Article 230 One location

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jdouglas

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This one is beating me to death. Weare currently turning an old 200 room hotel in to a 50 unit condo. The calcualted load is a little over 2900 amps.
There wasnt room to install 5 meterpacks with disconnects grouped in one location.
We installed 3 on the back and two on the front. The POCO has installed their service to these meter packs and are thrilled at the installation.

Local inspector claims all disconnects have to be in one location and says this current installation is a direct violation of the NEC.

I can think of several arguments but please help me prove him wrong or convince me I am wrong.

It is a money pit to try and satisfy his theory.

I need article #s comments
Thanks guys.
 
I havent asked if he would allow that. It has crossed my mind.

Im convinced 230-2(a) comes into play with two or more services if over 200amps. 230-71(a) says " there shall be no more than six disconnects PER SERVICE grouped in any one location". There is no requirement for "grouping" the additional services together. 230-2(b) requires a permanent plaque or directory shall be installed at each service disconnect location denotng all other services, feeders, and branch ckts supplying that building or structure and the area served by each.
So one of my questions is why would 230-2(b) even be in the NEC if they all had to be in "one location". Your thoughts?
 
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jdouglas said:
I havent asked if he would allow that. It has crossed my mind.

Im convinced 230-2(a) comes into play with two or more services if over 200amps. 230-719(a) says " ther shall be no more than six disconnects per service grouped in any one location". There is no requirement for "grouping" the additional services together. 230-2(b) requires a permanent plaque or directory shall be installed at each service disconnect location denotng all other services, feeders, and branch ckts supplying that building or structure and the area served by each.
So one of my questions is why would 230-2(b) even be in the NEC if they all had to be in "one location". Your thoughts?
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You need to check your code references. Where is 230-719(a)? And what year NEC book are you quoting? The NEC switched to a new format in 2002. The new format will look like this: 230.2(A). It's hard to answer when we're not on the same page.
 
OK I now agree with you. As I understand your post you have ONE service in front, ONE service in the back. Make a nice directory and the inspector shouldn't have a problem.
 
230.2(C) allows for more than 1 service when the capacity is in excess of 2000 amps. I've done this often with industrial installations, but not for dwellings. I don't see why it wouldn't apply.

I don't think there's a problem if you label each.

Jim T
 
The problem is likely that EI is basing his position on fire/building codes. In other words occupancy and or building barrier/separation between the services.
 
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Gmack said:
The problem is likely that EI is basing his position on fire/building codes. In other words occupancy and or building barrier/separation between the services.
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Gmack

If the service load is over 2000 amps, fire walls don't come into play. Perhaps gentle nudging will show the inspector that this installation is perfectly legal without firewalls, etc.

Jim T
 
The allowance of more than one service for capacity requirements (greater than 2,000 amps) is going to be tough nut to crack if there is only one transformer.
 
jdouglas said:
This one is beating me to death. Weare currently turning an old 200 room hotel in to a 50 unit condo. The calcualted load is a little over 2900 amps.
Thanks guys.
Click to expand...

Don't you guys have plan check for a job of this size???

If you don't have plan check then the other posters have you covered.

If you do have plan check for this job, then I would politely, diplomatically, and tactfully go down to the City and raise Holy Heck!! I don't know how it works there, but here you pay real money for someone to ACTUALLY CHECK the plans. To miss something so obvious is inexcuseable!
 
Do I ever feel your pain. This is always an issue. The references quoted should all help. The best reference is services >2000A, which you certainly have! Doesn't mater how many transformers. Keep us posted on progress. RC
 
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