550.32

[gserve]

In a mobile home park the service equipment(pedestal)is located on the lot line and in sight from the mobile home.The problems is its 90' away from the home. On a recent inspection nothing was said of this and it passed inspection. How do most inspectors handle this in your area would they make you install an additional disconnect within 30'? Comments ,opinions please. I know that a disconnect should of been installed to meet code. Thanks

 

[david]

Re: 550.32

550.32 Service Equipment.
(A) Mobile Home Service Equipment. The mobile home service equipment shall be located adjacent to the mobile home and not mounted in or on the mobile home. The service equipment shall be located in sight from and not more than 9.0 m (30 ft) from the exterior wall of the mobile home it serves. The service equipment shall be permitted to be located elsewhere on the premises, provided that a disconnecting means suitable for service equipment is located in sight from and not more than 9.0 m (30 ft) from the exterior wall of the mobile home it serves. Grounding at the disconnecting means shall be in accordance with 250.32.


Most here would agree that the service disconnect would be required with in 30?

 

[bennie]

Re: 550.32

If the inspector signed off on this space as a final, leave it alone. The distance does not make this unsafe.

 

[pierre]

Re: 550.32

Bennie
90 feet may not be electrically unsafe, but what about the firemen? They may not find it in the dark, and being used to the 30 or so foot rule could become confused/hurt. I say install the disconnect within 30 feet, no disrespect meant. Depending on the trailer park setup, the disconnect may be confused for another trailer, who knows.

Pierre

[ July 20, 2003, 07:32 AM: Message edited by: pierre ]

 

[gserve]

Re: 550.32

Now for qustion #2 I just found out that a breezeway and garage is going to be built and attached to this mobile home. Would you consider this part of the home and measure your disconnect from the end of the garage?

 

[bennie]

Re: 550.32

Most mobile home fires appear to be total. Power is usually dumped before the fireman are involved.
It is not likely that a mobile home will need a power cut anyway, the fireman do not often enter them.

Does anyone know what code article spells out the main disconnect is for fireman use? Is there a document that states the main shall not be more than 30 feet away, so the firemen can find it.
I know many mains that are locked in the closed position, to prevent vandals from shutting off power.

 

[jxofaltrds]

Re: 550.32

Bennie

I have always respected you. Are you saying they do not like "trailer trash"?

Mike P.

PS "I know many mains that are locked in the closed position, to prevent vandals from shutting off power."

Almost every condo has this problem.

Should we start another topic? Should each condo have a "main"?

 

[bennie]

Re: 550.32

Mike: There is no electrical violation. There is a mobile home violation.

The service is not too far from the mobile home. The mobile home is too far from the service.

 

[david]

Re: 550.32

This thread should be moved to http://www.iccsafe.org/

 

[inspector 102]

Re: 550.32

I appreciate the concern about firefighter access to the disconnect. Having 18 years in the fire service, i have an understanding of how some of the code are developed. At a recent "trailer" fire, firefighters threw the disconnect switch only to find the trailer was fed from the adjacent trailer via extension cord due to none payment of their eletric bill. So much for 30' line of sight distance. The fire turned out to be intentional and investigation found that a single 14/3 extension cord run a hot plate, tv, window air conditioner, three lamps, and the answering machine. There were 4 additional light duty extension cords plugged into the 14/3 via multi-plug adapter to run these items. The cause was not electrical but very well could have been. Just commenting on experience.

 

[bennie]

Re: 550.32

I would like to see any time a specific dimension is printed, an explanation of the reason accompany the requirement.

I always thought the disconnect was due to the mobility of a mobile home. The mobile homes are often relocated. This is why the service disconnect can not be on the mobile home. The ability to turn off the service, by the fireman, is a side effect not the primary reason. This is why there is never a reference to shutting off power by the fireman. The NEC would be dictating fire fighting procedure.

[ July 22, 2003, 11:05 AM: Message edited by: bennie ]

 

[david]

Re: 550.32

?dictating fire fighting procedure? or providing tools like in- sight disconnects, grouping of service disconnects, locating additional services throughout a structure.

Emergencies may not be the sole reason for these rules, but I think there is nothing wrong with saying the location of service disconnects is important for emergency disconnect.

 

[bennie]

Re: 550.32

David: The location of disconnects are not located for emergency disconnect. If this were true, they would be easily located and identified.

Many buildings have a locked electrical room.

Grouping of disconnects is to prevent unfused conductors running all over a building. There is no assurance the power, to a building, is off by opening six disconnects. The supply side is still energized. The only way to remove all power is to open the primary cut outs.

You also may turn off the fire booster pump.

There is some buildings with the service on the second floor. There is no requirement for a service to be at the grade level entrance.

Some fire department and fire investigators do not permit the fireman to remove power. They do not want the scene compromised for investigation.
The position of switches and breakers can be a clue to the cause.