspection.
 
FEMA+1

FEMA+1

Thank you and that is our current course of action to meet with the inspector and try to explain that the enclosure is in within the BFE but the device and or its connections are not. As well as asking him to confirm the code in which he is referring to so this issue never to occur again that is until someone changes the rules.:roll:



mgookin said:
You have at least 4 things coming into play, all of which must be complied with.

FEMA requirements.
Local requirements.
NEC requirements.
POCO requirements.

POCO wants the center of the meter socket 5' above grade so their meter reader can read the meter, so their service personnel can service it, etc. If complying with anything else causes that meter socket to be >5' above grade, you need to build a platform and steps (a safe platform and safe steps).

FEMA has their prescriptive requirements for construction in an area of special flood hazard. To become a member of the national flood insurance program, the locals must adopt local policy which may be more restrictive than FEMA's standards. This is where your base flood elevation comes in.

That +1 is called freeboard. It's a safety margin. Apparently someone around there thought it prudent to make sparky go an extra foot.

Generally speaking, an enclosure can be flooded but the lowest non-submersible connection must be at or above BFE (or in your case BFE +1). Sounds like someone around there thinks it's prudent to have your entire enclosure above BFE?

The NEC has a "plane" they use, if I remember correctly. I'll let someone else dig that one up out of the NEC.

Advice to you is coordinate with your electrical inspector and the poco on jobs in a special flood hazard area. Sketch it all out, show your BFE, elevations to your equipment & connections, etc. and clarify what they expect to see at inspection.
Click to expand...
 
Sorry about the BFE

Sorry about the BFE

I should have thought about putting in words first. Before the Sandy Storm BFE was never ever really mentioned but since then it has been heard, and or mentioned just about everyday.

norcal said:
What does "BFE" stand for? The normal meaning for BFE is not repetible here.
Click to expand...
 
JustWork said:
I should have thought about putting in words first. Before the Sandy Storm BFE was never ever really mentioned but since then it has been heard, and or mentioned just about everyday.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the enlightenment. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
 
I am a firm believer in the Method Of Abbreviation (MOA) in which you write out a term the first time it is used.
The problem is gauging the audience properly and deciding whether the term is "new" enough to justify that method.
Erring in the direction of overdocumenting is not all that bad though.
 
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