Apartment complex- Additional load

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sw_ross

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It’s a 10-unit apartment building, ~40-50 years old. It’s for sale and they’ve asked me about opinions regarding the electrical setup.

Heating is by a central gas boiler unit with tubing through the slab to each unit (each one being a zone) with baseboard hydronic units. The boiler is shot. They’re worried about the integrity of the piping through the slab. Their thoughts are to abandon that type of heat and use electric base heat and a PTAC in each unit.

Right off the bat I told them service size was not adequate for that increase in load and would need to be upsized if they buy it. They said they’ll use that information to help them negotiate a better price.

I’m sure that I’ll have additional questions regarding a service upgrade for this project if it goes forward, but for now my question is related to an individual unit.

Each unit has a feeder from the MDP with a 70 amp breaker. In each unit there is an 8 space MLO panel. It feeds the electric range (40A) and (4) 20-amp circuits for lights and receptacles.

Ideally each unit would have a 100-amp panel. Then I could add some baseboard heat and a PTAC unit in each unit.
To be economical, rather than try to change out each panel/feeder/breaker/etc, I’m wondering about adding another panel in each unit just for the heat load. It would be fed from the new (added) DP in the mechanical room.
Generally that seems simpler.

I’m looking for feedback regarding this idea regarding code. Am I missing anything that I should be aware of?
Thanks.
 
Dwellings would need a Ptac in each room, if radiant heat could not warm the cold concrete slabs. Load calc would also be simpler.

Thick laminate flooring has become popular with property managers to help insulate from cold slab floors, reduce turnover cost, and for durability.

Tenants stay longer and turnover is reduced when they are more comfortable.
 
robertd said:
Would 240.24(B) be a problem?
Click to expand...
Thanks for the comment.
All the branch circuit OCPD’s are (would be) accessible to the occupant of each unit with the MLO panel located in each unit.
The feeder(s) OCPD would be accessible only to authorized management personnel in the mechanical room, which seems to be allowed by 240.24(B)(1)
 
sw_ross said:
Thanks for the comment.
All the branch circuit OCPD’s are (would be) accessible to the occupant of each unit with the MLO panel located in each unit.
The feeder(s) OCPD would be accessible only to authorized management personnel in the mechanical room, which seems to be allowed by 240.24(B)(1)
Click to expand...
I missed "adding another panel in each unit", too early with no caffeine :oops:
 
You may be ok since its an existing service, but the metering may be a problem. The IECC may require individual meters for each apartment.

Its been in the code for years. Here it is in the 2009 version in 505.7:


Although nothing specifically says it has to be a "utility" meter, and there isn't any requirement for anyone to even read the meter (much less bill the tenants based on the reading), the utilities may have their own requirements. For example, look at this letter from 2011 which states:

No utility shall install master metering at a multi-tenant building
containing any residences if the occupants of any unit receiving electric
service through the master meter have temperature control over any portion of
the electric space heating, electric air conditioning or electric water heating
service for the unit.

 
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