FAILED INSPECTION: POINT OF ATTACHMENT

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sharkey

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HELLO TO ALL, RECENTLY I UPGRADED A SINGLE FAMILY SERVICE TO 200 AMP IN 2" PVC PIPE. HAVING HAD A BRAIN FART, I HAD THE WHEATHER HEAD LOWER THAN THE POINT OF ATTACHMENT. I CORRECTED THIS SITUATION BY LOWERING THE POINT OF ATTACHMENT BY 12" WITH THE MEANS OF A NEW POA PORCELINE HOLDER.
NOW KEEP IN MIND THAT, CLEARANCES ARE ALL WITHIN CODE REG'S, AND THE NEW POA IS RATED FOR THE STRAIN OF THE WIRE COMING TO THE HOUSE. THE WIRING INSPECTOR, WHO SEEMS TO BE WORKING FOR NSTAR, EVIDENT BY HIS REPEATED PHONE CALLS TO NSTAR, FAILED MY INSTALLATION FOR UNAUTHORIZED MOVEMENT OF POA. NOW I HAVE CONTACTED NSTAR, AND OTHER LOCAL METERING OFFICIALS, AND THEY DONT SEEM TO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE MOVEMENT. ALSO I CANNOT FIND ANY CODE ARTICLE IN THE 2005 CODE STATING THAT I AM NOT ALLOWED TO MOVE IT. IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. ADDITIONALLY, I WROTE THE INSPECTOR A LETTER REQUESTING A WRITTEN RESPONSE JUST TO WHAT CODE I AM IN VIOLATION OF, AND HAVE GOTTEN NO SUCH REPLY ( DEC 3, 05), ITS BENN OVE 30 DAY'S. OBVIOUSLY, I'M NOT ON GOOD TERMS WITH THIS INSPECTOR PRESENTLY, GIVEN THA THIS IS MY 1ST JOB IN HIS TOWN, AND PROBABLY MY LAST.
AM I WRONG? DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY ADVICE OTHER THAN WHAT I HAVE ALREADY DONE? PLEASE HELP IF YOU CAN
 
Re: FAILED INSPECTION: POINT OF ATTACHMENT

I guess I am "Old school" and all brain F---S aside educate Me. PVC and weather head, Drop/ overhead. I dont get it? We use rigid or maybe "I have been asleep" for awhile. If I misunderstood then I will look like a fool later when other posts hit.
 
Re: FAILED INSPECTION: POINT OF ATTACHMENT

Please turn off the ALL CAPS feature. It makes the post more difficult to read. It is also considered impolite, as though you were SHOUTING at us.
 
Re: FAILED INSPECTION: POINT OF ATTACHMENT

triphase
It sounds like his service mast is not used for the support of service drop conductors.(230.28) It probably does'nt extend through the roof.

As to the problem with the inspector, I don't know what would cause that.
 
Re: FAILED INSPECTION: POINT OF ATTACHMENT

Rule #1 - The inspector is always right.

Rule #2 - If the inspector is ever wrong, see Rule #1.

Tongue in cheek, of course. Was the service drop attached to the POA when you moved it ? If so, you might have gotten the PoCo guy's nose a little out of joint. They typically don't like us sparkies messing with their triplex (except here in Indianapolis where you can do anything you want). Either way, I can't think of an NEC violation that you might have committed.

Maybe some of our inspector colleagues can chime in here.
 
Re: FAILED INSPECTION: POINT OF ATTACHMENT

"Weather head lower than point of attachement. is that local code? IMHO a drip loop would cover that.
 
Re: FAILED INSPECTION: POINT OF ATTACHMENT

Exactly which inspector? Is this the Electrical Inspector, or an Inspector from the Utility Co.?

I do not know of an NEC violation for moving the P.O.A.

The Utility Co. may however not like you moving their P.O.A.
A prior call to the Utility Engineering Dept. was probably in order.

As far as not being a safety issue, I think Don G. will disagree with you. It is possible it was an OSHA violation.

P.S. please turn off the Caps lock. It appears as though you are shouting. Thanx.
 
Re: FAILED INSPECTION: POINT OF ATTACHMENT

Inspector doesn't mean we know it all. After reading some of the bashing towards inspectors, I'm inclined to ask all you field techs to give inspectors this site address. :)
 
Re: FAILED INSPECTION: POINT OF ATTACHMENT

If you did anything wrong by moving the poa, it should not be any concern of the inspector's. N-Star may have some legitimate concerns and complaints, but not the inspector. If he failed you in MA, you could request a hearing from the state board.
 
Re: FAILED INSPECTION: POINT OF ATTACHMENT

No bashing intended here. I would welcome more inspectors on the forum. Their insight and point of view would be most welcome. I'm sure all would agree.
 
Re: FAILED INSPECTION: POINT OF ATTACHMENT

Originally posted by bdarnell:
No bashing intended here. I would welcome more inspectors on the forum. Their insight and point of view would be most welcome. I'm sure all would agree.
Click to expand...
I agree, in fact i now pm one inspector from this forum to find answers.

I dont agree with inspectors creating law, but that has already been hashed out in another thread.

I still say, and most will probably agree, that the most wonderfull thing about this site is that we all learn and grow by reading the different perspectives from contractors, electricians, inspectors and engineers.
 
Re: FAILED INSPECTION: POINT OF ATTACHMENT

I have lowered drops myself before. I don't see how the inspector can cite you for this. It is not withtin the scope of the NEC. Nstar could complain that they want their $500.00 fee.
 
Re: FAILED INSPECTION: POINT OF ATTACHMENT

jb:
"Weather head lower than point of attachement. is that local code? IMHO a drip loop would cover that.
Click to expand...
jbL Would this cover that??

230.54 Overhead Service Locations
(C) Service Heads and Goosenecks Above Service-Drop Attachment Service heads and goosenecks in service-entrance cables shall be located above the point of attachment of the service-drop conductors to the building or other structure.


scott:
It is not withtin the scope of the NEC.
Click to expand...
scott: Your area may be different from ours because you mention this often. As inspectors in this area we are required to enforce NEC, TN State Regulations and POCO rules. NOT defending the inspector on this call by any means, but for some of us, just because its not a NEC rule, it still may be within the venue of regulations we are directed to enforce.
 
Re: FAILED INSPECTION: POINT OF ATTACHMENT

Augie,

if it is the Electrical Inspector, then by the Original Post, he should have no issue as the Point Of Attachment had been re-located lower to meet NEC requirement.
 
Re: FAILED INSPECTION: POINT OF ATTACHMENT

ok, I got rid of the caps lock. first, the pvc question, it is permissable to use pvcup to the wheatherhead as the wheatherhead is not supporting the POA. Secondly, its nice to find some support here from a few of the guys that posted. I also thought that the inspector had no grounds to fail the installation, code states that the point of attachment shall be lower than the wheatherhead , and it is. Now tell me this.
What time frame is alloted to the inspector to answer formally with a written statement of code violation? It has been since Dec. 3rd that I made a written request for this info from his office.
 
Re: FAILED INSPECTION: POINT OF ATTACHMENT

Time frame?

The day he writes the violation is the day he needs to Cie the Article.

Now, in this day and age with the frequent use of e-mail and fax, I would think that the next day would be great.
If their policy is to use snail mail, then within a week would be acceptable.

Anything after that is an insult.
 
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