code or AHJ requirement....

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lady sparks lover

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I'm doing a design for a nail salon in which the tenant wants to just pay the owner rent (which the owner agrees), and that includes his utilities. The inspector is very adamant about having a separate meter for the tenant, even though the building has it's own meter and ct cabinet for the entire building.

The tenant only takes of about 1/3 of the building, but there is a wall between the owner's portion and the tenant's portion. There will be two different business, but one service. So that's why the inspector insist on a meter.

Is this a code requirement? :)
 
Re: code or AHJ requirement....

This could be his interpretation of 240.24(B). Can this provision be met the way it is set up with the wall? The AHJ should be aware that the metering equipment is not service equipment. :D
 
Re: code or AHJ requirement....

IMO it is not the inspectors responsibility to determine how the utility will be paid for its kwh's. I have seen a number of commercial buildings with separate tenant under one meter. The tenant is billed a dollar figure per sq. ft to cover the energy cost.
 
Re: code or AHJ requirement....

Charlie & Bob did fine addressing the question, although the AHJ may be thinking about 230.72(C). Charlie's comment works fine there too.

Is there any reason you didn't simply ask what the AHJ was citing and how they arrived at that interpretation?
 
Re: code or AHJ requirement....

Originally posted by rbalex:
Charlie & Bob did fine addressing the question, although the AHJ may be thinking about 230.72(C). Charlie's comment works fine there too.

Is there any reason you didn't simply ask what the AHJ was citing and how they arrived at that interpretation?
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Awhhhh!! You guys are so sweet for answering my so quickly! Thank you!! :)
 
Re: code or AHJ requirement....

It could be a local code requirement, but it's not NEC. If you ask for a citation of the basis for the rejection, you should get (i.e., you have a right to) a straight answer.
 
Re: code or AHJ requirement....

Personally, I don't how any of the codes cited above could be interperted as requiring a meter.

I think the inspector is way out of line. I would also think that the basic distribution of electric power would have been designed during the shell building, and that would have passed inspection and review(it sounds like this is an existing building - but I am guessing).

Steve
 
Re: code or AHJ requirement....

Lady, the inspector is treading on the electric utility's turf unless it is a municipal utility. Most electric utilities require separate enclosures for each service unless it is a meter center. In this case, the inspector can't require separate meters but he can require the access to all of the overcurrent devices and service disconnecting means that feed all of the occupancies. :D
 
Re: code or AHJ requirement....

Lady, I would have to say that this is AHJ issue. The Code has some general INSTALLATION requirements for metering purposes (clearance, it does not have any requirements such as each tennant shall be metered for it's service.

Usually it is up to the electric to set requirements as to how a customer or tennant should be metered. Perhaps the local utility has such a requirement and the inspector is enforcing it.

By personal experience, the AHJ in my area has such requirements and they are strictly enforced.
 
Re: code or AHJ requirement....

The main point is that both tenants must have access to all of their overcurrent protective devices and disconnecting means, see sections 230.72(C) and 240.24(B).

The bottom line is that you can't do this unless the owner is the one who has the living space and the store. I suppose that is not an accurate statement if you were to trust the tenants to have access to all of the equipment.

Also, in Indiana (maybe the rest of the country as well?) there is a requirement that all the tenants have separate meters unless there is a compelling reason not to have them. This was passed several years ago for energy conversation. If the tenant was responsible for his own power usage, it is felt that he would be more conservative with his power usage. Exceptions may be made for central heating and air conditioning. :D
 
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