Interpretation of readily accessible for Marine Wharf

[jmay4]

We have designed a conduit and jbox system on the underside of a marine wharf. The wharf decking is 8' above water at low tide and only 1' above the water at low tide.

The conduits and jboxes are fiberglass and carry cables for some street lights. Their are safety swithes on each pole mounted light as well as a main switch landside to shut off power tothe entire wharf site.


we received a question from an electrical contractor if the conduit and box system would still be considered 'readily accessible' by the NEC.

I thought some of the peers on this site could help me with an interpretation of this.

Thanks.

 

[charlie b]

No, they would not be "readily accessible." Look at the definition of that term in article 100, and you will confirm that statement. However, nothing requires them to be readily accessible. 314.29 says they must be "accessible," but it does not say "readily accessible." Also, nothing in 555 changes that requirement.

That said, how are you getting past the requirement of 555.9? The electrical connections have to be at least 1 foot above the surface of a fixed pier, and not lower than the electrical datum plane. I suspect that the electrical datum plane is lower than the surface of your pier, but you still need to be above the pier.

Welcome to the forum.

 

[jmay4]

Thanks

Thanks

Thanks Charlie -

Great comments. I will consider these as our design progresses.

Regards,

Jeff

 

[masterinbama]

That said, how are you getting past the requirement of 555.9? The electrical connections have to be at least 1 foot above the surface of a fixed pier, and not lower than the electrical datum plane. I suspect that the electrical datum plane is lower than the surface of your pier, but you still need to be above the pier.

Welcome to the forum.

Did one similar recently. We just used the below pier boxes as pull points and made all our terminations above the deck.