Grounding at "separate" building

[bdarnell]

We are developing a retail center with an anchor store and retail shops attached. We had planned to install a house panel for all of the public lighting, house loads, irrigation, etc. The local plan reviewer commented on our plans that if we run branch circuits to the shops as well as the anchor store, this constitutes feeding 2 or more buildings and the provisions of 250.32 apply. Also, he is requiring a disconnect in the retail shops per 230.70. We are not installing a separate panel in the individual spaces, just branch circuits back to the house panel. Also, the parking lot lighting is on the house panel. Do we have to treat each pole as a "structure"? This is the first time we have run up on this and wonder if his interpretation is correct. If so, there must be thousands of strip malls out there in violation.

Any input on this would be appreciated.

 

[bphgravity]

Re: Grounding at "separate" building

I don't see how they can be calling each unit of a "shell" building as separate structures unless you are under some weird building code. Per the NEC, each pole would be considered a separate structure however, the exception to 250.32(A) usually applies in regards to grouding. The refernece to 230.70 does not make any sense considering the question does not reference anything about the service. Perhaps they meant 225.31.