Article 225 and Physically Connected Buildings

[cvirgil467]

Article 225 deals with outside branch circuits and feeders. That?s understood.

We have a new wing being built adjacent and physically connected to an existing building. All under one management (it?s a campus under one management with trained staff). Feeders and branch circuits from the new wing will serve a very small area in the existing building. The few branch circuits and feeder serving the existing building from the new wing are being routed indoors through the new wing and existing building.

Does Article 225 apply here? Nothing is being routed outdoors. If not, is there another article that would disallow this particular installation. I could not find anything in Article 215. There are a few exceptions in 225 that can be applied that would allow us to install as described above (under one management with documented switching procedures and).

Thanks.
c

 

[jumper]

Are both the old and new sections one service?

If yes, I am not seeing a readily apparent problem with the install under 215.

 

[Smart $]

Unless your circuits are routed exterior to the building outer surface(s), 225 does not apply at all.

Typically a wing is considered the same building. Is there some distinguishing structural feature which would classify the wing as a separate building/structure?

Jumper's concern is how the wing is being supplied electrically?

 

[cvirgil467]

The are served from different 5kv radial feeders and different substations.

There are fire rated doors and walls that seperate a division between the toe buikding but you can walk from one buikding to another.

 

[jumper]

So there are 2 separate services.

Addition may or may not qualify as a separate building rather than an addition.

You want to route some feeders/branch circuits between the 2 building sections.

Correct so far? If yes, I would be calling the AHJ/inspector.

 

[Smart $]

So there are 2 separate services.

Addition may or may not qualify as a separate building rather than an addition.

You want to route some feeders/branch circuits between the 2 building sections.

Correct so far? If yes, I would be calling the AHJ/inspector.

I agree.

For a project the size that it appears to be, I'd assume the electrical plans are engineered and run through AHJ plan review. However, not uncommon for plan review to miss a Code issue.

 

[iwire]

I would be calling the AHJ/inspector.

I agree.

Make it three, in my opinion only the local enforcement folks can answer the question.

 

[cvirgil467]

Thanks for responding all.

Both the existing and new are fed from separate 5kV feeders. The service is back at the central Plant. The University runs 5kV radial feeders around campus. There is a separate substation withn the existing and new addition/building.

I am planning on push back by applying the exception (going on memory here): The swithcing arrangement can be documented and operated by trained staff.

 

[MasterTheNEC]

I can only give some insight from being a previous "arbitrator" of such things for a municipality. Based on how you describe the buildings construction you are still dealing with one building and Article 225 is not in play here as long as you install the feeders and branch circuits on the interior of this building. So the issues of 225.30 you are worried about would not come into play. Just my thoughts my friend.