gfci in a hoop house

Status
Not open for further replies.
jerryalan

jerryalan

Member
Location
Perry, Mi. Shiawassee
Occupation
electrician
i know a gfci is required in a 2800 sq. ft. hoop house, (with no floor ), for receptacles but can't find a code reference. could y'all point me in the right direction?
 
ptonsparky said:
Is it the type of thermostat that plugs into a receptacle with heater then plugging into it?
Click to expand...

the thermostat is hard wired to common and closes to either a cooling or heating contact, the circuit is enclosed in carline and pvc about eight feet above the dirt floor. a hoop house is like a big semi transparent tent that allows for winter farming. this guy got a feceral grant to help build one. funny thing is, it's about 500 feet from his panel. i mentioned voltage drop prior to him dropping a 10 gauge direct burial wire in the waterline ditch, i'm eager to show him the voltage at the hoop house versus the panel voltage.
 
jerryalan said:
the thermostat is hard wired to common and closes to either a cooling or heating contact, the circuit is enclosed in carline and pvc about eight feet above the dirt floor. a hoop house is like a big semi transparent tent that allows for winter farming. this guy got a feceral grant to help build one. funny thing is, it's about 500 feet from his panel. i mentioned voltage drop prior to him dropping a 10 gauge direct burial wire in the waterline ditch, i'm eager to show him the voltage at the hoop house versus the panel voltage.
Click to expand...
Sounds like he got a grant for fertilizer to me:D
 
ActionDave said:
I'm eager to know what the voltage is when you take the reading. Please report back.
Click to expand...

embarrassingly enough, the measured voltage at the hoop is 120.
everything seems to work as it should, even though it's 40º outside the temperature in the structure allows thermostat to open the ventilation louvers at 80º and close at 70º.
the one thing I am struggling with is whether or not to drive a ground rod as an adjunct to the ground coming from the panel with the power. the hoop house is comprised od tubular pipe set in the earth so i'll bond that but I wonder if that is sufficient?
 
jerryalan said:
embarrassingly enough, the measured voltage at the hoop is 120.
everything seems to work as it should, even though it's 40º outside the temperature in the structure allows thermostat to open the ventilation louvers at 80º and close at 70º.
the one thing I am struggling with is whether or not to drive a ground rod as an adjunct to the ground coming from the panel with the power. the hoop house is comprised od tubular pipe set in the earth so i'll bond that but I wonder if that is sufficient?
Click to expand...

The disadvantage of sending such nice pictures is it opens things up for discussions that aren't what you asked for.

You should have 120v to the hoop frame. Take your VD measurement L-N while the circuit is under load. Maximum if possible. You could also take the VD measurement of Neutral to Hoop frame for additional information to think about.

If you have more than 1 circuit in the HS, I believe a GES is required, attached to the EG of the feeder. I do not know if bonding the EG to the hoop framework is required, but I would.
 
jerryalan said:
embarrassingly enough, the measured voltage at the hoop is 120.
everything seems to work as it should, even though it's 40º outside the temperature in the structure allows thermostat to open the ventilation louvers at 80º and close at 70º.
Click to expand...

Was that with the heat running? Are there any other loads? If you think about it an electric resistance heater won't care at all even if the voltage gets down to 110V.

the one thing I am struggling with is whether or not to drive a ground rod as an adjunct to the ground coming from the panel with the power. the hoop house is comprised od tubular pipe set in the earth so i'll bond that but I wonder if that is sufficient?
Click to expand...
You are correct to bond the metal hoops, as a general rule the NEC requires a Grounding Electrode System at any structure ground rods are just one of the easiest.
 
tortuga said:
I would consider a hoophouse an ARTICLE 547 Agricultural Building. 547.5 (G) would be the reference.
Click to expand...
First read 547.1 and determine if any of 547 applies. I have seen "hoop" buildings that are agriculture buildings as well as some that are not.

If raising poultry, livestock or fish in there it is a 547 application, but 547.1 doesn't seem to be as clear on growing plants in there as a qualifier for 547 to apply, though many call that agriculture also.
 
kwired said:
First read 547.1 and determine if any of 547 applies. I have seen "hoop" buildings that are agriculture buildings as well as some that are not.

If raising poultry, livestock or fish in there it is a 547 application, but 547.1 doesn't seem to be as clear on growing plants in there as a qualifier for 547 to apply, though many call that agriculture also.
Click to expand...
Yeah good point it depends, If a framers employee gets shocked the contractor is now dealing with OSHA, lawyers, and expert witnesses not building inspectors.
Its often an overlooked section, and if 547 clearly doesn't apply an expert witness would argue its either a temporary installation (tarp structure) or an agriculture building, not residential and a wet location.
I would cite 547.1(B) (3) "The area is damp and wet by reason of periodic washing
for cleaning and sanitizing with water and cleansing agents."
or 547.1(B)(4) "Similar conditions exist."
 
tortuga said:
Yeah good point it depends, If a framers employee gets shocked the contractor is now dealing with OSHA, lawyers, and expert witnesses not building inspectors.
Its often an overlooked section, and if 547 clearly doesn't apply an expert witness would argue its either a temporary installation (tarp structure) or an agriculture building, not residential and a wet location.
I would cite 547.1(B) (3) "The area is damp and wet by reason of periodic washing
for cleaning and sanitizing with water and cleansing agents."
or 547.1(B)(4) "Similar conditions exist."
Click to expand...
If they are growing plants in there it still may be a wet or damp location, GFCI may still be required on receptacles via sections other then 547. Also will not typically be all that corrosive compared to a building with livestock nor will there be the kind of dust produced as would be if there is livestock. Things like equipotential planes would not be required, those are for livestock protection. Though it doesn't quite outright say it - 547 seems to be there mostly for poultry, livestock, and fish confinement areas, and not so much for horticulture, though both fit within the definition of agriculture
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top