How many interior feeders to one tenancy

[lpelectric]

I'm wondering how many interior feeder panelboards can come from a service to one tenancy. The maximum breaker size at the service equipment is 225. Can there be 2 separate, individual 225 ampere feeders to one storefront tenancy? Each having a meter? This seems odd.

 

[augie47]

I wrestled with the question of Code compliancy for years on a situation that is common practice in this area.
Often we have a multi-unit building with sperate feeders from a common service to individual sections (each one seperatedly protected & metered).
Over the years, depending on customer requirements, "dividing" walls between these "occupancies" come and go, so often we have a open "two or three space" occupancy with three panlels that were originally three different stores.
By practice, that has been accepted.

 

[lpelectric]

Thank You, Augie47.

 

[augie47]

I fear I didn't answer your question as far as Code compliance
Perhaps one of the more knowledgable will teach us both something.:smile:

 

[iwire]

Often we have a multi-unit building with sperate feeders from a common service to individual sections (each one seperatedly protected & metered).
Over the years, depending on customer requirements, "dividing" walls between these "occupancies" come and go, so often we have a open "two or three space" occupancy with three panlels that were originally three different stores.
By practice, that has been accepted.

That happens here as well, I turned three spaces into one space, now that space has three 225 amp feeders each from a separate meter.

I have never really given it that much thought. When it happens I label disconnects as '1 of 3', 2 of 3', 3 of 3 etc.

 

[augie47]

That happens here as well, I turned three spaces into one space, now that space has three 225 amp feeders each from a separate meter.

I have never really given it that much thought. When it happens I label disconnects as '1 of 3', 2 of 3', 3 of 3 etc.

Same here, Bob.
Since you're a really sharp fellow, I'll ask, does that meet Code in your
opinion, or just an allowable local practice we are used to ??

 

[mdshunk]

I guess that must happen a lot. The absolute most I've been required to do is install a shunt trip breaker in each service's disconnecting means and mount a break glass operator at each disconnect. Whacking any one of the break glass operators dumps all the services associated with that expanded occupancy. This doesn't really square with the code either, but it is generous of them to permit that as a workaround considering what the other options are.

 

[cowboyjwc]

As with you guys it happens here all the time.

We go along the lines of one service to one address, but after the service they can have as many meters as they need. We once had one that took the whole building, had 5 meters.

I'm seeing more and more where they don't put in the panels until they have a tenant now.

As for code compliant I would see no problems.

 

[mdshunk]

As for code compliant I would see no problems.

What about the general requirement that disconnects be grouped? If all of the meters, and the associated disconnects, are in one place, no big deal. The way I typically find it is in a situation where the meters are maybe 75 feet apart along the back of the building, with a panel right inside from each meter.

 

[cowboyjwc]

What about the general requirement that disconnects be grouped? If all of the meters, and the associated disconnects, are in one place, no big deal. The way I typically find it is in a situation where the meters are maybe 75 feet apart along the back of the building, with a panel right inside from each meter.

Sorry, I guess I could have been more clear.

I agree 100%. Our POCO would not allow the meters to be installed as you described unless the building was huge and then they would be required to be in groups of 6.

 

[mdshunk]

Our POCO would not allow the meters to be installed as you described unless the building was huge and then they would be required to be in groups of 6.

I guess you're lucky then. Newer strip malls are more like you describe, but older one's (one's that are the likely candidates for having party walls removed for a larger occupancy) are not generaly like that around here. They either have a padmount someplace out back with a pipe to each meter location on the back of each store, or they have a 5-point rack of secondary running the length of the building with a tap down to each meter on the back of each store.

 

[cowboyjwc]

I guess you're lucky then. Newer strip malls are more like you describe, but older one's (one's that are the likely candidates for having party walls removed for a larger occupancy) are not generaly like that around here. They either have a padmount someplace out back with a pipe to each meter location on the back of each store, or they have a 5-point rack of secondary running the length of the building with a tap down to each meter on the back of each store.

I don't know that I've ever seen one installed like you described or that it just didn't caught my attention at the time (I used to do a lot of work in Los Angeles).

Our town has been around since the 1800's, but the only way I have seen meters installed here is the way I described.

I would guess that the only difference is where the meters and main disconnects are installed. Seems like it would be the same amount of material. Could be the difference is here the POCO pulls into the top of the meter (in commercial-industrial) and they only want to do it one time.