I am new to estimating residential and not certain of the options available for metering 10 condos.The condos do not share a common wall but they do touch each other.Are they considered 10 separate services with separate meters? Do I need one main disconnect and a 10 gang meter center?
Condo Metering
- Thread starter gregorsc
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LawnGuyLandSparky
Senior Member
Re: Condo Metering
Was just working on a condo Monday, each is metered separately as if each was a detached single family house, with the services underground and a meter next to each garage door within a recessed closet.
I thought if attached homes were divided by a 3 hour rated firewall, they could be considered non-attached code-wise?
Was just working on a condo Monday, each is metered separately as if each was a detached single family house, with the services underground and a meter next to each garage door within a recessed closet.
I thought if attached homes were divided by a 3 hour rated firewall, they could be considered non-attached code-wise?
hurk27
Senior Member
- Location
- Portage, Indiana NEC: 2008
Re: Condo Metering
One thing that you have to know is the extent to which a condo owner actually owns and is in control of, In some cases their property ends at the paint on the inside walls and you could legally pass through the walls to each unit, and in other cases they own the property to the street in the front, and to the ally in the back. In many cases there are easements that are considered community property or common areas, which is controlled by a home owner association which would allow the services to be installed in this area.
Just keep in mind that you are not allowed to trespass upon the property of another when installing the service or feeders to a unit. Many builders don't think about these things until they land in the court. This is why we see utility easements around regular dwellings, And some POCO's will not run primary lines onto your property to feed a transformer without one.
But above all check with your local AHJ.
One thing that you have to know is the extent to which a condo owner actually owns and is in control of, In some cases their property ends at the paint on the inside walls and you could legally pass through the walls to each unit, and in other cases they own the property to the street in the front, and to the ally in the back. In many cases there are easements that are considered community property or common areas, which is controlled by a home owner association which would allow the services to be installed in this area.
Just keep in mind that you are not allowed to trespass upon the property of another when installing the service or feeders to a unit. Many builders don't think about these things until they land in the court. This is why we see utility easements around regular dwellings, And some POCO's will not run primary lines onto your property to feed a transformer without one.
But above all check with your local AHJ.
JohnE
Senior Member
- Location
- Milford, MA
Re: Condo Metering
Generally, a service may only have 1 service. Unless there is a fire wall (not fire partition) separating them, the condo's comprise 1 building and should only have 1 service. Not a separate service on each unit. Fire wall is defined as "a fireresistance rated wall having protected openings, which restricts the spread of fire and extends continuously from foundation to or through the roof." It's further stated that "Walls should have sufficient structural stability under fire conditions to allow collapse of construction on either side without collapse of the wall, and should be constructed of any noncombustible materials that provide required strength and fireresistance rating specified in table....." This is from the Massachusetts State Building Code. I would imagine that the IBC has similar wording.
So typically you would need a condo metering bank, and as stated previously, probably a "house" meter.
Generally, a service may only have 1 service. Unless there is a fire wall (not fire partition) separating them, the condo's comprise 1 building and should only have 1 service. Not a separate service on each unit. Fire wall is defined as "a fireresistance rated wall having protected openings, which restricts the spread of fire and extends continuously from foundation to or through the roof." It's further stated that "Walls should have sufficient structural stability under fire conditions to allow collapse of construction on either side without collapse of the wall, and should be constructed of any noncombustible materials that provide required strength and fireresistance rating specified in table....." This is from the Massachusetts State Building Code. I would imagine that the IBC has similar wording.
So typically you would need a condo metering bank, and as stated previously, probably a "house" meter.
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