Live Vegetation NEC 225.26

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sirjaxx

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In Article 225.26, the NEC states:
Vegetation such as trees SHALL NOT be used for support of Overhead Conductor Spans.
(exception: For temporary wiring in accordance with Article 305)

I am Currently in a discussion about whether this article applies to other Electrical Installations, such as Permanent Outdoor Lighting.
According to this other Expert, he states: Answer:

Sorry Jack, NEC 225.26(and this column relates only to requirements
in the NEC) says ?Vegetation such as trees shall not be used for
support of overhead conductor spans.? It does not say ?live vegetation
shall not be used.? It does not say ?it applies to ANY ELECTRICAL
INSTALLATION? and it does not say ?for the same reasons? and it does
not outline any reasons.

In fact, the NEC doesn't prohibit the use of live vegetation for any
reason other than ?for the support of overhead conductor spans.?
You're spending a lot of time confusing a simple requirement.

Section:
225.26
***End***

I have been referred to this article in the code as it relates to installing electrical equipment on Live Vegetation, by Different Inspectors over the years, and besides making sense of the fact that Conduits and strapping will not grow as the trees grows, but that it actually harms the trees. I have also heard that installing any kind of Electrical Equipment violates the UL Code, because electrical equipment isn't listed to be installed on Live Vegetation.
Does anyone have any Info that supports my position that Electrical Equipment shall not be installed on Live Vegetation?
 
Re: Live Vegetation NEC 225.26

Mike Holt has a picture he uses in his 2002 NEC changes of PAR lights and a switch installed on a tree by his home office. Conductor spans is a code violation, but lighting feed underground to a tree is OK.
 
Re: Live Vegetation NEC 225.26

I'm wondering what kind of electrical installation doesn't use conductors?

EDIT: I'm sorry, I must have misread something. Disregard my comment.

[ August 12, 2004, 02:41 PM: Message edited by: physis ]
 
Re: Live Vegetation NEC 225.26

Originally posted by tom baker:
Mike Holt has a picture he uses in his 2002 NEC changes of PAR lights and a switch installed on a tree by his home office. Conductor spans is a code violation, but lighting feed underground to a tree is OK.
Click to expand...
Where do I find a Code reference for this? Also where can I find a UL Listed Luminaire for this application? :)
 
Re: Live Vegetation NEC 225.26

Look at 410-16(h) 1999 NEC for trees to support outdoor lighting fixtures. Sorry, don't have a 2002 at work yet
I do not think you'll find a lighting fixture(luminaire) listed for support by a tree. You will find luminaires listed for surface mounting in a wet location. The suitability of the mounting surface would be up to the AHJ

BTW
Palm Trees are really in vogue here for landscape lighting. LTFNMC is used which is identified(and listed) as direct burial and sunlight resistant. Right out of the ground and up the tree.
 
Re: Live Vegetation NEC 225.26

FYI, I sent the following to Charlie Trout in response to the NECA-NEIS Code Question of the Day - Thursday, August 11, 2004

"Jack is correct and you are wrong . . . if you are using the 1990 Edition of the NEC! I suspect that Jack learned it that way and has not read it differently since his apprenticeship training.

The 1990 NEC states, "225-26 Live Vegetation. Live vegetation such as trees shall not be used for support of overhead conductor spans.

Exception: For temporary wiring in accordance with Article 305."

In addition Jack, you are concerned about the growth of the live vegetation. You need to be aware of "girdling" a limb or trunk of a plant as that could kill it at sometime in the future. However, if you fasten two clamps at two feet apart and check the measurements a few years later, they will still be two feet apart. If you have fastened the clamps with screws, the limbs will be growing around the clamps (and, eventually, the conduit). :D
 
Re: Live Vegetation NEC 225.26

"Does anyone have any Info that supports my position that Electrical Equipment shall not be installed on Live Vegetation?" No because this not a listing violation. You can download the UL white book and search thru it.
 
Re: Live Vegetation NEC 225.26

The 2002 NEC even allow's it verbatium:

410.16(H)

(H) Trees. Outdoor luminaires (lighting fixtures) and associated equipment shall be permitted to be supported by trees.
FPN No. 1: See 225.26 for restrictions for support of overhead conductors.
FPN No. 2: See 300.5(D) for protection of conductors.
Click to expand...
 
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