215.18 Surge Protection

Status
Not open for further replies.
J

Jimmy7

Senior Member
Location
Boston, MA
Occupation
Electrician
If you add a subpanel within an existing single family home does it require Surge Protection per 215.18? The panel does not feed another unit, or separate building.
 
Jimmy7 said:
If you add a subpanel within an existing single family home does it require Surge Protection per 215.18? The panel does not feed another unit, or separate building.
Click to expand...
What year code? The 2020 only goes to 215.12
Section 230.67 requires surge protection for services.
Adding a sub panel would not trigger surge protection. IMO

Ron
 
215.18 Surge Protection.
(A) Surge-Protective Device.
Where a feeder supplies any of the following, a surge-protective device (SPD) shall be installed:
  • (1) Dwelling units
  • (2) Dormitory units
  • (3) Guest rooms and guest suites of hotels and motels
  • (4) Areas of nursing homes and limited-care facilities used exclusively as patient sleeping rooms
 
don_resqcapt19 said:
215.18 Surge Protection.
(A) Surge-Protective Device.
Where a feeder supplies any of the following, a surge-protective device (SPD) shall be installed:
  • (1) Dwelling units
  • (2) Dormitory units
  • (3) Guest rooms and guest suites of hotels and motels
  • (4) Areas of nursing homes and limited-care facilities used exclusively as patient sleeping rooms
Click to expand...
Thank you.
Since the OP is adding a subpanel in an existing dwelling unit, I'm still going to say surge protection is not required.

Ron
 
don_resqcapt19 said:
That is my opinion too, but the language could use some work to make that clear.
Click to expand...
Agreed. The code language says that where a feeder supplies a dwelling unit, an SPD is required. The circuit to the sub-panel is a feeder, so it could be implied that an SPD is required. The sticky part is whether the feeder supplies the whole dwelling, or part of the dwelling, it is still "dwelling"
 
ron said:
Agreed. The code language says that where a feeder supplies a dwelling unit, an SPD is required. The circuit to the sub-panel is a feeder, so it could be implied that an SPD is required. The sticky part is whether the feeder supplies the whole dwelling, or part of the dwelling, it is still "dwelling"
Click to expand...
Yes, except in this case, the feeder is not supplying the dwelling. Only a part of it.
I agree that the verbiage could be more accurate. But, as someone on this site has stated, "It takes about 3 cycles to make it right".

Ron
 
Article 100 - Defines feeders as the following:

"Feeder. All circuit conductors between the service equipment, the source of a separately derived system, or other power supply source and the final branch-circuit overcurrent device."
ecmweb_13150_branch_circuit_conductors_pr_0.png


Based upon this definition, I would interpret NEC 2023, article 215.18 to require SPDs. Even if a feeder panel is replaced, the new panel would require surge protection per NEC 215.18(D), which states the following:

"Replacement. Where the distribution equipment is supplied by the feeder is replaced, all of the requirements of this section shall apply."
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top