Hotel to apartments

[blessed1997]

I have a project where we are converting an old hotel to micro-apartments. We are adding a "kitchenette" to include a two-burner range, exhaust fan hood, microwave, fridge and sink. I am planning to add a new, small load center in each unit to feed the new loads. The rooms currently have a branch circuit feeding the receptacles/lighting and another branch circuit feeding the bathroom. The bathroom branch circuits appear to share a neutral between three units. I plan to re-feed the bathroom from the new load center. Do I have to re-feed the receptacles and lighting from the new load center or can I leave those circuits in place? The panel the branch circuits come from have some house loads on it. Utilities are included in the rent and the owner is responsible for all maintenance. The hotel was built in 1992. Thanks for your assistance.

 

[david]

In short yes all the individual dwelling rules apply. When you say small load center are you thinking 60 amps?

if your adding a load center why wouldn't you wantall the branch circuits feed from that and be accessible to the tenant

 

[blessed1997]

Yes. I am thinking about a 60A load center. The owner doesn't want to have to re-wire all of the existing receptacles if we don't have to. Only one wall in each unit is hollow. The others are concrete block. The existing wiring was fished through and openings cut through.

 

[david]

We are adding a "kitchenette"

Two20 amp small appliance branch circuits

The rooms currently have a branch circuit feeding the receptacles/lighting and another

The two small appliance branch circuits cant be shared with these other loads

branch circuit feeding the bathroom. The bathroom branch circuits appear to share a neutral between three units. I plan to re-feed the bathroom from the new load center.

The panel the branch circuits come from have some house loads on it.

Most likely these need to be feed from a house panel

 

[steve66]

If anyone enforces the energy codes in NY, the requirement for a separate meter for each dwelling unit is going to be a bear.

 

[blessed1997]

If anyone enforces the energy codes in NY, the requirement for a separate meter for each dwelling unit is going to be a bear.

Wow. I will set up a meeting with local bldg. official soon to discuss. That would be a really big bear.

 

[iwire]

I am planning to add a new, small load center in each unit to feed the new loads. The rooms currently have a branch circuit feeding the receptacles/lighting and another branch circuit feeding the bathroom. The bathroom branch circuits appear to share a neutral between three units. I plan to re-feed the bathroom from the new load center. Do I have to re-feed the receptacles and lighting from the new load center or can I leave those circuits in place? The panel the branch circuits come from have some house loads on it.

Depending on the AHJ and the specifics I think this may be a problem

210.25 Branch Circuits in Buildings with More Than
One Occupancy.

(A) Dwelling Unit Branch Circuits. Branch circuits in
each dwelling unit shall supply only loads within that dwelling
unit or loads associated only with that dwelling unit.

(B) Common Area Branch Circuits. Branch circuits installed
for the purpose of lighting, central alarm, signal, communications,
or other purposes for public or common areas of
a two-family dwelling, a multifamily dwelling, or a multioccupancy
building shall not be supplied from equipment that
supplies an individual dwelling unit or tenant space.

It sounds like the exsiting panel will supply a number of different dwellings

There is also this to comply with.

240.24 Location in or on Premises.

(B) Occupancy. Each occupant shall have ready access to
all overcurrent devices protecting the conductors supplying
that occupancy, unless otherwise permitted in 240.24(B)(1)
and (B)(2).

(1) Service and Feeder Overcurrent Devices. Where electric
service and electrical maintenance are provided by the
building management supervision, the service overcurrent devices
and feeder overcurrent devices supplying more than one
occupancy shall be permitted to be accessible only to authorized
management personnel in the following:

(1) Multiple-occupancy buildings

(2) Guest rooms or guest suites


(2) Branch-Circuit Overcurrent Devices. Where electric
service and electrical maintenance are provided by the
building management and where these are under continuous
building management supervision, the branch-circuit
overcurrent devices supplying any guest rooms or guest
suites without permanent provisions for cooking shall be
permitted to be accessible only to authorized management
personnel.

 

[blessed1997]

Two20 amp small appliance branch circuits




The two small appliance branch circuits cant be shared with these other loads





Most likely these need to be feed from a house panel

I was wondering if I leave the existing receptacles on the common panel and take the house loads off of that panel, is it ok to add a new feeder for the new load center? Some circuits would be from the new load center in the unit. The existing receptacles would be from the common panel not located in the unit. This common panel has circuits feeding other units.

Also, since this is an existing installation, can I leave the house loads on the common panel that currently has branch circuits feeding the units or would this be in violation of 210.25(B)?

 

[david]

I was wondering if I leave the existing receptacles on the common panel and take the house loads off of that panel, is it ok to add a new feeder for the new load center? Some circuits would be from the new load center in the unit. The existing receptacles would be from the common panel not located in the unit. This common panel has circuits feeding other units.

Also, since this is an existing installation, can I leave the house loads on the common panel that currently has branch circuits feeding the units or would this be in violation of 210.25(B)?

where is the common panel located?

The existing receptacles would be from the common panel not located in the unit. This common panel has circuits feeding other units.Also, since this is an existing installation, can I leave the house loads on the common panel that currently has branch circuits feeding the units or would this be in violation of 210.25(B)?

generally when yo change the occupancy class of a building the installation will not be considered existing for the purpose you sated