Conductor Splices inside light poles

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scottbrown

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A question that I thought would be easy to answer. I have an application where conductors providing power to pole lights are spliced inside of the poles. There is a hand hole at the base of the pole but the splice is above to hand hole far enough that you can't reach it. The question that I have is if this is a violation of the NEC. Also, when conductors are spliced, can the splice be inside a piece of conduit (as opposed to in a junction or pull box). I would appreciate chapter and verse of applicable code references.

Thanks in advance,
 
IV. Luminaire (Fixture) Supports

410.15 Supports.

(B) Metal Poles Supporting Luminaires (Lighting Fixtures). Metal poles shall be permitted to be used to support luminaires (lighting fixtures) and as a raceway to enclose supply conductors, provided the following conditions are met:

(1)A metal pole shall have a handhole not less than 50 mm ? 100 mm (2 in. ? 4 in.) with a raintight cover to provide access to the supply terminations within the pole or pole base.
Click to expand...

The handhole must provide access to the terminations not just a look at the conductors.

Splices may not be inside most raceways check 300.15
 
Scott, how on earth were the connections made??? Before the pole was set on the base? It sounds like the conduits are taller than the handhole.

The solution appears to be to cut the conduits shorter.
 
I'm not really sure how they made the terminations, but when I heard about it from one of the engineers in my office, I knew that it didn't sound correct. I couldn't quickly find the reference in the code (thanks again for the help) but I wanted to have my ducks in a row before I told the other engineer that it needed to be corrected.

Scott
 
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