12,470/7,200 3ph 4wire Service Switch gear Working space

[zemingduan]

The electrical service from the utility company (Atlantic City Electric) is 12,470/7,200 V 3ph 4wire. We have a 15KV switch gear and then substations transformer to power the building.

I got the minimum 6' required working space from NEC NEC 2020 table 110.34 (A) for the switchgear. But the ACE engineer request at least 8 ft clearance in front of the switchgear. He states that to change the 12kv fuses by a qualified electrician, they would use an 8 ft hot stick so the 6 ft clearance is not enough. Is this true? I mean this is not listed in their handbook or NEC. I would like to here some thoughts from you. Thanks!

 

[infinity]

mean this is not listed in their handbook or NEC. I would like to here some thoughts from you

The table minimums are what required. Why condition 3? Regardless of the length of the stick if this were condition 1 with a sheetrock wall you only need 4'.

 

[Hv&Lv]

8’ isn’t enough to work an 8’ stick.
I would require at least 10’ IF WE OWNED THE SWITXHGEAR.

Who owns the switchgear? ACE?
If not the ACE engineer has no say

 

[jim dungar]

Who owns the switchgear? ACE?
If not the ACE engineer has no say

Some utilities do the switching and fuse removal on customer owned gear, when the customer does not have qualified people on site and there is a cold sequence utility metering section in the lineup. In these cases i would expect the POCO manual to include the required clearance.

edit to fix spelling.

 

[Hv&Lv]

Some utilities do the switching and fuse removal on customer owned gear, when the customer does not have qualified people on site and there is a cold sequence utility metering section in the lineup. In these cases i would expect the POCO msusl to include the required clearance.

We have one place we handle the fuses on a 14,400 site. More or less a favor for the business owner. We service their cap bank also. They buy the parts.
We made them build their fence with 10’ clearance and made them have the fence opening facing the switchgear door.
If we are responsible, then it’s going to be our way or no way.
If ACE takes that responsibility then the electrician has little choice but to make the clearance like ACE wants it, IMO