Electrical panel torque requirements

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JMWElectric

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Martinez CA
Hey Everyone,

Quick question, on a project we are working on in Riverside CA our EI requested that I provide him with a company letterhead stating that the panel breakers and lugs have been properly torqued per specs.

Has anyone actually had to do this? If so what details should be in such a document? Does anyone have one for reference?

Thanks in advance.
 
That paperwork that falls on the floor will have the torque spec. or it can be looked up.
Make a torque sheet in word, pan. id name, lines with ft/lbs or newton meters whatever, line to write the tool number in, line for tool torque qc date and renew date (oops that could be hard), line for if two man verified torque, have the men fill them out, sign initial .
We use them all the time in industrial.
Can't give you a copy they are federal documents,but you can make your own.
 
My thoughts on this is just because I can produce the document you wish to see doesn't mean I did what the instructions say to do.

If an inspector absolutely wants to verify proper tightening only possible way is to witness it happen.

Pictures and video can also be spoofed (and easier now then ever before) and you may not know if job was done properly.

My honest opinion, nothing wrong with code telling you to torque it, but it is more of a liability to you if you don't then it is a problem for the inspector. Even if you follow instructions properly and the connection later fails, they demand you to fix it and not the inspector.

An inspector that wants to witness such connections or see such suggested paperwork is nothing but a control freak IMO. Nothing wrong about asking about torquing it but no real way of proving it was done correctly without actually witnessing it.
 
JMWElectric said:
Hey Everyone,

Quick question, on a project we are working on in Riverside CA our EI requested that I provide him with a company letterhead stating that the panel breakers and lugs have been properly torqued per specs.

Has anyone actually had to do this? If so what details should be in such a document? Does anyone have one for reference?

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

You might check but Oregon bypassed that part of code. As the head electrical inspector I agree with them doing so. You guys in the field are responsible if it goes bad. Us inspectors pretty much can’t be hosed over it. I will say be a great wireman, take pride in your work and be the best you can. Be proud of who and what you are. Good luck to you....your in California....you need it


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rudiseldb said:
You might check but Oregon bypassed that part of code. As the head electrical inspector I agree with them doing so. You guys in the field are responsible if it goes bad. Us inspectors pretty much can’t be hosed over it. I will say be a great wireman, take pride in your work and be the best you can. Be proud of who and what you are. Good luck to you....your in California....you need it


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Click to expand...
Thank you for your reply, I do take pride everyday in what I do. But my question isn't the fact of this needing to be done but more about the document itself. I'm looking more for an example of this type of document so I can prepare it for him. So I know for future use.

Best

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JMWElectric said:
Thank you for your reply, I do take pride everyday in what I do. But my question isn't the fact of this needing to be done but more about the document itself. I'm looking more for an example of this type of document so I can prepare it for him. So I know for future use.

Best

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Click to expand...

Honestly there are none I’ve seen. As an inspector I do like to see the electrician use a sharpie make across the lug. That article doesn’t specify how to do it. You could write it on a toilet toilet paper or an excel spreadsheet it’s up to you. If that inspector says otherwise....challenge him....make him quote the article. I think the best thing libtard Oregon ever has done is to force inspectors to cite it if you write it....it should be national. I’m very glad to hear you take pride in your work and yourself


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sameguy said:
That paperwork that falls on the floor will have the torque spec. or it can be looked up.
Make a torque sheet in word, pan. id name, lines with ft/lbs or newton meters whatever, line to write the tool number in, line for tool torque qc date and renew date (oops that could be hard), line for if two man verified torque, have the men fill them out, sign initial .
We use them all the time in industrial.
Can't give you a copy they are federal documents,but you can make your own.
Click to expand...
Thank you I pretty much thought the same, I will put this together.

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Sounds to me like the inspector is really simply asking you to put your signature on something swearing that you did it. I mean, if you want to be serious about it, you could print a one sentence letter " I hereby certify that all panel breakers and lugs at [blank space to fill in address] have been torqued to manufacturer specifications." Then take notes on the rest of the blank space on the page of the inch-lbs for each lug as you torque it, (e.g. "Murray 40A breakers - 40 inch lbs") and sign the thing at the bottom and give it to him when you're done. That's what I'd do, I guess. Much easier than trying to type it up off-site.

I've only dealt with inspectors enforcing torque requirements who make you do it in front of them.
 
jaggedben said:
Sounds to me like the inspector is really simply asking you to put your signature on something swearing that you did it. I mean, if you want to be serious about it, you could print a one sentence letter " I hereby certify that all panel breakers and lugs at [blank space to fill in address] have been torqued to manufacturer specifications." Then take notes on the rest of the blank space on the page of the inch-lbs for each lug as you torque it, (e.g. "Murray 40A breakers - 40 inch lbs") and sign the thing at the bottom and give it to him when you're done. That's what I'd do, I guess. Much easier than trying to type it up off-site.

I've only dealt with inspectors enforcing torque requirements who make you do it in front of them.
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Sounds nice but what does it accomplish? Only the person that made the termination knows what they actually did, and anyone that may have been watching. If it is that critical then inspector maybe should just be there to witness it, otherwise he just gets a piece of paper that may not be worth anything except maybe to use for rolling cigarettes.... or whatever you may choose to wrap in there.

As the contractor you are supposedly guaranteeing your work anyhow, if you are one of those that have a tail light warranty - so what?
 
jaggedben said:
Sounds to me like the inspector is really simply asking you to put your signature on something swearing that you did it. I mean, if you want to be serious about it, you could print a one sentence letter " I hereby certify that all panel breakers and lugs at [blank space to fill in address] have been torqued to manufacturer specifications." Then take notes on the rest of the blank space on the page of the inch-lbs for each lug as you torque it, (e.g. "Murray 40A breakers - 40 inch lbs") and sign the thing at the bottom and give it to him when you're done. That's what I'd do, I guess. Much easier than trying to type it up off-site.

I've only dealt with inspectors enforcing torque requirements who make you do it in front of them.
Click to expand...

He sounds like a bad inspector...hate inspectors as you will but we all have a job to do...safety should be all of our priority


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rudiseldb said:
He sounds like a bad inspector...hate inspectors as you will but we all have a job to do...safety should be all of our priority


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But what does writing such information down do? If you lied on your report it is totally meaningless - but inspector accepts it anyway - the whole idea is plain stupid IMO.

If that connection fails sometime down the road - who knows or cares if it was properly tightened in the first place?

If it fails while still under your warranty (whether you properly tightened it or not) that is between you and the owner, inspector will likely never know unless the repair requires inspection - here it generally wouldn't if just swapping a failed part for a same replacement.
 
jumper said:
Rudi, I am confused here. Where did jaggedben say or imply that he hated inspectors?
Click to expand...

I’ve been an inspector for 18-19 years....I’m the head electrical inspector for the second largest program in Oregon...I guess I just assumed as we get that all the time. I think the majority of us just want a safe code compliant job....there are bad inspectors just like bad electricians. But thank you for your comment


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rudiseldb said:
I’ve been an inspector for 18-19 years....I’m the head electrical inspector for the second largest program in Oregon...I guess I just assumed as we get that all the time. I think the majority of us just want a safe code compliant job....there are bad inspectors just like bad electricians. But thank you for your comment


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Click to expand...

I totally understand. Good guys and bad in every field.

I just have read many of jaggedben’s posts and he is not anti-inspector by any means. Most of here are not.
 
kwired said:
But what does writing such information down do? If you lied on your report it is totally meaningless - but inspector accepts it anyway - the whole idea is plain stupid IMO.

If that connection fails sometime down the road - who knows or cares if it was properly tightened in the first place?

If it fails while still under your warranty (whether you properly tightened it or not) that is between you and the owner, inspector will likely never know unless the repair requires inspection - here it generally wouldn't if just swapping a failed part for a same replacement.
Click to expand...

???

Rudi is an inspector not a sparky. Who were you trying to talk to?
 
jumper said:
I totally understand. Good guys and bad in every field.

I just have read many of jaggedben’s posts and he is not anti-inspector by any means. Most of here are not.
Click to expand...

Honestly I don’t believe most believe that way....we’ll at least the honest ones....but unfortunately I see the bad ones....unlicensed....unqualified....just dangerous that kill people and burn down structures.


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rudiseldb said:
You might check but Oregon bypassed that part of code. As the head electrical inspector I agree with them doing so. You guys in the field are responsible if it goes bad. Us inspectors pretty much can’t be hosed over it. I will say be a great wireman, take pride in your work and be the best you can. Be proud of who and what you are. Good luck to you....your in California....you need it


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
I don't want to witness it nor do I need any paper work, I simply ask to see your torque wrench and I'm on my way. I did that on one job, they had the wrench, but didn't use it and then two days later I was back as they were replacing the 1200 main section, because they had forgotten to tighten down the bolts holding the fuses. Whoops
 
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