First disconnecting means is at the main interior panel?

[Cartoon1]

Service cables goes to a meter outside and then from there it goes into the ceiling all the way to a 200AMP MCB panel inside in the middle of the small commercial building, that feeds the whole building. The distance between the meter outside and panel inside is probably around 40'. 230.70 (1) says the service disconnecting means shall be installed at a readily accessible location either outside or inside nearest the point of entrance. In this case, the interior panel is not near the meter and it is located somewhere in the middle of building. Local codes does not specify required distance nor does the NEC. Should I provide disconnecting means by the meter? such as enclosed circuit breaker?

Thank you

 

[don_resqcapt19]

That is a judgement call by your AHJ, but I doubt that any AHJ would permit 40' of unfused service conductors inside the building.

Our local code requires that all service conductors be in rigid or IMC and we require the service disconnect to be within 10' from the service conductor point of entrance.

 

[LarryFine]

Depends on why. Do you know if this was ever permitted and inspected?

 

[Cartoon1]

Depends on why. Do you know if this was ever permitted and inspected?

No record. I suspect the reason the panel is in the middle of the building is because the building sides are all offices and they did not want to put a panel there. Also, it seems like at some point there was an enclosed circuit breaker for the outside service but that was abandoned and decided to add a MCB to the interior panel instead. So there was some electrical renovation at some point.

 

[roger]

Also, it seems like at some point there was an enclosed circuit breaker for the outside service but that was abandoned and decided to add a MCB to the interior panel instead. So there was some electrical renovation at some point.

If there are still four conductors going to the panel the easy fix would be to install a new enclosed breaker Main and separate the EGC's and Neutrals in the panel.

 

[Fred B]

No record. I suspect the reason the panel is in the middle of the building is because the building sides are all offices and they did not want to put a panel there. Also, it seems like at some point there was an enclosed circuit breaker for the outside service but that was abandoned and decided to add a MCB to the interior panel instead. So there was some electrical renovation at some point.

I've seen where additions were made that eventually resulted in the panel being in the middle of building, not original design. Also seen that the space was a common space that would allow in multiple occupancy buildings all tenants access to breaker panel.

 

[kwired]

If it were underground (under the building of course) or encased in 2 inches of concrete, many places would consider it outside the building and it would be acceptable to go into a building that far. I'm assuming this one is not like that but just wanted to point that possibility out.

 

[Cartoon1]

If it were underground (under the building of course) or encased in 2 inches of concrete, many places would consider it outside the building and it would be acceptable to go into a building that far. I'm assuming this one is not like that but just wanted to point that possibility out.

not underground. It goes into the ceiling :/

 

[kwired]

not underground. It goes into the ceiling :/

I got that, should it been encased in concrete it may been considered to be outside the building. Something tells me that maybe not what you have either, just wanted to point out that this is one way it could be acceptable though.