Does this meet NEC?

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howelloregon

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Here we go again. We need an interpretation of the NEC. We usually get crucified on this forum, but I am reluctantly posting this question, because my guys have looked and couldn't find it. We do not do electric work under the NEC, but we get stuck with trying to keep people safe. We are the providing utility.

We have a person that has buried 2 runs of 4/0 use into a building. One run serves a 200 amp load center, the other one serves a 200 amp Disconnect(inside). For some reason they went out of the Disconnect back outside, along the building in conduit to the other end of the building back into another 200 amp load center.

For some reason we were under the impression that they would need outside disconnects in order to do this.

What we need to know is if this is ok or not.
 
Re: Does this meet NEC?

Are these feeders or service entrance conductors?

Roger
 
Re: Does this meet NEC?

You might check the NESC I think it adresses this situation. But I'm not shure I work in generation plants.
 
Re: Does this meet NEC?

Since the serving utility is asking the question, I infer that these are service conductors. In general, a building can have only one service. One allowable exception is for a building that is large enough to warrant two services. A convention center could easily qualify for that exception.

Every service must have a service disconnect. For one of these two services, I suspect that the service disconnect is a main breaker within the 200 amp load center. For the3 other service, I infer that they are using the disconnect inside the building as the service disconnect. For both of these two statements to be true, the equipment would have to meet certain rules (e.g., related to "service entrance rated equipment," and grounding, and main bonding jumpers).

If I have guessed correctly with regard to the nature of these two sets of conductors, then I think it is acceptable (even if not a normal practice) to run from the second service disconnect (inside the building) to the second 200 amp load center in a conduit located outside the building.
 
Re: Does this meet NEC?

Charlie,

You are correct in that these are service conductors, which these people have extended from their building to our meter which is on the transformer pole.

I try very hard to be consistent with people in this capacity, and have not allowed two services into the same building unless there are two businesses, or a firewall that does not allow access from one part to another.

What about the six throws of the hand stuff? They can shut this building down using the main breaker in the load center, with the disconnect of the other, in two movements, but I was thinking that they had to have outside disconnects if the service entered the building and then ran along the outside.

Am I missing this in the code somewhere?
 
Re: Does this meet NEC?

There is no NEC requirement for "outside disconnects".

By placing the 2 disconnects, from one service, next to each other, they have met the requirements of 230.70, .71, and .72.

By placing the disconnects from 2 different services next to each other, they have met 230.2 and 230.40 ex 2.

As long as the requirements of 225 have been followed it is okay to run feeder circuits outside of a building. An additional "main" at the remote panel is not required per 408.36 ex 1.
 
Re: Does this meet NEC?

One question just to make sure we are clear. The run that comes out of the disconnect and back outside the building - does it come off the load side of the 200A disconnect? In other words, shutting off the 200A disconnect removes power from this run?

If that is the way it is, then I think it is OK.

Steve
 
Re: Does this meet NEC?

The wires from your pole to the first disconnect are the service conductors.

The wires from the disconnect to the panel are feeders.
 
Re: Does this meet NEC?

"We usually get crucified on this forum"
Thats not our intent at all. We appricate you asking our help.
 
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