#4 for feeder and 3/4 offset

[sfav8r]

Just failed an inspection for 2 reasons and I'm curious what others think about this. The 2 reasons were that my guys used #4 for a house panel on a 9 unit building. The inspector said that the 100a feeder can only be #4 for residental DWELLING units and that the house panel serves hallways, a laundry room and a 2 car garage so it's not a dwelling unit. This seems lke a real stretch to me since any residential dwelling unit would have the same thing. The 2nd failure was for using a 1" 3/4 offset in a conduit run. They used the fitting to offset the conduit enough to get above a lip before penetrating a wall. The inspector said the offset fittings were not approved for that use, only to connect to a box. I've never heard that.

Any thoughts?

 

[GoldDigger]

With respect to the house panel, I would have to say that the inspector is correct.

 

[Ponchik]

Did the inspector provide any code or UL references?
Install a lower rated OCPD assuming it will be within your calculated load and use the #4.
ASFAIK, The offset nipple is for rigid conduit to be used with an enclosure.
I will check my UL book to see if I can find anything on it.

 

[norcal]

The permission to use 4 AWG w/ 100A overcurrent protection only applies when it supplies the entire load of a dwelling, IMHO the inspector made the right call, if the load allows use a 90A breaker, or replace it.

 

[ActionDave]

I think the inspector is correct on both counts.

 

[iwire]

I also agree with the inspector on both issues.

 

[augie47]

I also agree.
As far as the offset nipple, I believe the killer is UL QCRV which states that fitting so that type "have only been investigated for use with locknuts."

 

[sfav8r]

Thanks for all the replies. I reread 310.15 and it is pretty clear that it must be the entire dwelling unit. It's funny how you forget little details.