Conduit Entry Spacing for Pull Boxes

[steve66]

A contractor installed these two pull boxes, and I don't think they meet the spacing requirements for conduit entries.

But is it just me, or does needing 24" between the two closest conduit entries for this pull box seem excessive?

I guess getting it installed is one thing, and more room might be required for that. (And for the record, I'm an engineer, so I have no idea what it takes to pull these cables in).

But just trying to visualize the final result, it doesn't seem like this would result in excessive bending of 600 KCM cables? And apparently the contractor doesn't think they will have any problem doing the install, or surely they would have given themselves more room?

 

[infinity]

IMO there is no way that they will pull 600 kcmil through those boxes without destroying the cables. They could be planning to splice so they're not concerned about the distance between the raceways.

 

[steve66]

IMO there is no way that they will pull 600 kcmil through those boxes without destroying the cables. They could be planning to splice so they're not concerned about the distance between the raceways.

The run goes straight up out of the 2nd box into a panelboard on the floor above. So they only need to pull about 10' or wire through this box. But I don't suppose that makes any difference? I doubt they are going to splice, and I think they would need even more space to splice.

What dictates the depth of the box and the distances between conduits for the 2nd box, where the conduits exit the top of the box? Would that be 312.6 (B) (1)? (3) sets of 600 would only need 12" between conduit entries for that box? And no minimum depth for that box?

 

[LarryFine]

Elbows, not boxes.

 

[augie47]

Definitely looks undersized in every dimension and his pull strings indicated a lack of knowledge on required spacing.

 

[tom baker]

And no bushings on the EMT connectors.
Contractor could have used one larger J box in place of the two.

 

[Tulsa Electrician]

Oh my. Try to get a picture when there done. Some one is going to have a bad day.

 

[SSDriver]

If I needed a pull or slice point there I would have put a trough there. He is not going to make that work with 600s without splicing or damage . Especially with the conduits closest to the corner

 

[busman]

Not exactly on topic, but one of the few times I knowingly violated the Code. I had some 34.5 kV cables where the conduit thru the concrete deck was about 10" from where it needed to enter the transformer, which was WAY too tight for the MV bending radius. I was not responsible for the conduit install. My solution (yes, the JB was plenty deep for the conductors to cross each other) was the one shown below. I just thought this might be interesting to some who could get in the same jam. Comments welcome.

Mark

 

[steve66]

Does the 2nd box look OK? The one with the conduits entering the side, and exiting the top....

 

[augie47]

Seemingly not. Although we don;'t have that actual dimensions, it doe not appear to have the 6X requirement between conduit entries.
Unless elbows could be incorporated, Tom's post #6 would be the best solution IMO.

 

[steve66]

Seemingly not. Although we don;'t have that actual dimensions, it doe not appear to have the 6X requirement between conduit entries.
Unless elbows could be incorporated, Tom's post #6 would be the best solution IMO.

But since the conduits exit opposite the removable cover, I thought 312.6 (B) (1) applied, and only 12" would be needed for (3) sets of 600 KCM?

 

[tom baker]

Keep in mind the minimum dimensions are too small practically speaking for installation of large conductors

 

[augie47]

That dimension applies to the distance from the conduit entry and a removable cover so the box depth is likely adequate.
The fact that the conductor makes an angle pull 314.28(A)(2) requires the 6X between raceway measurment.

 

[steve66]

That dimension applies to the distance from the conduit entry and a removable cover so the box depth is likely adequate.
The fact that the conductor makes an angle pull 314.28(A)(2) requires the 6X between raceway measurment.

I thought the exception negated that requirement, but the paragraph after the exception puts the 6x raceway size back in the equation.

But the next paragraph says the calculations could be based on the minimum size raceway, so they only need 6x3" = 18" between conduits. They might have that on the second box.

Keep in mind the minimum dimensions are too small practically speaking for installation of large conductors

Yes, but I can't make the contractor go above and beyond the code without it costing more $$$.

 

[augie47]

Without actual dimensions it's difficult, to tell (now that we know it's 3" conduits a reasonable assumption could be made),. The thing that stood,out most to me is the 6X between raceway entry requirements. The pull string shows they have not taken that into account and the fact that you can;t see the conduits entering the back of the box makes it doubtful that box is adequate or positioned correctly.
I certainly hope someone knowledgable looks at it before they pull the conductors.

 

[Greentagger]

Also you are to add the sum of other conduits in a row.