EMT used as equipment grounding conductor

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DaveBowden

Senior Member
Location
St Petersburg FL
I'm having a disagreement with the inspector from a small town here. He is the "Building Official" and does all the inspections for all the trades. He has no one above him that I can appeal to.
The situation is this:
We did a kitchen remodel in a condo on the 5th floor af a 6 story building built in 1975. The service and meters are on the ground floor with a main disconnect for the meter banks (40 units). The meter banks have 125 amp main breakers for each unit right below the meters. Typical meter bank installation. From the meter banks each unit has 1.25 inch emt with 2 # 2 THW and 1 #4 THW CU to the panel in the unit. Meg bushing on both ends of the EMT and bond bars in the unit panels. #6 copper fromthe meg bushing to the bond bar. Neutrals are "floated" in the panels.
The inspector is saying I have to pull an equipment grounding conductor from the meter center to the panel in the unit because I have a 4 wire range receptacle and because I'm installing arc fault breakers on the 3 lighting and receptacle circuits in the panel. He's citing 250.24 (5) as his reason. I'm having a hard time convincing him that the applicable section for this is 250.118 (4) and that he is confusing grounding and bonding.
Any suggestions on how to convince him. Or do you think he is right?
Either way I don't see how we can remove the existing conductors after 39 years and I know we won't be able to add another wire in this pipe without pulling everything out and running the 4 wires back in together.
 
You know it and I know it but how do I convince him of it?
When I pointed out 250.118(4) to him over the phone he said I don't have a code book in front of me - just the 250.24 section I printed out. He was in his office when we were talking.
 
there is always an appeal process if it gets that far. it is a basic requirement of american law that some form of due process exist on administrative decisions like this.
 
Along with what Dennis posted show him 250.118 and he still does not get it smack him square in the forehead with a large mallet and tell him he is an idiot.
 
DaveBowden said:
I'm having a disagreement with the inspector from a small town here. He is the "Building Official" and does all the inspections for all the trades. He has no one above him that I can appeal to.
The situation is this:
We did a kitchen remodel in a condo on the 5th floor af a 6 story building built in 1975. The service and meters are on the ground floor with a main disconnect for the meter banks (40 units). The meter banks have 125 amp main breakers for each unit right below the meters. Typical meter bank installation. From the meter banks each unit has 1.25 inch emt with 2 # 2 THW and 1 #4 THW CU to the panel in the unit. Meg bushing on both ends of the EMT and bond bars in the unit panels. #6 copper fromthe meg bushing to the bond bar. Neutrals are "floated" in the panels.
The inspector is saying I have to pull an equipment grounding conductor from the meter center to the panel in the unit because I have a 4 wire range receptacle and because I'm installing arc fault breakers on the 3 lighting and receptacle circuits in the panel. He's citing 250.24 (5) as his reason. I'm having a hard time convincing him that the applicable section for this is 250.118 (4) and that he is confusing grounding and bonding.
Any suggestions on how to convince him. Or do you think he is right?
Either way I don't see how we can remove the existing conductors after 39 years and I know we won't be able to add another wire in this pipe without pulling everything out and running the 4 wires back in together.
Click to expand...

Is the inspector licensed? Who grants the license? They may be able to persuade him to follow the code.

Did the inspector write up the code violation? Did he cite the code section?
 
DaveBowden said:
I'm having a disagreement with the inspector from a small town here. He is the "Building Official" and does all the inspections for all the trades. He has no one above him that I can appeal to.
The situation is this:
We did a kitchen remodel in a condo on the 5th floor af a 6 story building built in 1975. The service and meters are on the ground floor with a main disconnect for the meter banks (40 units). The meter banks have 125 amp main breakers for each unit right below the meters. Typical meter bank installation. From the meter banks each unit has 1.25 inch emt with 2 # 2 THW and 1 #4 THW CU to the panel in the unit. Meg bushing on both ends of the EMT and bond bars in the unit panels. #6 copper fromthe meg bushing to the bond bar. Neutrals are "floated" in the panels.
The inspector is saying I have to pull an equipment grounding conductor from the meter center to the panel in the unit because I have a 4 wire range receptacle and because I'm installing arc fault breakers on the 3 lighting and receptacle circuits in the panel. He's citing 250.24 (5) as his reason. I'm having a hard time convincing him that the applicable section for this is 250.118 (4) and that he is confusing grounding and bonding.
Any suggestions on how to convince him. Or do you think he is right?
Either way I don't see how we can remove the existing conductors after 39 years and I know we won't be able to add another wire in this pipe without pulling everything out and running the 4 wires back in together.
Click to expand...


Inspector is a dope. EMT has been used as an EGC since it was invented. If he cannot listen to simple reasoning then go over his head. Removing 39 year old conductors to satisfy his incorrect code interpretation is the best one I've heard on the forum in a long time. :roll:
 
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