GFI Protector for Industrial Tank

[tgfat]

Does the Code require GFCI protection on a heater circuit for an open industrial tank with a 208V/1ph encased heater? The 120V control panel is GFCI protected as there are receptacles for auxiliary equipment for the process and the heater circuit runs through the control panel via a contactor for temperature control. The 4K heater circuit causes the 2-pole/20A GFCI breaker to trip due to initial resistance of 150K ohms to ground. This resistance to ground increases to 20M+ ohms as the heater operates and removes internal moisture due to humidity, which will then allow the GFCI CB to reset. Any thoughts??

 

[pfalcon]

Heater circuit is typically an internal circuit to the machine tool. GFI protection is for people. No requirement that I'm aware of.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

I would expect that this heater is covered by Article 427. 427.22 requires GFP protection not GFCI protection. Typically the GFP device has a 30 mA trip point.

 

[tgfat]

I would expect that this heater is covered by Article 427. 427.22 requires GFP protection not GFCI protection. Typically the GFP device has a 30 mA trip point.

Thank you both for the quick responses.
427.22 speaks to heat trace and 'heating panel' - In your opinion, does the totally enclosed resistive heating element(s) under the tank qualify as a 'heating panel', thereby requiring GFP?

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Thank you both for the quick responses.
427.22 speaks to heat trace and 'heating panel' - In your opinion, does the totally enclosed resistive heating element(s) under the tank qualify as a 'heating panel', thereby requiring GFP?

In my opinion it does.