Large scale panel replacement project

[Casey the Electrician]

Hello all,

I am looking at bidding a project with 144 electrical panels in an apartment complex that all need changed. I’m going to look at it for the first time tomorrow. Problem is there will likely only be three wire from the first means of disconnect, the meter bank on the back of the apartment buildings. Does anybody have any good ideas to get equipment grounding from the point where the grounded conductor and the electrode grounding conductor terminate and bond,

I don’t know the pipe pathways yet. It could be totally inaccessible, SE cable, it could be piped the whole way. Wire that has sat in conduit for 60 years, probably won’t come out without a lot of damage, even if it comes out at all. I seem to remember an exception somewhere that allows you to run a ground outside of the pipe, which would make life easier. I know there are some instances with liquid type or this is used.

I appreciate anyone’s advice.

Thank you in advance.

 

[Eddie702]

Your changing panels and you have outdoor disconnects now? If you can label the outdoor disconnects as "Emergency disconnects" it may fly with three wires with main breakers in the panels (Service Disconnect) if the tenants have access to the panels which I would think they must have

 

[tortuga]

Your changing panels and you have outdoor disconnects now? If you can label the outdoor disconnects as "Emergency disconnects" it may fly with three wires with main breakers in the panels (Service Disconnect) if the tenants have access to the panels which I would think they must have

Emergency disconnects are only for one and two family dwellings but depending on how the complex is built possibly?
The OP mentions 144 electrical panels if that = 144 units in a 60 year old building I'd be checking what 'building type' of construction it is.

 

[infinity]

I am looking at bidding a project with 144 electrical panels in an apartment complex that all need changed. I’m going to look at it for the first time tomorrow. Problem is there will likely only be three wire from the first means of disconnect, the meter bank on the back of the apartment buildings

If there is only wire type 3 conductors in the feeder it's probably that the raceway is metallic and is serving as the EGC. If it's 3-wire SE cable your only choice is to replace it unless you can get special permission to change the panel and leave the feeder as is.