Am I nuts

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CIECO

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Am I nuts or is this job done as per NEC.
I have been doing tank farms for a good part of 30 years + contact cement manufacturers ink rooms and all kinds of XPROOF stuff. I was asked to do the controls and tank gauging on this small install consisting of 3 10K tanks 1 gas and 2 kero in a concrete containment/enclosure 4 walls and roof, with maybe 3' from the walls and 5' to the roof-1 12' roll up door and passage way door. and when you are dealing with gas I get nervous, I see die cast offset nipples, 3 piece unions and no sealoffs on switches (that are not factory sealed) and leveing the room to go to a panel board. I asked the mechanical contractor that hired me and he said the inspector pased the job. So I am wondering if I have been losing money for years by using expensive fittings and stuff when it was not nessesary
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I would not accept " the inspector passed it" as meaning it is correct.
Going cheap can cost a lot later.
 
CIECO,

No, you are not nuts. People who do that kind of work either ,don't know and

don't bother to find out or just don't care. So, now what are you going to do?
 
Some very poor work, I would not trust the contractor telling you that it passed inspection.

One thing I am curious about, I thought that some unions are list for these types of locations. Am I mistaken???
 
Me too.The only thing I can do is tell the mechanical contractor that hired me and get a check before the s--- hits the fan.
 
Not the right answer but if it did "pass" that somewhat removes your liability. On paper that is.....you would still have to live with the consequences of what you know is right. Somtimes the "peace of mind" is worth the loss of profit.
 
Three piece couplings are permitted in divison 2 areas. The only issue I can see in the pictures is the lack of seals at the switches, assuming that they are not factory sealed devices and possilbly the lack of a boundry seal at the wall, assuming that the wall is the boundry.
 
I don’t know what kind of liability I can have. I did not do the job; I told the mechanical contractor that I am working for about the violations and the inspector passed it. The only reason I am on here is because I have a conscience, and feel that it may not be safe. Everything is fine as long as there is no spill.
 
CIECO said:
I don?t know what kind of liability I can have. I did not do the job; I told the mechanical contractor that I am working for about the violations and the inspector passed it. The only reason I am on here is because I have a conscience, and feel that it may not be safe. Everything is fine as long as there is no spill.
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I am not surprised that an inspector passed it. I don't mean that as shot against inspectors at all either. Very few electricians and probably even fewer inspectors are well versed on all the hazardous location rules. I certainly don't know the rules nor could I tell if an XP job is compliant or not.
 
BIG difference in piping requirements in Div1 and Div2 installations. Make sure you have well defined, and engineered area classifications. Then make your judgements. LB's, sealtight, TEFC motors are all allowed in div2, be carefull

And my question is where is the engineer and why did they pass it..Ive seen inspectors that didnt know that much about art500, but you would think that the company would want it right for insurance purposes reguardlous.
 
That is what I am asking as long as there is no spill no problem, but if you have a spill you can have 10k of gas on the floor. Would not want to be the guy turning on the lights one morning.
 
CIECO said:
Am I nuts or is this job done as per NEC.
I have been doing tank farms for a good part of 30 years + contact cement manufacturers ink rooms and all kinds of XPROOF stuff. I was asked to do the controls and tank gauging on this small install consisting of 3 10K tanks 1 gas and 2 kero in a concrete containment/enclosure 4 walls and roof, with maybe 3' from the walls and 5' to the roof-1 12' roll up door and passage way door. and when you are dealing with gas I get nervous, I see die cast offset nipples, 3 piece unions and no sealoffs on switches (that are not factory sealed) and leveing the room to go to a panel board. I asked the mechanical contractor that hired me and he said the inspector pased the job. So I am wondering if I have been losing money for years by using expensive fittings and stuff when it was not nessesary
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Yes, after looking at these pics up close, the installer clearly did not know what he was doing...I thought for minute that the switches might have a sealing well under the covers, but I dont see one...So , seal offs would be required reguardlous of div1 or div2 with the switches.

and the unions, what a joke...must maintain 5 full threads, and if you need a union it must be a UNF, other wise collars are permited with five threads engaged. Sounds like to "LOW BID BLUES"

The die cast offset takes the cake....this person needs a visit from the authorities as he's going to get alot of people hurt or killed. As earlier stated, LB's are permited in Div2 areas, but if its div1 screwed GU type fittings must be used.....
 
paul said:
The Erickson's are not legal in an explosion-proof environment.
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Paul,
If the area is Class I, Division 2, there is no reason that you can't use an Erickson. See 501.10(B)(4). Standard boxes and fittings are permitted in the division 2 areas.
 
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